HOW TO SPEND 3 DAYS IN HOUSTON: IDEAS FOR THE PERFECT ITINERARY

Houston, Texas, is a lively city known most famously for it’s space education in the form of  NASA and the Space Centre as well as it’s very diverse foodie scene. But, this is not where it ends in terms of culture, the arts, interesting architecture, open green spaces, awe inspiring murals and of course the sport! This how to spend 3 days in Houston guide is a bumper round up resource based on our personal experiences. It includes those neighbourhoods and points of interest to visit as a first time visitor, where to stay, places to eat as well as day trip ideas. Read on for more of the good stuff. 

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Where is Houston Located?

Houston is located in South East Texas, near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the most populated city in the state of Texas and the United States fourth most populated city. 

Houston Map

Click on the map below for an interactive and downloadable option that accompanies this three day guide to Houston featuring our top places to visit, restaurants and much more. There’s a legend to the left too, to make locating spots easier.

Related Article: How To Spend 3 Days In Houston: A complete Guide

When is The Best Time to Visit Houston?

Houston can really be visited any time of year depending on the kind of experience you would like.

Peak Season: June-September. This is a good time to go if you like doing outdoor activities, want to head to the coast or hang out at your hotel pool. Expect temperatures to soar from 30°C to 38°C if not more. The schools are also out so the city can be rather crowded with visitors as are attraction queues. Hotel prices are also noticeably higher!

It’s useful to note that generally hurricane season falls around August too!

Low Season: December-February, This is a perfect time to head to Houston if you are on a budget. Temperatures can still hit around 15°C to 18°C but there is a marked decrease in crowds. It’s worth taking a coat with you and to keep an eye on the weather as occasionally there are storms in the city. Locals will find this time of year cold compared to us coming from Europe!

Shoulder Season: March-May & October-November. We travelled to Houston in the first week of November and found the weather was pretty warm at around 27°C to 30°C. but amenable. We did walk around a fair amount and also used the METRO Rail in the hotter part of the day. 

This is a great time of year to still explore the outdoor spaces and are very comfortably. There are still outdoor art festivals and things like the Day of the Dead (Dia des los Muertos) as well as the usual points of interest that have very few visitors during the week.

How to Get to Houston?

Most people will arrive into Houston, whether nationally or internationally, via one of two airports the city has or by car driving through the state. 

• George Bush Intercontinental Airport – 23 miles North of Downtown. Taxi to downtown is around $60-$90 (depending upon traffic and time of day).
• William P Hobby Airport – 7 miles southeast of Downtown. Taxi to Downtown is around $30-$40 (again depending upon traffic and time of day).

How to Get Around Houston?

Car – Houston is a city that seems to be pretty spread out and not compact like others in the US. If you are planning on visiting more places that are not just centered around downtown and the surrounding areas served by public transport, then we’d recommend hiring a car. We always suggest finding the best priced vehicle for your trip with Rentalcars.com.

METRORail – we would recommend this way of travel especially if like us you don’t really need to hire a car for your trip. You can get between the neighbourhoods of Downtown, EADO, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Centre. the latter two are on the red line which is pretty easy to manoeuvre.

Fares are around $1.50 for a three hour ticket or $3 for a day pass. We found this to be a pretty convenient way to travel. Head to the METRORail website for more information.

Be-lavie Pro Tip: If you’re in Houston for a conference, the 24 mile METRORail lines connect Avenida Houston to the Theatre District, the Texas Medical Center and NRG Park, the home of the Houston Texans, Rodeo Houston and more. If staying at the Marriott Marquis during the conference, this is a good spot to explore using the METRORail.

Taxi/Uber – Most taxis between the boundaries of I-10, I-45 and I-69 are on a city wide flat rate of $6. We did get the odd Uber when returning home from restaurants at night but distances between places are pretty far and this can add to your travel budget pretty fast.

We were told Houston had a bike share program called Bicycle but unfortunately this shut down in mid 2024. 

