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San Antonio River Cruise

A San Antonio River Cruise offers a relaxing way to experience the city’s famous River Walk from the water. Glide along the San Antonio River while passing colourful restaurants, historic buildings, bridges, public art, and downtown landmarks, with narrated commentary bringing the city’s history, culture, and architecture to life.

Choose Your San Antonio River Cruise Experience

Featured
Private Exclusive San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise

From $639CAD / person

Private Exclusive San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise

4 hrsChange-of-Plans Guarantee

What's included

  • San Antonio River Cruise
Check Availability

Change-of-Plans Guarantee: free cancellation up to 24h before

Evening Tour of San Antonio w/ Dinner

From $7878CAD / person

Evening Tour of San Antonio w/ Dinner

3 hrsChange-of-Plans Guarantee

What's included

  • San Antonio River Cruise
Check Availability

Change-of-Plans Guarantee: free cancellation up to 24h before

Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin

From $334CAD / person

Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin

7 hrsChange-of-Plans Guarantee

What's included

  • San Antonio River Cruise
Check Availability

Change-of-Plans Guarantee: free cancellation up to 24h before

More Ways to Experience San Antonio River Cruise

Private Exclusive San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise4 hrs

Private Exclusive San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise

See San Antonio’s top sights on a private walking tour. Visit the Alamo and learn about its history. Enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the River Walk. Walk through the colorful La Villita District. Cross the Love Lock Bridge. Step inside the peaceful San Fernando Cathedral. Ride to the top of the Tower of the Americas for city views. With a local guide this easy half-day San Antonio private walking tour gives you a clear and fun look at the heart of the city.

From $639 CADView Details →
Evening Tour of San Antonio w/ Dinner3 hrs

Evening Tour of San Antonio w/ Dinner

Explore San Antonio - the enchanting “River City” lit up at night including the Alamo, River Walk Boat Cruise and a 3-course dinner at Tower of the Americas with a stunning panoramic view.

From $7878 CADView Details →
Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin7 hrs

Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin

Set out on this amazing small-group journey from Austin to explore the heart and soul of San Antonio, also known as the River City. Walk through the storied grounds of the Alamo, take in a guided drive highlighting the city’s skyline, and experience the enduring beauty of its Spanish colonial missions. Cap it off with stunning views from a peaceful river cruise and the soaring heights of the Tower of the Americas.

From $334 CADView Details →
San Antonio Best of Riverwalk Food Walking Tour3 hrs

San Antonio Best of Riverwalk Food Walking Tour

Discover the flavors of Texas on the San Antonio Riverwalk Food Tour. Stroll along the famous San Antonio Riverwalk while enjoying delicious food and drinks at top local restaurants. Along the way, take in iconic sights and points of interest. Led by a knowledgeable local guide in an ultra-small group, this tour is the perfect way to experience San Antonio’s food scene.

From $181 CADView Details →
Scenic San Antonio Night Tour with Dinner, Cruise and Tower of Americas4 hrs

Scenic San Antonio Night Tour with Dinner, Cruise and Tower of Americas

Discover San Antonio after dark on a premium small-group tour (max 7). Enjoy hotel pickup and drop-off, skip-the-line access to Tower of the Americas, a relaxing nighttime River Walk boat cruise, and a narrated city drive in a luxury Mercedes Metris—plus a three-course dinner at an award-winning restaurant.

From $363 CADView Details →
Scenic San Antonio Night Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise3 hrs

Scenic San Antonio Night Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise

Experience an exciting night out in San Antonio with our small group Night Tour including a relaxing cruise. See the city skyline glow from the Tower of the Americas and enjoy the shimmering lights along the River Walk. Glide through the water on a peaceful nighttime boat cruise. Wrap up with a narrated drive past key landmarks before returning to your accommodation.

From $167 CADView Details →
Private Exclusive Scenic San Antonio Night Tour with Riverwalk Boat Tour3 hrs

Private Exclusive Scenic San Antonio Night Tour with Riverwalk Boat Tour

See the city after dark on a San Antonio Private Night Tour made for small groups. Start with a ride up the Tower of the Americas. From the top, the city spreads out beneath you glowinthe dark. Next, enjoy a calm boat ride along the River Walk. Your guide will share stories—some g in from history, some from today. You’ll ride in a comfortable van between stops. When the tour ends, your guide will drop you off at your hotel. It’s a simple and relaxing way to enjoy the city after dark.

