Houston

Things to do in Houston

Search attractions or local attractions & tours
Search

Explore top experiences

Top 10 attractions in Houston

View all Attractions
Space Center Houston
2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Space Center Houston

8.8
4.7/5
353 reviews
Space Center Houston is located in Houston, Texas, USA, and serves as the official visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center. From the Apollo moon landings to the space shuttle era, most US manned spacecraft were launched from Florida, with flight operations primarily directed from the adjacent Johnson Space Center. It was here that the iconic phrase "Houston, Tranquility Base here" was received during the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969, and the real-life space emergency that inspired the movie Apollo 13's famous line "Houston, we have a problem" was handled by Houston's ground team. The center's exhibits predominantly feature actual space-flown artifacts: the Starship Gallery displays the Apollo 17 command module that completed a moon mission, Mercury and Gemini program capsules, a training module used by astronauts preparing for the Skylab space station, and even a lunar rock visitors can touch. The spacesuit collection includes numerous authentic intravehicular and extravehicular suits. Outdoors, Independence Plaza showcases a real Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft with a full-scale replica of the space shuttle Independence mounted atop—both accessible for exploration—alongside a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket booster lying horizontally nearby. The signature activity is the NASA tram tour, which takes travelers deep into Johnson Space Center to see full-scale spacecraft and space station training mockups, visit the restored historic mission control room (the actual room that directed moon landings), and conclude at Rocket Park with one of the few fully assembled Saturn V rockets on display worldwide. Visitors should allocate most of a day for their visit. With limited departure time slots for tram tours and frequent queues at Independence Plaza, these should be prioritized upon arrival. The lunar rock touch exhibit within the Starship Gallery can be easily missed. Meeting astronauts and hearing their space stories is a long-running featured activity—check the daily time slot schedule for opportunities.Houston · 35 km from downtown
Houston Museum of Natural Science
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Houston

Houston Museum of Natural Science

5.9
4.3/5
64 reviews
The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HoustonMuseumofNaturalScience) is the largest museum in Houston. It is located in the northeast corner of Herman Park, next to the bronze statue of SamHouston and the fountain at the intersection of Main Street and Montrose. The themes of the museum shine, such as the Tsar's treasure and Afghan gold, where dinosaurs, fossils, jewelry, minerals, chemicals and tactile samples are permanent exhibits. The "Cockrell Butterfly Center" inside is a three-story circular building. Here, you can see thousands of live specimens of butterflies.Houston · 4.7 km from downtown
NBA Houston Rockets Home Game

NBA Houston Rockets Home Game

5.6
5.0/5
1 reviews
NBA Houston Rockets Home GameHeld at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston, Texas, it is not only an arena for basketball games but also a vibrant entertainment and social venue. The interior features a modern design with spacious seating areas and excellent views of the court. The basketball court at the center of the arena is the heart of the space, where massive electronic screens and live lighting systems change dynamically with the rhythm of the game, enhancing the visual experience. The venue features multiple dining areas where visitors can purchase signature barbecue or choose from classic stadium foods like Mexican cuisine, hot dogs, and burgers.Houston · 1.3 km from downtown
Hermann Park

Hermann Park

5.1
3.7/5
53 reviews
Hermann Parkcovers a vast area and has become an urban oasis that integrates natural views, leisure, entertainment, and cultural facilities. Upon entering the main entrance area at the north end of the park, the first thing you see is the famous Sam Houston equestrian statue. The towering statue complements the surrounding open lawns, making it not only an important park landmark but also a popular spot for visitors to take photos. Extending from here into the park, you can feel its spacious and comfortable layout. This long, narrow pool is surrounded by trees, and its calm surface reflects the sky, buildings, and surrounding views, creating a quiet and elegant atmosphere. The paths along the pool are spacious and flat, making them perfect for walking, jogging, or casual photography. Visitors can rent pedal boats to leisurely cruise the lake and enjoy the surrounding views from the water.Houston · 5.5 km from downtown
Toyota Center
No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Houston

Toyota Center

5
4.4/5
50 reviews
Toyota Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in downtown Houston, Texas, United States, known for its modern facilities and diverse events. Upon entering the center, you can immediately feel the sense of openness and modernity brought by the venue's design. The spacious lobby, clear signage system, and well-planned spectator circulation ensure that order is maintained even when large crowds enter and exit simultaneously. The interior of the venue is centered around the competition court or performance stage, with tiered seating that ensures a good view of the action from any area. Advanced lighting, sound, and large screen systems provide powerful live effects for games and performances, allowing spectators to fully immerse themselves in the event atmosphere. When hosting performances, the venue adjusts its interior layout according to event requirements, utilizing professional equipment to create stage effects suitable for different types of shows.Houston · 1.2 km from downtown
NASA Mission Control Center

