It was my first time since I was very young visiting SATX and I am so grateful to have visited the…read moreHistoric Market Square while I was in Texas. It was truly one of the highlights of my trip and I would highly recommend visiting to anyone in the area, and I hope to go again in the future! The parking nearby was a short walk but nothing crazy, and once we got to the Market it was shaded very well and had such a variety of stands both inside and outside of the buildings which I loved. It was a little hot outside so it was nice to be able to rotate between both areas. There was also such a great mix of stores, restaurants, snack stands, and artisans and crafts throughout. We grabbed some aguas frescas to sip on while we explored and they were delicious and a great price for how big they were. We had a big breakfast but it would be nice to try some of the many lunch spots they had throughout the market. The stores had everything but I loved the amount of talavera pottery to choose from and stocked up as much as my suitcase would allow. Prices are super reasonable as well considering these are handmade artisan pieces. I use my tazas everyday and they are the best coffee cups I have ever had. The merchants are super friendly and helpful as well. Everyone was very welcoming and made it a great experience. I hope to be back in the future!

For my trip to San Antonio, this was one of the places I was super excited to visit. Thankfully we…read morecame on a Saturday where they have Market Square Weekends from 10am - 6pm. There were food, drink, and craft vendors selling in the outdoor market which made the ambiance very lively but not too crowded, as well as live music. Unfortunately, the vendors' food was underwhelming and expensive. I was coming from California and was excited to compare Mexican street food in Texas, but the options were very bland. Esquites - $12, 5 street tacos - $18, Chicken Gorditas -$11, Agua Fresca -$10 I did enjoy looking inside the markets (don't forget there are 2 different buildings for you to do your shopping). You can find some inexpensive souvenirs mixed in with some of higher price points.

When I drove into the area back on May 25, 2025, I was taken aback by how much this area of San…read moreAntonio had changed. The street that I remember driving in front of the Alamo many years ago is now non-existent! I am really digging the Alamo Plaza, though. From what I understand, the plan is to make it entirely pedestrian-friendly - no more vehicular traffic. Thus, much of the surrounding area is still under construction, but most areas in front of the Alamo are safe. This plaza is not the same as the Plaza de Valero, which is in front of Menger Hotel. Just ensure to wear loose, breathable clothing and drink plenty of water on the really warm to hot Texas days... a young lady in a tour group I was in passed out and hit her head on the concrete of the plaza. She (or rather her boyfriend) refused medical attention. I don't know if she's okay now, but it seemed serious at the time. PARKING I think your best bet with all the ongoing construction would be at the Rivercenter Parking Garage. TIP The building west of the Alamo will be the new Alamo Visitor Center and Museum. A grand opening for 2027 has been slated.

Sometimes, the grounds outside an attraction are more interesting than the attraction itself. This…read moremay very well be the case for the Alamo Plaza. While the Alamo itself is rich in history, I prefer people-watching myself. And boy howdy, is there people watching here! While on my visit, I was enjoying a dish of ice cream, curtesy of one of the shops along the street, when I was able to get my fix of religion. There was a street preacher, or perhaps someone who just wanted to be a street preacher, yelling out scripture and nonsense. It didn't take long for him to be escorted to the end of the street by the police officers who where there patrolling on their bikes. Too bad, I was ready to repent and convert. The plaza provides lots of shade with several large trees and a little bit of seating on benches and concrete walls surrounding the landscape. Most of the shops along the street are geared toward tourists (souvenir shops, overpriced oddity museums and some eateries.) It's worth a visit for a while, but you might find better, less expensive options, a few blocks away.

We were here during the week and it was very quiet. Only a handful of stores were open on Wednesday…read morearound 5pm. Very easy to walk and browse. Love the local cats that wander around and live in some of the stores. The cats look homeless, but they are domesticated street cats. The stores have a lot of amazing locally made items - a lot of talented artists. One store - the bird and pear had fun stickers, art work and sauces, a lot of souveniers available. The prices were decent for a tourist area. There was a least one store that has a sign posted, no photos allowed in the store. Please be aware and respectful of these requests. I would love to be able to go back at some point when more stores are open.

