Houston travel guide
Houston Tourism | Houston Guide
You're Going to Love Houston
With a population of 2.10 million, Houston is the largest city in Texas, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Houston has to offer.
Where to Eat in Houston
Westside is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Houston. These include popular favourites such as Benihana - Houston, TX (9707 Westheimer Rd), Arturo Boada Cuisine (6510 Del Monte Drive) and Seasons 52 Houston City Centre (842 W Sam Houston Pkwy N). If you’re looking for affordable options, Maggiano's - Houston (2019 Post Oak Blvd.) and Reef (2600 Travis) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Triola's Kitchen (4606 N Main St) and Lucille's (5512 La Branch Street) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Houston.
When to visit Houston
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Houston in July, when the average temperature is 29 °C, and the highest can go up to 34 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 6 °C, with an average temperature of 12 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 150 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Houston, with an average rainfall of 81 mm.
How to Get to Houston
Plane
Houston is served by 2 airports: Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) and Houston George Bush Airport (IAH). The closest to the city centre of Houston is Houston Hobby Airport, which is located 15 km from the city centre. Further away is Houston George Bush Airport, 26 km from the centre of Houston.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Houston. The train journey from Houston to San Antonio takes 4h 45m and costs around $66 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from New Orleans, expect to pay about $69 for a 9h 18m trip. The train station in Houston is called Houston, and is located 1.1 km from the city centre.
Car
Another option to get to Houston is to pick up a car hire from Austin, which is about 236 km from Houston. You’ll find branches of Thrifty and Hertz, among others, in Austin.
Bus
The most popular bus station is Houston Clay St & Louisiana St, located 0.3 km from the city centre of Houston. Houston 6590 Southwest Hwy is also a commonly used station, and is 13 km from the city centre.
Airports near Houston
Airlines serving Houston
Where to stay in Houston
From 5-star hotels such as the The St. Regis Houston to great affordable options like the Four Points by Sheraton Houston Energy Corridor, Houston offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $173 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $882 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Super 8 IAH West/Greenspoint and Hampton Inn Houston I-10 East. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Houston, with prices from $63 to $930 per night. Southwest Houston is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Houston are about 29% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Downtown - In Houston’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Residence Inn by Marriott Houston Downtown/Convention Center, Homewood Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown and JW Marriott Houston Downtown.
Northshore - Red Roof Inn Houston East - I-10, Days Inn by Wyndham Houston East and La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Houston East at Normandy have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Northshore will cost you about $126 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Houston
Most booked hotels in Houston
Hiring a car in Houston
Hiring a car in Houston costs $108 per day, on average, or $433 if you want to hire it for 4 days. Alamo, Sixt and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Houston is the Easirent branch at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, which is 21 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.56 per litre in Houston (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $18.67 and $24.89. Compact (Hyundai Accent or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Houston, while also 72% cheaper than other types, on average.
Best car hire deals in Houston
Intermediate SUV
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$54/day
Standard
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$57/day