Be-lavie Tip: We’d recommend buying a $3 Metro pass if you plan to travel around all day. They can be used on all lines as well as buses. Each Metro stop has a ‘Fare Monitor’ who wearing high visibility vests and a uniform and are there to help. The fare ticket machine was broken on one day and the fare monitor kindly took us to the main station on the metro to get a pass. They are really helpful and knowledgeable and there to help you use the system safely and correctly.

Where to Stay in Houston?

The best place to stay invariably for visitors is Downtown due to its proximity to attractions as well as the fact that it’s a good base to get public transport like the MetroRAIL or buses. Hit the article below to see a round-up of our personal selections of hotels to suit all budgets in the different neighbourhoods and districts of Houston that are amenable for first time visitors based on things to do in the vicinity.

Related Article: Places To Stay in Houston By Neighbourhood

As a quick guide, here are our top three picks for Downtown Houston (for more click the link above)

• $$$ I Hotel Icon. A luxury Boutique historic hotel in the heart of Downtown. 
• $$ I Magnolia Hotel Houston. Boutique style mid-range hotel, recently renovated.
• $ I Hampton Inn Houston Downtown. Good family friendly option with pool.

Alternatively find a hotel that suits your style by inputting the dates of your stay below.

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How to Best Spend Three Days in Houston

Here is our personally curated itinerary of the best things to do in Houston if you have three days. It’s 100% possible to chop and change this based on individual interests. The last day is very much based upon what visitors would like to do as extras but the first two days are what we would call ‘essentials’. 

Be-lavie Tip: Although, the majority of people would visit the city for three days, to get a better feel for it and if you have the luxury we’d say five days is a good amount that enables day trips away from the main city boundaries to places  like Galveston, Kemah Boardwalk and spending a day at NASA and the Space centre.

Day 1 I Downtown

Our picks for spending a day in Downtown Houston, this also includes the up and coming area of East Downtown or EaDo.

Minute Maid Park

If you love sport then, we’d suggest starting your tour here. This is the home of the city’s baseball team, Houston Astros. If you’re a baseball fan then this is probably already on your list. If you don’t manage to watch a game here, you can always book onto a tour of the stadium as they are run daily. 

You can book tickets for an Astros Game below to experience the city’s basketball.

Location: 501 Crawford Street, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 7132 598 000 I Website I Map Location

Avenida De Las Americas

This is known as Texas’ largest convention and entertainment campus and runs right from the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) and runs from Minute Maid Park to the Hilton Americas Houston hotel. This is where you will find cafes, bars, restaurants as well as Discovery Green, cool art installations and outdoor spaces that often host events. Keep an eye out for the water feature known as, Wings Above Water, right outside the Convention Centre.

Location: Avenida De Las Americas I Map Location

Discovery Green

A 12 acre park that encompasses art installations, fountains, Kinder lake, jogging trails, cafes such as Lake House, dining spaces,  interactive water features, dog runs, a tree lined walk way named the Brown Fountain Promenade plus lots more including the Jones Lawn which is a green space that is perfect for events that are run here on a regular basis.

There are lots of programming events such as music, dance, film and theatre, as well as exercise classes, children’s events and an urban market.

Location: 1500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77010 I Tel. +1 7134 007 336 I Website I Map Location

Monument Au Fantome

Located on Avenida de las Americas, this is Discovery Greens most well known sculptor and translates to ‘Imaginary City’ in French. 

Sculpted by Jean Dubuffet, who was also French, finished this in 1983 encompassing the seven different forms of the city including a church, chimney, dog, tree, mast, phantom and a hedge. The steel frames and covered with painted fibreglass, with the tallest portion standing around 33 feet tall. 

Location: Avenida de las Americas, Houston, TX 77010 I Website I Map Location

Houston Mural Tour 

Houston Downtown and Greater Houston has an incredible street art scene which is well worth booking a tour or even doing a self guided visit. 

We would recommend taking a professional tour which gives interesting insights into the main murals of the city including the messages behind them, some that have been sanctioned by the UN as well as occasionally being able to meet the artists if they are out painting. 

