About Houston
Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County. Covering a total area of 640.4 square miles (1,659 km2), it is the ninth largest city in the country and the largest whose municipal government is not consolidated with a county, parish, or borough. Although primarily located within Harris County, portions of the city extend into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Houston also functions as the southeastern anchor of the Texas Triangle megaregion.
Cheap flights to Houston
The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $988 from London, travelling 10 Apr – 24 Apr. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.
- LON London to Houston10 Apr – 24 Apr · HOU from$988
- DUB Dublin to Houston22 Nov – 29 Nov · HOU from$1,024
- EDI Edinburgh to Houston15 Dec – 7 Jan · HOU from$1,343
- MAN Manchester to Houston1 Nov – 9 Nov · HOU from$997
- CPH Copenhagen to Houston20 Nov – 24 Nov · HOU from$1,083
- PRG Prague to Houston23 Dec – 8 Jan · HOU from$1,210
- GLA Glasgow to Houston15 Dec – 7 Jan · HOU from$1,316
- HEL Helsinki to Houston16 Feb – 1 Mar · IAH from$1,309
Cheapest month to fly
Airlines travellers compared most often: Finnair, Aer Lingus.
Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.
Search flights to HoustonPlaces to visit in Houston
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Space Center Houston
Museum · 22 mi from centreThe visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, with real spacecraft, a Saturn V rocket and tram tours of mission control and astronaut training areas.
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Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Museum · 3 mi from centreA large art museum in the Museum District with collections spanning ancient to contemporary art, set across several buildings linked by tunnels, plus a sculpture garden.
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Houston Museum of Natural Science
Museum · 3 mi from centreA popular museum with a large dinosaur hall, gem and mineral exhibits, a glass-pyramid butterfly center and a planetarium, all in the Museum District near Hermann Park.
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Hermann Park
Park · 3 mi from centreA large urban park with gardens, a reflecting pool, paddle boats and a miniature train, home to the Houston Zoo and close to the Museum District.
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Houston Zoo
Zoo · 3 mi from centreLocated in Hermann Park, the zoo features elephants, gorillas, sea lions, giraffes and a wide variety of animal habitats, with shaded paths that help in the summer heat.
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The Menil Collection
Museum · 2 mi from centreA free museum in a leafy neighborhood featuring surrealist, modern and ancient art, with nearby buildings dedicated to Cy Twombly and other artists, plus the Rothko Chapel.
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Buffalo Bayou Park
ParkA bayou-side park west of downtown with trails, kayak rentals, skyline views and a large former underground cistern that can be toured, plus a nightly bat colony at Waugh Bridge.
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San Jacinto Monument
Historic · 18 mi from centreEast of downtown, a tall monument marks the battle that won Texas independence, with a museum and observation deck overlooking the battleground and the Houston Ship Channel.
Things to do in Houston by type
20 tours, tickets and experiences across 5 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Tickets & Attraction Passes 9 experiences Burke Baker Planetarium: Show Ticket -
City tours 6 experiences Conspiracy in Houston: The President's Secret Society - City Exploration Game! -
Shows, sports and special events 3 experiences Major League Baseball: Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park - Ticket -
Outdoor activities & Adventure 2 experiences Conspiracy in Houston: The President's Secret Society - City Exploration Game! -
Day Trips & Excursions 2 experiences Explore Houston and Galveston Island - Full-Day Tour
- 1-3 hours 5
- Flexible 5
- 3-6 hours 3
- Over 6 hours 2
- Couples 2
- Senior 2
- Families 2
- Youth 2
Top experiences in Houston
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 20 available.
Houston CityPASS® - Access to 5 Attractions
From $72 per adult
National Football League: Houston Texans Football Game at NRG Stadium
From $152 per adult
Secret Food Tours Houston
From $80 per adult
Houston Museum of Natural Science: Entry Ticket
From $21 per adult
Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science: Entry Ticket
From $14 per adult
Houston: City Bus Tour + Downtown Aquarium Entry Ticket
From $73 per adult
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: ALL ACCESS Ticket
From $21 per adult
Burke Baker Planetarium: Show Ticket
From $11 per adult
Space Center Houston: Entry Ticket
From $28 per adult
Houston Interactive Aquarium & Animal Preserve
From $19 per adult
Travel Internet Hubby eSIM - USA
From $1 per adult
Murder Mystery: Solve the case in Houston - City Exploration Game!
From $10 per adult
Where to stay in Houston
Popular hotels in Houston, out of 823 properties you can book.
