Overview
New Braunfels is a resort town in the Texas Hill Country. As the name implies, it has a German heritage, and many of the local attractions capitalize on this.
4 sights · 11 things to do · 6 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about New Braunfels
Gruene Hall
The oldest continually operated dance hall in Texas.
Schlitterbahn
Consistently called the best waterpark in the world. Complete with four parks, and the highest rated water ride in the country, this waterpark is an ideal tourist spot. See web site for various ticket prices, reserve roo…
Cypress Bend Park
On the Guadalupe.
Buc-ee's
The largest convenience store in the world (66,335 sq ft).
Lone Star Music
A Texas music retail store which was started on the Internet by Chad Raney and grew into a bricks and mortar retail location.
Gruene General Store
The General Store has an ice cream bar; dozens of different salsas, jams, and butters; t-shirts; and lots of miscellaneous toys and gifts, all right across the street from Gruene Hall.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 96°F; winter lows dip to about 41°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Sep. (climate data from nearby San Antonio)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SAT San Antonio International Airport, San Antonio — 24 mi away (major hub). Directions
- AUS Austin Bergstrom International Airport, Austin — 44 mi away (major hub). Directions
New Braunfels is situated on IH-35 at SH-46, near the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. Access to New Braunfels is accessible via private plane charter, highway access, and the Greyhound Bus Line. Airport shuttles from Austin and San Antonio are available. From San Antonio, head north on IH-35 about half an hour (30 miles) until you reach the SH-46 exit. From Austin, head south on IH-35 for about an hour (60 miles), past San Marcos, and exit SH-46. From Houston, head west on IH-10 about two and a half hours (150 miles), exit SH-46, and head north for about 15 minutes (14 miles more).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $18 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Buc-ee's, Gruene General Store, Felger's Tube Rental
- Lunch Granzin's Meat Market
- Afternoon Wurstfest, Fair Park
- Dinner Naegelin's Bakery
- Evening Riley's Tavern
Day 2
- Morning Gruene Hall, Cypress Bend Park, Schlitterbahn
- Lunch Gristmill Restaurant
- Afternoon New Braunfels Folkfest, Landa Park
- Dinner Huisache Grill
- Evening The Faust Brewing Company
Day 3
- Morning Lone Star Music, City Tube Rental, Comal County Fair
- Lunch Pat's Place
- Afternoon Panther Canyon Nature Trail, Natural Bridge Caverns
- Dinner Clear Springs Texas Seafood
- Evening The Oyster Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
New Braunfels is usually considered a vacation destination. While it has no university of its own, it has a distinct college town feel, probably due to the huge numbers of students from universities in nearby San Antonio and San Marcos. Most of the town's revenue comes from tourism drawn by the incredible rivers, including the Comal River, which is the world's shortest, entirely located within the city limits.
New Braunfels is also the home of several other smaller "towns" within the city. One of these "towns" is Gruene, TX, home of the Gristmill Restaurant and Gruene Hall.
Talk
As elsewhere in the region, English and Spanish are the primary languages. But if you're lucky, you might overhear the odd conversation in Texas German, a dialect brought here by 19th-century immigrants that's still today spoken by a few hundred New Braunfelsians. If you're keen on encountering the Texas German language in the wild, it's best to gravitate toward places where older people congregate, such as bowling alleys, hardware and feed stores, and the like.
Get in
New Braunfels is situated on IH-35 at SH-46, near the Comal and Guadalupe rivers. Access to New Braunfels is accessible via private plane charter, highway access, and the Greyhound Bus Line. Airport shuttles from Austin and San Antonio are available. From San Antonio, head north on IH-35 about half an hour (30 miles) until you reach the SH-46 exit. From Austin, head south on IH-35 for about an hour (60 miles), past San Marcos, and exit SH-46. From Houston, head west on IH-10 about two and a half hours (150 miles), exit SH-46, and head north for about 15 minutes (14 miles more).
Get around
By car
Personal vehicle travel is the only effective motorized transportation in town. Print, download, or buy a local map and brave the roads. Traffic during summer weekends is very heavy. Prince Solms Park often has free parking after the for-pay lot is full. Parking costs $5-10 depending on location. Many tube rental shops offer free parking all day with rental.
By bicycle
With heavy traffic and crowded roads, bicycle and foot are appealing travel options. There are a few bicycle rental shops in town. Remember that bicycles are considered vehicles in the eyes of law enforcement, so obey all traffic laws.
