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San Antonio sits smack in the center of the upside-down shark's fin that makes up the lower half of Texas, the easternmost state along the US border with Mexico. Austin is roughly 130km (198mi) northeast (about 90min drive) along I-35, Dallas about 320km (200 mi) farther along the same route - another three hours plus. Houston is more than three hours and 320km (200mi) to the east, El Paso 930km (578mi) and 11 hours west. The area, especially northeast of San Antonio around the Balcones Escarpment of the Edwards Plateau, is known as Texas Hill Country.
The downtown area is laid out in the sort of discombobulated grid system one associates with colonial era cow paths. The San Antonio River runs south to north through the city center, and a developed canal loop (called the Oxbow, but as famous as the Riverwalk) extends in a curve east from the river. The intersection of Commerce St and Losoya Ave, with steps leading down to the eastern end of the Riverwalk loop, is at the very heart of downtown.
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is a 15min drive north of downtown, just north of the intersection of Loop 410 and Hwy 281. Amtrak and Texas Eagle trains arrive at the beautiful Southern Pacific Railroad depot on E Commerce St, west of I-37, near St Paul's Square. Greyhound and Kerrville Bus Co share a terminal on N St Mary's St between Martin and Pecan, a five-minute walk north of the heart of downtown.
Getting There
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has flights from within Texas and from many destinations across the rest of the US and Mexico. The airport is about 16km (10mi) north of downtown, just north of the intersection of Loop 410 and Hwy 281. A city bus (very slow), shuttle companies and taxis run between the airport and the city. Many of the larger downtown hotels have free shuttles for their guests.
Amtrak trains link San Antonio to Los Angeles, Tucson, Palm Springs, El Paso and New Orleans on the Sunset Limited and to Chicago via Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, St Louis and more on the Texas Eagle .
Buses arrive just north of downtown, with regular daily services to and from Austin, Dallas, Galveston, Houston and New Orleans.
Getting Around
VIA (www.viainfo.net) is San Antonio's public bus and tourist-oriented streetcar network. VIA's Downtown Information Center is at 560 E Houston There are also several coach tour operators, with itineraries ranging from basic city orientation to full day outings both in and out of town.
Downtown is a complex maze of one-way streets that change direction at will. In the same spirit of perversity, relentless traffic cops will ticket and tow in the time it takes to ask for directions. If you rent a car and are staying downtown, park it at your hotel and walk. Taxis wait at most major downtown hotels, the Greyhound and Amtrak stations and the airport.
Mountain bikes are available for rent downtown, complete with maps, helmets and locks - some companies will even include free delivery to any address in San Antonio.
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