Hilton Houston Post Oak
From $176 per night
DoubleTree Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria
From $119 per night
Hilton Houston-Americas
From $210 per night
Crowne Plaza Houston Med Ctr-Galleria Area
From $67 per night
Hampton Inn Houston-Near The Galleria
From $110 per night
Houston Grand Hotel River Oaks
From $169 per night
Hilton Garden Inn Houston/The Woodland
From $170 per night
The IAH Houston Hotel
From $203 per night
Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center
From $152 per night
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston Bush IAH
From $59 per night
Hyatt Place Houston/Galleria
From $112 per night
Hyatt House Houston / Galleria
From $105 per night
Best time to visit Houston
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Houston is February, April and October to December, when average daytime highs are around 68–86°F and rain falls on about 9 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Houston weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 82° 57° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 87° 71° 0%
- Fri 23 Oct 86° 69° 0%
- Sat 24 Oct 84° 70° 0%
- Sun 25 Oct 82° 68° 2%
- Mon 26 Oct 80° 71° 6%
Know before you go
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Language
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- America/ChicagoUTC−5
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
Upcoming public holidays in United States
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents DayWashington's Birthday
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Houston
These are the airports closest to central Houston. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- HOU William P. Hobby Airport10 mi (16 km) from the city centre
- IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport16 mi (25 km) from the city centre
- EFD Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base17 mi (28 km) from the city centre
- IWS West Houston Airport18 mi (29 km) from the city centre
Getting around Houston
Houston's major highways make getting around the city fairly easy. (See list of freeways under the "Get in" section.) Obstacles, however, can make driving in Houston a less than pleasant experience. One is construction, which seems to be ever-present, and the other is traffic. Evening rush hour in Houston begins as early as 4PM and can last more than 2 hours. Morning rush hour is between 7 and 9AM. During rush hour, traffic on the highways can come to a halt.
By public transportation
Public transportation in Houston is operated by METRO, which runs light rail lines called METRORail[dead link], as well as bus lines. The cost to ride is $1.25 each way (Feb 2017).
By limousine
Many Houston limousine companies offer full ground transportation options such as town cars, classic cars, stretch limos and luxury vehicles that can be utilized for special occasions like airport transportation, parties, school dances, business functions and weddings. Consider hiring a limousine service to handle your travel needs.
By bicycle
Houston is so spread out and (most of the time) hot and humid that bicycles are often best used for exercise or to get to somewhere that is close by. On the other hand, if you have a little bit of stamina and perseverance, Downtown, Midtown, Rice, Uptown and the Medical Center/Hermann Park/Museum District area are within a 30-minute ride. Multi-modal transportation is also possible, since most city buses have easy to use racks in the front that can get traveler and bicycle near to a final destination.
Houston travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Houston?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Houston is February, April and October to December, when average daytime highs are around 68–86°F and rain falls on about 9 days a month.
What is the weather like in Houston?
August is usually the warmest month in Houston, with average highs of 92°F (33°C). January is the coolest, with average lows of 42°F (5°C). The wettest month is typically May, with about 303 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Houston?
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is the closest airport, about 10 miles (16 km) from the centre of Houston. Other nearby airports include George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH, 16 mi) and Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base (EFD, 17 mi).
How much are flights to Houston?
The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Houston in the last 30 days was $988 from London, travelling 10 Apr – 24 Apr. April is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $988.
What time zone is Houston in?
Houston uses the America/Chicago time zone (currently UTC−5). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Houston?
Houston's major highways make getting around the city fairly easy. (See list of freeways under the "Get in" section.) Obstacles, however, can make driving in Houston a less than pleasant experience. One is construction, which seems to be ever-present, and the other is traffic.
What are the best places to visit in Houston?
Top sights in Houston include Space Center Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science and Hermann Park. The visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, with real spacecraft, a Saturn V rocket and tram tours of mission control and astronaut training areas.
What are the top things to do in Houston?
Popular experiences you can book in Houston include Houston CityPASS® - Access to 5 Attractions, National Football League: Houston Texans Football Game at NRG Stadium and Secret Food Tours Houston. Destina Holidays offers 20 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Houston?
The most popular types of experiences in Houston are tickets & attraction passes (9), city tours (6), shows, sports and special events (3) and outdoor activities & adventure (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Houston?
Popular areas for hotels in Houston include Galleria area, Downtown and The Woodlands. Well-reviewed options include Hilton Houston Post Oak and DoubleTree Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria.
How many hotels can I book in Houston?
Destina Holidays currently lists 823 properties in and around Houston, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
