A Budget Traveler's Guide To Houston

The draw of immigrants to Houston is a defining characteristic of the city. You may not be traveling to Houston to find a permanent home, but the affordability of the city will likewise attract your sensibilities and your wallet. Between the bachelorette parties and the music festivals and the baseball games, there are plenty of reasons why a trip to Houston may be in your future. Here are some ways to enjoy the city while you’re there without surrendering your carefully stowed-away emergency fund.

Alamo Drafthouse

In a bustling city, catching a movie can be incredibly comforting. Alamo Drafthouse has a few locations in Texas, including one in Austin. Whether you want to catch the latest indie flick, a throwback title or the big-budget blockbuster, this theater has a variety of viewing options. Also beer.

Brazos Bookstore

Open from 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Brazos Bookstore is a great way to browse some great titles while enjoying the AC. The knowledgeable staff is also around to give great suggestions and answer questions. They also have free events and readings to check out.

Walk along the Bayou

Open from dawn to dusk, Buffalo Bayou Park offers bike and boat rentals to explore the city in a new way. Covering 160 acres, the park has spots to see the bat colonies, play areas and dog parks. Pack a picnic and head to Eleanor Tinsley Park.

19th Street in the Heights

Local restaurants, boutiques, vintage shops and the legendary Heights Theater reside on 19th street in the Heights neighborhood of Houston. Whether you’re craving Tex-Mex chain Torchy’s food, homemade pasta from Alice Blue or high-quality coffee from Boomtown, the options seem endless.

Museum of Fine Arts

Free on Thursdays and if you’re a visitor to the library, shop or café, the Museum of Fine Arts currently features art from Italy, India and Kuwait, to name a few. It has 65,000 works of art that cover a variety of genres and countries.

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Located in Memorial Park at 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas, this center is open daily and free. With many different trails to choose from, this nature haven offers a respite from strolling downtown.

Food

Do some serious research to find the restaurants you want to check out before you arrive. Because once you arrive in the city, the choices can be deliciously overwhelming. And feel free to search with only $ or $$, since great food in this city is often very affordable. If you’re wondering where to start, check out the Tacos Tierra Caliente at Alabama Ice House.

Houston Zoo

Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Houston Zoo is an exciting and affordable way to spend the day. $15 for kids and $19 for adults, the zoo is also free on the first Tuesday of every month. Your child even has the chance to feed a giraffe! From elephants to lions, there’s no shortage of animals to check out.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.