Locals know that San Antonio is much more than just the “Alamo City,” but when it comes to hosting family and friends, it can be hard to think of places to take out-of-towners that will live up to or exceed that particular landmark’s hype.

For the host that wants to impress, these 28 SA sights are sure to please any kind of visitor — from an outdoorsy college buddy to a history buff uncle, or even hyperactive nieces and nephews.

Credit: Courtesy Photo / City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture
Contemporary at Blue Star 116 Blue Star, Building C, (210) 227-6960, contemporarysa.org Founded by a group of artists in 1986 following the success of a contemporary arts exhibition in the former Blue Star Ice and Cold Storage warehouse, the Contemporary seeks to inspire and nurture San Antonio’s community of contemporary artists. It is the first and longest-running nonprofit space for contemporary art in San Antonio, and it offers constantly-rotating art exhibitions with themes that challenge and inspire. Credit: Photo courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star
The San Antonio Missions Multiple locations, (210) 932-1001, nps.gov/saan Yes, the headline says not the Alamo, but San Antonio has four other historic missions that are often overshadowed by the famous downtown landmark: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada. Visitors can go to one or more of the Spanish colonial missions directly, or try to see them all by hiking or biking the 8-mile Mission Reach trail. Credit: Photo via Instagram / judy.wallander
King William Historic District Southtown, visitsanantonio.com Southtown is known as a haven for art, flavor, culture and fun — and the entire area revolves around the heart of the King William Historic District. The Victorian-inspired neighborhood is packed with history and charm. Established in the 1800s, the district was home to German immigrants who bought land and built homes. It is named after King Wilhelm I of Prussia and is considered a Cultural Arts District today. Credit: Photo via Instagram / parkerleefilm
Credit: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Museum of Art
San Fernando Cathedral 115 Main Plaza, sfcathedral.org The cathedral is considered the historic geographic center of San Antonio and serves as a tourist attraction, community gathering place and a symbol of the role of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The church is one of the oldest in the country, with the cornerstone of the 15-year construction project laid in 1738. Today’s visible landmark, however, is the result of an 1868 renovation in the Gothic Revival style. If you time your visit right, you can also take in a stunning light show of images and music telling the history of the city that’s displayed four nights a week on the façade of the church. Credit: Photo via Instagram / serafindavid3
San Antonio Botanical Garden 555 Funston Pl., (210) 536-1400, sabot.org Not too far from Fort Sam Houston you’ll get to explore the natural beauty of the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The 38-acre scenic oasis is complete with trails, a pond, roses and plenty of native plants that make for a lovely photo backdrop. The garden regularly puts on events and offers gardening and cooking classes for those looking for a more hands-on experience, There’s also a glass conservatory and Jason Dady’s Jardín restaurant, an essential stop once you’re done exploring the grounds. Credit: Photo courtesy of San Antonio Botanical Garden
Credit: Dror Baldinger, courtesy of Ruby City
La Villita and the Arneson River Theatre 418 Villita St., (210) 207-8614, lavillitasanantonio.com La Villita wasn’t always a cultural art hub. In fact, it was San Antonio’s first neighborhood. It was restored in the mid-20th century to become the cultural landmark it is today. Across the river is the Arneson River Theatre, which was built in 1939. Audiences have enjoyed concerts, folklórico performances, plays, river parades and more at this 800 seat venue over the years. Credit: Photo via Instagram / theatre_teacher
Brackenridge Park and the Japanese Tea Garden 3700 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 207-7275, brackenridgepark.org San Antonians all love all 343 acres of Brackenridge Park, and visit it for a variety of reasons. Inside the park is the historic Japanese Tea Garden, which was built in a former quarry and features elaborate pathways and carefully cultivated landscaping, as well as waterways filled with koi. In addition to the park’s sprawling green spaces are the adjacent San Antonio Zoo, Sunken Garden Theater and Witte Museum, plus a golf course — there’s so many reasons to visit. Credit: Photo by Charlotte Mitchell, courtesy of Brackenridge Park Conservancy
Credit: Photo via Instagram / adm_xander
The opening of the Museum Reach finally made the River Walk a place locals can also enjoy. Photo via Instagram / larnunfiltered Credit: Photo via Instagram / larnunfiltered