We would highly suggest the below Houston Tour by Electric Cart which is a wonderful two and half hour experience which will save your legs. The guides, Marna and her husband are very knowledgeable and can tell you all the behind the scenes about each Mural. It’s a great whistle stop tour where you’ll have the chance to get off and snap some photos.

We recommend booking this Houston Mural Tour by electric cart

If you are short of time or prefer to wander the murals yourself, then download a Houston Mural Map which contains 750 murals as well as over 250 mini murals by website host Up Art Studio.

Must See Mural: Houston is Inspired

This was the first mural in Houston and is a colourful explosion right in the heart of downtown. It was completed in 2013 by Houston artist, Mario Figueroa (GONZO247). It’s around 3,300 square foot and was originally commissioned to promote Houston as a culinary and cultural hub. It’s one of the city’s most iconic murals so don’t miss to snap it!

Location: 313 Travis Street. Houston. Map Location

Graffiti Park

Head to East Downtown (EADo) to see this block long Graffiti Park which contains everything from Rap murals to wings plus graffiti writing. Colourful with powerful messages. The whole is block is covered in art and if you have the time, it’s worth seeing. 

Location: 1503 Chartres St, Houston, TX 77003 I Map Location

Market Square Park & The Saturday Farmer’s Market 

Placed right in the heart of historic Downtown, Market Square park is at the old site of the City Hall and is a lovely green space to sit and relax, amidst the skyscrapers and surrounding buildings. There are great art installations in the park, as well as dog runs and gardens. If visiting at the weekend head to Market Square Park farmer’s Market which has small local independent businesses selling fresh produce accompanied by live music.

Don’t miss, Laureen’s garden, a water feature surrounded by seating, that is a memorial to the victims of 9/11. A very poignant and emotional space. Here’s a part of the message on the plaque:

‘The three granite walls in the fountain represent the three crash sites, New York, Washington, DC. and Pennsylvania. Each smooth stone in the fountain represents a life lost.

Water gently flows around 40 large stones for those on United Flight 93. 2,753 small pebbles line the front of the fountain for those who died at the World Trade Center, along with 184 larger pebbles for those who died at the Pentagon’.

Location: 301 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel +1 7136 503 022 I Website I Map Location

Market Street Clock Tower

This historical Houston landmark, located right across the road from Market Street Park. Named the Friedman Clock Tower, it is where the 1876 fire bell and 1904 clock dressed the the former Houston City Hall and Market House.

Walk right by and read the plaque at street level which gives more interesting facts about the history of the clock tower.

Location: 301 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 7134 375 556 I Map Location

Christ Church Cathedral and Cloister Garden 

The oldest place of congregation in Houston, The Christ Church Cathedral was established in 1839 and is a lovely place to walk around the Cloister. The architecture is interesting and the gardens are a haven of peace and calm just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Main Street. Look at the ‘striking christ’ sculpture in the gardens or take a rest and reflect in the foliage surrounded space with a fountain as its centre piece. Inside there is a restaurant, art gallery and bookstore. Unfortunately we didn’t’ get to go inside as it was closed but we’d recommend it as it looks beautiful.

Location: 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 7132 222 593 I Website I Map Location

Pennzoil Plaza

Head to Penzoil Place in Houston to experience sitting in this vintage 1959 BMW Isetta. It’s parked inside the modern office space ground floor and visitors can go right in and take photos in the driving seat. It’s a fun thing to do, and there is a QR code beside it to scan and read all about the story of BMW’s Isetta.

Location: 711 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 7132 245 930 I Website I Map Location

Personnage & Birds 

This interesting sculpture is located outside the JP Morgan Chase Tower, was created in 1970 by Joan Miró. A very abstract structure made from stainless steel and cast-bronze, which we found was quite the interesting talking point when we stopped around it. The sculpture represents a persona with birds in flight around the head. The body is represented by a triangle, with wide sections of metal that are coloured green, red, yellow and blue. The red and yellow circular part sits on the shoulders with three abstract shapes circling this area.

