Houston began as a speculative dream on the banks of Buffalo Bayou in 1836 and grew into America’s energy and space capital. Today, “Space City” fuses NASA heritage with a booming arts scene, award-winning restaurants, and parks that stitch neighborhoods together from the bayou to the Gulf Coast.

Expect a city of neighborhoods—Montrose’s galleries, the Museum District’s cultural giants, the Heights’ indie shops, EaDo’s murals, and Third Ward’s deep artistic roots. Houston’s culinary map spans Texas BBQ, Viet-Cajun seafood, Oaxacan moles, Gulf Coast oysters, and more—often in the same block.

Practical notes: Houston is spread out, so budget for rideshares or a rental car; the METRORail links Downtown, Midtown, and the Museum District. Spring and fall are mild; summers are hot and humid. Book marquee restaurants and NASA in advance, and carry light layers—indoor A/C can be serious.

Houston

America’s fourth-largest city rewards curiosity: explore the city’s vast underground tunnel network, wander world-class museums, savor pit-smoked brisket, then catch a sunset over the skyline at Buffalo Bayou Park. Street art flourishes in EaDo and the Heights, while live sports and theater anchor Downtown nights.

• Top sights: Space Center Houston, Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH), Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS), Menil Collection, Rothko Chapel, Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, POST Houston rooftop “Skylawn.”
• Where to stay: Uptown near the Galleria for shopping and easy driving; Museum District/Montrose for culture; Downtown for walkability to theaters, the tunnels, and sports.
• Don’t miss bites: Brisket at Truth BBQ or Pinkerton’s, tacos at Laredo Taqueria, Oaxacan fare at Xochi, Viet-Cajun at Crawfish & Noodles, and craft cocktails at Anvil or Julep.

How to get there: Fly into IAH (George Bush Intercontinental) or HOU (William P. Hobby). Search flexible fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: 1–2.5 hours from the Midwest, 3–4 hours from the coasts, 1–1.5 hours from Texas hubs; roundtrips often range $150–$450 depending on season.

Local transport: Rideshares are plentiful; budget $15–$35 for most urban hops, $35–$70 airport transfers. METRORail links Downtown–Midtown–Museum District/Hermann Park; plan 10–25 minutes between those areas.

Where to stay (Hotels.com + VRBO):

• The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston — High-touch service, destination spa, and a rare on-site Rolls-Royce showroom; ideal for a splurge near the Galleria.
• Hotel ZaZa Museum District — Steps from MFAH and HMNS; artsy rooms, pool scene, and easy METRORail access.
• The Westin Galleria Houston — Inside the Galleria for shopping, dining, and family convenience.
• Browse more hotels in Houston or check VRBO Houston stays for neighborhood rentals in Montrose, the Heights, and Rice/Museum District.

Day 1: Arrival, Downtown Orientation, and Bayou Sunset

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs at Discovery Green and the adjacent Avenida Houston—public art, fountains, and skyline angles for photos. Walk to Buffalo Bayou Park (Sabine Promenade) for bridges and skyline viewpoints; if time allows, peek at the historic Cistern (reserve ahead).

Evening: Dinner at Xochi (downtown) for wood-fired Oaxacan specialties—tlayudas, mole negro, and house-made chocolate—or head to The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation for sizzling fajitas and hand-pressed tortillas. Cap the night with cocktails: Julep for Southern riffs (don’t miss the julep service) or Anvil Bar & Refuge for a menu of 100 classics done right.

Night: If there’s a game or show, consider Astros at Minute Maid Park, Rockets at Toyota Center, or a performance at the Theater District. Otherwise, lounge at Axelrad Beer Garden’s hammocks with live music and local brews.

Day 2: Tunnels, Murals, and Montrose Arts

Morning: Fuel up at The Breakfast Klub (chicken & waffles worth the line) or Common Bond for buttery croissants and lattes. Join the fascinating Astroville Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston (Air-Conditioned) to explore the U.S.’s largest downtown tunnel system—history, architecture, and hidden art beneath the towers.

Afternoon: Head to EaDo (East Downtown) for murals—snap the “We Love Houston” sign and sprawling street art corridors. Lunch at J-Bar-M Barbecue (big oak pits, jalapeño-cheddar sausage) or Brothers Taco House for no-frills breakfast tacos served all day. Continue to POST Houston: roam the food hall and climb to Skylawn for sweeping roof views of Downtown.

