Comal River Tubing with Shuttle
The signature New Braunfels afternoon: a lazy float down the spring-fed Comal, with tube, chutes and a shuttle back to where you started. Cool, clear water and a cooler of snacks do the rest.
Texas
New Braunfels & Gruene
New Braunfels is where the Texas Hill Country goes to play in the water.
Two spring-fed rivers, the short, clear Comal and the long, cypress-lined Guadalupe, carry tubers past parks and limestone bluffs, and Schlitterbahn built a waterpark empire on the same springs. Founded in 1845 by German settlers, the town still serves sausage, strudel and polka every November at Wurstfest, while a few minutes north the historic cotton town of Gruene keeps Texas oldest dance hall humming. Add Natural Bridge Caverns, a drive-through safari, scenic Slingshot drives to Canyon Lake and day trips to San Marcos and Boerne, and you have a Hill Country weekend that fits every age and every season.
Don't miss
Comal River Tubing with Shuttle
The signature New Braunfels afternoon: a lazy float down the spring-fed Comal, with tube, chutes and a shuttle back to where you started. Cool, clear water and a cooler of snacks do the rest.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels
The original Schlitterbahn, built along the Comal River, with tube chutes, flumes, mat racers and a spring-fed river that never really stops. Texas waterpark tradition at its most photogenic.
Gruene Hall
Texas oldest continuously operating dance hall, open since 1878, where legends have played on a plain wooden stage and the beer is served cold from a window. Pure Hill Country music history.
Natural Bridge Caverns
The largest show caverns in Texas, a living underground world of dripping stalactites, soda-straw formations and enormous chambers. A cool escape in any weather and a short drive from New Braunfels.
Things to do in New Braunfels & Gruene
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels
The original Schlitterbahn, built along the Comal River, with tube chutes, flumes, mat racers and a spring-fed river that never really stops. Texas waterpark tradition at its most photogenic.
Gruene Hall
Texas oldest continuously operating dance hall, open since 1878, where legends have played on a plain wooden stage and the beer is served cold from a window. Pure Hill Country music history.
Natural Bridge Caverns
The largest show caverns in Texas, a living underground world of dripping stalactites, soda-straw formations and enormous chambers. A cool escape in any weather and a short drive from New Braunfels.
Gruene and River Road Slingshot Self-Guided Tour
Rent a three-wheeled Slingshot and drive the winding River Road between Gruene and New Braunfels at your own pace. Open air, big views and a short route that suits a quick adventure.
Devils Backbone and Canyon Lake Slingshot Self-Guided Tour
A longer open-air Slingshot drive that climbs the ridge road known as the Devils Backbone and drops to the shoreline of Canyon Lake. Big Hill Country views, curves and plenty of photo stops.
Slingshot Ride and Natural Bridge Caverns Self-Guided Tour
Combine a Hill Country Slingshot drive with a visit to Natural Bridge Caverns: open-air roads above ground, cool formations below. A five-hour day that mixes speed and awe.
Guadalupe River Float and Grill Slingshot Ride
A three-hour self-guided Slingshot ride that ties together a Guadalupe River float and a riverside grill stop. A relaxed way to do both land and water in a single afternoon.
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
A drive-through safari in the Texas Hill Country, where giraffes, zebras, antelope and rhinos wander right up to your car window. Feed bags, a walk-through area and easy fun for all ages.
Landa Park
A city park built around the Comal Springs, with a spring-fed pool, miniature train, paddle boats, nature trails and shady lawns. Free to enter and a calm counterpoint to the tubing crowds.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
Gruene Historic District
A tiny 19th-century cotton town on the Guadalupe River, preserved as a district of shops, restaurants, wineries and a famous dance hall. Wander it by day, linger by night.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Downtown New Braunfels and German Heritage Walk
Stroll the Main Plaza and the streets around it, where limestone buildings, bakeries, smokehouses and beer gardens still carry the stamp of the German settlers who founded the town in 1845.
2 to 3 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Gruene Mansion Inn
Gruene
A romantic bed and breakfast set among the old buildings of Gruene, steps from the river and the dance hall. A quiet room in the middle of the best evening entertainment in town.
Check rates →Gruene Homestead Inn
Gruene
A cosy inn of cottages and rooms in the Gruene area, close to the river, the dance hall and the shops. A simple, friendly base for a weekend of music and tubing.
Check rates →The Gruene Haus at Gruene Bed and Breakfast
Gruene
A small bed and breakfast in Gruene with a homey feel and a short walk to the river, restaurants and live music. Good for couples who like a personal touch.
Check rates →The Faust Hotel
Downtown
A landmark downtown hotel with a long history, an on-site bar and restaurant and easy walks to the plaza, bakeries and the river. The classic stay for German heritage lovers.
Check rates →Prince Solms Inn
Downtown
A historic inn on the edge of downtown, with period charm, antique furnishings and a refined feel. A good choice for couples who want old New Braunfels atmosphere.
Check rates →Courtyard by Marriott New Braunfels River Village
River Village
A modern chain hotel near the Comal River and the waterpark area, with comfortable rooms, an outdoor pool and easy access to tubing, Landa Park and downtown.
Check rates →Howard Johnson by Wyndham New Braunfels
I-35 Corridor
A budget-friendly highway hotel with simple rooms, easy parking and a quick drive to the river attractions, Schlitterbahn and downtown. Practical for families and road trippers.
Check rates →Motel 6 New Braunfels
I-35 Corridor
A basic, low-cost motel with simple rooms and easy parking, a short drive from the river, downtown and the waterpark. For travellers who want to spend on activities, not the room.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Comal River Tubing with ShuttleStay
Courtyard by Marriott New Braunfels River VillageRiver Village
Do
Schlitterbahn Waterpark New BraunfelsStay
Howard Johnson by Wyndham New BraunfelsI-35 Corridor
Do
Gruene HallStay
Gruene Mansion InnGruene
New Braunfels & Gruene guides
New Braunfels for First-Timers: Rivers, Gruene and German Heritage
What to know before you go: how the town is laid out, the difference between the Comal and the Guadalupe, why Gruene matters and the mistakes that spoil a first weekend.
New Braunfels in Three Days: A Relaxed Itinerary
A balanced three-day plan mixing river time, Gruene, caves and animals, and the German heritage downtown, with notes on pacing and what to book ahead.
Tubing the Comal and Guadalupe: Which River, When and How
A practical guide to river tubing in New Braunfels: the differences between the Comal and the Guadalupe, season, rules, safety, what to bring and how to avoid the crowds.
Best Time to Visit New Braunfels: Seasons, Festivals and Crowds
A season-by-season guide to New Braunfels: when tubing works, when the crowds peak, what festivals shape the calendar and the quiet months that suit caves, museums and music.
Where to Stay in New Braunfels and Gruene
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts in New Braunfels, Gruene and the river corridor, with advice on budget, noise and booking.
Hill Country Day Trips from New Braunfels
Easy day trips from New Braunfels: caverns, wildlife, scenic drives, Canyon Lake, San Marcos and Boerne, with timing, pairings and what to book ahead.