Location: 600 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002 I Map Location

Main Street Square Reflecting Pool

Located between two of the Downtown METRORail stations on Main Street with trains running through the centre of the fountain of this interesting square. The square has a number of water jets and the trains come through via a 250 feet long, eight-inch wide reflecting pool. There is landscaping around the pool area with plants and bushes. Stop and look at the pool carefully to see the reflections of the tall buildings on either side.

Location: 1002 Main St, Houston, TX 77002 I Map Location

Trebly Park

This green space opened in January 2023 with several new residential apartment blocks being built with new residents moving to the area.

It’s family friendly with play areas for the children and plenty of outdoor seating. In fact Tour Suite, a fantastic all day cafe is situated at the park with its second location and serves food throughout the day, every day. We loved the weekend brunch options. 

The park itself has plenty of art installations as well as offering movie nights and even yoga sessions on selected days.

Location: 1515 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77002 I Website I Map Location

Toyota Center

Most fondly known as the home  of the Houston Rockets, a professional Basket ball team, the Toyota center is also a top entertainments arena in the city which hosts many shows and concerts. It has around 19,000 seats and it’s possible to take a tour of the inside if that’s your thing!

Why not watch a Houston Rockets NBA game at the Toyota Center?

Location: 1510 Polk St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 7137 587 200 I Website I Map Location

City Hall

Constructed with Texas Cordova Limestone, Houston’s City Hall an art deco style building which does have a slightly grand vibe in terms of the accolade of being the City Hall. Walk down the steps from the main entrance to a large reflecting pool located over in Hermann Square where there are a few public events. It’s worth a photo stop in our opinion.

Location: 901 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 7138 370 311 I Website I Map Location

Houston Central Library

Bookworms may want to head to the public library although in our opinion It’s not what we were expecting for a city. We thought the library building would be rather like Boston Public Library but its a newer building and does not have the same old world charm we love but we had a little wander around.

Location: 500 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 8323 931 313 I Website  I Map Location

Sam Houston Park & Museum 

This 19 acre space is surrounded by skyscrapers and is dedicated to those that built Houston and improved the city through their efforts.

The park includes a small pond with a fountain, a bandstand, walkways and trails, ISS Houston Memorial Sculptor, Neuhaus Garden and much more. 

The park is filled with so much history of the city of Houston and the threat to demolish a century old House in Sam Houston Park caused a group of locals together to form the Heritage Society in 1954. The house is know as Kellum-Noble House which was indeed saved. The park and Heritage Society Homes are open to the public, tours must be arranged by the Heritage Society. The old homes date as far back as 1847. Sam Houston Park is a City of Houston Protected Landmark and a State of Texas Historical Site.

Location: 1000 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002 I Tel. +1 8323 948 805 I Website I Map Location.

Tour Details: +1 713-655-1912 or e-mail emartin@heritagesociety.org.(Hours & Fees).

Theater District 

Houston has quite a lively performing arts scene and a wonderful array of theatres and venues to choose from. If you’re heading to Houston then we’d recommend looking at shows and performances at the Hobby Centre, Alley Theater. Wortham Theater for great shows. Whilst you’re there spend some time checking out Lynne Wyatt Square which features swings, water features and is a good spot to hang out. 

Be-lavie Tip: When in the theatre district, be sure to read the signs on the lamp posts that have plaques telling the story of the history of the area and specific theatres. 

Theater District Map Location:

Allens Landing Park

This is known as the birthplace of Houston and is worth a visit if you have the time. It was the site of Houston’s first major port and a commercial hub. Although the area has deteriorated over time, it is undergoing major redevelopment with the recreation of Houston’s first port. Certain aspects have already been finished such as a concrete paved wharf designed to replicate the original port, a promenade, terrace overlooking the bay, trail/walkway, entry plaza at intersection of Commerce and Main, terraced grass lawn, and public artwork in the form of signage.

Location: 1005 Commerce St, Houston, TX 77002 I +1 7137 520 314 Map Location

Teen How Taoist Temple

Located in East Downtown Houston (EaDo) this Taoist (Chinese philosophy and religion) Temple is a pleasant surprise down a residential street. It is absolutely beautiful and a fine example of Houston’s different cultures that live harmoniously together in the city. The temple is free to visit, donations are welcome. 