NASA Mission Control Center

4.6
The NASA Mission Control Center is located in Houston, Texas, in the United States, and is part of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The center is responsible for commanding and monitoring U.S. space missions, coordinating a series of critical tasks including spacecraft launches, in-orbit operations, and recovery. Since it began operations in 1965, the NASA Mission Control Center has been a vital pillar of the U.S. space program, witnessing countless space achievements and technological advancements. When visiting the NASA Mission Control Center, guests can learn about the operational processes of space missions and discover how spacecraft communicate with the ground through guided tours. The center's control room is the core for commanding space missions, and visitors have the opportunity to see historic equipment and modern control technology. In addition to the mission control room, visitors can also learn about astronaut training, space technology, and past and future space missions. For technology enthusiasts and space fans, the NASA Mission Control Center provides an important platform to engage with the history and future of spaceflight, helping visitors better understand the complexities and challenges of space exploration.Houston · 35.2 km from downtown
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Houston

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

4.6
4.0/5
58 reviews
Established in 1900, the Houston Museum of Art is one of the largest art museums in the United States. The museum has a rich and colorful permanent collection that spans more than 6,000 years of history and comes from six continents. benefit from the seminar. The Houston Art Museum is an ancient art museum in Texas, with an exhibition space of about 28,000 square meters and a fixed collection of 63,718 pieces. The museum's fine art collection covers Italian Renaissance paintings, French Impressionism, African and pre-Columbian gold, American and European decorative arts, photographs, American art, and post-World War II European and American paintings and sculptures.Houston · 4.4 km from downtown
Houston Zoo
No. 2 of Family-friendly Attractions in Houston

Houston Zoo

4.6
5.0/5
1 reviews
The Houston Zoo covers an area of 55 acres and is a natural oasis in the city. Visitors can stroll through the tropical rainforest, African grasslands, Texas wildlife area and other special exhibition areas, and observe more than 900 kinds of animals such as lions, giraffes, gorillas, etc. up close. There is a children's zoo in the park, which provides interactive experiences, allowing children to feed small animals by hand and learn about animal protection knowledge. In addition, the Houston Zoo also regularly organizes night adventures, animal-themed summer camps and other activities to bring visitors a unique park experience. Here, people can observe small animals up close and understand their living habits, which is very interesting.Houston · 5.3 km from downtown
Daikin Park
No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Houston

Daikin Park

4.4
4.5/5
14 reviews
Minute Maid Field is a baseball stadium located in Houston, Texas, which opened in 2000. Millipore Park is currently the home of the Major League Baseball (MLB) Houston Astros. In June 2002, the Coca-Cola Company joined the Astros stadium as a title at an annual price of about 6 million US dollars, and named it after its world's largest-selling juice brand "MinuteMaid". The contract period was as long as 28 years. . The former site of the stadium is Houston Union Station. The architectural design of the stadium cleverly retains the old building of the station and serves as the entrance.Houston · 1.4 km from downtown
Downtown Aquarium
No. 3 of Family-friendly Attractions in Houston

Downtown Aquarium

4.4
2.9/5
32 reviews
Opened in 2003, the Houston Downtown Aquarium covers an area of 6 acres. Although it is not very large, it has a big place in this small world. In this colorful aquarium, the diversity and magic of the marine world is breathtaking, and the colorful and dazzling underwater world makes people linger. The Downtown Houston Aquarium is a 500,000-gallon aquarium world with more than 200 marine creatures of all shapes and sizes from around the world, so they won't encounter predators or worry about food shortages , and thus live a comfortable and comfortable life. The hall of the aquarium is divided into five themed exhibition areas, namely Louisiana Swamp, Wreck Ship, Tropical Rainforest, Silent Temple and the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana Swamp exhibits animals living in swamps and wetlands in the coastal area, such as short Alligator, American freshwater turtle, spotted gar, crayfish, catfish, bullfrog, etc. The shipwreck exhibition area is to watch live coral reefs, giant octopuses, sea anemones, starfish, etc. in a 17th-century Spanish galleon. The Tropical Rainforest leads visitors to explore the world's lush tropical rainforests and the creatures that live in the rainforest rivers, such as macaws, red-bellied sawfish, green jade pythons, and Amazonian sword poison frogs. The Houston Downtown Aquarium has become an indispensable tourist attraction in Houston, providing convenience for citizens to travel, and at the same time allowing more people to know and understand marine life, allowing more people to establish an underwater world and harmony between man and nature The concept of symbiosis.Houston · 493m from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in Houston

