Getting from San Antonio International Airport to the city

The bus, and where to stand

• VIA Metropolitan Transit runs route 5 between the airport and downtown San Antonio, every day, in about 30 minutes, for 1.30 dollars.
• Getting to the stop: from the Arrivals / baggage level of Terminal A or B, go out to the Lower Roadway and cross the marked crosswalk to the outer curb.
• The stop is at the far west end of Terminal B, marked on the column. It is not on the inner curb where the taxis and hotel shuttles wait.
• Frequency varies through the day and at weekends.

Fares

• 1.30 dollars a ride, with free transfers.
• A Day Pass is 2.75 dollars - unlimited rides on all buses and services for the day, activated the first time you board. Buy it on the bus, online, or in VIA's goMobile app.
• At that price, two rides pays for the pass, so if you are moving at all it is the obvious choice.

The express

• Route 7, the Stone Oak Express, costs 2.60 dollars and runs non-stop between Stone Oak Park & Ride and the airport in 15 to 20 minutes.
• Monday to Friday, 05:45 to 19:00, every 30 minutes.
• It is the north-side commuter option rather than a way into the centre.

Once you are downtown

• VIA's VIVA services are three routes designed for visitors, stopping at or running to most hotels, the restaurants, the convention centre and the sights - the Alamo, the Missions, the museums.
• The River Walk is at the centre of all of it, and the downtown VIVA stops are built around reaching it.

The airport

• SAT is about 13 km north of downtown, which is close by Texan standards.
• It is small and being rebuilt, with a new terminal under construction.
• Austin is 130 km north-east and the two airports compete on fares, though the drive between them is 90 minutes on a good day.