Over the past two decades, Houston has transformed into a diverse, vibrant metro with a strong economy and unmatched quality of life. Welcoming nearly 1.3 international visitors in 2024, America’s fourth largest city continues to surprise and delight travelers with its welcoming culture, unmatched food scene, and rich offering of museums, attractions, and year-round entertainment.
Whether it’s learning about the city’s connection to space exploration at Space Center Houston or exploring the city’s multicultural neighborhoods – there’s always something exciting to experience in Houston!
Houston: A Culinary Capital
Home to one of the largest Vietnamese populations outside of California, Houston’s abundance of regional Vietnamese cuisine makes it one of the most exciting culinary destinations. The city’s International District boasts nearly 12 km of Asian and international cuisines, including Vietnamese, Japanese, Indonesian, Indian, Pakistani, West African, Korean, Chinese, Filipino, as well as Central and South American food, just to name a few.
The make-up of Houston’s renown culinary scene is further fueled by the city’s diverse population. With signature dishes such as Viet-Cajun crawfish and African suya, prestigious culinary institutions such as MICHELIN or the James Beard Foundation continue to honor Houston chefs. Earlier this year, 30 Houston restaurants, chefs, and mixologists were recognized by MICHELIN.
To learn more about the more than 12,000 restaurants in Houston, visit website here.
Houston: A Shopper’s Paradise
There are more than a dozen shopping centers in Houston with options for all budgets. With a concentration of high-end global brands such as Dior, Hermès, and Van Cleef & Arpels, River Oaks District provides the perfect oasis of luxury. The mixed-use development also houses several fine dining restaurant concepts in addition to a Davidoff of Geneva flagship store and cigar lounge.
Just steps from River Oaks District is The Galleria, a well-loved shopping destination for both local and international shoppers, and one that welcomes more than 30 million visitors through its doors each year. Recognized as the largest indoor shopping mall in Texas, The Galleria features more than 400 stores, designer boutiques, two hotels, and a massive indoor ice-skating rink. Complementing the shopping experience is a wide selection of restaurants to suit every palate, including Nobu and the modern Indian and MICHELIN-Starred restaurant Musaafer.
For those looking to maximize their budget, Houston offers three options for outlet shopping at discounted prices: Houston Premium Outlets, Katy Mills and Tanger Outlets Houston. After a day of shopping adventures, international visitors can request a refund of their sales tax at the TaxFreeShopping offices, located in several shopping centers around Houston.
A New Way to Get Around Town
Houston’s METRO bus system just launched a new direct airport service between George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Downtown Houston. Route 500-IAH Downtown Direct is a nonstop ride between the George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB) in downtown Houston and Terminal C at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
- Route 500-IAH runs every 30 minutes, seven days a week, between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Cost is only US$4.50 per ride.
In Downtown Houston, the METRORail provides service along nearly 23 miles of central Houston.
- The Red Line connects downtown with the Museum District, the Texas Medical Center, NRG Park and University of Houston-Downtown.
- The Green Line runs to the East of Downtown and the Purple Line travels southeast connecting downtown including the University of Houston Central Campus and Texas Southern University.
- Uptown Houston in the Galleria Area METRO route 433, Silver Line, runs across Post Oak Blvd. connecting popular attractions and shopping sites like the Waterwall Park, The Galleria and Uptown Park.
Both METRORail and METRO buses are US $1.25 per ride.
New Attractions in Houston
Outside of the Museum District, new immersive art museums have added to Houston’s growing art landscape. One of the newest additions is Meow Wolf Houston, a multi-storied experience that encouraged visitors to explore and engage with an interactive wonderland of colorful art creations. Meow Wolf Houston features more than 70 installations created by over 40 Texas artists.
As the first museum in the Americas dedicated to preserving and promoting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy of non-violent conflict resolution, the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston is a place where people of diverse backgrounds can come together and learn the stories of leaders who, through peaceful means, achieved profound social changes.
Plan your Trip to Houston
The Houston Marketplace takes the guesswork out of trip planning by offering a variety of bundled experiences. Choose from guided tours, admission to popular attractions and museums, and even visits to the city’s top craft breweries. Included in the package options are the Lone Star Flight Museum, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Downtown Aquarium (with unlimited ride access!), and Space Center Houston, just to name a few. Click here to learn more:
Find more information about Houston’s attractions, events, hotels, restaurants, and helpful visitor information at website.