The city of Houston has a busy airport with many people passing through and having downtime here during a layover. Sure, you could sleep in the airport and see nothing of the city during your time here. Or you could get out to see a couple sites and get a true sense of what Houston is all about. Here are our top suggestions of things to do if you have just 24 to 48 hours in Houston for a layover.
Take a Boat Ride at Port Houston
A great way to get a feel for what life in Houston is like is to take a boat ride from Port Houston. Sam Houston Boat Tours leave from Sa Houston Landing on a 95-foot ship that holds about 100 passengers. You can reserve your spot up to 90 days in advance, so this is something to plan ahead for when you know you’ll be having a layover in Houston. The tours typically run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10am and 2:30pm. Rides are also offered at 10am on Thursdays and on a limited basis at 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Another one of the best parts about this experience is that it’s totally free!
Run in Eleanor Tinsley Park
We also love spending time at Eleanor Tinsley Park, whether it’s for just an hour or for an entire afternoon. Come here to go for a quick run or to see what kind of local festivals are going on. Expect to find lush trees, rolling hills, and lovely places to take a walk.
Indulge in a Texas Style Meal
Foodies love coming to Houston because of the fabulous cuisine here, and you can experience a little of this foodie scene even if you’re pressed for time. Since Houston is near the coast, seafood is a big deal in Texas, as well as steak and other meat-heavy favorites. Some of the top restaurants in town are Lee’s Fried Chicken & Donuts, Indigo, the Taste of Texas Restaurant, and Pappas Bros. Steakhouse. For seafood, head to Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Goode Company Seafood, or Truluck’s Steak & Stone Crab. And if you’re looking for some local craft beer while you’re in town, Houston also has lots of great breweries where you can dine and drink to pass the time during your layover. Don’t miss Karbach Brewing, 8th Wonder Brewing, and Buffalo Bayou Brewing when you’re in Houston.
Stroll Through Historic Market Square Houston
Also, make a point to take a walk through the Historic Market Square in Houston while you’re in town for a day or two. This site is in the center of the city’s historic district, so it’s right in the middle of where you want to be for sightseeing on your 24-48 hours here. The park is typically open daily from 6am to 11pm. Take a stroll through Lauren’s Garden here, which honors a United Flight 93 passenger and everyone else who lost their lives on September 11th. Art lovers will enjoy the mosaic fountain and benches and Points of View sculpture.
Check out the Space Center
If you have time in your schedule, make a point to visit the Space Center in Houston. The museum gets very busy on weekends, so it’s a nice place to visit on weekdays to avoid large crowds. Must-see attractions include the Starship Gallery, NASA Tram Tour, Independence Plaza, Astronaut Gallery, and the International Space Station Gallery. The ticket price for adults is $29.95.
Relax in Discovery Green Park
If you’re in the midst of a busy travel schedule, chances are that you really just want to relax and veg out for a bit during your Houston layover. Discovery Green Park is a great place to do exactly this, with its acres of green space that has a lake, bocce carts, water features, putting green, and playground. If you visit in the summer, you can run through the splash pad to cool off, and in the winter the lake turns into an ice skating rink. This is also a great place to catch a free event on your day or two in the city, such as an outdoor movie or free concert.
Get on the Water at Buffalo Bayou Park
To indulge your outdoorsy side and experience some of the nature of the Houston area, head to Buffalo Bayou Park when you’re here. You can rent a kayak or canoe here from the rental shop onsite, which is at the Lost Lake Visitor Center right on the bayou. The cost for a single kayak is $30, and it is $40 for a tandem kayak if you’re traveling with someone else. It’s also fun to check out the 26-mile-long paddling trail on a public Houston Skyline Tour, which lasts about 3.5 hours and travels about 7.65 miles from Woodway Memorial Park to Sabine Street.
Visit the Houston Museum of Natural Science
We also love stopping by the Houston Museum of Natural Science when we have a little spare time in Houston. This is one of the best museums in the region and in an area with lots of other cultural activities to do as well. Come to this natural science museum to see everything from ancient Egyptian relics to valuable gems, butterflies, and wildlife native to Texas. The price for an adult admission ticket here is $25. Other museums to check out nearby include the Houston Museum of African American Culture, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Holocaust Museum.
Shop at the Galleria
If you enjoy shopping, then you’ll definitely want to carve out a bit of time to check out the Galleria in Houston. There are hundreds of stores here in a couple million square feet of shopping space. You’ll find familiar and high-end stores here, including Prada, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Nordstrom. There are also lots of restaurants onsite, including the Cheesecake Factory, Bazille at Nordstrom, E*Tao for Asian fusion cuisine, and Mariposa at Neiman Marcus for seafood. The mall is typically open from 11am to 7pm on Sundays and 10am to 9pm every other day.
