The San Antonio River Walk is the defining feature that sets San Antonio apart from most other cities.
The San Antonio River Walk is 15 mile long and is broken up into three sections – the Museum Reach, Downtown and Mission Reach. The most famous section and the section that most visitors to San Antonio experience is the Downtown section where the river winds through the city’s center for roughly 1.5 miles.
The Downtown section of the river is controlled at a constant level and is only 3 to 4 deep. It is one level below the automobile streets of the central business district of San Antonio. There are two parallel sidewalks which hug the river and are lined with striking cypress trees, restaurants, museums and original shops. Some of the Bald Cypress Trees are 200 years old and measure 37 meters tall.
Sights along the river
There is plenty of sights to enjoy on the downtown portion of the Riverwalk. Many restaurants have outdoor seating directly on the river bank, there are cultural statures, architectural elements, a waterfall and tour boats are constantly passing along the river.
Crossover Bridges
The river is a natural barrier separating the two parallel sidewalks and the restaurants on each side of the river however there are frequent pedestrian bridges that allow people to crossover the river and easily see the sights on each side. Some of the bridges are southwestern style that matches the culture of the city and other bridges are modern.
River boat tour
One of the most popular tourist attractions in San Antonio is the river boat tour. The tour lasts for 35 minutes and the electric powered boats move quietly along the river. There are three locations conveniently located at various spots along the Riverwalk. The river boat tours operate from 10 AM to 10 PM every day of the year.
Restaurants and Bars
There are many restaurants and bars located along the river walk. Some of the most popular are the Republic of Texas, Casa Rio, Café ole’, Margaritaville and there is even a food court in the Rivercenter Mall. The river walk never closes but most of the restaurants close around 10 PM and the bars at 2 AM.
Entertainment on the river
The river walk always seems to have a festive atmosphere but there are also some seasonal activities. There is a Holiday river boat parade on Friday night after Thanksgiving, Christmas lights dot the trees along the river in December along with Christmas carolers singing on barges, the river is dyed green for St. Patrick’s and entertainers are frequently playing along the river.
La Villita is San Antonio’s first neighborhood and today it is an arts community with entertainment and restaurants. The Arneson River Theatre at La Villita is an open air theater that sits on one side of the river with the 800 person audience on the other side.
View from above
I always like to see places from above and many of the hotels in downtown San Antonio have rooms with balconies that have nice river walk views. The photos below were taken from my room balcony at two different hotels.
The river comes to life at night
I enjoy going to the San Antonio Riverwalk during the day because it is peaceful and less crowed but the activity along the river walk really picks up after the sun goes down. The restaurants fill up, the trees are colorfully lit and there is a party atmosphere.
The Dust on My Shoes
In my opinion, San Antonio is the top tourist city in Texas and the river walk is the “must see” activity for anyone visiting San Antonio. The most important decision when visiting the river walk is deciding when to go. Summer time and holidays are busy with families and weekends are popular for people that enjoy the nightlife. San Antonio is a popular place for conventions and the river walk is a popular during these events. The river walk is less crowded, easy to walk along the river and more relaxing during the week.
I have been to San Antonio several times and I always make an effort to spend time on the river walk. I have been there during the Holiday season and for special events and I have enjoyed those times and I have also been to the river walk during the middle of the week when it is quiet and relaxing.
If you want to visit the San Antonio Riverwalk during the holidays or for a special event, be prepared that it will likely be crowded but plan your visit during the middle of the week if you are looking for a nice relaxing experience.
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