A cosmopolitan city with chic neighborhoods, sprawling green spaces to explore, and a world-renowned arts scene, the Texan metropolis is not to be missed
Houston is bigger, greener, and more diverse than visitors may imagine. Every March the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offers a Texas bucket-list experience.
Day 1: Dive Into H-Town
Morning:
Explore the vast Hermann Park Conservancy, part of which – the Commons – underwent a renovation and reopened in 2024. Jog through the oak trees, peruse the Japanese and Rose Gardens, play a round of golf, or stop at the Houston Zoo.
Afternoon:
The Menil Collection is a high-end art gallery established in the 1950s by philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil to give the public free access to exceptional collections of global and ancient art. The Renzo Piano-designed museum sits near Rothko Chapel, a serene, octagonal space displaying works by abstract artist Mark Rothko.
Evening:
The quickly developing East Downtown area, known as EaDo, is the place to go for a taste of authentic Tex-Mex at Ninfa’s on Navigation, one of the city’s most famous food institutions that claims to have invented the fajita.
Day 2: See Space City’s Stars
Morning:
Houston’s galactic importance dazzles bright at Space Center Houston, the visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, home of mission control and astronaut training. Walk through a full-scale space shuttle replica and learn about the Artemis Program, which plans to send humans to the moon again soon.
Afternoon:
Don’t miss a lunch of authentic, smoky barbecue at a top-rated joint in the state: Killen’s BBQ. Choose from indulgently fatty beef rib, perfectly juicy brisket, and crispy pork belly burnt ends.
Evening:
Catch a baseball (Astros), football (Texans), or basketball (Rockets) game, and don’t miss the Dynamo, Houston’s soccer team, which plays in an open-air stadium. There is a plethora of world-class theater, ballet, and music options on offer in the downtown Theater District. Nearby, POST Market food hall showcases Houston’s culinary diversity and rooftop garden views of the skyline.
Day 3: Sample the Culture and Cuisine
Morning:
Prepare to be amazed by the Houston Museum District, home to 21 museums, including the new Kinder Building of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Its collection of international modern art is comparable to the best museums in the country. Have lunch inside the Kinder at Le Jardinier, a French restaurant that earned a Michelin Star in 2024 for its delicate plates of Royal Kaluga caviar, diver scallops with carrot jus, and a yuzu mousse.
Afternoon:
Shop off your meal at The Heights, a historic district of Houston that contains unique boutique stores. The city’s most well-known fashion designer and Project Runway winner, Chloe Dao, offers couture and made-to-order styles. Stroll along 19th Street for rustic menswear at Manready Mercantile and global goods in riotous colors at Jubilee. If you’re feeling hungry, drop by Mala Sichuan Bistro for peppery Chinese dishes that earned the restaurant a Michelin nod.
Evening:
Every sunset, Houston’s beautiful skyline shimmers in oranges and purples reflecting the sky, and one of the best places to see it is Eleanor Tinsley Park, a grassy bowl alongside Buffalo Bayou, the city’s central waterway. For dinner, try Flora, a jewel box-like restaurant on the banks of the bayou.