Houston has a wide variety of things to do, including several of America’s best museums and art museums, many of which are conveniently located in the city’s Museum District, just south of Downtown, where highlights include The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Museum of Natural Sciences.
The Space Center, in suburban Clearwater, is another of Houston’s top attractions, with other museums devoted to topics ranging from Black history to the human body and the history of aviation and the oil industry in Texas.
Houston is also a great destinations for enthusiasts of the nature and the outdoors, with beautiful parks and recreational spaces in the city itself – including linear parks along its bayous, botanical collections, sports facilities and a popular zoo – and a number of state parks and wildlife preserves at which you can enjoy hiking, biking and wildlife-watching.
As well as its various attractions, Houston also offers a full festival and events calendar, with unique events such as the world-famous rodeo to concerts by international and local musicians, a great performing arts scene, festivals highlighting the city’s diverse food culture and restaurant scene, and more.
→ Main page: Houston museums
– 1940 Air Terminal Museum (Greater Hobby Area) – Located inside of the Houston's original passenger air terminal, this museum documents the history of aviation in the city.
– Buffalo Soldiers National Museum (Midtown) – This museum explores the story of the all-Black Buffalo Soldiers and their role in the US Army and the history of the American West.
– Children’s Museum Houston (Museum Park) – Child-oriented museum featuring interactive exhibits on various aspects of science, nature and culture.
– Galveston County Museum (Galveston) – Museum featuring tens of thousands of artifacts pertaining to the history and culture of the Galveston area.
– Galveston Naval Museum (Galveston) – Tours of a World War II-era submarine and destroyer showing what life was like aboard these vessels.
– Galveston Railroad Museum (Galveston) – Dozens of historic railroad vehicles including locomotives and carriages, plus a restored train depot with exhibits on railroad history.
– Holocaust Museum Houston (Museum Park) – Museum exploring the experiences of Jewish people during and after the Holocaust.
– Houston Maritime Museum (Second Ward) – Museum of seafaring, with an extensive collection of model ships.
– Houston Museum of Natural Science (Medical Center Area) – Big science museum located inside Hermann Park, with exhibits on dinosaurs, space, the energy industry and other topics plus frequent special exhibits, a planetarium and a butterfly center.
– Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land (Sugar Land) – Outpost of the main Houston Museum of Natural Science, with exhibits including paleontology, space science and earth sciences.
– Houston Police Department Museum (Downtown) – Small museum at the Houston Police Department Headquarters outlining the force’s history, with several historic police vehicles.
– Houston Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (Addicks/Park Ten) – Based at West Houston Airport, this museum offers exhibits on the history of World War II era aviation and rides in its historic aircraft.
– Lone Star Flight Museum (South Belt/Ellington) – Large collection of military aircraft at Ellington International Airport plus exhibits on the history of aviation in Texas.
– National Museum of Funeral History (northern Houston) – One of Houston’s more unique museums, highlighting the history and culture of the funeral industry.
– National United States Armed Forces Museum (Pleasantville Area) – Museum of military history with extensive display of military vehicles, plus exhibits of historic weaponry and other artifacts.
– Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum and Education Center (Galveston) – Former oil rig repurposed as a museum displaying exhibits on the history of the oil and gas drilling industry.
– Space Center Houston (Clear Lake) – Visitor center of the NASA Johnson Space Center, wotj rockets and other spacecraft, tourable replica shuttle, space suits and other space exploration-themed exhibits.
– The Bryan Museum (Galveston) – Museum highlighting the history and art of Texas and the American West, located inside a former orphanage.
– The Health Museum (Museum Park) – Science museum with exhibits on the human body, disease, genetics and other biology and medical science topics.
→ Main page: Houston art museums
– Art Car Museum (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park) – Unique art museum displaying aesthetically-modified vehicles and other works of art.
– Asia Society Texas Center (Museum Park) – Cultural center hosting a series of special exhibitions of works by Asian and diaspora artists, plus programs devoted to aspects of Asian and other events.
– Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park) – Satellite campus of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, showcasing the art collection and former home of philanthropist Ima Hogg.
– Blaffer Art Museum (Greater Third Ward) – Art museum on the University of Houston campus, hosting rotating exhibitions of contemporary works.
– Color Factory Houston (Greenway/Upper Kirby Area) – Chain art museum featuring interactive and immersive art exhibitions.
– Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (University Place) – Rotating exhibitions of art from recent decades.
