Is Alamo & River Walk a good place to stay in San Antonio?

The Alamo and central River Walk are the most convenient place to stay in San Antonio for a first visit. The Alamo, the river barges, Hemisfair and the Tower of the Americas are all within a few minutes' walk, and the convention centre is on the same loop of the river. Market Square and the cathedral are a short walk west.

The area is built around the river. Stone paths and bridges line both banks a storey below the streets, restaurants and bars spill onto patios under cypress trees, and barges glide past the hotels. Above, historic hotels like the Menger and the St. Anthony stand beside the Alamo and Travis Park.

The downside is the crowds and the tourist traps. The central River Walk gets packed on weekends and during conventions, many riverside restaurants charge high prices for average food, and the streets above can feel quiet and empty at night away from the river.

What makes this area special is how much you can do on foot. You can visit the Alamo in the morning, take a river cruise in the afternoon and eat on a riverside patio at night, all without a car. For families and first-timers, there's nowhere easier.