San Antonio was founded as a Spanish Mission and Colonial Outpost in 1718 and subsequently became the first chartered civil settlement in 1731. It was one of the fastest-growing cities between 2000 and 2010, and it boasts a lot of cultural attractions, like the Riverwalk. It’s a city park and network of walkways along the banks of the river and is lined with bars, shops, restaurants, and historic missions. If you’re planning a trip here soon, check out the list of cabins and vacation rentals for a comfortable stay during your fun-filled vacation. The area is suffused with music during the summer. Keep reading to find out about the top things to do indoors in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
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1. Admire optical illusions and art pieces at Hopscotch
Immerse yourself in a world of optical illusions and interactive art at Hopscotch, a unique and vibrant art installation in San Antonio. Step into a whimsical wonderland filled with mind-bending illusions, larger-than-life art pieces, and immersive experiences that ignite your imagination.
Explore a series of rooms and installations, each with a theme and artistic concept. Marvel at the ingenious use of colors, shapes, and perspectives that create captivating visual illusions. Interact with the art, snap photos, and let your creativity run wild. From surreal landscapes to gravity-defying installations, Hopscotch offers an immersive and interactive art experience unlike any other. Discover hidden surprises around every corner, and let the art transport you to a world of fantasy and imagination.
Book Tours : San Antonio Hopscotch Immersive Art Experience
2. Experience a thrilling escape room
Embark on an exhilarating adventure in San Antonio with a thrilling escape room experience. Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and put your problem-solving skills to the test as you work against the clock to unravel mysteries and find your way out of a locked room.
Choose from various themed escape rooms, each with its unique storyline and set of challenges. Immerse yourself in the immersive atmosphere filled with clues, puzzles, and hidden secrets waiting to be discovered. Collaborate, communicate, and think outside the box as you search for clues, solve riddles, and unlock the door to freedom. Whether you’re a seasoned escape room enthusiast or a first-time player, this activity is perfect for thrill-seekers and puzzle lovers.
Book Tours : San Antonio Private Master of Illusions Escape Room
3. Marvel at the awe-inspiring Natural Bridge Caverns
The Natural Bridge Caverns–discovered in 1960 by a group of graduate students–is one of the top caverns to visit in the world! Check out many impressive natural features–including ones that resemble a chandelier and a watchtower–as well as a plethora of stalagmites and stalactites. These amazing caverns also feature formations named Grendel’s Canyon and Pluto’s Anteroom that you must discover. The temperature inside is a constant 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21.1 degrees Celsius).
Natural Bridge Cavern
Address: 26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
Website: Natural Bridge Cavern
Opening hours: 9am - 4pm (daily)
4. Visit The Witte Museum
Discover the interplay of nature, science, and culture at The Witte Museum in San Antonio. It is a Smithsonian Institution affiliate location. With galleries exhibiting the wildlife of Texas, the early people of the Pecos, Texan heritage, and an adventure through the human body, Witte Museum offers a packed day of fun and learning. The high-tech and immersive exhibits that are featured in the museum will be sure to delight individuals of all ages while also providing exciting educational elements. This indoor activity in San Antonio of visiting The Witte Museum is also one of the best things to do with kids!
The Witte Museum
Address: 3801 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209
Website: The Witte Museum
Opening hours: Mon, Wed - Sat: 10am - 5pm; Tue: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 12am - 5pm
Price: 14 USD (Free on Tue: 3pm – 6pm)
5. Treat your kids to a day at The DoSeum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
If you have children and are looking for things to do with the family in San Antonio, The DoSeum should be your number one location as it is a museum designed specifically for kids! With a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math, The DoSeum’s 68,000 square-foot (6,317.4 square-metre) interactive space provides a fun and educational experience for kids! Curated for ages 10 and under, The DoSeum is also completely handicap-accessible and a perfect indoor location for families with young children. Make sure to add this must-visit, kid-centered museum to your list of locations to visit in San Antonio when you want to stay indoors. Make sure to purchase your tickets online in advance as tickets at the door are first-come, first-serve.
The DoSeum
Address: 2800 Broadway St. San Antonio, TX 78209
Website: The DoSeum
Opening hours: Mon, Thu - Sat: 10am - 1pm, 1:30pm - 4:30pm; Sun: 1:30pm - 4:30pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
Price: 14 USD
6. Stop by Briscoe Western Art Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
A museum that celebrates the American West’s art and culture, Briscoe Western Art Museum features art and artifacts including restored stagecoaches, Native American artifacts, and other items across three floors. With San Antonio River Walk just outside the front doors of the museum, the building is situated in a beautiful part of the city and was originally the city’s public library before being converted to a museum. When in San Antonio, visiting Briscoe Western Art Museum is a must-do indoor activity to learn about the peoples, landscapes, and history of the American West!
