Home to numerous world-class museums, there’s no shortage of great museums in San Antonio to choose from.
No matter what kind of San Antonio Museums you are looking to visit, you have plenty of options.
San Antonio has museums celebrating the Hispanic culture, Texas history, modern art, science, and everything in between.
Museums San Antonio
Visiting museums is one of the best things to do in San Antonio.
Below you’ll find the ultimate guide to the best museums in San Antonio.
Free Museum Days In San Antonio
Area 21
Area 21 – San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology is a hands-on museum that everyone will enjoy.
Museum goest will learn about autonomous driving, IT and coding, virtual reality, aerospace development cyberinfrastructure, 3D print stations, media room, factory robots and so much more.
Area 21 I located inside the Boeing Center Tech Port, and Port San Antonio.
Free Days at Area 21
There is no cost to visiting Area 21.
WEBSITE | 3331 General Hudnell Dr. Acc Rd, San Antonio, TX 78226
Bexar Heritage Center
Enjoy learning about the historic treasures and culture through artifacts, and photos of Bexar County.
The history of Bexar County dates back to the early 1700s.
Visitors can walk through the timeline of the county as well as explore the history of the county courthouse, cultural center, and Texas Independence and check out videos at the theaters in the museum.
Free Days at Bexar Heritage Center
The Heritage Center is free and open to the public Monday-Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.
WEBSITE |100 Dolorosa St Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78205
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Blue Star Contemporary
Blue Star Exhibition, is a show featuring the work of local contemporary artists in the former Blue Star Ice and Cold Storage warehouse.
Free Days at Blue Star Contemporary
Contemporary at Blue Star offers free admission to our exhibitions and programs.
WEBSITE | 116 Blue Star, San Antonio, TX 78204
McNay Art Museum
From painting and sculpture to works on paper and more, the McNay offers a unique art museum experience filled with moments of surprise, inspiration, and beauty throughout the 25-acre campus.
The museum features artwork from Picasso, Renoir, O’Keeffe, and Hopper. With the diverse collection of modern and contemporary art, this is a great place to spend the day in San Antonio.
Free Days at McNay Art Museum
General admission is free from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.
Parking is free.
WEBSITE | 6000 N New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX 78209
Ruby City
Ruby City is a contemporary art center in San Antonio, TX, dedicated to providing a space for the city’s thriving creative community to experience works by both local and internationally acclaimed artists.
Be sure to take a stroll through Chris Park and enjoy the beauty of the garden. Check the website for special exhibitions.
Free Days at Ruby City
Admission to Ruby City is free and open Thursday – Sunday.
WEBSITE | 150 Camp St, San Antonio, TX 78204
San Antonio Fire Museum
The Museum is located at San Antonio’s original Central Fire Headquarters at 801 E. Houston Street next door to the world-famous Alamo.
At the San Antonio Fire Museum, visitors will see antique fire trucks and fire-fighting equipment, artifacts dating back to the mid-1800s, and beautifully archived documents and photos.
A 1953 International fire truck, built by the Simms Fire Equipment Company, is available for kids to climb on and dress up in authentic replicas of firefighters’ turnout gear! This is a great place to enjoy field trips with the kids.
Free Days at San Antonio Fire Museum
The admission fee is waived on the first Tuesday of every month from 12 – 4 pm
WEBSITE | 801 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
This is the perfect place to learn about the history, culture, and architecture of the Spanish missions in San Antonio.
The park features four preserved missions: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada.
Once inside the park visitors will be able to tour the gardens, courtyards, church, living quarters, and other historical structures.
This historical park is perfect for all ages and eager to learn about the Spanish and Native Americans of Texas history.
The missions are located throughout the city. So plan to spend at least several hours exploring the missions.
Free Days at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
Admission to the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is completely free. There is also free onsite parking at the missions.
WEBSITE | San Antonio, TX 78214
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San Antonio Museum of Art
A visit to the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) takes you around the world and through five thousand years of art in a complex of buildings that once housed the Lone Star Brewery.