Featured Day tours in Houston

View all Day tours
Private Sightseeing Cart Tour of Houston
󱌍
4.8/5
· 111 reviews
Duration: 75 mins
English
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
93.7% of travelers recommend
FromQAR 197.16
Private Tour of Galveston
󱌍
4.8/5
· 26 reviews
Duration: 90 mins
English
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromQAR 443.74
Private Houston Brewery Tour by Cart
󱌍
4.9/5
· 28 reviews
Duration: 2 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
26 consecutive positive reviews
FromQAR 207.77
Houston Museum of Natural Science General Admission
󱌍
4.3/5
· 248 reviews· 31 booked
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
FromQAR 91.13
Houston: NASA Space Center Ticket & Round-Trip Transport
󱌍
4.8/5
· 9 reviews
Duration: 6.5 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 276.37QAR 290.92
Houston: Guided City Tour by Open-Top Double Decker Bus
󱌍
Duration: 80 mins
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromQAR 144.95
Houston: 2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart
󱌍
Duration: 2 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromQAR 241.85QAR 254.58

Free things to do in Houston

What travelers say about Houston

user-avatar
Lady AndrianaJune 2, 2026
5.0
Very nice experience to spend the day there with friends or family with children especially 🇺🇸

Space Center Houston

user-avatar
小思文July 3, 2021
4.0
The Natural Science Museum displays many ancient animal fossil specimens. The facilities of this science museum are also very unique. You can see many interesting things. The collection of the entire museum is also quite rich, and the large dinosaur fossils are very shocking.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

user-avatar
拉倒吧足球先生May 8, 2025
5.0
The atmosphere was great and the price/performance ratio was acceptable. I tried to get the Rocket app so I could redeem the ticket using the electronic QR code. I'll come back if I have the chance!

NBA Houston Rockets Home Game

user-avatar
西溪老翁June 25, 2020
5.0
Hermann park Hermann Park is located southwest of downtown Houston and is lined with trees and covers an area of ​​approximately 165 hectares. The park is surrounded by the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, and numerous museums. Hermann Park is a vibrant green park. The park is decorated with green lawns, elegant lakes, colorful flowers, lush trees and creative sculptures. Every corner of the park is full of natural beauty. Beautiful, makes people feel comfortable. Along the central axis of the park, there are tall sculptures of Sam Houston, a 19th-century American statesman, president of the Republic of Texas, and soldier, riding a tall horse with his hand pointing into the distance; a reflecting lake; and the Pioneer Memorial Obelisk. Sitting on a bench by the lake and staring quietly, a lake of turquoise water spreads like a mirror in the center of the park. The water reflects the forest on both sides, making you immediately calm down and appreciate the surrounding scenery. Miller Amphitheater is part of Hermann Park, a large open-air performance venue. Various performances by professional artists are held here from March to November every year, including music, ballet, dance, drama and screen movies, and all performances are free and open to outdoor seating. The theater is located under a gentle hill covered with green grass, surrounded by green trees on three sides. The environment is extremely beautiful. It is not only a relaxing and refreshing green space in the city, but also a place where you can choose to enjoy the influence of art. Houstonians have a soft spot for the Miller Amphitheater.

Hermann Park

user-avatar
Micaei4January 14, 2023
5.0
I attended a concert at Toyota center and the organization was really good and the staff really friendly. Also the sound and screens were good and the view was good from any seats.

Toyota Center

user-avatar
小小呆60July 21, 2020
4.0
This is definitely a wonderful art museum. The art works inside span a thousand years, and the range of works on display is extremely wide. It can be said that it is a collection of the world's best art works.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

user-avatar
KeiKeiHoMarch 24, 2023
5.0
The park is large, there are many animals, and there are restaurants to rest and eat🫶🏻

Houston Zoo

user-avatar
7DingBoFebruary 17, 2020
5.0
It's a good time to watch a game and then go to Miami Beach

Daikin Park

user-avatar
love is blueSeptember 11, 2019
5.0
I thought the architecture of the aquarium was really interesting. My daughter was more excited than I was to see the fish. They have an amazing white tiger shark and the shark tank blew my mind. The train ride takes about 3 hours. Without the train it takes 45 minutes.

Downtown Aquarium

Popular cities near Houston

Frequently asked questions

What are the recommended tours and excursions in Houston?

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Private Sightseeing Cart Tour of Houston, US Houston private chartered tour | Space Center Houston + Houston zoo + Downtown Aquarium ※ adjustable, and Private Tour of Galveston. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of October 24, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Houston is around QAR 91.13 – QAR 727.93. Rates vary by duration, group size, transportation, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

Get help anytime, anywhere within 30 secondsContact customer support

Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

Ticket prices may vary between weekdays and weekends, as well as during peak and off-peak seasons. When booking with Trip.com, you can also use Trip Coins to get extra savings. For more tips on booking discounted tickets, please visit Trip.com for the latest information.