San Antonio and Missions Combo Tour History Culture and Landmarks

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. The Alamo

   The Alamo, originally the 18th-century Spanish mission Mission San Antonio de Valero, is a premier Texas historic site located in San Antonio. It is famous for the 13-day 1836 Battle of the Alamo, where nearly 200 Texan defenders—including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie—were defeated by Mexican forces, becoming a lasting symbol of courage and independence

   20 minutes here

2. San Antonio River Walk

   The San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio) began as a flood-control project following a devastating 1921 flood, evolving into an iconic urban park designed by architect Robert H.H. Hugman to highlight Spanish heritage. Officially completed in 1941, the 15-mile network of paths and canals has become Texas’ top tourist

   20 minutes here

3. San Fernando De Bexar Cathedral

   The San Fernando Cathedral Founded in 1731 by Canary Islanders, San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio is the oldest standing church in Texas and the heart of the city's Catholic history. Completed in 1755, it served as the original parish for the area, hosted Jim Bowie’s marriage in 1832, served as a lookout during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, and is believed to hold the remains of Alamo defenders.

   20 minutes here

4. La Villita Historic Arts Village

   a Villita Historic Arts Village is an art community in downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. There are art galleries, stores selling souvenirs, gifts, custom jewelry, pottery, and imported Mexican folk art, as well as several restaurants in the district. La Villita connects to the San Antonio River Walk and its outdoor venue, the Arneson River Theatre. It is close to the Alamo, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Rivercenter Mall, and HemisFair Park. It is within walking distance of most downtown hotels.

   20 minutes here

5. Arneson River Theater

   Arneson River Theater is an outdoor performance theater located on the San Antonio River Walk in the U.S. state of Texas. The open-air venue was erected 1939-1941 by the Works Progress Administration. The design was supervised by architect Robert H.H. Hugman. It is named after Edwin P. Arneson, the regional engineer for the W.P.A. who was instrumental in securing funding for the Paseo del Rio.[1] Arneson died before construction began.[2] Many years later bells were added to arches behind the stage that Hugman had designed, and they were named for him. In a belated ceremony, the "Father of the River Walk" struck the bells for the first time, two years before his death.

   10 minutes here

6. Tower Of The Americas

   The Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot (229-meter) observation tower-restaurant located in the Hemisfair district in the southeastern portion of Downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. The tower was designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford[1] and was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World's Fair, HemisFair '68.[2] Originally known as 'HemisFair Tower',[3] it was ultimately named 'the Tower of the Americas' as a result of a name-the-tower contest created by the executive committee. Sixty-eight people submitted the name by which the tower is now known.

   Pass by without stopping

7. Alamodome

   he Alamodome is a 64,000-seat domed indoor 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. The multi-purpose facility was intended to increase the city's convention traffic and attract a professional football franchise. It also placated the San Antonio Spurs' demands for a larger arena. The Spurs played in the Alamodome for a decade, then became disenchanted with the facility and convinced Bexar County to construct a new arena for them, now called the Frost Bank Center. The Alamodome's regular tenant is currently the UTSA Roadrunners. Recent tenants include the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football, the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, and the San Antonio Talons of the Arena Football League.

   Pass by without stopping

8. San Antonio

   Hemisfair Park in San Antonio, Texas, is the site of the 1968 World’s Fair (HemisFair '68), which celebrated the city's 250th anniversary and the "confluence of civilizations in the Americas". Developed on a former residential neighborhood (Germantown) via eminent domain, the park now functions as a redeveloped downtown district featuring the iconic 622-foot Tower of the Americas and the modern Civic Park

   10 minutes here

9. King William Historic District

   The National Register of Historic Places-listed King William Historic District is generally located between the San Antonio River, Cesar Chavez Boulevard, South St. Mary’s Street, and South Alamo Street. The King William Local Historic District and neighborhood also includes the National Register of Historic Places-listed South Alamo Street-South St. Mary’s Street Historic District located west of South Alamo Street. Most of the houses within the district were built between 1850 and 1899, and in comparison to most of those located south of South Alamo Street, the houses are larger, more ornate, and are situated on larger lots (Bell and Williamson 1971). End of Two hours Tour Read less

   20 minutes here

10. Pearl Markets - San Antonio, TX

    Three-Hour tour Consecutive. The Pearl in San Antonio is a historic 19th-century brewery transformed into a premier 22-acre culinary and cultural district. Founded in 1881 as the Pearl Brewing Company, it operated until 2001, surviving Prohibition by producing ice cream and soda. The site now features the 1894 brewhouse, reopened as Hotel Emma.

