A Guide to Sightseeing in Houston, Texas

Houston, the most populous city in Texas, is the home of many landmarks and special sights you won't want to miss. On any trip to Houston––or any vacation in general––it's important to get out and see the city. The beautiful city of Houston has a lot of interesting attractions worth visiting, with some at no cost. Get ready for a southern adventure like no other!

If you’re feeling educational...

Visit a museum or two during your stay. Houston has a lively district which includes 20 museums dedicated to art, science, history, and culture. Eleven of the museums in the district are free admission. Some of the most popular museums include Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Museum of Fine Arts.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is the home of the Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, and countless other exhibits about astronomy, space, science, Native Americans, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, and Texas wildlife. They often have traveling exhibitions that visit for an abbreviated time. Two visiting exhibits this year include "Amber Secrets: Feathers From the Age of Dinosaurs," and "Cabinet of Curiosities."

The Museum of Fine Arts contains over 63,000 works of art. It is one of the largest art museums in America, with 300,000 square feet of space devoted to art. The museum contains two major museum buildings, two art facilities, two house museums, and 18 acres of public gardens. 

If you enjoy a good craft beer...

Karbach and Saint Arnold beers can be consumed pretty much whenever and wherever in Houston, but their brewery tours are what make them so unique. Karbach Brewing Company is a German-style brewery, with tours, a gift shop, and a restaurant. Despite it being a brewery, it’s actually a very family-friendly environment. They have brewery tours every day, and the restaurant is open from 11am–9pm on most days. On the tours, you get complimentary tastings (with glasses to keep!) to make your visit even more exciting.

Saint Arnold Brewing Company is the oldest craft brewery in Houston. They brew many different beers, some being year-round, seasonal, or single batch brews. Like Karbach, their tours include sample tastings with a souvenir glass. 

If you’re feeling adventurous...

Galveston Island is about 50 miles southeast of Houston, but it's the closest island for beach fun! Galveston Island has tons to do besides visiting the beach, like exploring the Pleasure Pier. Opened in 2012, the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is a waterfront boardwalk with amusement rides, games, and food for all ages. Alternatively, west of Galveston is the Kemah Boardwalk, a 60-acre theme park in Kemah, Texas. The park has 15 rides, 12 restaurants, shops, and more. If you choose to visit both parks, you might want to get the Weekend Adventure Pass, where you can ride unlimitedly at Pleasure Pier, play at the Kemah Boardwalk, and stop by the Downtown Aquarium. 

If you want some space…

NASA is a huge part of Houston’s history; we all know the classic line, "Houston, we have a problem." Fortunately, there aren't any problems at Space Center Houston. The Center is home to Mercury 9 capsule, Gemini 5 capsule, Apollo 17 command module, Lunar Rover vehicle trainer, Skylab trainer mock-up, Lunar Module test article 8, and Saturn V. 

Aside from these pieces of history, you can also visit the Northrop Grumman Theater, go on a tram tour of the center, or take a Level 9 tour, which views more exclusive sights, Destiny Theater, Starship Gallery houses, an interactive performance, and so much more.  

If you’re feeling spendy…

The Galleria is the largest shopping mall in Texas and ninth-largest in the United States. The 3 million square foot mall is anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy's. While most of the stores are chains and are accessible in most malls around the US, the Galleria offers a unique atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else in Houston. The Galleria is not just for shopping; it also houses two Westin hotels and an ice-skating rink on the first floor. 

If you’re outdoorsy…

Buffalo Bayou Park is 160-acres of nature fun. The park is full of beautiful scenery, killer skyline views, artwork, a nature play area, a dog park, and (if you're lucky) you can even catch a live performance. The Sabine Promenade has two miles of hike and bike trails, as well as canoe and kayak launches, with lunar lighting at night.

If you make your way to Downtown Houston, don't miss out on Discovery Green. This urban park measures at around 12 acres, and it features a performance stage, a grass lawn for lounging, gardens, a 1-acre lake, a playground, and two dog runs. There are also two restaurants on site. If you happen to visit on colder days, the park has an ice skating rink available.

For a more historical adventure, visit San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. This park is the location of the Battle of San Jacinto and USS Texas, however the most popular site of the park is the San Jacinto Monument. Tourists can take an elevator to visit the Monument observation deck with a rare view of Houston, the Houston Ship Channel, and the USS Texas.

If you want to truly experience the south…

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is seasonal, but if your visit is in March, don't miss one of the largest entertainment and livestock exhibitions. Known as Houston’s signature event, the Rodeo is 20 days long. The Rodeo brings in huge recording artists for performances. This past season's lineup included Jason Derulo, Miranda Lambert, Pitbull, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley. Of course, the fried foods and treats are not to be missed.