I visited La Villita Historic Arts Village in the morning, and unfortunately there wasn't much…read moregoing on at the time. The area is charming and has some interesting historic buildings, but many of the shops and galleries felt quiet, which made the experience a little underwhelming. I enjoyed walking through the village and appreciating the architecture and atmosphere, but it lacked the energy I was expecting. I can see how it would be much more enjoyable during a special event, festival, or later in the day when more businesses are open and there are more visitors around. It's a pleasant place to stroll through if you're nearby, but I would recommend checking the hours and event schedule before visiting to get the most out of the experience.

Went on the boat tour and as we were heading back, I saw this store and I had to stop by. It's a…read moresimple souvenir store with tons of items and clearance specials on tshirts they weren't able to sell and I just needed some stickers for my luggage and laptop and this place fit the bill. Got a handful of stickers which made me super happy.

This store has something for everyone. I'm not usually into touristy stores, but this was…read moresurprisingly fun with reasonably priced items. Do I need them? Nah. But it was fun to look at the sugar skull kitties and cowgirl hats. Bought the kids souvenirs for my return home. The customer service is okay. The staff are friendly but mentally checked out.

We explored the area prior to dinner and found this amazing store! We loved the vibe and so many of…read morethe offerings they had to offer. The music was cool - staff picks the songs/station. During our visit I was grooving to 70s/disco/motown. It was upbeat and certainly set the mood for fun shopping/browsing experience. She seemed to be enjoying the music as well - she was cheerful and friendly. They had locally made products from sauces, to stickers, to textiles to jewelry, candy...so much...definitely recommend checking out their online store if you aren't able to visit in person...They have over 8 pages of products you can browse online. I love their magnets selections as well I purchased a mood ring that had a cat face on it. I was able to find hot sauce for a friend. It was sauce made in Texas too! I got a sassy fun notebook for a friend, stickers. I can't wait to buy more stuff online. If you purchase more than $75 - you can save on shipping. The prices I felt were very reasonable, especially given that a lot is supporting local artists. I highly recommend for a FUN shopping experience.

Super cute selection and the owner(?) was super sweet and helpful. The candle selection was…read morescrumptious!

Locally owned boutique that has the most well curated selection of dresses. Found the perfect…read moredress for fiesta, but Bohemian Gemme also has tons of house made jewelry and headbands. The owner will help you pick something that is flattering. Located on St. Mary's in South Town/King William where street parking can be a little tricky. She keeps up with her Instagram @bohemian_gemme and always has new items coming in.

I was in the area, looking for a cute boutique, and I found the perfect gem!…read moreMost of their items are unique one of a kind pieces you won't find anywhere else !

I really like this antique shop! It has a lot of really nice items. Most impressive to me is the…read morehuge and selection of records and African American sheet music. My only drawback is the location commiserate pricing, which severely limited my ability to buy. That's ok. I enjoyed rummaging through the multiple floors anyway.

Most of the items are eye wateringly overpriced. A few cool items, but most are so expensive. Saw a…read moreBarbie horse from 1980 that averages 15-20 dollars, listed as $42. I normally don't mind paying a little extra to support small businesses, however; the women running this place were shockingly rude. I'm so used to super nice people at our local antique mall, but with the bad attitudes, I don't want to spend anymore money with these unpleasant people.

I stopped in this super touristy store on my way to the Alamo. It's filled to the brim with Mexican…read moretrinkets. Anything you could possibly want to buy can be found here. Sombrero hats, shoes, Mexican dresses, toys, the list goes on. Be careful about the stairs; they are rather steep. I love how the signs tell you to keep your children with you. There is also another sign telling you that you cannot try on the shoes. I asked the salesgirl about it, and she said that they had lots of people coming in to try on the shoes, but not buying any. And then people who actually bought the shoes would come back saying that the shoes smelled like feet from all the people who had tried on the pair of shoes previously. True story, swear to God. I guess tourists have stinky feet! I was looking for a souvenir for myself. Warned about the shoes, I actually was looking to get either a Mexican blouse or dress as I had seen several gorgeous ones during my stay in San Antonio. The salesgirl was great in helping me pick out one, and even better yet, offered a discount if I paid in cash. Done. Best yet, after visiting Market Square, I noted that this store's clothes prices were indeed less expensive than the stores on Market Square. Same merchandise, different prices. I don't know how the other merchandise stacked up, but it does pay to shop around.

If you are ever traveling through San Antonio, then it is a must for you to stop by this store…read more They have everything you can think of. Cups, Mugs, Shirts, sweat shirts, shot glasses, skulls, puppets, jewelry, etc. Everything is reasonably priced.