20 Best Things to Do in Houston

Houston's one of the biggest and most happening cities out there, and for good reason. You've got world-class space museums, some of the most beautiful parks you've ever seen, bustling markets where you can pick up all sorts of treasures, and a food scene that's just plain famous. You can spend a day exploring the green spaces at Buffalo Bayou Park. Art enthusiasts, meanwhile, will be in their element at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; that place is simply stuffed to the brim with great pieces. So, whether you're looking for somewhere to get your tech fix, your art fix, or your food fix, this guide's got the best 20 things to do in Houston, and can help you plan the perfect, not-to-be-forgotten, trip.

Hermann Park is a real showstopper, right in the heart of Houston, Texas, just south of the Museum District. It's been a popular hangout since 1914. One of the top places to visit is the Hermann Park Railroad, which whisks visitors around McGovern Lake. You can also grab a paddle boat and spend the day on the lake; it's open every day of the week. At the eastern end of the park, there's a direct entrance to the Houston Zoo, and just nearby, the McGovern Centennial Gardens are a must-see, with their beautifully themed gardens and a big hill to climb to the top, where you can see for miles. And if your trip to Hermann Park isn't complete without some music and dance, the Miller Outdoor Theatre has got it all covered.

Buffalo Bayou Park is a top pick if you're a nature lover. It follows the Buffalo Bayou waterway right through the heart of Houston, covering about 160 acres of beautiful green space. You can walk or bike along the bayou for miles, and at the water's edge, you can launch a kayak or canoe and explore the park from a different angle. There's also an impressive underground water cistern, which was built way back in 1926; visitors can get a guided tour and check it out. The park is also home to loads of public art installations, and at sunset, the Waugh Drive Bridge Bat Colony really puts on a show.

Every year, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings the excitement of the Wild West to Houston. It all started back in 1932, and since then, it's grown into one of the biggest and best events of its kind, happening every year at NRG Stadium and the surrounding grounds. You'll see professional rodeo riders competing in events like bull riding and barrel racing, as well as plenty of livestock and agricultural shows to check out. And let's not forget the carnival, it's huge with all sorts of rides and games to get your adrenaline pumping.

You'll find the Houston Museum of Natural Science right in the heart of Hermann Park, and it's a must-visit if you're a science buff or just love learning new things. The museum has been around since 1909 and is packed with all sorts of amazing exhibits, like the Morian Hall of Paleontology, which is home to loads of dinosaur skeletons. You can also check out massive fossils, including some pretty mind-blowing T. Rex Specimens. The museum also has a planetarium, which puts on shows using state-of-the-art digital projection, and a Cockrell Butterfly Center where you can walk through a tropical glass habitat and see hundreds of live butterflies flying around you. And to top it all off, the museum regularly hosts all sorts of rotating science and history exhibitions.

If you love shopping, you'll be in heaven at The Galleria. It's the largest shopping mall in all of Texas, and it's been a Houston institution since 1970. With over 400 stores and restaurants to choose from, you can easily spend a whole day (or even two) browsing and shopping. And let's not forget the ice rink in the middle of the mall; it's a great place to grab a skate and have a bit of fun. You'll also find all sorts of top-end brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, as well as two hotels and office towers, plus loads of great places to eat and drink.

Daikin Park is the home turf of the Houston Astros baseball team. It's been around since 2000, although it went by a different name when it first opened. Every season, the park plays host to a bunch of Major League Baseball games. To keep the sun beating down on fans at bay, the stadium's got a fancy retractable roof. You can see all the stats and replays of the game from the big scoreboard on the sidelines. Food vendors are always on hand for when you get hungry during the games for something like a hot dog and a bag of nachos.

Kids first stepped foot in the Children's Museum way back in 1980, and it's been a mainstay of the Houston Museum District ever since. Inside, the little ones can get their science and engineering fix by checking out all sorts of hands-on exhibits on physics and engineering. And if your mini-me wants to get their inner city planner on, they've even got an exhibit called Kidtropolis where they can learn about all the things that go on in a big city. The PowerPlay area is a real hit with the kiddos, too; it's basically a giant climbing wall for kids to get their energy out. And for the more curious ones, there are all sorts of experiments to play with in the FlowWorks section.

Bayou Bend sits pretty on Buffalo Bayou. It used to be the home of a certain rich lady named Ima Hogg, and now it’s part of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. The museum's got a pretty cool collection of American art, including some fancy furniture, ceramic stuff, and paintings. And out in the gardens, there's a beautiful big old house with super formal gardens and some pretty impressive walking paths too. If you take a guided tour, they'll even give you the lowdown on all the history behind the house and its art collections

This park near the Galleria area is a pretty sweet spot to relax away an afternoon. Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park has been around since 1983. But the main draw here is that giant semicircular water feature that sends a wall of water cascading down 64 feet from the top. People love coming out and snapping some photos in front of the big fall; they even have a bunch of steps and a little green lawn for everyone to hang out on. Oak trees surround the whole thing, giving it a nice little outdoor feel.

