Discover the origins of San Antonio on a sightseeing tour featuring sights including the Alamo, Mission San Jose and the Japanese Sunken Gardens.
You'll visit the Alamo - the most famous spot in Texas, where David Crockett, Colonel William Barrett Travis, Jim Bowie and 186 others died fighting for independence on March 6, 1836.
You'll pass the Spanish Governor's Palace which has been labeled "the most beautiful building in San Antonio" by the National Geographic Society. The palace is furnished with antique pieces and artifacts from the early 1700's.
Take a relaxing riverboat cruise down the beautiful Paseo Del Rio, shaded by towering cypresses, oaks and willows, and bordered by gardens of ornamental foliage.
A visit to historic Market Square is a fun experience. From the famous 24-hour restaurant and bakery, Mi Tierra, to an outstanding art gallery and century-old pharmacy, this is a great place to shop for gifts or to just relax and enjoy a little people watching.
Founded in 1720, Mission San Jose became the largest and best known of the Texas missions, with up to 300 inhabitants at one time. The mission is now fully restored and boasts several unique features including the famous "Rose Window".
The Japanese Sunken Gardens feature winding pebble walkways, stone bridges, a waterfall and tranquil pools among lush gardens. Also enjoy a drive through beautiful Brackenridge Park and by the world-renowned San Antonio Zoo.
Visit Mission Concepcion and be transported back in time to the era of Spanish conquest. Learn how the Spanish developed the mission system within the San Antonio area and Texas and how they and Native Americans lived and worked in the mission era.
On this tour, you will see several Mission sites and visit the Market area. The gem of the tour is the Japanese Tea Garden -- that is a MUST SEE!
Review by: Jackie, July 2018
This was a great tour. However, this tour needs to be longer. We need to spend more time at the Japanese Tea Garden and less time should be spent on lunch. But overall -- this tour was amazing and we saw two Missions that we otherwise never would have visited. I recommend this tour to San Antonio first-time travelers and you should take it on your first day there.
Review by: Jaime D, April 2018
This a wonderful overview of San Antonio - from a tour bus visiting the missions, from the barge floating down the river, spending time at the Alamo Experience, and then time in the Alamo itself. A wonderful way to spend the day.
Review by: John Gregory O, April 2018
This tour was excellent, a very comprehensive view of San Antonio. Mike our tour guide covered all the important details without overloading everyone. Great variety on this tour for all. Well done. A must do when in San Antonio.
Review by: Judith H, March 2018
This tour was one of the highlights of our 16 day visit to the great state of Texas. It is well worth the day we spent seeing sights and understanding the history of San Antonio with our guide, Jim McDuffey. Take the day...you will be enriched.
Review by: Mary Ann F, March 2018
Our tour guide Michael was great. He was very knowledgeable and funny. Saw lots of amazing sites. Loved the tour. Unfortunately, the company gave Michael a bus where the air conditioning on the bus and the microphone didn’t work.
Review by: luvbks, March 2018
Michael was great. Appreciated his sense of humor, patience, and knowledge of the area. The company put him in a bind by giving him a bus for our tour that did not have a working microphone even though the problem_br/_ was discovered the night before. Michael’s carried and it worked out! Good job!
Review by: robert b, March 2018
Tour guide/driver seemed to be very knowledgeable about the history and development of San Antonio and surrounding area.
Review by: Asta K, March 2018
This tour can be done by just walking by yourself. Too much time given to look around when it takes 5 mins only. Waste of time to drive 100meters when Alamo is next to the stop where tour buses where located. Too much discribtion about hotels in the city - it's not important. Would not recommend.
Review by: rproost, March 2018
Great 8 hour trip with knowledgeable guide, Jim. Wary of hotel pickup based on other reviews, but he came to lobby on time. By end of day we felt we knew city and history. Stops perfect. No tourist traps. Second mission the highlight. Lunch venue, on your own, great and Jim got table for 10. Riverwalk boat ride perfect ending to perfect day. Mercedes coach. Recommend for all.
Review by: cmheatherspring, February 2018
This was the best way to see San Antonio! Our tour guide was well-informed, and passed on his knowledge of the area with a touch of humor. We did this tour the first day of a 3-day trip and recommended it to everyone we met for the remainder of our visit! Thank you for a great experience, it was well worth the money!
Review by: Kevin W, February 2018
This tour is a nice overview of San Antonio. It was a bit rushed but very informative none the less. I would recommend this tour if you are in San Antonio.
Review by: Paula W, February 2018
Excellent trip !!! You have to do it !!!
Review by: Lana C, January 2018
Great history lesson on the origins of San Antonio and how the Alamo played into the city's heritage. Beautiful river walk and boat ride. Loved the 300 yr old tree that still stands as a focal point of the walk.
Review by: Robert C, December 2017
Our tour guide was not organized at all. I know there was a special event that day, but that is why we paid for a professional to show show us around. Late, late, late, he got lost and we felt we were being rushed throughout the tour. We did not have the guide mentioned by other tourists, so maybe you should ask for one of them. VERY disappointed!