From $629 CADView Details →
San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise3 hrs

San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise

Discover the heart of San Antonio with a guided tour starting at the iconic Alamo. Walk the grounds where history was made during the 1836 battle and get up close with the Alamo’s 16-pounder cannon, palisades and barracks. Then, relax by strolling through lush gardens shaded by oak trees on historic grounds. Enjoy a stress-free, small-group experience with all admissions included.

From $181 CADView Details →
Best of San Antonio Tour4 hrs

Best of San Antonio Tour

Experience the best San Antonio tour with this intimate small-group adventure, visiting the iconic Alamo and historic Spanish colonial missions. Enjoy a narrated drive through the stunning San Antonio skyline and a relaxing River Cruise along the River Walk. Take in breathtaking views from 190 meters atop the Tower of the Americas, a top sightseeing highlight.

From $223 CADView Details →
San Antonio Short Walking Tour with Cruise ONLY (1.5hr)2 hrs

San Antonio Short Walking Tour with Cruise ONLY (1.5hr)

Explore San Antonio with a local guide, from the historic Emily Morgan Hotel and The Alamo to La Villita Arts Village, ending with a scenic Go Rio River Cruise along the famous River Walk.

From $68 CADView Details →
Private Exclusive Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin7 hrs

Private Exclusive Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin

Enjoy a smooth day trip from Austin to San Antonio on this Private Best San Antonio Tour from Austin. Ride in a comfy van with a local guide. Visit The Alamo and hear the story of the 1836 battle. Explore old Spanish Missions and see how they shaped the city. Go up the Tower of the Americas for great views. Then, take a calm boat cruise along the River Walk. Skip-the-line tickets and hotel pick-up are included. It’s an easy, fun way to see San Antonio.

From $1429 CADView Details →
Best of San Antonio Exclusive Private Tour4 hrs

Best of San Antonio Exclusive Private Tour

Explore San Antonio in comfort on this Best San Antonio Private Tour, a 4-hour guided experience designed for small groups. Visit the Alamo and San Antonio Missions. Enjoy broad city views from the Tower of the Americas and relax on a River Walk Cruise. Enjoy complimentary pick ups and drop offs from your hotel in a luxury vehicle. This small-group tour is a fun way to see the best of the city.

From $839 CADView Details →

Find the perfect experience for you

Tour
Private Exclusive San Antonio Small Group Walking Tour with Riverwalk Boat Cruise
Evening Tour of San Antonio w/ Dinner
Best of San Antonio Tour from Austin
San Antonio Best of Riverwalk Food Walking Tour
Price$639 CAD$7878 CAD$334 CAD$181 CAD
Duration4 Hours3 Hours7 Hours3 Hours
BookCheck AvailabilityCheck AvailabilityCheck AvailabilityCheck Availability

Plan Your Visit

Opening hours

Open daily 12pm - 10pm

706 E River Walk, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA

Here's how your experience would look

A glimpse into the ultimate San Antonio River Cruise adventure.

Riverwalk San Antonio Boat Cruise
River Walk Cruise Night
River Walk Blue Barge

About San Antonio River Cruise

Sight-see, shop, dine and have fun along the world-renowned 15-mile urban waterway - The River Cruise (also known as Paseo del Rio). The waterway is a city treasure and the largest urban ecosystem in the nation.

 

The waterway has something for everyone, including shopping, sightseeing, scrumptious food, and fun, only steps away from the famous historic landmark – the Alamo. Nestled below the street level it provides a tranquil way to explore the city either on foot or by jumping aboard the River Cruise.

 

Get connected with the city’s culture, history, architecture, and timeless charm on a 35-40 minute cruise in a colorful and quiet barge to explore the city’s enchanting history beginning with the city’s first neighborhood La Villita, passing the Old Mill Crossing and more tourist attractions!. See Christmas lights and vibrant illuminations when you book a tour during the holiday season!

