Spanish Governor's Palace Tours and Activities
69 Reviews

The Spanish Governor’s Palace in San Antonio, which served as housing for a series of Spanish aristocrats, is the only remaining 18th-century Spanish colonial townhouse in Texas. Along with the Alamo and other historic missions, the Governor’s Palace invites visitors to witness an important chapter of Texas history for themselves.
The Basics
A National Historic Landmark, the 300-year-old Spanish Governor’s Palace once served as a capitol building in San Antonio and is now a public museum. “Palace” moniker aside, the structure is fairly modest, with white stucco walls and bright flowers on the exterior, rugged colonial furnishings inside, and a central courtyard with a fountain. You can take a self-guided tour through the 10 rooms, some original and some that have been added on over the years.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Save time and money by purchasing a hop-on hop-off tour that allows you to see several sites in one go.
- This is a small museum without a lot of bells and whistles, so it’s especially suited to visitors interested in Texas history.
- It takes about an hour to tour the entire property.
- The building is wheelchair accessible.
- There are public bathrooms in the courtyard.
How to Get There
The Spanish Governor’s Palace is located two blocks east of San Antonio’s Market Square in the west downtown area, and two blocks west of the San Fernando Cathedral. The River Walk is four blocks east. There is no parking on-site, but you can find a spot in one of the paid lots near Market Square. Two bus stops are in front of the attraction: Commerce Street and Dolorosa.
When to Get There
The palace is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9am–5pm and Sunday 10am–5pm; it’s closed on Monday. Although you’ll rarely face large crowds and can go at your own pace, keep in mind that the museum and grounds, which are not air conditioned, can get warm in summer.
Behind the Misnomer
The Spanish Governor’s Palace’s name is almost entirely incorrect. Originally called a Comandancia, or “Casa del Capitan,” the property was home not to a governor, but rather to the Spanish military captains of the San Antonio de Béxar Presidio in the 1700s through the early 1800s. In fact, no governor ever lived here. And although the grounds and housing are lovely, if you’re expecting a grand royal palace, you might be a bit underwhelmed.
Address: 105 Plaza De Armas, San Antonio, Texas TX 78205, USA
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm. Sundays: 10am - 5pm
Admission: Varies
9 Tours and Activities to Experience Spanish Governor's Palace
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San Antonio River Walk Cruise and Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
216
Combine two great tours for a comprehensive look at the city of San Antonio. First, enjoy a relaxing, 35-minute River Walk boat cruise along the San Antonio River. Then explore the most popular sites in San Antonio on a scenic hop-on hop-off, double-decker bus tour. Visit popular sites like the Alamo, Pearl Brewery, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Market Square and many more. Select a pass, then board at any of the 19 stops to get to know the city in custom fashion, with live, onboard narration.
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From
$49.99
From
$49.99
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
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San Antonio River Walk Cruise, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Tower of the Americas
204
Combine two great tours, plus admission to an iconic landmark, for a comprehensive look at the city of San Antonio. First, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise along the San Antonio River. Then explore the most popular sites in San Antonio on a hop-on hop-off, double-decker bus tour. Select a pass, then board at any of the 19 stops to get to know the city in custom fashion with live, onboard commentary. Finally, enjoy a spectacular view of Alamo City from the top of the Tower of the Americas.
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From
$55.99
From
$55.99
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
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San Antonio Super Pass with Four Downtown Attractions
35
Experience four of San Antonio's most popular attractions with the ease of the San Antonio Super Pass. Simply use your pass to take the Rio Boat Cruise along the San Antonio River Walk, ride through downtown on the hop-on hop-off bus tour, enter into the Buckhorn Saloon & Texas Ranger Museum, and go to the observation deck and 4D theater ride, located in the Tower of the Americas.
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From
$69.99
From
$69.99
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
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City Sightseeing San Antonio City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
534
See San Antonio's top attractions and historic landmarks at your own pace with a 1-,2-, or 4-day ticket for the hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour. Explore the sites you like and hear informative recorded commentary aboard the double-decker tour bus. Learn about San Antonio's history, culture, architecture and more as you pass by the Alamo, HemisFair Park, Tower of the Americas and Cathedral of San Fernando, then browse the shops at the Rivercenter Mall along the River Walk.
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From
$37.89
From
$37.89
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
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San Antonio Segway Ghost Tour
70
Roll through San Antonio's spookier side on an evening haunted history tour by Segway. Perched atop a self-balancing electric scooter, head to some of downtown’s most storied and supposedly haunted locales, where a guide shares tales of notorious gun-slingers, ghosts of the Alamo, and legends of old Indian burial grounds. It’s a frightfully fun way to spend an evening immersed in Texas lore—unlimited spine tingles included!
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From
$59.00
From
$59.00
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
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48-Hour San Antonio Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Buckhorn Saloon and Museum of Art Admission
19
See major attractions in San Antonio at your own pace on a hop-on hop-off bus tour pass that is valid for 48 hours. Take in landmarks such as the Alamo, Tower of the Americas, and Riverwalk, and use the provided admission tickets to visit the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum, and the San Antonio Museum of Art.
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From
$53.99
From
$53.99
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
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San Antonio Ghost Bus Tour
51
See the haunted side of San Antonio on this ghost-themed bus tour. Your guide, a sinister fellow who proclaims to be in tune with the afterlife, leads you on a chilling exploration of the city’s famed haunted sites including the Menger Hotel, the old Red Light District, the former Bexar County Jail, an historic cemetery, and more.
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From
$43.29
From
$43.29

Historic San Antonio Walking Tour (Masks Required)
2
Explore the major historic attractions of downtown San Antonio. This tour offers visits to the Alamo, La Villita, the Riverwalk, Bexar County Courthouse, San Fernando Cathedral, and Spanish Govenor's Palace. You'll get a personal and authentic take on the history of San Antonio and surrounding areas. Flexible options available upon request.
Note: Face masks are required for the duration of walking tour. Social distancing will also be enforced as well as any local, state, or federal guidelines resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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From
$70.77
From
$70.77
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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The Madames and Mayhem Walking Ghost Tour
4
Adults Only! The Madames & Mayhem Ghost Tour is San Antonio's only late-night adult's only ghost tour. Ghost City Tours spills the sordid and sinister secrets of San Antonio's past. Visit the ghosts of the outlaws and opportunists who died by their own rules. And who now haunt the streets of San Antonio, still wreaking havoc even beyond the grave.
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From
$34.99
From
$34.99
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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