    20 minutes here

11. San Antonio

    The Grotto is a concrete sculpture by Carlos Cortés, along the San Antonio River in San Antonio, Texas, United States. In 2020, some pieces intended to be added to The Grotto were stolen.

    10 minutes here

12. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    MISSION SYSTEM EXPLANATION What we are about to see is older than the Alamo. Most visitors believe the Alamo is the beginning of Texas. It’s not. The real beginning… is the mission system. Between 1718 and 1731, Spain built a chain of missions along this river. Not just churches. Communities. Fortresses. Agricultural centers. Political tools. Spain was not building for religion alone — Spain was building to control land. And that land would one day become Texas.” These four missions we’re visiting today are so historically important that in 2015 they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — joining places like the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. And they are right here in San Antonio.” “As we drive, imagine this region 300 years ago. No highways. No skyline. No Texas. Just river, farmland, and indigenous tribes. Spain feared French expansion from Louisiana.

    40 minutes here

13. San Antonio

    Mission Concepción was completed in 1755. It is the oldest unrestored stone church in the United States. What you see here is nearly original. Look at the thick stone walls. They were built for protection — not decoration. These missions were vulnerable to raids from Apache and Comanche tribes. This was not peaceful farmland. This was frontier survival. Inside, faint original fresco paintings still remain — red, blue, yellow pigments from the 1700s. This church has stood here through: The Spanish Empire Mexican rule. The Republic of Texas. The Civil War. Two World Wars And it still stands.” “Imagine attending mass here in 1760.”

    25 minutes here

14. Mission San Juan Capistrano

    Mission San Juan became more agricultural than religious. Fields stretched for miles. Crops were traded as far south as Mexico. This was economic infrastructure. The foundations of Texas ranch economy were forming.”

    20 minutes here

15. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    “Mission Espada is small. Quiet. Simple. But it contains one of the most impressive engineering achievements of Spanish Texas — the Espada Aqueduct. This irrigation system diverted river water into farmland using gravity alone. And parts of it still function today. Three centuries later.” “This is not just architecture. It is survival knowledge passed across generations.”

    20 minutes here

16. San Antonio

    The real beginning… is the mission system. Between 1718 and 1731, Spain built a chain of missions along this river. Not just churches. Communities. Fortresses. Agricultural centers. Political tools. Spain was not building for religion alone — Spain was building to control land. And that land would one day become Texas.” These four missions we’re visiting today are so historically important that in 2015 they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — joining places like the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China. And they are right here in San Antonio.” .

    25 minutes here

17. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    Mission San José was founded in 1720. At its height, over 300 indigenous residents lived within these walls. This was not just a church. It was a fully functioning village. Blacksmith shops. Granaries. Workshops. Living quarters. Everything inside these walls supported a self-sufficient community. The Spanish introduced irrigation systems called acequias — some of which still function today. They introduced cattle ranching. The Texas cowboy tradition traces directly back to Spanish vaqueros trained in missions like this.Even the word ‘rodeo’ is Spanish.” Walk toward the Rose Window. “This is the famous Rose Window. Legend says it was carved by a craftsman to honor his lost love. Whether true or not — it represents Spanish baroque artistry at the edge of empire.” “But we must also acknowledge something important. For Native Americans, mission life was not always voluntary. It often meant loss of culture, language, and freedom.

    35 minutes here

18. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

    As we return downtown, consider this: Without these missions — There would be no San Antonio. Without San Antonio — There would be no Alamo. Without the Alamo — There might not be a Republic of Texas. And without Texas — The United States would look very different today. The mission system laid the agricultural, cultural, and political groundwork for everything that followed.” “Texas began here. Not with war. But with the settlement.”

    40 minutes here

Where it starts and ends

Options you can book

• San Antonio and Missions Combo Tour History Culture and Landmarks

• Flexible Booking

  If your plans change, Flexible Booking allows you to reschedule your tour with no rebooking fee

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 1 travelers per booking

Operated by

Great R Tours

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Texas law mandates that children under 8 years old, unless they are taller than 4 ft 9 in, must be secured in an appropriate Child Passenger Safety seat or booster seat.
• Accessibility Notice Please note that Fun Texas Tours vans are not wheelchair accessible. Guests who use wheelchairs or require special accommodations must contact Fun Texas Tours in advance to discuss possible arrangements.

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