San Antonio Best of Riverwalk Food Walking Tour


What to Know About San Antonio River Walk Cruises

The beautiful San Antonio River Walk, also dubbed Paseo del Rio, is the most expansive and impressive urban ecosystem in the nation providing sightseers with the fun opportunities of learning, shopping, dining, and much more! You can explore the River Walk on foot through the walkway along the river or hop on and enjoy a leisurely boat ride along the world-famous 15 mile-urban waterway and take in the bustling sights of La Villita, the Old Mill Crossing, Selena’s Bridge, and more! The waterway is nestled along 809 River Walk St. only a few steps away from the Alamo, providing you with the opportunity to learn and celebrate the culture and history of San Antonio.

 

📍 How to Get There

You can locate this pedestrian street one level down from the automobile street where E. Hildebrand Ave traverses the San Antonio River. It is nestled about 4 miles north of the bustling city center. The best way to get to this culturally rich tourist destination is by booking a Best of San Antonio Tour that will pick you up from wherever you're staying in Downtown San Antonio and driving you through the various tourist landmarks of the city before taking you to the River Walk to enjoy it in the best way possible — by hopping on a relaxing boat cruise!

 

📖 Best Time to Visit

Even though the River Walk city park is open 365 days a year for you to see, the best time to visit this spot is in winter and spring, particularly from November to April when the weather is quite pleasant and mild. San Antonio experiences warm weather even in the cold months of December and January. The daytime temperature in these months averages about 60 degrees Fahrenheit and above. Imagine what it will be like in the summer!

 

Highlights

Sit back and relax on the 40-minute cruise as you take in the gorgeous sights of San Antonio passing multiple points of interest such as La Villita, the Old Mill Crossing, and more! Our knowledgeable tour guides will take you on a narrated cruise aboard vibrant electric barges to connect you to the soul of San Antonio by learning about the city's rich history, culture, architecture, and perennial charm! Learn about famous historic sites such as the Alamo, the King William Historic District, and more! Shop memorabilia and souvenirs for loved ones back home at the historic Pearl and other shops at Rivercenter! Dig into delicious Tex-Mex cuisine at Casa Rio and dine al fresco at The Food Hall at Bottling Department! Learn some history at the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and do so much more at the Riverwalk!

 

Features

Spend 35 minutes cruising on a San Antonio River Walk Boat Tour and learn about the city's rich history when you cruise past La Villita, the very first neighborhood in the city, where General Santa Anna positioned his artillery during the historic Battle of the Alamo, and beyond that, Old Mill Crossing, the site where Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders made their charge. Our tour guides will make sure to walk you through the history of every point of interest you take in! 

 

Marvel at the city's gorgeous architecture ranging from bridges to buildings, all rich in history and culture. You'll see Selena's Bridge known for a romantic scene filmed on this very spot from the biopic Selena in which the famous Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Perez is played by the pop culture icon Jennifer Lopez. Don't forget to check out the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the Briscoe Western Art Museum, and other architectural landmarks! 

 

We highly recommend you experience the San Antonio River Cruise by booking a tour during the holiday season when the River Walk is lit up with 100,000 holiday lights. Every year, the lights are illuminated on the day after Thanksgiving, signaling the beginning of the Ford Holiday River Parade, and they remain up until at least New Year's Day. See the dazzling illuminations, Christmas lights, and more while cruising on a vibrant barge!

 

📖 History

The San Antonio River Walk, now a beloved attraction for visitors to the city, has a rich history that dates back to a calamitous flood in 1921. This flood resulted in the loss of more than 50 lives with several people reported missing, which prompted discussions on ways to control the river's levels. The solution to prevent future floods was the development of the River Walk, a network of walkways stretching three miles with twenty bridges situated one level below the main city.

 

Construction on this Texan treasure began in 1939, with funding mostly coming from the Works Progress Administration. When the Riverwalk's first restaurant, Casa Rio, was opened to the public in 1946, it marked the beginning of the site's tourist potential. This diner is still in operation today, enticing thousands of tourists to its classic Tex-Mex fare. Over the years, the River Walk has expanded to include over fifteen miles of walkways and numerous tourist attractions, stretching from the mission area to downtown and up to the major museums in the city.

 

Now, the San Antonio River Walk is a must-see destination for visitors and offers many things to do and see, such as La Villita, HemisFair Park, San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio Missions including the Alamo which has been a historic staple of the River Walk for decades.

See every tour that stops here on the San Antonio tours page.

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