The staff are very friendly and welcoming and happy to explain anything you are curious about. The temple also hosts Taoist community events. We found it fascinating walking around and seeing all the different shrines and offerings.

Location: 1507 Delano St, Houston, TX 77003 I Tel. +1 7132 361 015 I Website I Map Location

Houston Post 

Once the city’s main post office building but now repurposed as a hub for businesses, food, culture, entertainment and much more. This is one place to visit for some recreation time. They have fitness classes as well as yoga, running throughout the week, markets at the weekend plus traders during the week, exhibitions and installations and finally a  fantastic international food hall.

The piece de resistance is the five acre Sky lawn which is a high roof terrace with gardens and seating where visitors can have a drink, meetings, relax and take in the downtown views. 

Be-lavie Tip: The skylawn of POST Houston has the best downtown views so make sure you head up here in the evening to see the city twinkle.

Day 2: Medical Center I Museum District I Montrose

On the second day get a METRORail red line up to the Medical Center, Museum District and even head to the hip and trendy Montrose. 

Medical Center, Houston

Just incase you are unfamiliar with the Texas Medical Center, this is the largest life sciences facility in the world and encompasses around 21 hospitals and medical research facilities. Having worked in Oncology, we took a little walk around the campus which is absolutely huge. 

Medical Center Map Location

Rice University

If you walk away from the main road of the Medical Center, you’ll see signs for Rice University. The campus is a great spot to walk along the tree lined paths and discover the university buildings and their architecture. Do not miss the Lovett Hall of Rice University. This is the oldest building at the Ivy League Rice university and is worth a photo stop, through it’s archway, leading to a green courtyard inside. 

Location: Lovett Hall, 6100 Main St, Houston, TX 77005 I Tel. +1 7133 480 000 I Website  I Map Location

Hermann Park

Get back onto the main road where you alighted from the METRORail but in the opposite direction and take the next stop to Hermann Park. 

This 445 acre green space is one of Houston’s most important parks and has so many things to see, do and discover. It’s possible to easily spend a day here or even half a day but you can do as much as you want. 

Highlights at Hermann Park include:

• Mary Gibbs & Jesse H Jones Reflection Pool – measuring 740 feet long and 80 feet wide, the reflections of the mature oak tree lines can be seen beautifully in the dark bottomed pool.
• McGovern Centennial Gardens – Spanning 15 acres, these gardens are made up of a rose garden, interactive family garden, an arid garden, a 30 food garden mount as well as a sculptor promenade with public art that has been donated by other countries.
• McGovern Lake – this eight acre lake is perfect for a boat ride and to enjoy a picnic around the shores and has three islands spread across it.
• Hermann Park Railroad – This scenic train ride winds it’s way around the park and seems to be very popular with children. 
• Houston Zoo – We didn’t visit as we don’t agree with zoos and confinement of wildlife but just thought we’d mention the 55 acre zoo site.
• Friendship Pavillion – Gifted to Houston by its sister city of Taipei and was made in 1976.
• Hermann Park Golf Course – One of Houston’s oldest and most visited golf courses.
• There are so many other points of interest but for some great architecture, the 1964 Mecom Fountain and the Mecom Rockwell Colonnade are beautiful photo spots.

Hermann Park Map Location

Museum District

Almost bordering Hermann Park, the Museum District is exactly what it says in its name. A cultural area filled with some of the best museums in Texas. The area has eateries, a more quiet neighborhood vibe with hotels and fantastic arts events and exhibitions as yours expect.

