Houston Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Houston, the sprawling metropolis in the state of Texas, is a beacon of cultural diversity, economic prosperity, and innovation in the United States. Known for its significant role in the space industry, this city is a vibrant hub where Southern charm meets urban sophistication.
Downtown Houston is the heart of the city, boasting an impressive skyline punctuated by modern skyscrapers. The area is home to the Houston Theater District, where the performing arts scene thrives with venues like the Wortham Theater Center and the Alley Theatre. Visitors can also explore the historic architecture of the Market Square Park area or catch a game at Minute Maid Park, home to the Houston Astros baseball team.
The city's commitment to space exploration is showcased at the Houston Space Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. This educational complex offers an inside look at NASA's ongoing missions and the United States' space history, including interactive exhibits and actual spacecraft on display.
Houston's Museum District stands as a testament to the city's cultural richness, with nineteen institutions ranging from the Museum of Fine Arts to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The area is also home to the Houston Zoo and the verdant Hermann Park, offering a serene escape from the urban environment.
The Energy Corridor, named for the numerous energy industry-related companies headquartered there, reflects Houston's status as an international leader in the energy sector. This economic powerhouse contributes significantly to the city's robust job market and global business connections.
Food enthusiasts revel in Houston's culinary scene, which mirrors its diverse population. The city serves up a smorgasbord of dining options, from authentic Tex-Mex and smoky barbecue to high-end international cuisine. The city's food truck culture and local breweries add a unique flavor to its gastronomic landscape.
No visit to Houston would be complete without experiencing the Bayou City's shopping scene. The Galleria, Texas' largest shopping center, offers a luxurious retail experience with over 400 stores, while the eclectic boutiques in the Montrose neighborhood provide a more bohemian shopping atmosphere.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Buffalo Bayou Park offers picturesque urban green space with miles of walking and biking trails, while the nearby Gulf Coast beckons with its sandy beaches and warm waters.
Houston Attractions - What to See and Explore
Houston offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Space Center Houston, Downtown Aquarium, The Galleria, Museum of Fine Arts. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Houston by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Houston.
Culture
The Galleria
Westside, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Ballet Great Uptown 
Marq*E Entertainment Center
Northwest HoustonShopping Shopping centre Cinema Spring Branch East 
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Medical Center 
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Inner Loop, HoustonTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts Downtown Houston 
River Oaks Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonTheater Concerts and shows Cinema Neartown - Montrose
Shopping
The Galleria
Westside, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Ballet Great Uptown 
PlazAmericas
Westside, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Shop Sharpstown 
River Oaks Shopping Center
Inner Loop, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Neartown - Montrose 
The Galleria
Westside, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Great Uptown 
Memorial City Mall
Westside, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Memorial
Entertainment
Six Flags AstroWorld
Southwest HoustonAmusement park South Main 
Sam Houston Race Track - Morning Shots
HoustonBridge Horse track Gambling 
East Downtown Houston
South Central HoustonDancing Nightlife Entertainment district East Dowtown
Active
Minute Maid Park
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Downtown Houston 
PNC Stadium
South Central HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums East Dowtown 
NRG Stadium
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Astrodome 
Royal Oaks Country Club
Westside, HoustonGolf Westchase 
Toyota Center
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown Houston
Museum
Space Center Houston
Clear Lake, HoustonClose-up look at the U.S. Space Program
Museum Science museum 
Museum of Fine Arts
South Central HoustonComplex with a renowned art collection
Museum Art museum The Museum District 
John C. Freeman Weather Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Specialty museum Natural history museum The Museum District 
Houston Museum of Natural Science
South Central HoustonRenowned dinosaur hall and butterfly house
Museum Science museum The Museum District 
Blaffer Art Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Art museum Greater Third Ward
Park
Discovery Green
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Playground Entertainment Downtown Houston Houston Museum of Natural Science
South Central HoustonRenowned dinosaur hall and butterfly house
Museum Science museum The Museum District 
Houston Zoo
Inner Loop, HoustonOutdoor activities Park Zoo Medical Center 
Sam Houston Park
Inner Loop, HoustonMuseum Park Historical place Downtown Houston 
Bayou Bend
Inner Loop, HoustonAmerican art museum
