20 Unmissable Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Houston, Texas

January 8, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 1842 Views

Houston is the capital city of Harris County in Texas state of the USA. Some of the most fun things to do in Houston include exploring history museums, art museums, urban parks, nature conservation centers, and historical buildings.

It was established in 1836 by land investors. The birthplace of the city, called Allen’s Landing, is one of the most popular Houston, Texas attractions. It is situated at the confluence of Buffalo and White Oak Bayou. The city is named after General Houston, who won the independence of Texas in the battle of Jacinto. The San Jacinto Monument and Museum of History are the best places to visit in Houston to learn about the city’s early history.

Other historical things to see in Houston, Texas include George Ranch Historical Park, Magnolia, Heritage Society, Battleship Texas State Historical Site, Freedmen’s Town, and so on. Houston tourist attractions also include amazing museums such as the NASA Space Center, Holocaust Museum, Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural Science, Health Museum, and so on.

You can also explore several artworks during Houston travel. The city is home to the Museum of Fine Arts, The Menil Collection, the Contemporary Arts Museum, the Art Car Museum, the Czech Center Museum, the Museum of African American Culture, the Center for Photography, the Lawndale Art Center, the Center for Contemporary Craft, and so on.

You can also explore wonderful parks, entertainment venues, and nature conservation centers when you visit Houston. The best places for outdoor activities to do in Houston include Buffalo Bayou Park, Herman Par, Houston Zoo, Sam Houston National Forest, Arboretum and Nature Center, Bayou Bend Collection and Garden, McGovern Centennial Garden, and more.

Aside from Houston tourist spots, the city is also well known for its food and culture. It is home to people from different ethnicities resulting in a melting-pot culinary scene. You can explore several award-winning restaurants during Houston sightseeing including the popular Tex-Mex cuisine venues.

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Table of Contents

Top 20 Tourist Places to Visit in Houston in 5 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Space Center Houston

This educational science museum is spread over 250,000 square feet. It is one of the best places to visit in Houston for those interested in astronomy, space tech, and science. You will learn about NASA space expeditions as well as fascinating things about the universe. You will also see types of equipment, space suits, shuttles, rovers, and more. The park also has fun things to do in Houston, Texas for children. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get your Admission Ticket to Space Center Houston in advance.

2. Holocaust Museum Houston

This museum focuses on the history and aftermath of the Holocaust. Trigger Warning! This place has some of the most horrific and shock-inducing things to see in Houston. It sheds light on the rise of the Nazis, communal hatred, and inhuman treatment of Jewish people. The museum also relates the stories of Holocaust survivors through films. You will need 2 hours or so from Houston travel to tour this museum.

I suggest that you should book your Ticket to the Holocaust Museum Houston in advance.

3. Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

The waterwall is 20 meters high and 64 meters wide. It is designed in a horseshoe shape. Each minute 11 gallons of water flows through this fountain. It is one of the most wonderful Houston tourist attractions. The park also has green spaces, sports facilities, picnic areas, and more. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to tour this park when you visit Houston.

4. The Galleria

This is the largest shopping center in Texas state and the 4th largest in the USA. You come here if you are looking for fun things to do in downtown Houston, Texas like shopping, dining, leisure, or entertainment. The mall is spread over 2.4 million sq. ft. and has more than 400 stores. Aside from retail stores this place also has swimming pools, ice skating rinks, spas, salons, game arcades, cafes, restaurants, and more. You can easily spend an hour or so to explore The Galleria.

Day 2

1. The Health Museum

This museum is dedicated to human health, medical science, diseases, and so on. It is one of the most interesting Houston attractions for people of all ages. You will learn a lot about how your body functions and ways to keep yourself fit and healthy. It also focuses on advancements in medical science including discoveries, types of equipment, inventions, specimens, and more. The museum also has fun activities in Houston for children and adults in form of practical lab experiments. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

2. Museum of Fine Arts

This museum has a collection of European, American, and Latin American artworks. It is one of the best Houston tourist spots for art aficionados. The collection includes modern and contemporary artworks including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, drawings, and more. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Houston sightseeing to tour this museum.

3. Menil Collection

This art museum was established by John and Dominique de Menil. The collection is spread over several buildings spread over 30 acres and focuses on different aspects of how art influences people. One of the buildings is dedicated exclusively to Cy Twombly’s artworks, while one is dedicated to Dan Flavin’s. This vast art museum is quite popular in Houston, Texas attractions for art lovers and need at least a couple of hours to explore.

I suggest you should get your Entry Ticket to The Menil Collection in advance.

4. Rothko Chapel

This chapel is also found by the De Menils and is part of the Menil collection. This chapel is one of the most interesting places to see in Houston for the 14 paintings by Mark Rothko that were commissioned by the De Menils. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this chapel and the artwork in it.

