San Antonio is filled with picturesque gardens and parks, vibrant street art, and historic landmarks to keep you busy snapping photos all day. While some places are famous as San Antonio's must-see landmarks, like the Alamo, others are a little off the beaten track. From colourful murals and art spaces to traditional gardens to hidden landmarks and historic spaces, you can have a variety of amazing photos to remember your trip to San Antonio. Take a look at the 10 most Instagrammable places in San Antonio to plan your itinerary and ensure you see everything the city has to offer.
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Hays Street Bridge
Take shots of a historic bridge
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The Hays Street Bridge is a stunning historic bridge that dates back to the 1900s. Located on Cherry Street, the bridge was once used for the railway and now stands as a viewing platform to see the city. During the day, you can get beautiful shots of the city skyline with the sun shining. Be sure to visit the bridge at night, however, to take pictures of the buildings and landmarks illuminated against the dark sky for spectacular souvenir photos of your trip.
Location: 803 N Cherry St, San Antonio, TX 78202, USA
Phone: +1 210-207-0970
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The Alamo
Snap pictures of the famous landmark
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The Alamo is a former Spanish mission that’s one of San Antonio’s most famous landmarks and a must-visit for pictures on your trip. Known as the Alamo Mission, the Alamo is a historic Spanish mission and fortress that was built in the 18th century by missionaries and the site of the famous Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Now, the Alamo is a museum in the Alamo Plaza Historic District that chronicles its important history. You can visit to take pictures of the exterior and tour the chapel and Long Barracks, which is home to weapons, paintings, and other artefacts of the Texas Revolution.
Location: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm
Phone: +1 210-225-1391
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Wonder Chamber
Get creative with art sets
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Read moreWonder Chamber is a unique attraction that’s designed specifically for photography and immersive art. Located in the Broadway Executive Centre on Broadway, the Wonder Chamber has 12 interactive spaces that can inspire your photography and encourage your creativity. Some of the spaces feature elements like hanging lightbulbs, neon lights in fun patterns, colourful walls, outdoor enchanted scenery, lighting effects, props, natural elements, and more. You’ll never run out of unique and interesting photos in the Wonder Chamber to remember your trip.
Location: 8800 Broadway # 116, San Antonio, TX 78217, USA
Open: Tuesday–Friday from noon to 9 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +1 210-467-5504
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San Antonio Botanical Gardens
Photograph beautiful plants and flowers
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Read moreSan Antonio Botanical Gardens is a massive botanical garden space where you can take pictures of native plants, water features, and display gardens. Located in Funston Place, the San Antonio Botanical was constructed in a former limestone quarry and is the city’s official botanical garden. You’ll have plenty of spaces to take pictures, such as the native area with plants from East Texas and the Texas Hill Country. The Sullivan Carriage House is another notable attraction and historic home that features a restaurant and gift shop. Other gardens include the Herb Garden, Fountain Plaza, Old Fashioned Garden, and the Sacred Garden.
Location: 555 Funston Pl, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA
Open: Daily from 9 pm to 5 pm
Phone: +1 210-536-1400
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Blue Star Arts Complex
Explore new art spaces
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Read moreThe Blue Star Arts Complex is a contemporary art space with restaurants, bars, retailers, and art showrooms. Located in Southtown, Blue Star Arts Complex hosts events like First Friday, art workshops, and exhibitions. The complex has an array of galleries and studios where you can see artists at work and check out their exhibits. You’ll also find many restaurants, breweries, theatres, and walking and biking paths to take in views of the city. If you want more photo opportunities, you can take the trail near the complex to Mission Reach to see the city’s 5 Spanish Colonial missions.
Location: 1414 S Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78210, USA
Phone: +1 210-354-3775
photo by Brownings (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
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The Historic Pearl
See the wonders of a historic district
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The Historic Pearl, or the Pearl Brewery District, is a fascinating destination that’s packed with breweries and history. When you visit, you can see many of the original brewery buildings from 1882 and plants and factories that have been repurposed. For example, the bottling plant is now a food hall with vintage equipment. In addition to gorgeous historic buildings, the Historic Pearl is home to restaurants, shops, and bars. The River Walk features art murals and green spaces where you can take more photos and experience the culture of the city.
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Street Antonio Street Art
Search for street art
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San Antonio street art can be found all over the city and showcases the immense talent of local artists. The murals in San Antonio are amongst the best in the country for taking Instagram-worthy photos. The city not only has a street art initiative that seeks to decorate different areas, but there are plenty of known parts of the city with spectacular murals. If you want to be sure you see all the art that the city has to offer, take a guided San Antonio Wall Crawl. If you want to find it all yourself, some of the best places include the city centre area, South Side, Midtown, St. Mary’s Strip, and the Essex Modern City.
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Denman Estate Park
Take pictures of a traditional pagoda
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Read moreDenman Estate Park is a 20-acre park with spectacular landscaping and historic homes for amazing photos. Located close to city centre, the park is filled with walking trails, historic buildings, and manmade ponds with elaborate landscaping. You’ll have a lot to see in the park, including the tranquil pond with its oak trees and cypress trees, and the mansion that once belonged to the philanthropist Gilbert Denman Jr. One of the highlights is the Pavilion of Gwang-Ju, a brightly coloured Korean pagoda that was a gift to the city.
Mapphoto by pepelinarviejo (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
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Japanese Tea Garden
Explore a sunken garden
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Read moreThe Japanese Tea Garden is a spectacular traditional garden with water features and exotic plants. Located in a former limestone rock quarry in Brackenridge Park, the Japanese Tea Garden is on the National Register of Historic Places and the perfect spot for beautiful photos. Throughout the park, you’ll find scenic walkways, dramatic stone arch bridges, Japanese pagodas, and a mix of native and exotic plants. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to take pictures or just relax on a quiet afternoon in the surroundings.
Location: Mary's, 3853 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA
Open: Daily from 7 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 210-559-3148
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Essex Modern City
Discover new murals and artwork
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Essex Modern City is a former urban infill that’s now used as a space for art, community, and trendy things. Designed as a social experiment, the infill project uses design and technology to influence the community and attract artists and craftsmen to shape it into something beautiful. If you want incredible San Antonio photos, there’s no better place to go than Essex Modern City in city centre. The entire area is filled with amazing street art in a wide-open space, so you can put your photography skills to work.
Location: 51 Essex St, San Antonio, TX 78210, USA
Open: Monday–Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed Saturday–Sunday)
Phone: +1 916-520-6424
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