Here are our picks for the Museum District (click on names for locations)

• The Health Museum – features 3D anatomy models and interactive health exhibits.
• Houston Museum of Natural Science – This is a great one for children as it is also home to the Wortham IMAS Theatre, Burke Baker Planetarium, Cockrell Butterfly Center (a living butterfly habitat visitors can walk through) as well as, visiting and permanent exhibitions. 
• The Museum of Fine Arts – houses over 45,000 works which are said to be amongst the largest and most valued in the USA.
• Hugh Roy Cullen Sculptor Garden at Museum of Fine Arts Houston – See the Cloud Column, Houston’s version of the ‘The Cloud’ in Chicago.
• Contemporary Arts Museum – National, international and regional arts of the past 40 years.
• Holocoast Museum Houston – an emotional display of those who passed during the holocaust.
• Rothko Chapel – hailed as the only ecumenical centre of its kind in the world where religion, art (museum) and the architecture blend).
• Menil Collection – The most significant privately assembled collection of 20th century art including around 15,000 paintings, sculptors, prints, rare books and photographs. 

Museum District Map Location

To get organised before your visit, you can purchase your museum tickets in advance. Here are some museums we suggest to suit a variety of interests.

Be-lavie Tip: If you’re spending the day in this area then we’d highly recommend having lunch or dinner at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s one Michelin starred restaurant, Le Jardinier by Chef Alain Verzeroli. Making reservations in advance is a must!

Related Article: Where To Eat The Best Vegetarian Food in Houston

Montrose 

If museums and arts aren’t your thing but you prefer a little more of a vintage boho vibes and street art, head to Montrose. This is where a lot of the city’s LGBTQIA+ hang out and is a really fun and friendly place to be. Montrose is accessible by METRORail or bus (you can use the same card/ticket). You’ll instantly feel a more relaxed ambience with brightly coloured shop facades, cool eateries with outdoor spaces. There are some lovely houses in the area if you walk down some of the side streets.

What we enjoyed in Montrose:

• Leopard Lounge – A well known vintage store which you can’t miss for it’s leopard print painted facade. It’s a dream for pre loved clothing fiends and has some great quality finds.
• The Houston Paint Wall & Rainbow-Painted Crosswalk – keep an eye for the colourful walls and pavements to reflect the local community.
• Brasil – Serving delicious food and drinks all day, this is a great spot to take a pew and relax.
• Montrose Street art – just walking around the streets, you’ll come across lots of murals and graffiti.

Montrose Map Location

Galleria or Uptown 

If you love shopping, then we’d recommend maybe swapping some of your time to head to the Galleria or Uptown area of the city. This is hailed as being Texas’ largest and most luxurious shopping destination. We didn’t visit as we tend not to do shopping or malls when travelling unless we need anything urgently. 

Galleria Mall Map Location

 Day 3: Ideas to Prioritise Based on Preferences

We suggest spending your last day in Houston, prioritising one or a couple of the below points of interest based on time constraints. Some of the activities may take a whole day whilst others a couple of hours or so but take things at your own pace. Remember that Houston is a spread out city and taking transit time into consideration is really important. 

Nasa Johnson Space Center Houston

One of the most popular things for almost all visitors to do in Houston is to head to the Space Center. This is around a 45 minute drive outside of Downtown Houston. The Space Center Houston is essentially a huge science museum and official visitor centre of NASA Johnson Center.

A general admission ticket to the space center will get visitors tram access to the George W.S Abbey Rocket Park and the Astronaut Facility but the Mission Control Tram Tour is an additional cost so bear that in mind when booking. Visitors can discover the spacesuit collection, Independence Plaza shuttle replicas and artifacts that have helped space exploration. This is an exciting day out for those who love all things space.

 Remember to book tickets in advance including the Mission Control option as they can get fully booked at busy periods. 

Some tours that we’d recommend include a combination of tours and round trip hotel transportation.

Be-lavie Tip: We’d recommend spending a day here or at least five hours or so to get the feel of the full experience. Weekends and holiday periods can get super busy so aim for weekdays if you can. Please note videography is not allowed at the space centre and photography is prohibited in certain areas as this is a real astronaut training facility. Rocket launches do not happen at NASA Johnson Space Center, these are from Florida.

Location: 2101 E NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058 I Tel. +1 2814 830 123 I Website I Map Location

BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, Sugarland 

Located in Stafford, around a 30 minute drive from Downtown Houston, is the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple. The Hindu temple is an active palace of worship and is open to those of all faiths and beliefs to visit for free. This is a great place for peace, tranquility and community.