Day 3

1. Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

This is one of the best places for outdoor activities to do in Houston, Texas. You can explore nature trails through interesting habitats including meadows, wetlands, and forests. You will also see butterflies, birds, and small animals in this park. The place also has interactive stuff to do in Houston for children. You will need about 2 hours to tour this center.

2. Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

This house once belonged to Houston philanthropist Ima Hogg and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The compound of this house has 14 landscaped gardens. Inside the house, you will see a collection of paintings, sculptures, silver items, ceramics, and more. The majority of the items were part of Ima Hogg’s own collection. It is one of the top things to do in Houston for people interested in Art, Antiques, and History. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

3. Art Car Museum

This museum is dedicated to peculiar and unusual artworks. This is one of the most fun places to go in Houston as you will see quirky art pieces made from car parts. You will also see restored and modified cars. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

4. Buffalo Bayou Park

Spread over 160 acres, this park is built around a lake and is popular for a variety of outdoor activities to do in Houston. You can come here for canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, biking, nature trails, picnics, and sports. You can easily spend an hour or so at this park when you visit Houston.

5. Downtown Aquarium

This museum has more than 200 species of marine and freshwater creatures including turtles, alligators, crayfish, bulldogs, clownfish, octopuses, sharks, stingrays, and more. It is one of the best things to do in Houston, Texas for tourists with children. The place has fun activities including interaction with a few animals. You will need about 2 hours from Houston travel to explore this aquarium.

I suggest you should get your Entrance Ticket to Downtown Aquarium in advance.

Day 4

1. Cockrell Butterfly Center

This center recreates a tropical rainforest environment and is a home to hundreds of species of insects. You will see several types of butterflies and some of these you can see up close through a glass structure. If you are lucky, you can also witness a butterfly emerging from its cocoon in the Chrysalis Center. It is one of the most wonderful things to see in Houston. You will need about an hour to explore this place.

2. Houston Museum of Natural Science

Though the name says natural science, this museum has exhibits concerning evolution, zoology, archeology, culture, and more. It is one of the most fun things to do in Houston, Texas. The exhibit galleries include Texas Wildlife, African Wildlife, Cabinet of Curiosities (unusual objects & innovations), Hall of Gems and Minerals, Faberge Eggs, Hall of Ancient Egypt, Hall of Americas, Hall of Paleontology, and more. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Houston sightseeing to tour this museum.

I suggest you should get your Entry Ticket for the Houston Museum of Natural Science in advance.

3. McGovern Centennial Gardens

This park is spread over 8 acres and is divided into several themed gardens including an arid garden, rose garden, woodland garden, and more. This is one of the best places to visit in Houston for families. You can explore themed trails such as sculpture walk, pergola walk, Tudor family pine hill walk, garden mount spiral trail, and so on. You will need about an hour to tour this garden when you visit Houston.

4. Herman Park

Spread over 445 acres, this park is home to several Houston tourist attractions including Miller Outdoor Theatre, Museum of Natural Science, McGovern Centennial Gardens, and more. The park also has fountains, green spaces, picnic areas, fountains, themed attractions, and so on. You can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities to do in Houston at this park including hiking, boating, cycling, toy train ride, sports activities, and more. You can easily spend a couple of hours from Houston travel exploring this park.

Day 5

1. Children’s Museum of Houston

This museum educates children about science, art, and culture. It is popular for indoor activities to do in Houston for children. They can enjoy activities, and interactive exhibits concerning origami, painting, chemistry experiments, zoology, craftsmanship, and more. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

You should get your Ticket to Houston Children’s Museum in advance.

2. Discovery Green

This park has green spaces, a lake, sports facilities, leisure activities, a children’s playground, a skating rink, and more. People come here for picnics, jogging, kayaking, and so on. It is also one of the most fun places to go in Houston for public events and activities. You need an hour or so to explore this park.

3. Houston Zoo

This zoo houses a variety of animals including alligators, anacondas, bald eagles, black bears, capybaras, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, jaguars, lions, clouded leopards, orangutans, tigers, zebra, gorillas, and more. It is also among the popular Houston tourist spots for animal interaction experiences with elephants, tortoises, gorillas, and anteaters. You will need 2 to 3 hours to tour this zoo.

If you are looking for more places to see in Houston, check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of attractions and activities in and around the city.

