Houston

Houston is a large, spread-out city in southeast Texas. Visitors go for Space Center Houston, the Museum District and food that ranges from Tex-Mex to barbecue.

Find a room in Houston Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Houston

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Houston is the largest city in Texas, in the state's southeast, a short drive from the Gulf Coast. The main draws are Space Center Houston, NASA's visitor center at the Johnson Space Center, and the Museum District, where several museums sit close together. The food ranges from Tex-Mex and barbecue to cooking from many immigrant communities.

Houston suits travelers who want museums and food, or who plan to pair the city with Galveston. Because the city is spread out, where you stay shapes how much time you spend getting between sights. A base near the Museum District or downtown keeps the main sights within reach, and a rental car makes the distances between them easier to cover. The cooler months, roughly late fall through early spring, are the most comfortable for time outdoors. Plan at least two or three days for the city, and add more if you want Galveston.

Houston in five

Rent a car, or base on the Red LineHouston sprawls across hundreds of square miles. METRORail's Red Line links downtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center, so stay along it if you skip a car.Getting around the USA
Book Space Center Houston for the dayNASA's visitor center sits southeast of downtown, about 30–45 minutes by car. Plan half a day or more and check the official site for hours and tickets before you go.
Cluster the museums in one dayThe Museum District puts the fine arts and natural science museums, Hermann Park and the zoo within a short walk or Red Line ride of each other.
Plan indoor time from June to SeptemberHighs reach the mid-30s °C with heavy humidity, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Keep a flexible booking and travel cover for late summer.Travel insurance
Eat across cuisines, not one cuisineTexas barbecue, Tex-Mex, Vietnamese noodle shops and Viet-Cajun crawfish all define the city. Pick a neighborhood and eat on foot, then drive for the next.

Things to do in Houston

See all attractions in Houston

Museum · HoustonChildren's Museum HoustonWeekdays can be quieter, but field trips and special events may affect crowds.

Museum · HoustonThe Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonCheck the website for current exhibitions; special exhibitions may require a separate ticket, including on Thursdays.

Historic site · HoustonRothko ChapelChoose a weekday for a quieter visit.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to HoustonPut the places you like in Houston on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and Hobby (HOU); drive to downtown 20–60 min
Getting there: Fly in, or drive from Austin (2.5–3 h) or Dallas (3.5–4 h)
Getting around: Car for most trips; METRORail Red Line and METRO buses
Best base: Museum District or Downtown, near the Red Line
Time needed: 3 days; add a day for Galveston

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Cool, mild
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Mild
MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Spring, wildflowers
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, pleasant
MayRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low22°Humid, storms
JuneRain16 rainy daysHigh33°Low25°Hot, humid
JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh34°Low25°Very hot
AugustRain18 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh34°Low26°Hottest, storm risk
SeptemberRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Hurricane season
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Warm, dry
NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Cool, clear
DecemberRain11 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Mild, holidays

Average daily high and low in Houston, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Houston

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 31°
Humidity: 53%
Wind: 17 km/h
Chance of rain: 5%

Houston

06:04 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-6

Today31°21°5%Monday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 5%.
Tue31°17°50%Tuesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 50%.
Wed27°14°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu24°20°36%Thursday: Drizzle. High 24°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 36%.
Fri25°19°28%Friday: Rain. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 28%.
Sat26°19°17%Saturday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 17%.
Sun27°19°16%Sunday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 16%.

Updated 03:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Houston

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Space Center Houstonabout 30–45 min by carNASA's visitor center. Check the official site for hours and tickets.
Galvestonabout 1 hour by carGulf beach, Strand historic district and seafood. Beach days beat dreary weather.
Austinabout 2.5–3 hours by carLive music and Hill Country. Better as an overnight stop.Read the guide

Before you go to Houston

Space Center Houston ticketsCheck the official site for datesBook timed entry

Hotels near the Red LineMuseum District, downtown or MontroseCheck availability

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USAMedical cover for visitors to the USRead the guide

We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.

Rules for Houston, checked

Many travelers need a visa or an ESTA before flying to the US. Check eligibility on the U.S. Department of State site (travel.state.gov) before you book.Source
Visa Waiver travelers need an approved ESTA before boarding. Apply only on the official CBP site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov.Source
Declare all food, plants and animal products on your customs form. Check the CBP travel page (cbp.gov/travel) for what must be declared.Source
Buy a fare before you board METRORail or a METRO bus, and keep it until you get off. Check current fares at ridemetro.org.Source

Plan around Houston

San Antonio

West by car, with the Alamo and the missions

Read the guide All of the USA

Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors

Read the guide Austin

Live music and Hill Country, 2.5–3 hours west

Read the guide Dallas

Museums and Fort Worth next door, 3.5–4 hours north

Read the guide New Orleans

Gulf Coast food and music, a long day's drive east

Read the guide ESTA explained

Who needs it, the fee and how to apply

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical cover for visitors to the US

Read the guide

Houston FAQ

How many days do you need in Houston?

Three days covers Space Center Houston, the Museum District and a few meals in different neighborhoods. Add a day for Galveston if the weather is good.

Do you need a car in Houston?

Yes for most visitors. Houston is very spread out. You can manage with METRORail and rideshare if you stay along the Red Line and limit yourself to downtown, the Museum District and the Medical Center.

Is Houston worth visiting?

Yes, for food, space history and a strong museum district. It is less walkable and less scenic than many US destinations, so it works best as a 2 to 3 day stop on a Texas or Gulf Coast trip.

What is the best time to visit Houston?

March, April, October and November have the mildest weather. Summers are hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so keep bookings flexible from August to October.

Can you visit Houston without a car?

You can, if you pick a hotel on the Red Line and focus on downtown, the Museum District and Montrose. Space Center Houston and Galveston need a tour, rideshare or a rental car.