Houston

America's fourth-largest city and Space City, with Space Center Houston, the Museum District's fine arts museum and the Menil Collection, Buffalo Bayou Park and Chinatown's food scene as highlights.

Houston lies on the Gulf Coast plain of southeastern Texas. It's the fourth-largest city in the U.S., a global hub for energy and medicine, and home to NASA's Johnson Space Center — "Houston" was the very call sign used by ground control during the Apollo Moon landings. The city is sprawling, and its sights fall into several areas: Downtown (the Theater District, Discovery Green, the POST rooftop park and the Major League ballpark); the Museum District centered on Hermann Park, where the Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts and the zoo are within walking distance, with the Menil Collection and the Rothko Chapel to the north around Montrose; Uptown to the west, with the Galleria mall and the Waterwall Park; and Bellaire Boulevard to the southwest, a Chinatown shared by Chinese and Vietnamese communities with the most authentic food in town. Some 35–40 km to the southeast, Space Center Houston, the Kemah Boardwalk and the San Jacinto Monument can be combined into one day. The climate is hot and humid, with sweltering, stormy weather in Jun–Sep and hurricane season in Aug–Oct; Oct–Apr is the most comfortable, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Feb–Mar is the city's biggest event. Getting around: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Hobby Airport (HOU) handle international and domestic flights. The only light rail, the Red Line, links Downtown, the Museum District and NRG Park; most other sights require a car or rideshare. Allow 3–4 days: 1–2 days for the Museum District, 1 day for Space Center and the Bay Area, and 1 day for Downtown and Chinatown. Galveston Island, about 75 km to the southeast, is covered separately.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries