Houston, TX

Travel Guide
Discovery Green featuring a garden, a city and a skyscraper

Houston Travel Guide Video

Through booms and busts in the oil industry, this Texas city has built and maintained great cultural attractions and diverse culinary experiences.

Houston’s beautiful Downtown District features walkable streets and towering high-rises. Several buildings have free observation decks. Bring kids to the Downtown Aquarium to meet fascinating marine animals. At Discovery Green have a quiet lunch break on the large lawn, ice skate in winter or attend an exciting special event. Find some of Houston’s 10,000 restaurants and clubs and bars around Market Square and throughout the city. Sample Texas Barbecue and ethnic foods from 70 countries.

For spectator sports, watch the Astros play baseball in Minute Maid Park and the Rockets play basketball at the Toyota Center. Get some exercise starting at the Water Works and heading west along the meandering 52-mile (84-kilometer) Buffalo Bayou through Buffalo Bayou Park.

Use the METRORail to travel south of Midtown to the Museum District. Spend several days in the widely varied attractions, including the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Children’s Museum of Houston, Museum of Fine Arts and Holocaust Museum Houston. The Contemporary Arts Museum, the Menil Collection and the Art Car Museum have interesting collections and free entry.

Nearby, walk around the campus of Rice University to see its historic brick buildings, beautiful tree-covered spaces, groomed quads and Rice Stadium, a great college football arena, where President John Kennedy made his speech urging Americans to send a man to the moon. In the large Hermann Park, visit the Houston Zoo and Cockrell Butterfly Center, both with fascinating creatures.

Continue south to enjoy NFL and pre-game tailgating at NRG Stadium. For sports events you won’t typically find outside Texas, visit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in the same area.

Space Center Houston is one of the area’s top attractions, about a 40-minute drive southeast of Downtown Houston. Step inside the Starship Gallery to see the Skylab Trainer Module, where astronauts trained for space missions. Travel another 40 minutes to the coastline at Galveston. Watch for dolphins leaping through the waves as you ride the free car ferry to Goat Island.

Where to stay in Houston

Discovery Green which includes a city, central business district and a high rise building

Downtown Houston

4.5/5(2,300 area reviews)

Largest central business district in Texas, this area boasts major league sports venues, a vibrant Theater District, and shopping options like GreenStreet. Easily navigate with public transportation options like METRORail and bus lines.

Downtown Houston
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The Galleria

4.5/5(1,957 area reviews)

Travelers to The Galleria praise its popular shops. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to make a stop by The Galleria and Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park.

The Galleria
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Texas Medical Center

4/5(566 area reviews)

Boasting the world's largest medical complex, this Houston neighborhood offers access to over 60 medical institutions and is served by the METRORail Red Line. Explore the John P. McGovern Historical Collections and Research Center for a unique experience.

Texas Medical Center
Hermann Park featuring landscape views and a park

South Central Houston

4.5/5(74 area reviews)

If you're spending time in South Central Houston, check out sights like Houston Zoo or Children's Museum of Houston and hop on the metro to see more the city at Elgin/Third Ward Station or TSU/UH Athletics District Station.

South Central Houston
Hermann Park featuring landscape views and a park

Southeast Houston

3.5/5(579 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Southeast Houston, check out sights like Houston Zoo or Hermann Park and hop on the metro to see more the city at Palm Center Transit Center or MacGregor Park/Martin Luther King Jr. Station.

Southeast Houston
Menil Collection which includes art and interior views

Montrose

4/5(128 area reviews)

Unique features of Montrose include the theaters and museums. Make a stop by Menil Collection or Buffalo Bayou Park while you're exploring the area.

Montrose
DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow
DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow
4 out of 5
12801 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX
The price is $110 per night from Mar 25 to Mar 26
$110
$129 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 25 - Mar 26
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and breakfast. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our reviews. Popular ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,469 reviews)
"Very nice hotel"

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2024

DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
4 out of 5
720 Fannin Street, Houston, TX
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is $102 per night from Mar 31 to Apr 1
$102
$119 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 31 - Apr 1
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (3,583 reviews)
"The stay was short but everyone was accommodating to our needs for the stay."

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Hyatt Place Houston-North
Hyatt Place Houston-North
3.5 out of 5
300 Ronan Park Place, Houston, TX
The price is $76 per night from Mar 20 to Mar 21
$76
$90 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 20 - Mar 21
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Houston. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
6.6/10 (152 reviews)
"Like it!"

Reviewed on Mar 14, 2024

Hyatt Place Houston-North
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
4 out of 5
720 Fannin Street, Houston, TX
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (3,583 reviews)
"The stay was short but everyone was accommodating to our needs for the stay."

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Lazy River Retreat
Lazy River Retreat
Cypress
Stay at this vacation home in Cypress. Enjoy private pools, WiFi, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the pool in our reviews. Popular attractions Dyess Park ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (26 reviews)
Relaxing
"We had such a great and relaxing time. The host was very responsive and the place was very clean."

Reviewed on Mar 17, 2024

Lazy River Retreat
Hotel Derek
Hotel Derek
4 out of 5
2525 West Loop S, Houston, TX
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and room service. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
6.2/10 (2,043 reviews)
"Perfect"

Reviewed on Mar 10, 2024

Hotel Derek
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Houston

Rent a car in Houston if you would prefer to, but do be aware that unlike in some other big American cities, driving is not your only transportation option. The METRORail and the METRO bus network will get you around the most visited areas of the city. A car will certainly come in handy, however, if you plan to do daytrips outside of Houston or spend a lot of time in the outskirts of the city. Visit the The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County website. Browse Houston rental cars.

Best time to visit

Houston’s summer weather can get a bit too hot for comfort between May and September with temperatures soaring to 90 F (32 C) or more. This means early spring and late fall are the best times to visit. The weather will be very pleasant at these times of year, and still warmer than some other cities’ summers. Pack light dresses or T-shirts and shorts, but bring an extra layer for the evenings.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Houston

4.2
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
5196
" "5 - Excellent 39.59460489217405%
4 - Good
5395
" "4 - Good 41.11102644212451%
3 - Okay
2063
" "3 - Okay 15.720490741446316%
2 - Disappointing
263
" "2 - Disappointing 2.0041149127486095%
1 - Terrible
206
" "1 - Terrible 1.5697630115065153%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jun 8, 2020

I love Houston! Everything is close and convenient. Horrible hotel experience though.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jun 5, 2020

Great city, friendly people, easy navigation

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler
Jun 4, 2020

Traffic is bad at times and not many attractions/sites open because of covid 19 and the protesters/rioters.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Jun 2, 2020

I just can hike Memorial park.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Jun 2, 2020

I live here for 38 years

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Jun 2, 2020

So far people are crooks and liars.

Read travel guides and advice on visiting Houston

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