Things to do in Houston

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Houston

The Museum of Fine Arts
Houston Space Center
Museum of Natural Science
The Menil Collection
Children’s Museum
NASA Johnson Space Center
Contemporary Arts Museum
National Museum of Funeral History
Art Car Museum
Rothko Chapel
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
San jacinto Monument
San Jacinto Museum of History
The Health Museum
Lone Star Flight Museum
Holocaust Museum
Battleship Texas
Beer Can House
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
1940 Air Terminal Museum
Blaffer Art Museum
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
The Heritage Society Museum
Asia Society Texas Center
Houston Center for Photography
Lawndale Art Center
Seismique Art Gallery
Houston Museum of African American Culture
Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Rienzi Museum of Fine Arts
Burke Baker Planetarium
Cullen Sculpture Museum
Diverse Works
Glenwood Cemetery
Audrey Jones Beck Building
Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Houston

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Armand Bayou Nature Center
Lake Houston
Lake Houston Wilderness Park
Clear Lake
Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center
Cullinan Park
Sheldon Lake

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Houston

Houston Zoo
Downtown Aquarium
Discovery Green
Kemah Boardwalk
Herman Park
Buffalo Bayou Park
Minute Maid Park
Hurricane Harbour Splashtown
Memorial Park
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Cockrell Butterfly Center
Market Square Park
McGovern Centennial Gardens
Typhoon Texas Waterpark
The Orange Show
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park
Levy Park
Japanese Garden
Mercer Botanic Gardens
Houston Botanic Garden
Smither Park
Pirates Bay Waterpark
Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center
Emancipation Park
Houston Funplex
Eleanor Tinsley Park
Nature Discovery Center
Boardwalk Bullet Roller Coaster
Terry Hershey Park
iFly Indoor Skydiving
Congressmand Bill Archer Dog Park
Millie Bush Dog Park
Old MacDonald’s Farm
Baytown Nature Center
Sesquicentennial Park

Shopping in Houston

The Galleria
Market Square
River Oaks District
Woodlands Mall
Westheimer Road
Houston Premium Outlets
Houston Farmers Market
Katy Mills
Traders Village
River Oaks Shopping Center
Highland Village Shopping Center
Harwin Central Market
Historic Heights
Rive Village
Memorial City Mall
Main Street Square

Beaches & Islands in Houston

Sylvan Beach
El Jardin Beach
Jamaica Beach
Stewart Beach
East Beach
Galveston Island
Surfside Beach
Crystal Beach
Quintana Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Houston

Hiking
Trekking
Kayaking
Camping
Boat Tours
Fishing
Swimming
Canoeing

Sightseeing in Houston

Houston Waterwall
Sam Houston Park
Westheimer Road
Downtown Houston Tunnel System
Williams Tower
Houston is Inspired Mural
Waugh Drive Bat Colony
Hermann Park Drive

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Houston

Squable
The Breakfast Klub
Feges BBQ Spring Branch
93 Til
Phat Eatery
Nobie’s
Truth BBQ
The Pit Room
Xin Chao
Kata Robata
Post Market
The Hobbit Cafe
Bludorn Restaurant
Taste of Nigeria
The Original Nifa’s
Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot
Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana
Turkey Leg Hut
Nancy’s Hustle
Himalaya
Traveler’s Table
Mala Suchuan Bistro
Cali Sandwich
Blood Bros BBQ
Street to Kitchen
Afrikiko

Where to Stay in Houston?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Houston. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Houston.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Houston

How to Reach Houston?

By Air

The city is served by George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. Through these airports, you can get direct flights to visit Houston from Mexico City, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Paris, Auckland, Tokyo, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, London, Dubai, Taipei, Las Vegas, Denver, Boston, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Doha, Manchester, Singapore, New Orleans, Calgary, and many more. You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport.

By Road

You can get a direct train for Houston travel through Amtrak route Sunset Limited. This route connects Houston to New Orleans, San Antonio, Los Angeles, El Paso, Palm Springs, and Tucson.

The bus network is more widespread and connects the city to several places in Texas state and the USA.

If you are planning to reach Houston by road, you should head for highway routes IH 45, IH 10, US 290, SH 249, and SH 99.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Houston.

Image Reference

Space Center Houston – SnippyHolloW / Flickr
Holocaust Museum Houston – Ed Schipul / Flickr
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park – Texas.713 / Flickr
The Galleria – F. Muhammad / PixaBay
The Health Museum – etee / Flickr
Museum of Fine Arts – Alexander Hatley / Flickr
Menil Collection – Jack at Wikipedia / Flickr
Rothko Chapel – Keith Ewing / Flickr
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center – Idawriter / Wikimedia Commons
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens – Keri / Flickr
Art Car Museum – A Yee / Flickr
Buffalo Bayou Park – BrianPotterVideo / Flickr
Downtown Aquarium – Katie Haugland Bowen / Flickr
Cockrell Butterfly Center – Agsftw / Wikimedia Commons
Houston Museum of Natural Science – Agsftw / Wikimedia Commons
McGovern Centennial Gardens – xiquinhosilva / Flickr
Hermann Park – Another Believer / Wikimedia Commons
Children’s Museum of Houston – Wally Gobetz / Flickr
Discovery Green – Hequals2henry / Wikimedia Commons
Houston Zoo – Rasar90 / Wikimedia Commons