It may seem difficult to travel in this lovely city on a tight budget, but if you want to experience downtown Houston on the cheap, have no fear: There are many free and low-cost things to do there. In addition to being a great city for budget travelers, Houston has a large number of public urban spaces. Continue reading to learn how to stick to your budget both before and after you arrive.
Figure Out the Best Time to Visit
Houston, the fourth-largest city in the country, is home to thousands of incredible attractions. Houston is a city with an abundance of things to do and is stunning almost year-round. But like any city, there are busy travel times and unfavorable weather months.
Houston is most enjoyable from March to June. The tourist season is in full swing, bringing many events and festivals, and the weather is sunny with chilly evenings. Although tourism hasn’t reached its peak yet, you can still find quiet beaches and manageable crowds inside the city. You’ll enjoy the sunny coastal climate and the best weather when it’s here, especially if you’re from a colder state.
Houston is most affordable between December and February, when the weather is chilly and there aren’t many visitors. Even though there are fewer people around because it’s the off-season, there are still lots of things to do. The cheapest time of year has moderately cold weather, but you won’t have to worry about winter storms or snow. As temperatures typically hover in the 50s, the worst the weather can do is keep you from visiting the beach.
The least crowded month to travel to Houston is January. Houston is a year-round travel destination, but January is the busiest off-season month and offers the best deals and less crowding. Traveling when it’s least expensive can result in a fantastic vacation in Houston.
Book a Cheap Flight
Finding a flight to Houston can be a little difficult. There are numerous variables, including the dates, times, cost, fare class, airline, and others. Where should you look for the lowest price, even if you know exactly when and where you want to fly? The process of finding inexpensive flights is overwhelming because there are so many search engines and because prices are constantly changing.
As part of taking a cut from the airlines, all search engines have raised the price of flights. Compared to other search engines, some consistently rank much higher. Learning about the websites with the best prices pays off. Now, the majority of low-cost airlines will show up in the comprehensive search engines we recommend. However, you can conduct an additional search for nearby low-cost airlines if you want to be absolutely certain. Finally, while we frequently find the best deals on Skyscanner or Momondo, no search engine is flawless all the time. As a result, you might need to use a variety of search engines to make sure you don’t overlook any results.
Choose the Right Airport
There are two significant airports in Houston, Texas, which serve the city and its surroundings. Choosing which airport to fly into can be based on a number of things, including your budget, the season you’ll be traveling, the event you’ll be traveling to Houston for, and the type of flight you’re booking.
George Bush International Airport (IAH), which is 23 miles north of Houston, welcomes millions of passengers each year. This is your best option if you’re making an international flight reservation. You can use Global Entry to enter the United States, which will cut down on the amount of time you have to wait in customs lines, in addition to the hundreds of flight options available each week.
William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), which is closer to Houston’s bustling downtown and is regarded as more of a city airport than Bush International, is only 11 miles away. Hobby Airport, a hub for Southwest Airlines, is your best option for domestic flights and is a great deal easier and faster to get to and from the city.
Avoid traveling to and from Houston when there are sporting events going on, like when the Houston Astros, the city’s MLB team, are in town. At home games, there are a ton of visitors, which raises the cost of airline tickets. Travelers cannot use the public transportation system to get to either airport.
Get Your Accommodation Cheap
Houston offers a variety of tourist attractions as the most populous and diverse metro area in the southern United States. Overall, Houston has one of America’s highest concentrations of four- and five-star hotels. Nevertheless, the city has lodging options for all tastes and price ranges due to the size of its lodging sector. People frequently reserve hotels in Downtown, West University, Southwest Houston, and Midtown when traveling to Houston.
The majority of global hotel brands, including Best Western, Hilton, Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn Express, have affordable lodging options at some of their Houston locations. There is also the Club Quarters Hotel Houston, which is conveniently located in the heart of Houston’s downtown area and close to the city’s tourist hotspots. December is the most affordable month to reserve a hotel in Houston. Your room may be up to 22% less expensive than during peak seasons. In Houston, hotel rooms are typically less expensive on Friday and more expensive on Monday.