The Holocaust Museum in Houston came to life back in 1996 inside the Houston Museum District. It's a place to learn about the history of: The Holocaust. They've got all sorts of exhibits showcasing photographs, survivor stories, and actual historical documents. If you walk in, you'll see a railcar that was used for deportations, standing right there in the museum. Visitors get to watch some educational films about World War II history, too. On top of that, the museum also puts up some really poignant art created by people who went through the Holocaust, and they've even got a gallery showing modern human rights issues.

There are all sorts of murals popping up all over the city of Houston. You can find some pretty impressive ones in the Houston Heights area; that whole area is a wall of color. And let's be honest, the most famous one, “Houston Is Inspired” on Travis Street downtown, is a real crowd-pleaser. People love taking photos in front of all the street art. A lot of the murals are the work of local Texas artists, and new ones are appearing all the time through public art projects. Visitors can join walking tours that take them to the best mural spots around the city.

The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is where the Battle of San Jacinto took place back in 1836 on April 21st. That's where the Texans, led by Sam Houston, managed to beat the Mexican army. You can see the San Jacinto Monument here; it stands out a bit at 567 feet. And inside, they've got a small museum that puts the Texas Revolution in perspective. You can also take a walk around the preserved battlefield grounds.

The Houston Zoo started way back in 1922, and it's right in the middle of Hermann Park. Now, they've got all sorts of animals from all over the world. One of the real stars of the show is the giant Galápagos tortoise; these things can live for more than a hundred years. They've also got elephants, lions, and giraffes. And as you walk around, there are all sorts of educational signs explaining the kind of habitats these animals live in and what needs to be done to save the animals. It's no surprise they see more than two million visitors every year.

Armand Bayou Nature Center protects a lot of beautiful natural land near Houston; it's 2,500 acres or so. When you go there, you can walk through the forests, marshes, and prairies. The trails are pretty well marked, and you can even join a guided tram tour to get a closer look at the prairie. They're really passionate about protecting the native wildlife, like deer and birds. And if you're up for it, you can even take a canoe trip down the bayou to see what's lurking beneath the surface.

If you head to the Gulf Coast, about 50 miles from Houston, you'll hit the lovely Galveston. The drive's about an hour from Houston. The beaches are perfect for swimming and walking. If you're in for some adventure, there's the Moody Gardens complex with its aquarium and rainforest pyramids; amazing stuff. And then there's the historic Strand district, where you can wander around 19th-century buildings.

The National Museum of Funeral History opened its doors in 1992, in what is now the heart of Houston. This quirky little museum shows off a treasure trove of artefacts that tell the story of funeral traditions. Amongst all the exhibits, you can see some truly stunning historic hearses and beautifully crafted antique coffins. One gallery delves into the fascinating world of funeral customs from different cultures, giving visitors a genuine insight into the many ways we've dealt with death throughout history.

Twilight Epiphany Skyspace opened in 2012 at Rice University, courtesy of artist James Turrell, who brought the whole project to life. The pyramid structure has a totally unique square opening right in the roof, and what makes it even more mind-blowing is that it has some amazing LED lights that change the whole mood of the building as the sun sets and rises. Visitors get to sit on some surprisingly comfy benches inside the structure, where they can watch the light from the open sky above change the whole atmosphere of the place.

Miller Outdoor Theatre opened its doors in 1923 within the beautiful surroundings of Hermann Park, and it's still one of the best places to enjoy free public performances in Houston today. The theatre puts on all sorts of events, including concerts, dance shows, and films, although to be honest, they're mainly music and dance performances. You can choose to sit on the covered seats right in front of the stage, or if you prefer something a bit more laid back, head to the grassy hill behind the seats and enjoy a picnic while you watch.

Houston Botanic Garden opened its gates to the public in 2020, and it’s a real gem in a part of the city. The garden takes up 132 acres in what is now the southeast of the city. The global plant collections are divided into themed plant collections, so you can wander around and take in all the different plants on show at your own pace. There are even some beautiful Culinary Gardens where you can see all sorts of herbs and edible plants on display. And if that’s not enough, some lovely boardwalk trails take you through some of the wetland areas inside the garden.

The historic Houston Farmers Market has been around since 1942. Located on Airline Drive in Houston, the market is still going strong and remains a great place for local farmers to sell their fresh fruits and veggies. You can pick up some fantastic Texas citrus, peppers, and herbs. The food vendors are always cooking up a storm with delicious prepared meals and snacks. It is actually one of the best places to visit in Houston!

In a nutshell, these places show the wide variety of Houston attractions. Each location provides a different experience for people visiting Houston.

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