Downtown San Antonio Attractions

Discover the Best of San Antonio

San Antonio, the 7th largest city in the United States, is well-known for the role "The Battle of the Alamo" played in the early history of Texas. Today, the Alamo is a shrine and museum located in the heart of downtown San Antonio. While it is clearly San Antonio's best-known tourist attraction and is featured in its flag and seal and in the city's nickname, "Alamo City", the diverse range of things to in and around the downtown San Antonio is practically limitless.

San Antonio is a big city with a small town feel. Here, you will find everything you'd expect in a large metropolitan area: performing arts, professional sports, shopping, public transportation, easy highway access, cultural and recreational attractions, not to mention all the things to do in the scenic San Antonio Riverwalk.

To assist with planning your stay in downtown San Antonio, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the top tourist attractions and things to do.

Alamo

.04 miles | 8-minute walk

In the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Alamo stands as a Shrine to Texas Liberty. The 1836 Battle of the Alamo is one of the most pivotal battles in world history, signifying Texan identity, the fight for liberty, and bravery in the face of impossible odds.

San Antonio River Walk

.03 mi | 4-minute walk

The San Antonio River Walk is a city park and network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of San Antonio, Texas, United States.

Market Square / El Mercado

1.2 mi | 6-minute drive | 18-minute walk

Market Square is a three-block outdoor plaza lined with shops, and restaurants in downtown San Antonio, Texas. Market Square is the largest Mexican market in the United States. The "El Mercado" section has 32 specialty shops and the "Farmer's Market Plaza" section has 80.

San Antonio Zoo

4.4 miles | 11-minute drive

The San Antonio Zoo is an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoo in Midtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. It is located in the city's Brackenridge Park. The 35-acre zoo has a collection of over 3,500 animals representing 750 species.

SeaWorld San Antonio

17.9 miles | 22-minute drive

SeaWorld San Antonio is a 250-acre marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, in the Westover Hills District of San Antonio, Texas, on the city’s west side. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned by SeaWorld Entertainment, and the world's largest marine-life theme park.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

16.5 miles | 21-minute drive

Six Flags Fiesta Texas, formerly Fiesta Texas, is a theme park located in La Cantera, San Antonio, Texas. It is owned and operated by Six Flags. The park was built by Gaylord Entertainment Company and opened on March 14, 1992 as the first business in the district of San Antonio.

San Antonio Museum of Art

1.4 miles | 29-minute walk | 7-minute drive

The San Antonio Museum of Art is an art museum in Downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. With a collection spanning 5,000 years of global culture, SAMA is the only encyclopedic museum of fine art in South Texas. The Museum is housed in the historic former Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River Walk.

San Antonio Missions

4.3 miles | 12-minute drive

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a National Historical Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas, USA. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives.

Hemisfair Park

0.3 miles | 6-minute walk

Iconic park housing Tower of the Americas, Institute of Texan Cultures, fountains & a playground.

King William / Southtown

0.7 miles | 15-minute walk

Known for its ornate 19th-century mansions, the residential King William neighborhood is also an indie arts hotspot with relaxed coffeehouses. Overlooking the San Antonio River, the Blue Star Contemporary complex includes exhibition spaces and artists’ studios in airy converted warehouses, plus eclectic restaurants, gift shops and a craft brewery. Just west, vendors at SoFlo Market sell handicrafts and vintage goods.

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

0.4 miles | 7-minute walk

The Henry B. González Convention Center is the City of San Antonio's convention center located in Downtown San Antonio, Texas, along the banks of the River Walk. The facility is a central component in the city's convention industry

Alamodome

0.6 miles | 14-minute walk

The Alamodome is a 64,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It is located on the southeastern fringe of downtown San Antonio. The facility opened on May 15, 1993, having been constructed at a cost of $186 million.

Majestic Theatre / Empire Theatre

0.6 miles | 12-minute walk

The Majestic Theatre is San Antonio's oldest and largest atmospheric theatre. The theatre seats 2,264 people and was designed by architect John Eberson, for Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatres in 1929.

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

0.8 miles | 17-minute walk

The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is San Antonio's performing arts center. Located next to the San Antonio Riverwalk, it is named for Robert L. B. Tobin, one of the city's most prominent residents.

Sports Venues

The San Antonio sports scene is active, with the four-time World-Champion NBA San Antonio Spurs basketball team. The Spurs play at the new AT&T Center less than six miles from the Fairmount Hotel & Suites. Other San Antonio sports teams include the AHL's San Antonio Rampage, and San Antonio also plays host to many other annual sporting events.

There are three major centers for sporting events in San Antonio: the AT&T Center, the Alamodome, and Wolff Stadium, which is home to a minor league baseball team known as the San Antonio Missions.

San Antonio Shopping

Shopping is exciting and unique at the many San Antonio malls & shopping centers, several only a short drive from the Fairmount. The Shops at Rivercenter, for example, is a beautiful mall located on the San Antonio River Walk less than a half mile from the hotel.

The history and culture of San Antonio is reflected in many of the beautiful shopping locations throughout the city. The Alamo Quarry Market was built on an old cement plant, and Market Square is an authentic Mexican market, and the La Villita Historic Arts Village is a little community of artists and shops.

Some of the malls are elegant, like the Shops at La Cantera and North Star Mall. Whatever your tastes, you are sure to have a fabulous shopping experience here in San Antonio, Texas. View our list for many of the shopping locations that await you.

Performing Arts

San Antonio has many performing arts theaters and venues where visitors and residents can enjoy plays, concerts, comedy shows, special events and other performances. The Fairmount Hotel, with its convenient downtown location, provides information on some of San Antonio's performing arts venues, many of which are very close to the hotel.

The San Antonio Symphony is the city's only resident performing arts company of national stature, but smaller, less professional groups keep the local arts scene lively, and cultural organizations draw world-renowned artists. The city provides them with some unique venues -- everything from standout historic structures such as the Majestic, Empire, Lila Cockrell and Sunken Garden theaters to the state-of-the-art Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and AT&T Center.

Museums & Historic Sites

San Antonio is a city rich in history and culture, and there are many museums and historic sites which illustrate the events and people of the past. This city is home to The world-famous Alamo, a mission where 186 Texans gave their lives during the fight for Texas independence from Mexico.

The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum is another favorite place to visit. It showcases 125 years of Texas history and includes cowboy memorabilia, an authentic shooting gallery, an arcade, the world's only Wax Museum of Texas History, and a curio store. The Smithsonian Institute has a local affiliate here, Museo Alameda, a multicultural center detailing the experience of Latinos in America.

Also located in San Antonio are two art museums, a botanical garden, the Spanish Governor's Palace, several Spanish missions, the Texas Ranger Museum, and much more. See the list for more information about these and other exciting museums in the San Antonio.

Golf Courses

Hit the links at any of the beautiful San Antonio golf courses within a short drive of The Fairmount Hotel San Antonio. Northern Hills Golf Club, Pecan Valley Golf Club, and The Republic Golf Club are less than eight miles from our hotel.

San Antonio is fast becoming a major national golf destination. Mild temperatures, more than 300 days of sunshine annually, and a wide range of greens fees to fit any budget make San Antonio's golf among the best to be found. Whether visiting for leisure or business, you'll enjoy time spent at these fine San Antonio golf courses.

Note that the selection list is in alphabetical order and indicates the distance to the golf course or country club. For those who wish to scroll the entire list, it is in order by distance from the hotel.

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