See
Rivers
The Comal and Guadalupe rivers offer beautiful sights.
Gruene
A historic district. Visiting this little "town" situated along the Guadalupe River is like stepping back in time. Antique shops, restaurants, and niche retail stores make for unique shopping.
Do
Water Parks
Tubing
This seems to be what the Comal river was created for. People rent an innertube, hop in the water, and float a few miles down the river. The services of a tubing shuttle are often employed to get from the end back to the insertion point, but because of loops in the river it's a short walk. The anti-littering rules are strong and enforced; do not take anything disposable on the river, including beverages in disposable containers, plastic baggies, or anything made of glass or styrofoam. Coolers with a capacity over 16 quarts is prohibited in city limits on the river. It's okay to drink beer on the river, but consumption or carrying an open container of an alcoholic drink in city parks.
Do City Tube Rental
Run by the city of New Braunfels. Tube rental also has a $10 deposit, returned when you return the tubes - you are asked to write your name on the receipt, which is kept on file for the day, and your deposit is returned when you provide the rented tubes and name on the receipt.
Festivals and fairs
Do New Braunfels Folkfest
Folkfest is an annual Family Heritage festival celebrating the German/Anglo/Spanish heritage of New Braunfels. Most activities take place at the Heritage Village, but there is a costumed children's parade (the Kindermaskenball Parade) that takes place in Downtown New Braunfels. This is generally held the second week of April, but check the website for more details
Hiking
Do Fair Park
On the Gaudalupe. This park also serves as auxiliary parking for Schlitterbahn during the summer months.
Tours
Camping
Buy
Shop San Marcos Outlet Mall
- See Buc-ee's in "See" section above.
Eat
Eat Granzin's Meat Market
Granzin's has the best and freshest meat for the cheapest price in New Braunfels.
Eat Naegelin's Bakery
The gingerbread men, apple struedel and sugar cookies are excellent.
Eat Gristmill Restaurant
Alongside the river, Gristmill's large country atmosphere serves up excellent food. It's often a long wait on weekends and predominantly tourist.
Eat Huisache Grill
An intimate and casual restaurant serving creative contemporary cuisine with fresh regional ingredients.
Eat Pat's Place
Caters to tubing groups. Proper attire is of course required by law (that is, shirts and shoes), but they take to-go orders. Their burgers are great, and they have a variety of local beer.
Eat Clear Springs Texas Seafood
Known for its fried catfish. Amazing country atmosphere.
Drink
Drink The Faust Brewing Company
One of several microbreweries.
Drink Pat's Place
Has a full bar with several Texas beers.
Drink The Oyster Bar
Known as the "OB" to locals, this bar has a full bar with a fun atmosphere.
Drink Riley's Tavern
First tavern in Texas after Prohibition. Serves pizza, tacos, and sandwiches. They have regular concerts which require tickets.
Sleep
In high season, hotels can fill. If this happens to you, consider a hotel in nearby Seguin or San Marcos.
Stay Sleep Inn & Suites
Hotel opened in 2008, featuring interior corridor rooms with an elevator, breakfast, pool and heated spa, high speed and wireless Internet, business center, fitness room, meeting space, and guest laundry. All rooms feature king bed with sleeper sofa or two queen beds. Amenities include a work desk, LCD TVs with HBO and HD channels, microwave/refrigerator, coffeemaker, iron/board, and hairdryer.
Stay River Ranch RV Resort
Beautiful RV resort on the Guadalupe River with 53 - cemented full hook up sites 20/30/50 AMP paved drives, free cable TV, free Wi-Fi. clean bath houses and laundry facilities. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, on site manager, and array of activities and nearby attractions.
Go next
- San Antonio is a nearby city with a lot of history and attractions.
- San Marcos - 18 miles northeast of New Braunfels, San Marcos is the home of Texas State University and its Aquarena Center, two massive outlet malls that have more than 350 shops, as well as stretches of river in a more natural state.
- Austin is the capital of Texas, has endless quirks and is definitely worth a visit.
Nearby
Seguin
City / town · 14 listings · 13 mi away
Natural Bridge Caverns
Park · 13 mi away
San Marcos
City / town · 38 listings · 17 mi away
Kyle
City / town · 3 listings · 25 mi away
Luling
City / town · 14 listings · 29 mi away
San Antonio
City / town · 118 listings · 29 mi away
Driftwood
City / town · 4 listings · 30 mi away
Blanco
City / town · 1 listings · 33 mi away
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