Museum Art museum River Oaks
Church
Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Inner Loop, HoustonChurch Architecture Sacred and religious sites Downtown Houston 
Rothko Chapel
Inner Loop, HoustonChurch Art museum Sacred and religious sites Neartown - Montrose 
Lakewood Church
Inner Loop, HoustonChurch 
Annunciation Catholic Church
Inner Loop, HoustonChurch Romanesque architecture Downtown Houston 
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
South Central HoustonChurch Gothic Revival architecture The Museum District
Concerts and shows
The Galleria
Westside, HoustonShopping Shopping centre Ballet Great Uptown Miller Outdoor Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Medical Center 
Bayou Music Center
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Downtown Houston Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Inner Loop, HoustonTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts Downtown Houston River Oaks Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonTheater Concerts and shows Cinema Neartown - Montrose
Art museum
Museum of Fine Arts
South Central HoustonComplex with a renowned art collection
Museum Art museum The Museum District Blaffer Art Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Art museum Greater Third Ward 
Menil Collection
Inner Loop, HoustonVast assembly of private art and artifacts
Museum Art museum Neartown - Montrose Rothko Chapel
Inner Loop, HoustonChurch Art museum Sacred and religious sites Neartown - Montrose Bayou Bend
Inner Loop, HoustonAmerican art museum
Museum Art museum River Oaks
Specialty museum
John C. Freeman Weather Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Specialty museum Natural history museum The Museum District 
USS Texas
HoustonVeteran vessel open for exploration
Specialty museum Ship 
The Health Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Science museum Specialty museum The Museum District 
Houston Fire Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Specialty museum Midtown 
The Orange Show
Southeast HoustonMonuments and statues Specialty museum Museum
Music venue
Toyota Center
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown Houston Miller Outdoor Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Medical Center Bayou Music Center
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Downtown Houston 
Anderson Fair
Inner Loop, HoustonMusic venue Neartown - Montrose 
Rockefeller's
Inner Loop, HoustonMusic venue
Monuments and statues
Scanlan Fountain
Inner Loop, HoustonMonuments and statues Downtown Houston 
Charlotte Allen Fountain
South Central HoustonMonuments and statues Midtown 
Sesquicentennial Park
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Monuments and statues Downtown Houston 
Beer Can House
Inner Loop, HoustonMonuments and statues Historical place Museum The Orange Show
Southeast HoustonMonuments and statues Specialty museum Museum
Nightlife
Warehouse Live
South Central HoustonNightlife Dancing East Dowtown 
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Downtown Houston 
Eagle Houston
Inner Loop, HoustonDancing Nightlife Neartown - Montrose 
Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon
Northwest HoustonDancing Nightlife Spring Branch East Miller Outdoor Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Medical Center
Entertainment
Discovery Green
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Playground Entertainment Downtown Houston 
Children's Museum of Houston
South Central HoustonMuseum Children's museum Science museum The Museum District Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
Inner Loop, HoustonTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts Downtown Houston The Orange Show
Southeast HoustonMonuments and statues Specialty museum Museum 
Bayou Place
Inner Loop, HoustonBars and clubs Nightlife Entertainment Downtown Houston
Historical place
Sam Houston Park
Inner Loop, HoustonMuseum Park Historical place Downtown Houston USS Texas
HoustonVeteran vessel open for exploration
Specialty museum Ship Bayou Bend
Inner Loop, HoustonAmerican art museum
Museum Art museum River Oaks Beer Can House
Inner Loop, HoustonMonuments and statues Historical place Museum 
First Presbyterian Church
South Central HoustonChurch Historical place Sacred and religious sites The Museum District
History museum
Sam Houston Park
Inner Loop, HoustonMuseum Park Historical place Downtown Houston Bayou Bend
Inner Loop, HoustonAmerican art museum
Museum Art museum River Oaks 
Holocaust Museum Houston
South Central HoustonExhibits documenting the Holocaust
Museum History museum The Museum District 
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum
Southeast HoustonMuseum Specialty museum History museum Greater Hobby Area 
The Printing Museum
Inner Loop, HoustonMuseum Specialty museum History museum Neartown - Montrose
Science museum
Space Center Houston
Clear Lake, HoustonClose-up look at the U.S. Space Program
Museum Science museum Houston Museum of Natural Science
South Central HoustonRenowned dinosaur hall and butterfly house
Museum Science museum The Museum District Children's Museum of Houston
South Central HoustonMuseum Children's museum Science museum The Museum District The Health Museum
South Central HoustonMuseum Science museum Specialty museum The Museum District
Sport venue
Minute Maid Park
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Downtown Houston PNC Stadium
South Central HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums East Dowtown NRG Stadium
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Astrodome Toyota Center