If you’re looking for this kind of lodging for your trip, Houston has 14 options. According to the user data, Stop Inn Stay Hostel is the most well-liked hostel in the area.
Use Public Transportation
A robust public transportation system serves Houston. Easy connectivity is provided by MetroRail and Metro buses, which run frequently. Taxis are readily available at cab stands and at signposts that read “hailing a cab” all over the city. Uber offers the option of ride-sharing. From Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., you can ride the Greenlink Buses for free to popular locations in downtown Houston. You can unlock a bike through the city’s BCycle bike-share program for $3.00 USD per 30 minutes from any of the bike stations located all over the city.
The bus system is used by the majority of Houston’s commuters. Numerous routes crisscross the city, and while they may take a little longer to travel than a car, they generally go to all the places you need to go. Seniors, students, Medicare cardholders, and people with disabilities are among the groups who are eligible for discounts. Children under the age of five ride free as long as an adult is present.
Buses on busier routes may only be scheduled every hour, while buses on busier routes may run every 15 minutes. Routinely, routes begin in the early morning, with some buses continuing to run past midnight until two in the morning. The METRO app offers real-time tracking.
Keep Your Food Costs Low
Although Houston is home to many excellent high-end eateries, it isn’t always feasible to spend a lot of money on dinner. Fortunately, the city’s diverse dining scene is also full of inexpensive eateries, making dining on a budget completely feasible. Dining brands in the U.S. have a long and storied history, and whether they’re fast food, fast casual, high-end, or super cheap, American restaurants offer something for almost everyone.
It can be challenging to choose what to eat sometimes in Houston because there is such a wide variety of food available. Street food is the ideal solution to this problem because it allows you to sample a wide variety of foods without breaking the bank.
Attend Performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre
One of Houston’s most treasured cultural attractions, the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, has served as a community hub and the location of countless memorable free performances since it opened in 1923. The eight-month season of professional, superbly artistic, and culturally diverse entertainment provided by Miller to the public is unheard of in the United States. This program, which is the biggest “always free” one of its kind in the nation, draws hundreds of thousands of viewers each season.
The laid-back atmosphere at Miller Outdoor Theatre enables guests to enjoy each other’s company in addition to a fantastic performance. Seating on the hillside does not require a ticket. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome.
Visit the Art Car Museum to See Bizarre Creations
The art of today is the focus of the Art Car Museum. It is a forum for artist exhibitions with a focus on fine art, artists, and art cars. Due to the extensive collection of bizarre car modifications that this location has accumulated since the 1980s, it is classified as a contemporary art museum. Houston is known as the “art car capital of the world” due to the rich history of the movement, and this museum serves as its main exhibition space.
Some of the brightest, most ornately decorated automobiles in the entire world can be found in this museum, complete with captivating patterns and themed decorations. If you want to see an intriguing example of Houstonian art and culture, we wholeheartedly recommend visiting the Houston Art Car Museum.
Visit the Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo, a 55-acre haven for wildlife from all over the world, is situated next to the renowned Texas Medical Center in the center of Houston.
Regardless of age, everyone enjoys a trip to the zoo. The Houston Zoo makes your trip extra special by adding attractions like free Tuesdays, which take place once a month, making it the ideal place to visit with your family. On certain Tuesdays, visitors are welcome to view some brand-new attractions at the zoo without charge. A trip to the Houston Zoo is the ideal option for travelers on a tight budget. The cost of a ticket is roughly $23 for adults and $18 for kids and seniors.
At the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, Observe Birds
One of Houston’s biggest and most gorgeous green spaces is the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. This botanical garden offers enjoyable and picturesque walks with a wide variety of trees and flowering plants to enjoy along the way. There are water habitats where native birds and aquatic life can be found thriving. There are areas with plenty of shade where you can relax, take in the scenery, and occasionally spot animals in the trees, on the grass, or in the water. One of the few urban green areas in Houston where you can truly get lost is the arboretum. It is frequently impossible to see any signs of the nearby city while walking along its arboreal-inclined trails; instead, all that can be heard is the distant hum of nearby traffic.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) can be found at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in Hermann Park. The best way to get there by light rail is to take the red line to the Museum District stop, then walk down Fannin Street to Hermann Drive. The museum is located between Caroline and San Jacinto streets.
