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
Not sure what kind of church this is but it is pretty! 

#StunningStructures

Northside

While you're in Northside, take in top sights like The Heights Theater or Greenspoint Mall, and hop on the metro to see more the city at Northline Transit Center/HCC Station or Melbourne/North Lindale Station.

Northside
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
4 out of 5
1085 Rusk Street, Houston, TX
The price is CA $130 per night from Apr. 20 to Apr. 21
CA $130
CA $153 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 20 - Apr 21
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! (3,165 reviews)
"Location of hotel is very convinient."

Reviewed on Mar. 23, 2025

Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, 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 $205 per night from Apr. 5 to Apr. 6
CA $205
CA $242 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 5 - Apr 6
Stay at this hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,862 reviews)
"Our room was spacious and clean. The hotel overall was great and we will be returning."

Reviewed on Mar. 22, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria
Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport
Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport
4 out of 5
425 North Sam Houston Parkway East, Houston, TX
The price is CA $102 per night from Mar. 25 to Mar. 26
CA $102
CA $119 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 25 - Mar 26
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,021 reviews)
"Hotel was nice and comfortable. They do have a breakfast buffet it’s not free but it was good."

Reviewed on Mar. 22, 2025

Sonesta Hotel Houston IAH Airport
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! (1,617 reviews)
"Zaza customer service is top notch! There attention to detail is on point! Love staying here. Highly recommend this hotel!"

Reviewed on Mar. 14, 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! (1,940 reviews)
"Receptionist was friendly and made check in easy. Overall property and staff were amazing. I booked with a third party and changing reservation was a bit of a hassle as both Expedia and property were difficult to communicate together to authorize changes."

Reviewed on Mar. 16, 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! (131 reviews)
"loved staying at Rusk House. Fantastic apartment, great modern design, lots of space and natural light, and amenities such as coffee and refillable water bottles. Would have stayed longer!"

Reviewed on Mar. 18, 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

Marg

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