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown Houston 
Astrodome
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Astrodome
Arenas and stadiums
PNC Stadium
South Central HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums East Dowtown NRG Stadium
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Astrodome Toyota Center
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Downtown Houston Astrodome
Inner Loop, HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Astrodome 
TDECU Stadium
South Central HoustonSport venue Sport Arenas and stadiums Greater Third Ward
Music and shows
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Medical Center Bayou Music Center
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Downtown Houston 
Cullen Performance Hall
South Central HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Greater Third Ward 
Lambert Hall
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Greater Heights 
Walter's
Inner Loop, HoustonNightlife Music and shows Music venue Northside Village
Modern art museum
Menil Collection
Inner Loop, HoustonVast assembly of private art and artifacts
Museum Art museum Neartown - Montrose 
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
South Central HoustonMuseum Art museum Modern art museum The Museum District 
Art Car Museum
Inner Loop, HoustonMuseum Art museum Modern art museum 
Station Museum of Contemporary Art
South Central HoustonMuseum Art museum Modern art museum Midtown
Garden
Bayou Bend
Inner Loop, HoustonAmerican art museum
Museum Art museum River Oaks 
Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden
South Central HoustonMuseum Art museum Garden The Museum District 
McGovern Centennial Gardens
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Garden Medical Center 
Japanese Garden
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Garden Medical Center
Nature and wildlife
Houston Museum of Natural Science
South Central HoustonRenowned dinosaur hall and butterfly house
Museum Science museum The Museum District 
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Nature and wildlife Hiking trail 
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
Westside, HoustonPark Nature and wildlife Memorial 
Houston Audubon
Westside, HoustonMuseum Nature and wildlife Park Memorial 
Arthur Storey Park
Westside, HoustonPark Nature and wildlife Hiking trail Alief
Outdoor activities
Houston Zoo
Inner Loop, HoustonOutdoor activities Park Zoo Medical Center Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Inner Loop, HoustonPark Nature and wildlife Hiking trail 
Rice University
Inner Loop, HoustonJogging paths and tracks Universities and schools Outdoor activities University Place 
Pine Crest Country Club
Northwest HoustonGolf Outdoor activities Spring Shadows 
Lakeside Country Club
Westside, HoustonGolf Outdoor activities Briarforest
Other categories
TheaterArt galleryAreaBridgeLibraryNeighbourhoodPerforming artsCitySportSacred and religious sitesSkyscraperCemeteryHouston – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Houston, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (Galveston), Kemah Boardwalk (Kemah), Moody Gardens (Galveston).
Best Time To Visit Houston
Learn when is the best time to travel to Houston weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience Houston
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Beefsteak
A beef steak, often called just steak, is a flat cut of beef with parallel faces, usually cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers. In common restaurant service a single serving will have a...
Beef
Lox
Lox is a fillet of brined salmon. Lox is one type of salmon product served on a bagel with cream cheese, and is usually garnished with tomato, sliced onion, cucumbers, and capers.
Turtle soup
Turtle soup is a soup or stew made from the meat of turtles. Differing versions of the soup exist in some cultures and are viewed as a delicacy.
Dish
Cornbread
Cornbread is any quick bread containing cornmeal, and a Native American cuisine. They are usually leavened by baking powder.
Mission burrito
A Mission burrito is a type of burrito that first became popular during the 1960s in the Mission District of San Francisco, California. It is distinguished from other burritos by its large...
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
La Femme aux Phlox
La Femme aux Phlox, also known as Woman with Phlox or Woman with Flowers, is an oil painting created in 1910 by the French artist and theorist Albert Gleizes.
Painting by Albert Gleizes
Golconda
Golconda is an oil painting on canvas by Belgian surrealist René Magritte, painted in 1953. It is usually housed at the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas.
Painting by René Magritte
Les Orangers
Les Orangers is an oil painting by French impressionist Gustave Caillebotte. The canvas measures 155 by 117 centimetres. It was acquired by Audrey Jones Beck and was part of a collection...
Painting by Gustave Caillebotte
Virgin and Child
The Virgin and Child is a painting by the Flemish artist Rogier van der Weyden dating from after 1454 in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It has not always been thought...
Painting by Rogier van der Weyden
The Elder Sister
The Elder Sister is a painting by nineteenth-century French academic artist, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, in 1869. The painting was acquired in 1992 by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, as a...
Painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Texas