Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on the yellow line connect Sunset Station with the downtown Riverwalk, where you can
transfer to other streetcar and bus lines.
Getting Around
TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
VIA bus 5 runs at least hourly between the airport and downtown from around 6am (8am
on weekends) until 9:30pm. The regular service costs $1.20, the express service $2.50; the
journey takes between 45 minutes and an hour. Slower bus 550 (clockwise) and 551
(counterclockwise) circumnavigate the city on Loop 410, taking three hours and stopping
at the airport on the way.
All of the major rental-car agencies have outlets at San Antonio International Airport.
Major downtown hotels have free airport courtesy shuttles; be sure to ask. A taxi ride
from the airport to downtown costs between $25 and $29 for up to four people. Or, if
you're traveling solo, you can save a few bucks and take a shuttle with
Go Airport Shuttle
(
210-281-9900;
www.citytoursinc.com
)
.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
There are plenty of public parking lots downtown, including with most of the major ho-
tels. The lots generally cost $3 per hour, or $5 to $8 for 24 hours. Otherwise you can park
for free in the residential streets of the King William district and Southtown, then walk or
ride VIA's blue line streetcars north into downtown.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
VIA Metropolitan Transit
( 210-362-2020;
www.viainfo.net
)
San Antonio's public-transport net-
work, VIA Metropolitan Transit, operates more than 100 regular bus routes, plus four
streetcar routes. VIA passes, bus schedules and streetcar route maps are available at VIA's
downtown
information center
(
210-362-2020;
www.viainfo.net
;
211 W Commerce St;
7am-6pm Mon-
Fri, 9am-2pm Sat)
.
Local VIA bus and streetcar fares are $1.20 (15ยข for a transfer), and exact change is re-
quired. VIA express buses, which use interstate highways and include buses to theme
parks, cost $2.50. Discount fares are available for children, seniors and the mobility im-
paired. Otherwise, a $4 pass allows a full day of unlimited rides on all VIA buses and
streetcars.
Note that the streetcars look more like trolleys, since there is no overhead cable. The
streetcar routes are occasionally served by buses, too, although the fare remains the same
