Whatever you’re looking for, Houston’s got it.
America’s fourth-largest city, Houston is a fast-growing melting pot of cultures.
Beaches are just a short drive away.
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The Houston metropolitan area is home to nearly seven million people.
Houston has significant Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, African, and Hispanic populations.
Want to watch professional basketball?
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Catch a Houston Rockets game.
The Houston Texans have you covered.
Baseball more your speed?
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Plan your trip around a Houston Astros game.
Millions of people visit the 20-day event each year.
Afterwards, walk along the beach in nearbyGalveston.
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One thing’s for sure, you’ll find plenty of things to do and eat in Houston.
Time Zone
Central Standard Time.
The first several months of the year are the best time to visit Houston.
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Basketball season is in full swing.
Mild temperatures make a January marathon bearable.
March brings the Bayou Regatta, Texas' largest canoe and kayak race.
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Things to Know
Houston summers are hot and sticky.
Temperatures in the 90s and 100s aren’t uncommon.
If you must visit during the summer, don’t forget the sunscreen and do carry a water bottle.
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Houston is a sprawling city that covers more than 637 square miles.
Houston traffic is among the worst in the U.S.
While public transit has improved in recent years, you’ll still need a car to get most places.
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Houston is pronounced differently in Texas than it is in New York.
Buses: Houston bus services run on a series of color-coded networks.
Taxis: Several taxi companies operate in Houston with meter rates at $2.75 for the first 1/11 mile.
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Riders over the age of 60 receive a 5% discount.
Rideshare: Both Uber and Lyft operate in Houston.
Even standard rooms are spacious and include balconies and workspaces.
Do lay by the pool and check out the spa.
The hotel is located near the city’s convention center and offers easy access to public transit.
Rooms are spacious, elegant and come equipped with iPads.
Almost all rooms include en suite bathrooms.
Sara’s is known for its breakfast and 24/7 brownies.
Rooms are organized by themes ranging from Wild West and Man Cave to Paris and Floral.
Two- to four-night minimums are required for holiday weekends.
This hotel is just minutes from the Johnson Space Center and the campuses of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
The property includes seven unique guest rooms, some with Jacuzzi tubs or rain showers built for two.
All rooms are accessible via elevator and guests receive access to a nearby gym.
The hotel is about an eight-minute walk from the Galleria and includes a pool and gym.
The hotel has recently been renovated.
It’s the best choice for someone whose mission in Houston is to shop until they drop.
The hotel is just a few blocks from the Galleria, Houston’s most visited destination.
Hotel activities include mommy-and-me yoga, pizza-making classes, and movies by the pool.
The rooms are huge even by Texas standards.
A Cabana room with a king or two double beds measures a whopping 450 square feet.
Its rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and 55-inch TVs.
Certain rooms include in-room Peloton bikes.
The hotel has a fitness center as well as an on-site nail salon.
It has a whopping 1,207 rooms and is connected to Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center by skybridge.
The hotel’s rooms and meeting spaces just underwent a massive renovation that was completed in July.
This casual spot takes the trendy brunch dish up a notch.
Opt for the Wings & Grits, Green Eggs & Ham or Biskits & Gravy.
Don’t skip the bar and its extensive selection of tequilas, mezcals, and Mexican craft beers.
The restaurant is vegetarian friendly and serves up a buffet brunch on Sundays.
Nowadays, she’s credited with popularizing fajitas in Houston.
Do try the queso and don’t miss the fajitas.
JINYA simmers its ramen broth for more than 10 hours.
Noodles are made fresh daily and aged for three days for maximum flavor.
Taste the whole menu with three or four friends for $99.
Better Luck Houston opens at 3:30 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. on weekends.
This casual vegetarian spot serves up south Indian classics like idly, dosas, and pakora.
Don’t know where to start?
Try the Madras Thali, a sampler tray of small bowls containing different dishes.
Thalis are served with rice and typically include savory curries, sambar, yogurt, and a dessert.
The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
The facility is responsible for training astronauts and managing International Space Station operations.
The Johnson Space Center also serves as Mission Control for U.S. spaceflights.
The project includes several rides, among them a Ferris Wheel and a Carousel.
Exhibits include a Stingray Reef where visitors can touch and feed live stingrays.
The house began its transformation in the late 1960s and is covered by an estimated 50,000 beer cans.
The fountain’s water supply consists of 78,500 gallons recycled every three hours and two minutes.
Other exhibits examine astronomy, Native American culture, paleontology, Texas wildlife, and more.
This is a museum that’s dedicated to the people and practices who make funerals possible.
The museum delves into funeral culture from around the world.
Exhibitions focus on the history of cremation, presidential funerals, and 19th century mourning.
The 55-acre zoo is home to more than 6,000 animals representing 900 species.
The boardwalk offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of Houston.
The monument’s observation deck overlooks Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and this historic battleground.
Covered walkways make it more comfortable to shop through rain or blistering sunshine.
Republic Boot Co.
The shop’s master bootmakers have made boots for celebrities including John Wayne and Steve McQueen.
These boots are a souvenir that will last a lifetime.
Expect top-of-the-line brands including Lucchese, Tony Lama, and Stetson.
The Heights offers an intimate collection of shops as well as restaurants and a hair salon.
Don’t miss Retropolis, a well-known resale shop known for its bargains.
It’s now a historic landmark that’s home to around 75 retailers, restaurants, and service providers.
Museum District:This is Houston’s beating cultural heart.
The Houston Museum District is home to 19 institutions, 11 of which are free.
A grassroots effort in the late 1970s led to the creation of this pedestrian friendly district.
Midtown:Midtown was a Victorian-style residential neighborhood that declined during the latter part of the 20th century.
It was home to Little Saigon in the 1970s.
Gentrification and redevelopment have since pushed much of the area’s Vietnamese population to move.
Nowadays, it’s a millennial hotspot known for restaurants, bars, and breweries.
Uptown:This upscale area is a shopping mecca.
Uptown has more than six million square feet of retail space and more than 1,000 stores.
It’s where you’ll find upscale retailers including Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bvlgari.
And there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and wine bars to fuel those shopping sprees.
Weather
June to September can be down right steamy.
Snow, ice and freezing temperatures are rare.
Below are average temperatures in Fahrenheit for each month.
