Houston, TX

Travel Guide

Discovery Green
Houston
Battleship Texas
Houston
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
Default Image

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 Williams Tower.

The Galleria
Default Image

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
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 Westheimer Rd while you're exploring the area.

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

#StunningStructures

Northside

3/5(1 area review)

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
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
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
4 out of 5
1085 Rusk Street, Houston, TX
The price is ¥12,460 per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
¥12,460
¥14,578 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
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! (3,405 reviews)
"N"

Reviewed on Jun 10, 2025

Club Quarters Hotel Downtown, Houston
Magnolia Hotel Houston, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Magnolia Hotel Houston, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
4 out of 5
1100 Texas St, Houston, TX
The price is ¥18,170 per night from Jun 22 to Jun 23
¥18,170
¥21,706 total
Jun 22 - Jun 23
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,008 reviews)
"The staff was extraordinary and the property was exquisitely clean."

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2025

Magnolia Hotel Houston, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center
Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center
4.5 out of 5
6633 Travis St, Houston, TX
The price is ¥15,448 per night from Jul 2 to Jul 3
¥15,448
¥18,241 total
Jul 2 - Jul 3
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Houston. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,381 reviews)
"Love this place, staff is great, I will be back."

Reviewed on Jun 10, 2025

Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center
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 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! (2,091 reviews)
"We enjoyed the convenience of Hotel Ylem’s location to dining and groceries. The room is a good size, but it would be nicer to also have an easy chair for seating. The TV required our fiddling to get it to work everyday even after maintenance looked into it. We enjoyed the available breakfast ..."

Reviewed on Jun 12, 2025

Hotel Ylem
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! (1,679 reviews)
"We live only a few miles away, but love coming here for a random weekend or for our anniversary. The staff is friendly and accommodating. We love to linger at the pool."

Reviewed on Jun 6, 2025

Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District
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 ...
9/10 Wonderful! (197 reviews)
"Nice stay for a weekend get away! Property is downtown so parking luggage to carry can be a challenge unless you valet park. Only unfavorable part of the stay was the shower was lukewarm and the hot water from the kitchen faucet was white"

Reviewed on Jun 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

4.2
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
5196
5 - Excellent 40%
4 - Good
5395
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
2063
3 - Okay 16%
2 - Disappointing
263
2 - Disappointing 2%
1 - Terrible
206
1 - Terrible 2%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

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

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Great city, friendly people, easy navigation

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler

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

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

I just can hike Memorial park.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

I live here for 38 years

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

So far people are crooks and liars.

Cities near Houston