– Cy Twombly Gallery (Neartown - Montrose) – Satellite gallery of the Menil Collection featuring the works of Cy Twombly, known primarily for his calligraphic paintings inspired by ancient Mediterranean cultures.
– Czech Center Museum Houston (Museum Park) – Cultual center featuring artworks by Czech and Slovakian artists and educational programs.
– DiverseWorks (Midtown) – Art space at the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston that highlights more adventurous works through rotating exhibitions, performances and other programs.
– Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (University Place) – Art museum devoted to crafted works, with rotating exhibitions by currently-working artists, plus crafts workshops and special events.
– Houston Center for Photography (Neartown - Montrose) – Art museum dedicated to contemporary photographic works, also hosting photography classes and workshops.
– Houston Museum of African American Culture (Museum Park) – Cultural center exploring the perspectives of Africans and the African diaspora, with rotating art exhibitions, films and educational programs.
– Lawndale Art Center (University Place) – Art center featuring exhibitions, film screenings and performances by Houston area artists.
– Moody Center for the Arts (University Place) – Art center at Rice University that offers several annual art exhibitions, public art across the Rice campus, plus performances and other events.
– Project Row Houses (Third Ward) – Artists’s studios and special exhibitions highlighting work by Black artists, located in a series of row houses across five blocks of Houston’s historic Third Ward neighborhood.
– Rienzi (Afton Oaks/River Oaks Area) – 1950s mansion serving as an outpost of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, highlighting that collection’s works of European decorative art and furnishings.
– Station Museum of Contemporary Art (Midtown) – Art museum hosting rotating exhibitions of contemporary artworks that reflect Houston’s cultural diversity.
– The Menil Collection (Neartown - Montrose) – Huge collection of artworks, with special strengths including the art of Africa, the Americas and the Pacific Islands, along with ancient and medieval art, contemporary art and surrealist works.
– The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (University Place) – One of the biggest art museums in the country, with a vast collection of art works from all periods of history, all over the world.
– The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (Gulfgate Riverview/Pine Valley) – Centered upon a folk art monument created by postal worker Jeff McKissack, this art center also hosts site-specific installations, art programs, performances and annual art car and art bike parades.
– Bishop’s Palace (Galveston) – Tour this distinctive 1892 mansion, also known as Gresham’s Castle, reckoned to be one of the best Victorian-era homes in the country.
– Moody Mansion (Galveston) – Historic 1895 mansion, tours of which examine the home life of the wealthy and influential Moody family.
– The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park (Downtown) – The Heritage Society offers tours of its several historic homes and buildings, located inside Sam Houston Park, plus exhibits on the people of Houston and special events.
→ Main page: Nature activities in Houston
– Brazos Bend State Park (southwest of Houston) – Nearly 5000 acres of wetland and prairie environments with abundant wildlife-watching opportunities, hiking and horseriding trails, and camping facilities.
– Cockrell Butterfly Center (Hermann Park) – Three-story walk-through rainforest butterfly habitat, home to up to 2000 butterflies, located at The Houston Museum of Natural Science.
– Downtown Aquarium Houston (Downtown) – Amusement park and restaurant complex with aquarium and live animal displays.
– East End Lagoon Nature Preserve (Galveston) – 685-acre preserve on the eastern tip of Galveston Island, with nature-viewing opportunities and hiking trails amidst salt marsh and prairie environments.
– Edith L Moore Nature Sanctuary (Memorial) – One of several small nature sanctuaries owned by Houston Audubon, with hiking trails, birding, educational programs and a historic log cabin.
– Galveston Island State Park (Galveston) – 2000-acre state park on Galveston Island preserving beach-side and bay-side barrier island environments, with hiking and biking trails, and camping.
– Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park) – 155-acre nature sanctuary located inside of Memorial Park, representing many native plants and animals within several different ecosystems.
– Houston Audubon Raptor and Education Center (Park Place) – Small nature sanctuary offering raptor aviaries, wetland nature trails and educational programs.
– Houston Zoo (Medical Center Area) – This zoo, located inside of Hermann Park, displays a wide range of animals from all over the world.
– Moody Gardens (Galveston) – Educational and entertainment center with aquarium and rainforest exhibits plus museum, seasonal water park and other attractions.
– Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center (northeastern Houston) – Nature reserve with a large lake for fishing, short hiking trails, 82-foot observation tower and wildlife-watching opportunities.
– Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park (Magnolia Park) – Small nature reserve created from a former industrial site, with wetland ponds and hiking and biking trails.