Briscoe Western Art Museum
Address: 210 W. Market Street San Antonio, TX 78205
Website: Briscoe Western Art Museum
Opening hours: Thur - Mon: 10am - 5pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
Price: 12 USD
7. Check out Buckhorn Saloon and Museum and Texas Ranger Museum
Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, two blocks from the Alamo and one block from the Riverwalk is the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. For the past 100 years, it’s been known as a gathering place of people who love good conversation, great food, and spectacular wildlife exhibits. Currently, it houses a café, a gift shop, a shooting gallery and the Buckhorn and the Texas Ranger museums. The Buckhorn Museum has wildlife from all over the world. It boasts of fish from each of the seven seas, and animals from every continent, including the prized record holder, the famous “78 Point Buck.” The Texas Ranger Museum was established in 1936 and exhibits priceless artifacts that tell stories about half a century of ranger history.
8. Relish a Ranger Creek brewstillery tour
This is two tours in one! Visitors can learn how to make beer and how to make bourbon. It is an intimate, immersive experience that includes a detailed guided tour, a souvenir pint glass, and three samples of products. The tours last approximately one-and-a-half hours. There is also a tasting room, which is a great way to experience beer, whiskey, and unique beer cocktails. They have a simple, rotating menu that always has something new and exciting. Meat and cheese plates and light snacks are available for purchase.
Book Tours : San Antonio Ranger Creek Brewstillery Tour
9. Dine at Hard Rock Cafe
Situated along the River Walk, The Hard Rock Café is a famous tourist destination, and visiting it is one of the most popular indoor activities for adults in San Antonio. It has three floors of patios where visitors can relax and enjoy the weather and picturesque views of the San Antonio River with its slow-moving tourist barges. It has an outdoor patio that offers one of the best dining spots on the River Walk. The interior offers spectacular attractions to guests of all ages. Their servings are extremely hefty, so guests should be prepared to consume a lot. It’s ideal for events as it can hold up to 600 guests. Visitors can dine surrounded by a collection of music memorabilia that’s big enough to fill a Spanish mission, including Ozzy Osbourne’s black velvet jacket, Eddie Van Halen’s Charvel guitar, and a piece of the original stage used by Selena Quintanilla.
Book Tours : Hard Rock Cafe San Antonio
10. Taste San Antonio through a food tour
This San Antonio food tour takes visitors to various neighborhoods to experience new scenery and delicious food. It’s part city tour and part culinary adventure. Guests will enjoy zipping from place to place to taste some of San Antonio’s most classic dishes and new-comer favorites. Food and fun lovers will enjoy this unique way to jump-start Saturday nights and even date nights! It’s a three-hour tour on Saturdays from 5 p.m. Please note that alcoholic beverages are not included in this package.
Book Tours : Taste San Antonio Food Tour
11. Head to San Antonio Aquarium
This is an aquarium that features a variety of amphibians, an interactive Lorikeet and Parakeet Aviary, and a number of cold water and tropical fish. It also features sharks, a stingray touch tank and a rainforest filled with reptiles. The goal of this aquarium is to promote interactive experiences between children and the world under the ocean. Guests can hand-feed sharks, rays, bird, and fish. They hope to inspire future ocean explorers and conservationists.
Book Tours : San Antonio Aquarium Admission Ticket
12. Spend a day at San Antonio Museum of Art
The aim of the San Antonio Museum of Art is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret works of art, as well as represent a broad history and cultures of the world. The museum conducts more than 500 guided tours and provides 400 educational programs annually. These include lectures, concerts, films, workshops, scholarly symposia, and art activities.
Book Tours : San Antonio Museum of Art Admission
13. Experience a Battle for Texas interactive adventure
This is a one-of-a-kind experience that gives visitors valuable information on the days of battle that resulted in the formation of the Great State of Texas. It showcases artifacts never seen before, including Santa Anna’s Uniform, Bowie Knives, and items owned by Davy Crocket. It also is presented from both Texan and Mexican perspectives, which gives visitors the chance to experience that specific time in history, to see Alamo in a different setting. There are 11 galleries with more than 250 authentic artifacts from Texas Revolution and the Battle of Alamo.
Book Tours : Battle for Texas Interactive Adventure
14. Embark on a San Antonio whiskey distillery and brewery hopper tour
Guests can enjoy a VIP tour of each brewery and distillery, learn the craft of beer making, learn how to differentiate between different varieties, and have tastings at each location. Guests can learn to appreciate a beer like a true connoisseur, without having to worry about drinking and driving because transport will be provided, along with snacks. The total tour is expected to last five hours and will stop at three places along the way.
15. Try out indoor skydiving
iFLY is an entertainment company that created modern indoor skydiving. They make the dream of flight a reality by giving customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment. Through one-on-one coaching, each Flight School student learns a progression of flying skills in a fun group setting. Every session is taught by an experienced flight instructor who is highly trained in safety standards and certified by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA).
Enjoy San Antonio
There are plenty of historic sites and fun indoor places in San Antonio that promise a lot of excitement and you’re sure to have your fill of making merry. Take some time to relax, unwind, and enjoy a fun-filled weekend with your friends and family.
Frequently asked questions about things to do indoors in San Antonio
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