SAMA is renowned for the most comprehensive ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian art collection in the southern United States.
Free Days at San Antonio Museum of Art
The San Antonio Museum of Art offers a free admission day on Tuesdays from 4 pm-7 pm and Sundays from 10 am-12 pm to Bexar County Residents.
Free street parking surrounds the museum.
WEBSITE | 200 W Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215
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The Alamo
This is an iconic piece of Texas history! Enjoy the beautiful site of The Alamo and explore the real-life history of the fight for Texas Independence.
Free Days at The Alamo
Admission is always free. However, visitors will need to reserve their free tickets online to enter the church ahead of their visit.
WEBSITE | 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
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The Briscoe Western Art Museum
Step inside the Briscoe Western Art Museum to experience the art and artifacts that bring the stories that shaped the West to life.
Guests will enjoy the history and culture of the American West. The engaging exhibition, educational programs, and region’s traditions are what visitors will learn about.
Nestled on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk, the museum’s main building served as San Antonio’s original public library in the 1930s, followed by the Hertzberg Circus Collection and Museum in the 1980s.
Free Days at The Briscoe Western Art Museum
San Antonio and Bexar County residents can visit on the first Sunday of the month for free admission as part of the monthly Locals Day.
For the first full weekend of the month, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and U.S. Trust cardholders gain one free admission to the museum.
WEBSITE | 210 W Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205
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The DoSeum
This is the best hands-on children’s museum in San Antonio. Children can enjoy STEM learning, Sensations Studio, an outdoor garden, outdoor play areas, and ongoing special exhibits.
Free Days at The DoSeum
Guests can enjoy Free Family Nights on the first Monday of each Monday. Reservations must be made online and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
WEBSITE | 2800 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
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The Fort Sam Houston Museum
Located within the grounds of Fort Sam Houston, the museum showcases a wide array of artifacts, photographs, documents, and exhibits that chronicle the military history of the area.
History buffs will enjoy learning about the heritage of the United States Army.
Free Days at The Fort Sam Houston Museum
Admission is always free at Fort Sam Houston Museum. There is also free onsite parking.
WEBSITE | 1405 E Grayson St, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234
The Holocaust Memorial Museum
Take a journey through the darkest times in modern history, and learn about the rise of Nazism and trace the incremental steps that led to murder in the killing fields and death camps.
Trace America’s reaction and involvement in events unfolding in Europe, join us in the memorial of the holocaust survivors who immigrated to San Antonio following liberation and pause for a moment of silence on the terrace to remember all of the lives lost during the Holocaust.
Free Days at The Holocaust Memorial Museum
The Holocaust Memorial Museum is free and open to the public.
WEBSITE | 12500 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, TX 78231
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The UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures
The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures is a museum and library located in the Texas Pavilion at HemisFair Park in Downtown San Antonio, Texas.
Free Days at The Institute of Texas Cultures
Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
WEBSITE | 801 E César E. Chávez Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78205
The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum
The museum celebrates and preserves the history and heritage of the African American community in the city.
The museum’s collection includes photographs, artifacts, and interactive exhibits that provide a comprehensive understanding of the African American experience in the local context.
Free Days at The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum
Admission is always free at SAAACAM. They do ask that museum-goers make reservations online for their desired dates.
WEBSITE | 3737 Broadway St., Suite 300. San Antonio TX 78209
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The Witte Museum
Consistently ranked as San Antonio’s top museum, the Witte Museum is where nature, science, and culture meet.
Explore your way through a shipwreck, escape a building, use a real sonar scanner to map your friends, and explore 19 interactive stations.
The museum also houses the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center, which delves into the unique history and traditions of South Texas.
The museum has special events throughout the year.
Free Days at The Witte Museum
The museum offers free general admission each Tuesday from 3 pm – 7 pm.
Parking is always free at The Witte Museum.
WEBSITE | 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
You can find renowned artists, international artists, a permanent collection, a visitor center, a gift shop, an audio tour, a variety of exhibits, special events, and more at these local museums.
