City known for its German Texan heritage and situated along the Balcones Fault, where the Texas Hill Country meets rolling prairie land
General Information
How to Get There
From San Antonio (30 mi): Take I-35 North approximately 30 miles to New Braunfels, exiting at any of the main city exits between exits 187 and 191.
Overview
New Braunfels is a city known for its German Texan heritage. A suburb just north of San Antonio and part of the Greater San Antonio metropolitan area, it was the third-fastest-growing city in the United States from 2010 to 2020. The city is situated along the Balcones Fault, where the Texas Hill Country meets rolling prairie land. Along the fault, a string of artesian springs known as Comal Springs gives rise to the Comal River — one of the shortest rivers in the world — which winds 3 miles (5 km) through the city before meeting the Guadalupe River. New Braunfels draws enormous numbers of visitors each summer to tube the cold, spring-fed Comal and Guadalupe rivers, and it is home to Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, one of the most celebrated water parks in the country.
Within the city limits lies Gruene Historical District, a Nationally Registered Historic District founded by the sons of German settlers Ernst and Antoinette Gruene. The community once supported a bank, post office, general store, gristmill, dance hall, and cotton gin. After the cotton industry collapsed in the early 20th century, Gruene faded — but its buildings survived, and today visitors can dine in the ruins of the original gristmill at the Gristmill River Restaurant, shop independently owned boutiques, and catch live music at Gruene Hall, one of Texas's oldest continually operating dance halls. Together, the river recreation and the heritage character of Gruene make New Braunfels one of the most visited small cities in Texas.
Things to Do
Float the Comal River
Experience one of New Braunfels' most popular activities by tubing, swimming, or relaxing on the spring-fed Comal River, which maintains a refreshingly cool temperature year-round.
Explore the Guadalupe River
Enjoy tubing, kayaking, fishing, and river recreation along the scenic Guadalupe River as it winds through the Texas Hill Country.
Visit Schlitterbahn Waterpark
Spend the day at one of Texas' most famous attractions, featuring dozens of waterslides, rivers, pools, and family-friendly water adventures.
Discover Gruene Historic District
Browse unique shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and historic buildings in the city's beloved historic district.
Dance at Gruene Hall
Enjoy live music at the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas, a legendary venue that has hosted generations of performers.
Relax at Landa Park
Enjoy one of the city's most beautiful parks featuring walking trails, picnic areas, paddle boats, fishing spots, and shaded green spaces.
Attend Wurstfest
Celebrate New Braunfels' German heritage at one of Texas' most popular festivals, featuring food, music, dancing, and cultural traditions.
Explore Downtown New Braunfels
Visit local boutiques, restaurants, breweries, art galleries, and historic sites throughout the walkable downtown district.
Visit Museums and Historic Attractions
Learn about the area's German settlement history, railroad heritage, and cultural development through local museums and historical sites.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the New Braunfels, Texas, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Sources: New Braunfels attractions, river recreation, Gruene Historic District, live music, Canyon Lake access, and local activities. [1](https://petejrealestate.com/guides/things-to-do/)[2](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g56350-Activities-New_Braunfels_Texas.html) Information on Schlitterbahn Waterpark attractions and resort experiences. [3](https://www.sixflags.com/schlitterbahnnewbraunfels) Comal River recreation, tubing, swimming, and river access information. [4](https://newbraunfels.gov/3368/Comal-River) Additional information regarding Landa Park, Gruene Hall, downtown attractions, and visitor activities. [5](https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g56350-d6857235-Schlitterbahn-New_Braunfels_Texas.html)[6](https://thetouristchecklist.com/things-to-do-in-new-braunfels-tx/)