The temple has been made from over 33,000pieces of Italian marble and Turkish limestone that have been hand carved by skilled craftsman and assembled with volunteers in just 18 months. The temple has been created according to the ancient Vedic texts of Hinduism. 

The temple is a great place to visit for an hour or two. They also have onside a gift shop and the Shayona Cafe which serves traditional Indian food from 11:30am. Staff at the temple are very friendly and happy to explain and guide you through the different areas.

Be-lavie Tip: Note that shoes have to be taken off before entering the temple and placed in the separate male and female shoe stores. No photography is allowed inside the temple itself to ensure peace and spirituality is not disturbed. No sleeveless vests or shorts, short skirts or dresses are allowed. Sarongs and cover ups will be provided if you turn up inadequately dressed. Please do respect the traditional and culture of the temple.

Location: 1150 Brand Ln, Stafford, TX 77477 I Tel. +1 2817 652 277 I Website I Map Location

Related Article: Beautiful Photo Locations In Houston, Texas

Kemah Boardwalk

For those with children and or who love some coastal time, the Kemah Boardwalk is a 60 acre theme park around 30 miles southeast of Downtown Houston. The theme park is built along the shores of Galveston Bay and Clear Lake. Located on the Texas Gulf Coast, Kemah Boardwalk also hosts live concerts and events for all the family as well as having amusement park rides and activities and even water sports. There are some great places to dine and watch the sailboats and is perfect for a day away from the city, if exhilarating rides and coaster views are for you!

Photo Courtesy for Kemah Boardwalk images: Terren Hurst (Unsplash)

Location: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX 77565 I Tel. +1 2815 358 100 I Website I Map Location

Galveston Day Tour

Just under an hour away from Downtown Houston, go and visit one of the oldest cities in Texas, Galveston. It’s known as being somewhere celebrities, gangsters and soldiers once hung out. Visitors can learn about what happened during the 1900 floods and all those eyebrow raising scandalous facts that allowed the city to survive through many a rough time of regeneration and building. Galveston island is situated 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056, United situated on the Gulf of Mexico for those who love a coastal vibe. 

The island has a lot of mystery attached to its historic homes and mansions as well as the graveyards. Galveston is a popular destination for its mysterious side and we’d recommend visiting by booking a fully guided tour which will also include transport to and from your Houston Hotel. 

We would recommend this private guided tour of Galveston with hotel pick up and drop off

Galveston Map Location I Website: Visit Galveston 

Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

An impressive waterfall that is well worth a visit and located in Uptown, quite close to the Galleria district. Known as being Houston’s most photographed site, it’s easy to see why. The 64 food U shaped fountain has water falling down both sides.

Unfortunately during our visit the inner part of the U didn’t have water gushing down due to works so we got creative with the photography and used the outer side, which is still pretty dramatic. 

Created in 1985, the water wall pumps 78,5000 gallons of recycled water every three hours and 20 minutes. The park itself has over 180 live oak trees that shade the three acre site.

Location: 2800 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056 I Tel. +1 7138 508 841 I Website I Map Location

Bayou Buffalo Park

If you’d rather have a more relaxed day, then head to Buffalo Bayou Park which is perfect to spend an afternoon strolling amongst the foliage and taking in the city views. The park is 160 acres and stretches for 2.3 miles, located to the west of Downtown. The park was transformed from a neglected drainage ditch into the beautiful green space that today attracts wildlife as well as families to spend time in the outdoors. 

The park hosts public and private events and also has a cafe and many different landscaped areas as well as jogging and walking paths

The park has some great views of the Downtown cityscape and be sure to visit the Cistern, only guided tours are available for this from the parks office – head to their website below. It’s a square food reservoir that has been renovated and no ghosts art installations as well as viewings for the public from Wednesday through to Sundays. Tickets are $5. Children under nine are not permitted.