The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week. For the permanent collection, 4:30 p.m. is the cutoff time for entries. The last entry is at 4:00 for the planetarium, special exhibits, and theater with a big screen. Weekends are typically busier than weekdays, and those who arrive early will find fewer people there than those who arrive in the middle of the day or early in the afternoon.
Check out the Houston Aquarium
The Houston Aquarium lets you get up close and personal with exotic animals of the deep, making it yet another amazing and exotic destination for tourists. Experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch and feed stingrays in a 500-gallon aquatic wonderland. For less than $25, you and your family can have a wonderful day. On particular Saturdays, the aquarium offers special promotions like buy one, get one free admission.
Discover exhibits that highlight various aquatic and geographical regions; eat at the full-service restaurant; unwind with a drink at the posh bar; stroll through the shopping district; and have fun on the rides and games. The aquarium also has a fully-equipped ballroom that can host events. The Houston Aquarium offers a variety of activities and attractions, so there is something for everyone.
Explore White Oak Music Hall
The White Oak Music Hall, The Lawn, and Raven Tower make up the White Oak Music Hall group of music venues in Houston. A seven-acre collection of new and modified buildings, outdoor structures, landscaped areas, and paved and decked surfaces along the Little White Oak Bayou make up the project.
The WOMH is a multi-venue music complex with over 400 live music events hosted throughout the year. It is situated two miles north of downtown Houston and two miles south of the Heights House Hotel. The outdoor stage is another well-liked location to see a show while in Houston because it offers expansive views of the bayou and downtown.
Take a Look around the Urban Harvest Farmers’ Market
The market’s farmers, ranchers, and food vendors all reside within 180 miles of Houston, providing the best local, seasonal produce and meats. The prepared and hot food vendors obtain at least 51% of their ingredients from nearby farms and growers, boosting the local food economy by giving producers more financial support.
Every Saturday, a sizable farmers’ market draws a large crowd to the Eastside Drive off of Richmond Avenue in Houston. At the Urban Harvest Farmers’ Market, a wide range of vendors showcase their extensive selection of regional goods. These include fresh produce and cold cuts of meat, cheese, poultry, eggs, and more. For the best and freshest samples, arrive early.
Observe the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace’s Sunset LED Show
The James Turrell Twilight Epiphany Skyspace at the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion is one of the breathtaking sights that can be enjoyed for free in Houston. On the Rice University campus, you can find this enormous pavilion close to the Shepherd School of Music. Here, Rice University music students frequently jam during events, making the most of the space’s excellent acoustics. The 2012 pyramidal building has two levels and can hold 120 people. Twilight Epiphany was acoustically designed to hold musical events and serve as a learning environment for Shepherd School of Music students. The stunning LED light show, with its incredible play of colors against the evening sky, is best experienced here before the sun sets.
Take a Look at Buffalo Bayou Park
Buffalo Bayou, the 52-mile-long, leisurely-moving waterway where Houston was first established in 1836, is now a popular location for outdoor recreation close to downtown Houston. It is still in its natural state and is home to a remarkably diverse urban ecosystem that supports numerous local plant and animal species.
Although Houston is home to many large parks, the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park offers enjoyable and picturesque trails that let you take in the city’s riverfront and the great outdoors. You can rent bicycles at locations throughout the park, and pathways and bridges connect various areas of it. The Bike Barn, conveniently located between the park’s Water Works and the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark bowls, is the primary rental business here. However, you can go for a hike or a jog for free. Depending on the weather, visitors can rent bicycles, kayaks, and canoes from Buffalo Bayou Park. You can make reservations online or in person.