Denman Estate Park 7735 Mockingbird Ln., sanantonio.gov Denman Estate Park features a traditional South Korean pavilion, styled similarly to the Gwangju Democracy Bell in South Korea. Gwangju, South Korea and San Antonio, you may be surprised to learn, are sister cities. Denman Estate Park is a beautiful place to visit, not only for the pavilion, but for the pond and garden as well. Credit: Photo via Instagram / doc_grunt
Central Library 600 Soledad St., (210) 207-2500, mysapl.org The bulk of the Central Library makes it stand out, whether viewed from up close or passing by on the freeway, but it is the color (dubbed “enchilada red” by locals) that really grabs the attention. Selected in a design competition held in 1991, the building’s Mexican modernist architecture by Ricardo Legorreta includes a breathtaking multi-story atrium containing the artistic heart of the structure, a blown-glass sculpture created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Credit: Photo via Instagram / purochela
Credit: Courtesy Photo / McNay Art Museum
Credit: Sarah Brooke Lyons, courtesy of Carver Community Cultural Center
San Pedro Creek Culture Park 715 Camaron St., (210) 302-3652, spcculturepark.com Located on the western edge of downtown, culture, art and nature come together as a tribute to the birthplace of San Antonio. The San Pedro Creek Culture Park features local artists’ works, created with the story of the diverse cultures drawn to the banks of San Pedro Creek for 12,000 years in mind. Murals, tiled benches, ceramic art and historical texts and poetry can be seen along with the creek’s natural flora and fauna. Credit: Photo via Instagram / art_moreorless
Credit: Photo via Instagram / morningsuninmylife
Credit: Courtesy Photo / San Antonio Zoo
Hays Street Bridge
803 N. Cherry St., sanantonio.gov
Originally built to allow vehicular crossing over the tracks of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, the restored Hays Street Bridge, which now accommodates pedestrian traffic, has dual appeal. First, it’s a historically significant structure that long served as the chief connector between downtown and the city’s predominantly Black East Side. Second, the bridge offers amazing views of the city, which explains why so many runners, cyclists and lovebirds end up there. Credit: Photo via Instagram / high.intensity.2014
World’s Largest Virgin Mary Mosaic
1315 Guadalupe St.
Jesse Treviño’s spectacular mural La Veladora of Our Lady of Guadalupe features a 3D votive candle (veladora) with an eternal flame facing Guadalupe Street. Intended to serve as a beacon for the neighborhood, this mixed media mural is truly magnificent, and is even said to be the world’s largest Virgin Mary mosaic. Credit: Instagram / visitsanantonio
Bracken Cave 26101 FM 3009, tpwd.texas.gov In the summer, you can find the largest colony of bats in the world right here in San Antonio. About 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats chill at Bracken Cave from March to October, making it one of the world’s largest concentrations of mammals. So many bats are found here because the cave is a maternity site for the species, so females gather here to give birth and rear their young. Credit: Photo via Instagram / ella__ferguson
Credit: Photo by Mike Hume, courtesy of the Majestic Theatre
Credit: Courtesy Photo / Natural Bridge Caverns
Credit: Photo via Instagram / mattrelliott
San Pedro Springs Park 2200 N. Flores St., (210) 732-5992, sanantonio.gov The blue, clear waters found in San Pedro Springs Park have been used since hunters and gatherers roamed the land nearby and drank from its springs. As the second oldest public space in America, many San Antonians’ ancestors have swam in the park’s pool. There’s no fee for locals looking to jump in this cold-refreshing water hole in the summer, and its beauty can be enjoyed year round. Credit: Instagram / brandik1970
Comanche Lookout Park 15551 Nacogdoches Road, (210) 207-7275, sanantonio.gov Comanche Lookout Park is known for having one of the highest elevation points in the city, which offers amazing and expansive views. Throughout the park’s 96 acres, it also features artwork honoring its indigenous history. Credit: Photo courtesy of City of San Antonio
Mission Marquee Plaza (formerly the Mission Drive-In) 3100 Roosevelt Ave., (210) 207-8612, missionmarquee.com The Mission Drive-In entertained countless numbers of car-bound moviegoers who came from all over the city from 1948 into the early 2000s. After the theater’s closure, the city purchased the site and now uses it for arts and cultural events under the supervision of the San Antonio World Heritage Office. Throughout the year, movies still flicker across the original big screen, only viewers now sprawl on blankets or in lawn chairs across a lawn facing the screen. Credit: Photo via Instagram / mission_marquee_plaza