Review by: JUAN JOSE B, December 2017
Great experience, great tour guide
Review by: Donna L, December 2017
This tour was super. Jim gave us information that enhanced the beauty of San Antonio and it’s history in a way that made me appreciate what has made Texas -Texas. I would highly recommend this tour. Ask for Jim a 5 star guide
Review by: Ronald E E, December 2017
Excellent overview of the city
Review by: Eugene P, November 2017
Ed was very knowledgable in the history of San Antonio and an expert guide. Enjoyed the entire tour. Recommend the tour to all first timers visiting San Antonio.
Review by: Greg M, November 2017
Unfortunately this tour was not up to scratch. Despite organising the pick up the day before, we had to phone in a reminder. Consequently, we started the tour an hour late and we were not alone. there were several disgruntled passengers, two of whom chose to go it alone and seek a refund.. As it turned out, the tour is actually a hop on, hop off trolley bus that arrives and departs from attractions at hourly intervals which serves to limit time at the attractions or extend time if you miss the trolley.
Review by: John S, November 2017
We really enjoyed our tour...Edward was knowledgeable, pleasant and willing to accommodate our small group, i.e. recommended a BBQ restaurant right on the Riverwalk. A great overview for San Antonio...would recommend to everyone for our first visit to this City.
Review by: Dragos A, November 2017
Very nice guide the bus driver, very informative and pleasant!
Review by: tom trip, October 2017
The tour was really good and our tour guide Edward was A. I recommend to everyone!
Review by: Jennifer P, October 2017
My husband and I absolutely LOVED this tour! We are new to the city, and Perry our guide did a FANTASTIC job of showing us all the sites and sounds! The bus was very comfortable to ride around in, we learned lots of historical details that contribute to the cultural diversity of the city, we got to shop and enjoy a nice lunch, and had a blast on the river ride! It certainly was an ALL DAY tour, so be ready for the duration 8:40 hotel pick up to 6pm dropoff but every moment was worth it!
Review by: Mark L, October 2017
Tour of San Antonio was excellent. Our tour guide, Leroy was outstanding Really made the tour.
Review by: Robert B, October 2017
Except for a little late pick-up traffic, the tour was great. Everything went smoothly
Review by: Claudio B, October 2017
Guide was a no-show. Only day we had, what a waste of time and money
Review by: Damian F, October 2017
We booked this tour. We were picked up at our hotel. At the tour site the employee could not get hold of the guide and the bus did not show up. another driver, the shuttle driver dropped us off at the alamo as there was no guide. we waited there. The bus and tour guide finally showed up 1.5 hours late. he said mechanical problems. He was not at all knowlegable, It was clear he was not a tour guide and was just filling in. could answer few questions.
Review by: Gordon L, September 2017
Our bus driver/guide was very informative, enjoyed the Alamo and Japanese Tea Garden in the morning and especially liked the tour of both the San Jose and Conception missions in the afternoon. Only negative was that our driver was 30 minutes late picking us up after our lunch break because of mechanical issues with the bus. He was eventually able to get us onto a replacement bus however the driver complained that lately he was having a lot of breakdown issues with his vehicles. Other than that inconvenience, the tour was informative and entertaining._br/_ Judy and Gord Leah_br/_ Newmarket ON, Canada
Review by: Jim, September 2017
The tour company Viator used was late by an hour in picking us up. I had to call 3 times and when I could get through to someone was told they were running a little late. I never got a call advising us that they would be late and I made all the follow up calls. Very poor customer service.
Review by: Patricia H, September 2017
Harry was our tour guide and he did a fabulous job. He was extremely well versed in San Antonio history. He went out of his way to show us all the details of the city and made recommendations on what we could do for the remaining of our trip. This tour shows you all the highlights of the city. Highly recommend this tour.
Review by: charlenek53, September 2017
The overall agenda for the tour was great. We didn't really like our tour guide, he was pretty much just into his self/ego. That really spoiled the tour for us and don't know if I will ever use Viator again.
Review by: Hazel C, September 2017
Very enjoyable tour, our guide Perry was knowledgeable and allowed us plenty of time to see everything, we would definitely recommend this tour.
Review by: Dianne H, August 2017
A great way to see the landmark sites in San Antonio. Perry was our driver and shared interesting facts about each stop ._br/_ Would recommend this tour to anyone visiting the San Antonio area.
Review by: Shannon F, August 2017
We had a wonderful all-day experience. Perry was our guide, and he was so knowledgeable about all things San Antonio. It was a smooth, comfortable ride, and we got to see many things all in one day! The missions were so moving - and my husband really enjoyed the Battle for Texas museum. Great experience! Great value!
Review by: David S, August 2017
Great overview of San Antonio. We happened to hit it on one of the hottest and most humid days of the year. Made for a lond tiring day. Enjoyed the Alamo and the Chinese Tea garden. The hotel pickup was a messed up. They were 30 minutes late getting us, but we didn't miss anything.
