Houston

Travel Guide

Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston
Houston

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(79 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(32 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 Williams Tower.

The Galleria
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Texas Medical Center

4.5/5(2 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
Menil Collection which includes art and interior views

Montrose

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

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

Montrose
Houston featuring a city and a high rise building

Houston Central Business District

If you're spending time in Houston Central Business District, check out sights like Toyota Center or House of Blues Houston and hop on the metro to see more the city at Bell Station or Main Street Square Station.

Houston Central Business District
Hermann Park featuring landscape views and a park

Southeast Houston

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Southeast Houston, check out sights like Houston Zoo or Houston Natural Science Museum 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
The Whitehall Houston
The Whitehall Houston
4 out of 5
1700 Smith St, Houston, TX
The price is CA $135 per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
CA $135
CA $158 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a free area shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,577 reviews)
"Everything"

Reviewed on Jul. 7, 2025

The Whitehall Houston
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria
4 out of 5
5353 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX
The price is CA $138 per night from Aug 10 to Aug 11
CA $138
CA $163 total
Aug 10 - Aug 11
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Houston. Enjoy an outdoor pool, breakfast (surcharge), and a free area shuttle. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,192 reviews)
"Enjoyed our stay very affordable!! The cookies were definitely a bonus, I had to request some at check out for the ride home. I will definitely be booking again."

Reviewed on Jul. 10, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
4 out of 5
1085 Rusk Street, Houston, TX
The price is CA $123 per night from Aug 1 to Aug 2
CA $123
CA $143 total
Aug 1 - Aug 2
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (3,484 reviews)
"Nice place and fair price"

Reviewed on Jul. 11, 2025

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.
Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District
Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District
4.5 out of 5
5701 Main Street, Houston, TX
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,713 reviews)
"Beautiful property and great vibes."

Reviewed on Jul. 7, 2025

Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District
Hotel Ylem
Hotel Ylem
3.5 out of 5
8080 S Main St, Houston, TX
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,161 reviews)
"Close to event we were attending, great price, T the bartender was amazing, very personable and was attentive every night we were at the bar, even though he was extremely busy each night, he never lost his cool 😎. Thanks T for making our weekend special!"

Reviewed on Jul. 8, 2025

Hotel Ylem
Rusk House Serviced Apartments
Rusk House Serviced Apartments
4.5 out of 5
1085 Rusk Street, Suite B, Houston, TX
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury aparthotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and valet parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Daikin Park and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (215 reviews)
"Loved the apartment. Very nice and clean. The lobby can get crowded and the people around can be a bit much but overall I loved it! Way better then club quarters"

Reviewed on Jul. 8, 2025

Rusk House Serviced Apartments
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

Things to do

Reviews of Houston

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
68
5 - Excellent 24%
4 - Good
139
4 - Good 49%
3 - Okay
69
3 - Okay 24%
2 - Disappointing
5
2 - Disappointing 2%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

This a big city.....there is lots to do... The freeway or expressways are CRAZY!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Oiutstanding medical center - nice doctors nice people very helpful

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Visited Johnson Space Center - I would love to go back for another visit.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

did not visit Houston, only traveling through.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Not a lot to do in Houston

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

It was a neat city. Everyone was so friendly and my 10-year-old could have spent days at the Children’s Museum without complaint.

Cities near Houston