Winding throughout downtown San Antonio, the lively, colorful River Walk is a must-see attraction when visiting The Alamo City. The River Walk is a path of walkways alongside the five-mile San Antonio River flanked by bars with massive margaritas, bustling restaurants, trendy hotels, cute shops, live music, and other sights. Whether you're traveling with your family, as a couple, or with friends, everyone will love strolling down the festive River Walk.
How to get to The San Antonio River Walk
If you're staying at a downtown hotel, you can walk directly to The River Walk without needing any transportation. If you're staying outside of downtown, you can take a public bus (called VIA) or a taxi to the River Walk. Those who prefer to drive their own car to the River Walk will find many convenient parking lots and garages nearby, but expect to pay $5-10 for the luxury.
Best and worst time to go to The River Walk
The River Walk gets very crowded on weekend evenings due to the plethora of bars and restaurants that attract both tourists and locals. The area can also get packed during special events, such as Fiesta or following a big Spurs basketball win. You'll find the least crowds during the daytime, especially on weekdays.
Admission to The River Walk
It's completely free to walk along The River Walk and explore this landmark-there is no admission price. You can take a narrated boat tour along the river to explore more of the area and learn about The River Walk's history, though tickets cost a few dollars per person.
Must do at The River Walk
The narrated boat tour should be done at least once, and kids especially love cruising down the river and watching all of the excitement on the shores beside them. Visitors should also be sure to sip a margarita at a restaurant on the shores of The River Walk, or at least dine on some of the Tex-Mex cuisine San Antonio is known for. Most importantly, be sure to spend some time walking up and down both sides of the river to observe one of San Antonio's most lively spots (it's great for people watching, too).
Other places to visit near The River Walk
Visitors to The River Walk are just a few blocks from The Alamo, one of San Antonio's other most famous attractions. The Majestic Theatre is also very close to The River Walk, featuring world-class live entertainment. Ripley's Believe It or Not!, a museum of oddities, is also a short stroll from The River Walk and especially fun for kids.
Insider tip for visitors to The San Antonio River Walk
Many of the bars and restaurants on The River Walk are popular with tourists, but San Antonio locals won't dare set foot on them. Some of the only River Walk-facing establishments locals love and actually frequent are Boudro's, The Esquire Tavern and Lüke.
Author's bio: Emily Starbuck Crone is a native Texan and freelance writer based in San Antonio.