Review by: ANDREW S, June 2017
Very good
Review by: EVA V, June 2017
This tour was awful! It started with our guide not showing up. They were 30 minutes late picking us up and then it took a while to figure out who was going to give us the tour. Our guide was very nice, but I guess new. She read everything from a paper and had nothing extra to add. She was always looking out the front of the bus so we couldn't hear her. When we drove from place to place after the initial minute of reading she had nothing else to say. I'm sure there was city history that could have been told to us. We also didn't see everything promised on the website. We were supposed to drive by the Governor's palace and be able to take pictures - this didn't happen. We were also supposed to go to Mission Concepcion which also didn't happen. Unfortunately it was a very disappointing day!!!
Review by: Ruza P, June 2017
Fun historical day trip around the confines of San Antonio. The guide was soo incredibly sweet and she sure loved her city and was eager to share with us the history of the city. The tour concentrates on two of the most iconic thins in San Antonio, the Missions and Buckhorn Saloon. The Missions, including the Alamo, which is one of the missions was, in my humble opinion, the best part of the tour. The architecture, beauty and history of these churches was memorable. Incredibly photogenic missions and the surrounding nature. The Buckhorn Saloon was a time warp, traveling back in time to the days of cowboys, lawmen and Indian history. The artifacts and fun, kitschy stuff was fantastic. Plus, the staff in there were great. I highly recommend this tour if you are interested in seeing the missions.
Review by: Carolyn, June 2017
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Perry. He gave us so much info that we did not know about this historic area. The missions were my favorite part. The vehicle was comfortable and cool. We had a very hot day and always had a cool vehicle to return to. I thought it was a great way to get an overview of the City sights. If we had more time we would have gone back to areas that we wanted to explore in more depth.
Review by: Frank L, May 2017
The inside office staff in San Antonio was terrible. We called the morning of our tour to confirm our pick-up at our hotel and were given a time. No one came to pick us up at the given time so we called again and we were told they were running late. After another 45 minutes we called again and were told that the tour had already started. Rather than pick another tour, we rescheduled for 2 days later and were given a pick-up time. When that time came and passed, we knew they were not coming. We called the office and were advised we were not on the list although we had vouchers in hand! Not getting picked up once was bad, but when it happened a second time we couldn't believe it! They did finally send someone for us. The tour is everything you'd like to see in San Antonio and our guide,Perry, was very knowledgeable. I am giving them one star for Perry. If you can find another tour company, do it!
Review by: Jayaraman V, May 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Sharon F, April 2017
e liked the tour. You do see a lot of the San Antonio attractions. There is a great deal of walking but that's to be expected. It was the full eight hours.
Review by: Dennis W, April 2017
The tour guide was very well versed in the area and where he could take us. Unfortunately there was nothing in the information we received about our tour being on one of the festival days which resulted in us not being able to get to some of the attractions listed. This in no way reflects on the tour guide as he did a great job taking us to other points of interest that were still accessible just disappointing to some members of the group for not being able to get to some of the places listed. I would recommend them to others but would strongly advise that you question what else might be going on when making the reservation to avoid the disappointment of not seeing something because it is not accessible. The tour guide was pleasant and courteous throughout the tour and shared many of his insights about the places we visited with us.
Review by: Gary S, April 2017
The tour guide was exceptional. He knows his city and loves it. We thoroughly enjoyed the Grand Sightseeing Tour.
Review by: normpatze, April 2017
Excellent way to see San Antonio for first time visitors.
Review by: Linda M, March 2017
We enjoyed the grand tour. We were able to see all the missions, the Mercado, Japanese Tea Gardens and riverboat ride. They had to go out of the way to pick us up and drop us off but they did and it was well worth not trying to make all those places in one day on our own. We enjoyed sitting back and letting someone else do the driving and finding places to park.
Review by: Catherine L, March 2017
This tour was nice and a good way to see San Antonio. There were some bumps on the tour though. The tour company double booked the person doing the tour resulting in late pickups as well as running out of gas. What your company doesn and #39;t fill up before the day?
Review by: ANNA K, March 2017
Great introduction to the city and sights.Then if you have time you can explore the city on your own. You even get picked up and returned to your hotel so don't have to worry about driving into a very busy part of the city and finding parking.Our driver-guide, Rene, was very nice and informative. Thanks Rene !!!. The Japanese Tea Garden was fantastic. The only suggestion we would have is a little longer at Missions and Japanese Garden.
Review by: cyberyenta22, March 2017
We certainly didn't need to pay for a tour, when a taxi could have accomplished the same thing, dropping us off and picking us up. The person running the trip served as driver and guide, so he was too busy navigating to give us adequate commentary. He was late picking us up after each activity. The boatride was fun, but we were totally squashed into an overloaded boat on which the navigator spoke so fast, we had trouble following his talk.
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