Evening: Shift to Montrose for galleries and cozy cafés. Dinner options: Hugo’s for regional Mexican (lamb barbacoa, mole poblano), Nobie’s for inventive share plates in a bungalow setting, or Riel for Gulf Coast meets Eastern European. Nightcap at Poison Girl (pinball and whiskey) or the moody tiki hideaway Lei Low.

Day 3: NASA Day Trip — Space City Up Close

Day tour: Make it easy with the Houston NASA Space Center Ticket & Transportation Combo for round-trip transfers plus general admission to Space Center Houston. Expect 5–7 hours total with tram tours to historic Mission Control (as available), astronaut training mockups, and the massive Saturn V rocket—essential Houston.

Budget: combos typically around $80–$120 per person; going independently is about a 35–45 minute drive from Downtown without traffic.

Evening: Back in the city, celebrate with Gulf seafood: Bludorn (lobster pot pie, seasonal crudos) or Caracol (wood-roasted oysters, whole grilled fish). Prefer comfort? Katy Asian Town or Bellaire’s AsiaTown beckon with late-night noodle shops and bubble tea—Crawfish & Noodles is a Houston legend for Viet-Cajun boils when in season.

Day 4: Museum District, Parks, and Garden Paths

Morning: Coffee at Blacksmith’s spiritual successor aren’t we sure? Instead, choose Boomtown Coffee (Heights) or Retrospect Coffee (Midtown’s gas-station-turned-café). Dive into the Menil Collection—free, serene galleries spanning surrealism to contemporary—and step into the Rothko Chapel for meditative stillness.

Afternoon: Walk or ride the METRORail to the Museum District. Use your pre-booked Houston Museum of Natural Science General Admission to marvel at the Morian Hall of Paleontology, sparkling gems, and ancient Egypt.

Afterwards, stroll Hermann Park’s Japanese Garden or McGovern Centennial Gardens; if time, pop into MFAH’s Kinder Building for modern and contemporary masterworks.

Evening: Dine nearby: Lucille’s (heritage Southern—hot chicken, oxtails), Hamsa in Rice Village (modern Israeli, great mezze and laffa), or Kata Robata (sushi and pristine sashimi). For drinks, try Grand Prize Bar (two-story dive with a patio) or Light Years for natural wine.

Day 5: Heights Strolls, Bayou Bikes, and a Downtown Food Tour

Morning: Breakfast like a local at Laredo Taqueria (choose your fillings at the steam table) or Shipley Do-Nuts (an old-school Houston classic). Rent bikes or e-scooters and trace the Buffalo Bayou Park trails from the Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark to Shepherd Drive—watch for herons along the water and skyline reflections after recent park improvements.

Afternoon: Head Downtown for the Houston Downtown Food Tour with 6 Tastings of Tradition & Fusion, a guided stroll through Houston’s culinary diversity—think Tex-Mex, Viet-Cajun, BBQ bites, and sweets—with stories that bring the city’s immigrant roots to life.

Expect 2.5–3 hours; typical pricing $70–$95 per person.

Evening: Wrap the trip in the Heights on 19th Street with vintage shops and indie boutiques. Dinner at Truth BBQ (moist brisket, collards, banana pudding), Pinkerton’s Barbecue (monster beef ribs, jalapeño cheese rice), or Street to Kitchen (fiery “unapologetically Thai” plates). Toast your week at Heights Bier Garten or a refined pour at Better Luck Tomorrow.

Optional add-ons and local gems

• Mural safari: Third Ward’s Project Row Houses and the Bicentennial murals tell deep community stories; EaDo’s Art District rewards aimless wanders.
• Sports surge: Astros (MLB), Rockets (NBA), Texans (NFL), Dynamo and Dash (MLS/NWSL) at Shell Energy Stadium—game day energy is real.
• Hands-on fun: POST’s immersive art installations rotate; check current exhibitions before you go. Families love the Houston Zoo—pair with Hermann Park.

Book these popular Houston experiences

• Astroville Tunnel Tour of Downtown Houston (Air-Conditioned)

  

• Houston NASA Space Center Ticket & Transportation Combo

  

• Houston Museum of Natural Science General Admission

  

• Houston Downtown Food Tour with 6 Tastings of Tradition & Fusion

  

Departure planning: For flights home, compare real-time options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Give yourself 45–60 minutes to reach IAH in normal traffic (25–35 minutes to HOU), plus security time.

In five days, you’ll taste Houston’s culinary range, wander its museums and parks, and stand beneath the Saturn V—proof that Space City dreams big. From bayou sunsets to neon-lit murals, Houston rewards every curiosity and every appetite. Come hungry, leave inspired.