– Buffalo Bayou Park (central Houston) – This long linear park follows more than 2 miles of the Buffalo Bayou waterway, connecting several central Houston parks and recreational spaces.
– Discovery Green (Downtown) – 12 acres of lawns and natural-style gardens, with trails, city views, dog runs, playground and frequent special events.
– Eleanor Tinsley Park (Fourth Ward) – This popular park, which is also frequently used for special events, is part of Buffalo Bayou Park, with open grassed areas, lawn amphitheater and sports facilities.
– Emancipation Park (Greater Third Ward) – Historic park that was once the only municipal park open to Black Houstonians, now a popular event space also offering indoor and outdoor sports facilities, lawned areas, children’s playground and a swimming pool.
– Glenwood Cemetery (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park) – This 1871 cemetery is one of the oldest in Houston, and the final resting place of many of its notable citizens.
– Hermann Park (Medical Center Area) – One of Houston’s most popular parks (and home to the Houston Zoo), with lawns and gardens, nature areas, sports facilities, event spaces, public art, a lake with pedal boats, golf course, miniature railroad and other attractions.
– Houston Botanic Garden (Park Place) – 132-acre botanical garden with planted gardens on themes such as tropical and arid environments and edible plants, plus wetland and prairie natural habitats.
– Houston National Cemetery (northern Houston) – This 419-acre cemetery for veterans, established in 1965, is one of the country’s largest National Cemeteries.
– Market Square Park (Downtown) – One-block park with cafe, dog runs, lawn areas and frequent special events.
– McGovern Centennial Gardens (Medical Center Area) – 8-acre gardens inside Hermann Park, with several themed garden rooms.
– Memorial Park (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park) – At more than 1400 acres, this is Houston’s largest urban park, with miles of hiking, jogging and biking trails, natural habitats, a golf course and other sports facilities, plus the Houston Arboretum.
– Mercer Arboretum (Humble) – Wooded nature site with miles of hiking trails, across the road from the Mercer Botanic Gardens.
– Mercer Botanic Gardens (Humble) – Botanic gardens featuring attractive plantings of flowers and plant species from across the world, across the road from the Mercer Arboretum.
– Sam Houston Park (Downtown) – Historic park offering city views and open lawns, also home to the Heritage Society Museum and several historic houses.
– Smither Park (Gulfgate/Pine Valley) – This small but unique park features works of mosaic art by hundreds of folk artists.
– Beer Can House (Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park) – Tour this astonishing house, decorated by former owner John Milkovisch with over 50,000 beer cans.
– Burke Baker Planetarium (Medical Center Area) – Part of the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, in Hermann Park, this planetarium offers astronomy-themed programs on its large-screen projection system.
– Lucky Land (northern Houston) – Chinese theme park whose attractions include a reproduction of the terracotta army, cultural performances and a koi pond.
– San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site (La Porte) – Museum and monument marking the site of the battle that won independence for Texas.
→ Main pages: Houston events and concerts in Houston
Although Houston’s event calendar does not have quite the vibrancy or variety of some of its neighboring Texas cities, there is still a decent selection of festivals, concerts and other events.
Houston festivals include food festivals showcasing the best of local and international cuisine; popular outdoor music festivals; wine, spirits and craft beer festivals; art festivals where you can browse art by Houston area and visiting artists or which focus on specific arts such as photography or quilt-making; community street festivals; a wide range of film festivals; and more besides.
See all upcoming festivals in Houston, or if you are interested in a particular type of event, see upcoming food and drink festivals and events, or music festivals.
Houston hosts many hundreds of concerts each year, from up-and-coming local acts to big international performers, with fans of hip-hop and country music being particularly well served.
See upcoming concerts in Houston:
Concerts in January
Concerts in February
Concerts in March
Concerts in April
Concerts in May
Concerts in June
Concerts in July
Concerts in August
Concerts in September
Concerts in October
Concerts in November
Concerts in December
Houston offers a vibrant arts scene, with a good selection of productions and performances on each month, including plays (classic and new), musicals (including the most popular Broadway productions), ballet and other dance performances and opera. There are also frequent comedy events by touring and local comedians.
Other events in Houston include races from 5K fun runs to marathons, farmers markets, weekend and evening special events at local attractions, outdoor summer movies, fundraisers, neighborhood events, and seasonal events such as July 4th celebrations, Christmas and holiday events, and more.
See Houston’s upcoming events:
Events in January
Events in February
Events in March
Events in April
Events in May
Events in June
Events in July
Events in August
Events in September
Events in October
Events in November
Events in December