Best Time to Visit San Antonio, Texas

Spring and fall: the sweet spots

March and April are the best months to be outside in San Antonio. Highs run from 25°C to 29°C, and the nights are cool. The River Walk is pleasant at lunch, and you can stroll the Spanish missions (the old churches along the south side of the river) without wilting. April is also Fiesta season, a ten-day party with parades, food booths and a river parade of floats. It's the busiest spring stretch, so expect full hotels.

October and November are just as good, and quieter. October still feels warm at 29°C, while November settles around 23°C. Hill Country day trips to places like Gruene or Fredericksburg are easy in both months.

Summer: hot, and honestly hard work

May is the wettest month, with 108 mm over 11 days. Storms tend to roll in fast, then clear. From June to August, it's properly hot. August is the hottest month at 37°C, and nights barely cool off.

Can you still come? Yes, if you plan around the heat. Do the Alamo, the Pearl district and the missions early, then spend afternoons in the Witte Museum, the McNay Art Museum or a pool. Evenings on the River Walk are fine once the sun drops. Travelling with kids? Splash pads and Six Flags Fiesta Texas's water areas help a lot. Summer is also the cheaper, quieter time for hotels downtown, apart from school-holiday weekends.

Winter: mild and easy

December and January are cool, not cold. Highs sit around 18°C to 19°C, and lows reach 5°C to 7°C. You'll want a jacket in the evening, but you can walk all day. The sky is greyer than in summer, with about five hours of sun a day.

December is the cosy month. The River Walk is strung with lights, and the Ford Holiday River Parade lights up the water after Thanksgiving. Las Posadas, a candlelit reenactment of Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, is held at the River Walk and at Mission San José. February is mild and dry, with the least rain of any month at 32 mm, and it's a calm time for the museums and markets. Try breakfast tacos at Market Square (El Mercado) while you're there.

Which month for your trip?

For sightseeing and walking, pick March, April, October or November. For Fiesta, book April early. For lower prices and few crowds, choose January or February. If you can only come in summer, expect to use the mornings well.