You can pre book tickets for the Cistern here

In addition to general viewings of the space every 30 minutes Wednesday to Sunday, special Cistern history tours and meditation sessions are also available. Tickets are $5, though no children under the age of nine are permitted.

Location: Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street between Allen Parkway and, Memorial Dr, Houston, TX I Tel. +1 7137 520 314 I Website I Map Location.

Related Article: Sustainable Houston Guide: 7 Ways To Be More Green

Love Lock Bridge, Houston

If you are walking from Downtown to  the Buffalo Bayou Park, you will most likely pass over the Love Lock Bridge, as it’s one of the only ways to cross over to the park. The bridge is covered in yes, you guessed it love locks with little love messages etched on. In Fact we spotted quite a few couples there adding locks to the sides of the bridge. It’s also a great spot to take some photos of downtown through the locks. 

Be-lavie Tip: If you do plan to take a lock with you, please don’t leave the outer wrappings on the floor around the bridge, use a dustbin. It may sound basic, but the amount of lock packaging wrappers we saw was not a great sight for the surrounding residents. It is just across the road from the Eleanor Tinsley Park.

Location: Above the Allen Parkway, 18-3600 Allen Pkwy, Houston TX 77019 I Map Location

Things to do With More Than Three Days in Houston 

Perfect if you have five days in Houston 

If you have the luxury of having more time in Houston, this loose Itinerary may be of use:

• Day 1 – Downtown 
• Day 2 – Medical Centre, Museum District
• Day 3 – Montrose, Galleria, Gerald D. Hines Waterwall ParkBaps Swaminarayan Temple or Buffalo Bayou Park
• Day 4 – Nasa Johnson Space Center or Kemah Boardwalk
• Day 5 – Galveston day trip 

Recommened Houston Tours

Here are some of our top pick tours in Houston that we researched for our own trip.

Where to Eat & Drink in Houston

If you are a foodie, then Houston is one of the best places for food in the USA. For a comprehensive guide on cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and bars click on the related article below. These are all vegetarian friendly spots that also serve non vegetarian food so are perfect for mixed diet travellers. 

Related Article: Where To Eat The Best Vegetarian Food in Houston

If you love learning about the food and drink of new destinatiosn, these tours are great for foodies and are a great introduction to the local food and drinks places.

Three Days in Houston FAQs

Is Houston Worth visiting? 

Absolutely Yes. We hope this guide sparks your interest in Houston with it’s rich cultural spots as well as history, food scene activities and places to see and visit in the surroundings.

How many days should we stay in Houston?

A minimum of three but if possible we would say ideally, five so more of the surroundings of the city can be discovered aside from Downtown. This is especially the case if you are relying on public transport.  

Where is the best place to stay in Houston for Visitors?

Hands down we’d advise Downtown. The reason for this is a lot of Houston’s historic attractions are located here with many being walkable. Additionally transport links to other districts are stronger from Downtown such as bus routes and METRORail. Downtown also has great bars and restaurants.

What’s the best way to get around Houston?

If you are not hiring a rental car, then the METRORail is pretty good to get between districts as are the buses, where you can use the same travel card as the METRORail. We also used Uber when we travelled to Stafford for the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple. 

How To Best Spend Three Days in Houston Round Up

As this guide suggest there are many things to do and see in Houston based on visitors interests and perfect for families as well as solo travellers, couples and those in the city for business. Please refer to our carefully selected tours and activities in the city as these will help you get the best from tours and are ones we did and researched thoroughly for our own trip. They will also help save time and cover a lot of ground with transport provided if you are short of days in the city. Together with our other Houston guides on food, photo locations, places to stay and sustainability in the city, visitors can build a wonderful Houston Itinerary to suit their interests and likes. Our advice for popular attractions such as the space centre and out of town tours as well as certain museums is to book in advance to avoid disappointment. 

Related Articles

• The best places To Stay In Houston By Neighbourhood
• 15+ Places To Eat The Best Vegetarian Food In Houston
• The Best Photo Location In Houston, Texas
• Sustainable Houston Guide: 7 Ways To Be More Green

Resources To Help Plan Your Trip

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