During the day, chill out in your flip-flops, take in museums and go shopping, then hit happy hour on a leaf-shaded deck. At night, revel in culinary or cultural bliss – the restaurant and entertainment scene are renowned across the region. Here starched jeans are de rigeur in all. Where residents of other cities talk about the weather, Houstonians talk about parking. Wealth from oil and energy companies supports luxurious shopping enclaves but you can also enjoy downhome fun, although don’t underestimate the sauna-like summers.

What to do in Houston for 24h to 48h? 

Places of Interest

 Take a Tour at Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston, the official visitor center of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, is a must-see attraction in Houston. This is a huge complex, where you can walk through the space shuttle replica Independence and the enormous shuttle carrier aircraft it’s mounted on. In the visitor center, you can wander inside a replica of America’s first space station, Skylab, and touch a rock from the moon. If you are here on a Friday, you can even meet an astronaut when they do presentations at 11:00am and 1:00pm.

Stroll through the Museum District

The Museum District is one of Houston’s greatest cultural attractions, with 19 museums residing in this beautiful area. Eleven of these are free to the public. Some of the highlights include the Museum of Fine Arts, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Children’s Museum, the Menil Collection, the Holocaust Museum, and the Contemporary Arts Museum, to name just a few. Also in this area is the lovely Hermann Park, with the Houston Zoo and the Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Visit the Houston Zoo

Set on 55 acres in Hermann Park, the zoo is home to more than 6,000 exotic and indigenous animals and contains an education center and children’s zoo. Some of the highlights include feeding the giraffes, seeing marine life up close in the aquarium, and watching sea lions and otters frolicking about.

Experience the Tastes of Houston on a Culinary Tour

Houston’s cuisine is one of the city’s true highlights, with possibilities that range from traditional southern dishes to Latin American, Asian, Mexican, and countless other cultural specialties. Chefs in Houston have put the city on the culinary map of America, and dining in this city is a treat. One way to taste some of the best that Houston has to offer is on a culinary tour. Both walking food tours and chef-led culinary tours are available, although they do not run daily, and it’s advisable to book in advance.

Walk, Bike or Paddle through Buffalo Bayou Park

One of Houston’s natural gems, Buffalo Bayou Park is a beautiful 160-acre green space running through the city, with the slow moving waters of Buffalo Bayou as its centerpiece. This urban park is home to walking and biking trails, a dog park, sculptures, and plenty of shady areas to relax. If you want to get active and enjoy some of the great outdoors from the water, rent a kayak, canoe, or stand up paddleboard and enjoy a paddle along the bayou. Rentals are available at the park, and various tours are offered, ranging from one to three hours in length.

Explore Houston’s Street Art

While it is often overlooked by tourists, Houston’s street art, or what many people know as graffiti, is outstanding, with installations by some of the top names in street art throughout the US and around the world, including COPE2 and Houston’s own Gonzo247. These colorful murals adorn the walls of establishments in various locations throughout the city and are well worth taking the time to drive around and see.

Attend the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Houston’s biggest annual event, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is a fun-filled, 19-day event that brings the whole city out to celebrate in February or March. If you are going to be here during this time, you are in luck!

Experience the Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

The Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park showcases an impressive multi-story sculptural fountain that sees sheets of water cascading over large concrete walls and sculptures.

Where to Eat ?

Aladdin’s Mediterranean Cuisine

An ideal spot for lunch, the buffet at Aladdin’s is piled high with healthy fare and plenty of seating in which to enjoy it. Keep it healthy with plenty of hummus, fresh salads, and tabbouleh, and wash it all down with a freshly-pressed juice at the counter.

This steakhouse is obsessed with dry-aged meats, and the results are delicious. Treat yourself to a flight of lamb, pork, and beef bacon before splitting the massive Gearhart Ranch wagyu cowboy cut steak with your dinner date, or splurge on the restaurant’s certified authentic Kobe beef — it’s one of only nine restaurants in the country to boast such credentials.