Houston Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Houston
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 Centre. Get some exercise starting at the Water Works and heading west along the meandering 52-mile (84-kilometre) 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 Centre, 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 Centre 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 showing city views, modern architecture and a high-rise building

Downtown Houston

4/5(25 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants acclaimed theatres and top sights from Toyota Center to Minute Maid Park – discover Downtown Houston, a destination also famous for its sports teams.

Downtown Houston
Default Image

The Galleria

4.5/5(15 area reviews)

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

The Galleria
Default Image

Texas Medical Center

Restaurants, museums and shopping highlight some notable features of Texas Medical Center. Make a stop by Houston Zoo or Hermann Park while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at TMC Transit Center or Dryden/TMC Station to get around town.

Texas Medical Center
Hermann Park which includes a park and landscape views

South Central Houston

3/5(1 area review)

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 of the city at Elgin/Third Ward Station or TSU/UH Athletics District Station.

South Central Houston
Hermann Park which includes a park and landscape views

Southeast Houston

4/5(2 area reviews)

While you're in Southeast Houston, take in top sights like Houston Zoo or Hermann Park, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Palm Center Transit Center or MacGregor Park/Martin Luther King Jr. Station.

Southeast Houston
Menil Collection featuring interior views and art

Montrose

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

Montrose
Hyatt Place Houston-North
Hyatt Place Houston-North
3.5 out of 5
300 Ronan Park Place, Houston, TX
The price is ₹6,270 per night from 26 Mar to 27 Mar
₹6,270
per night
26 Mar - 27 Mar
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 staff ...
6.6/10 (154 reviews)
"Okay hotel just that check in is too late"

Reviewed on 17 Mar 2024

Hyatt Place Houston-North
DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow
DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow
4 out of 5
12801 Northwest Fwy, Houston, TX
The price is ₹9,117 per night from 26 Mar to 27 Mar
₹9,117
per night
26 Mar - 27 Mar
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 their reviews. Popular ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,469 reviews)
"Very nice hotel"

Reviewed on 16 Mar 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
The price is ₹8,034 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
₹8,034
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
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 their reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (3,582 reviews)
"The stay was short but everyone was accommodating to our needs for the stay."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2024

Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
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 their reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (3,582 reviews)
"The stay was short but everyone was accommodating to our needs for the stay."

Reviewed on 11 Mar 2024

Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
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 their reviews. Popular attractions ...
6.2/10 (2,042 reviews)
"Perfect"

Reviewed on 10 Mar 2024

Hotel Derek
Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria
Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria
4 out of 5
2626 Sage Road, Houston, TX
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 bars/lounges and breakfast. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,370 reviews)
"Easy check in and great stay"

Reviewed on 17 Mar 2024

Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria
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.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Houston

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
20
" "5 - Excellent 33.333333333333336%
4 - Good
27
" "4 - Good 45%
3 - Okay
13
" "3 - Okay 21.666666666666668%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
22 Dec 2019

Great city - love this place - fabulous dining options, great sports and theatre and friendly people.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
14 Dec 2019

Plenty to do across Houston. I recommend hiring a car or having a means to travel . Downtown is very picturesque and there is a very good atmosphere down there .midtown was a very fun place to get a drink and relax .

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
2 Dec 2019

Very nice city with great transport links

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
22 Oct 2019

We love Houston, there’s plenty to do and we have family here.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
20 Sep 2019

For the price paid it was a nice place to stop. Easy access to interstate to get around, staff seemed friendly. Overall a good stay

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
16 Sep 2019

I loved my trip to Houston and have plenty of great memories from this trip! I’m sad to be home...

Cities near Houston