Meditate in the Rothko Chapel
The goal of the Rothko Chapel is to foster spiritual development and interfaith dialogue that reveal our shared humanity and advance a society where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Tucked in the heart of Montrose, across the shaded lawn from the Menil Collection, is the quiet, unassuming Rothko Chapel. The chapel has served as a cutting-edge landmark and serene sanctuary since 1971. The room has a calmness that is almost palpable inside, providing viewers with a meditative setting in which to view the 14 Rothko murals that adorn its walls.
The chapel is open to guests as a haven from the bustle of daily life. The chapel is open every day from Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. While there is no charge for admission, timed tickets must first be reserved.
Make Your Way to Eleanor Tinsley Park
This park, which was given its name in memory of the late city councilwoman and civic activist Eleanor Tinsley, is a favorite spot for recreation and relaxation in Houston. Recent improvements include the signature Bud Light Amphitheater lawn, the open-air Nau Family Pavilion, and a trail providing a direct connection to Sabine Promenade.
This park is a wonderful place to unwind with its sloping hills and luxuriant trees. To create a distinctive atmosphere, some of the hills have picnic tables sunken into them. Some are additionally covered, which is helpful if there is an unexpected downpour. This park’s design makes for some amusing strolls.
Pay a Visit to the Menil Collection
The Menil Collection is a 30-acre art museum and neighborhood located in the center of Houston. The campus is centered on the main gallery building, which is surrounded by four other museum structures. The Menil’s mission is to make art accessible to all, and admission is always free.
Nearly 19,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, and rare books are kept at The Menil. Especially well-represented are masterpieces from antiquity, the Byzantine and medieval eras, Africa, Oceania, the American Pacific Northwest, and the 20th century. One of the highlights of the museum is its Surrealist collection, which is regarded as one of the best in the world. The museum shows off pieces from its permanent collection and frequently hosts public special exhibitions and events.
Visit DiverseWorks
A non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization called DiverseWorks is committed to showcasing fresh and daring literary, performing, and visual art. DiverseWorks, one of the top American contemporary art organizations, has shaped modern thought and practice in Houston and across the country with its ground-breaking programming. Diverseworks, a company founded by artists in 1982, is still a go-to place for high-caliber, forward-thinking artwork that challenges viewers’ preconceived notions of what art is and how it can be a vital tool for addressing social, cultural, and aesthetic issues.
The center’s free rotating gallery exhibitions, which feature the visual and multidisciplinary works of up-and-coming and mid-career artists, are open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in the afternoon and evening. Regularly featured is public special event programming, some of which offer free admission to the general public. The city’s Ensemble/HCC Station MetroRail stop provides access to the center for less expensive modes of transportation.
Consider Visiting Houston Center for Photography
The Houston Center for Photography was established in 1981 as an artist-run cooperative with the goal of showcasing the skills of Houston-area photographers who work in a variety of media and art forms. It has been a nonprofit organization since 1982, governed by a 24-member board of directors, and has received substantial national support from important arts organizations like the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Houston Arts Alliance. The Center’s free gallery hosts revolving temporary exhibitions of creations by local and international artists and is accessible to the general public Wednesday through Sunday in the late afternoon and evening.
Some of the best examples of modern photography can be found in the exhibition gallery, which is open to the public and free to visit. Year-round, HCP also provides photography classes and workshops. These classes, which range in skill level, are all instructed by renowned lecturers and photographers.
Take Advantage of Houston Greeter
Houston Greeter is a special service that connects visitors to the Houston area with informal local tour guides for specially designed city tours. The free service aims to give visitors to Houston a behind-the-scenes look at the city or to assist locals in expanding their horizons and discovering areas of the metropolis that they might not have otherwise known about. All potential tour participants complete a greeter request form and speak with greeters directly to confirm tour details and scheduling. Most tours are conducted on foot or by public transportation, lasting one to three hours on average. Although all tours are free, visitors are welcome to give tips to their greeters or make donations to the Houston Greeters nonprofit organization after their adventures.
This content has been created to assist you in planning the ideal trip for a personalized Houston experience. It will be very beneficial for you to read this article before making a budget trip to Houston.
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