Houston

Day 1: Inside the Loop – Montrose, Downtown and the East End

Start with Houston’s creative core and its green spine before eating your way into the city’s Mexican-American heart. Keep a car handy, but note the METRORail Green/Blue lines help between Downtown and EaDo/East End.

• Morning: Ease in with coffee and a kolache or breakfast taco in Montrose; then wander the Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel for a calm, art-filled start. Tip: free entry at the Menil; street parking is easier before 10:00.
• Midday: Head to POST Houston food hall for a grazing lunch that showcases the city’s “Third Coast” flavours; share plates to try more vendors. Seasonal note: in cooler months (Nov–Apr), look for Gulf oysters; in August, Restaurant Weeks brings value prix-fixe menus citywide.
• Afternoon: Walk off lunch at Buffalo Bayou Park and book a Cistern tour if you like urban history and cool temps underground. If it’s particularly hot, duck into the Downtown tunnels on a weekday for an only-in-Houston experience.
• Evening: Drive or take the METRORail Green Line to the East End for dinner at the Original Ninfa’s on Navigation, then stroll the Navigation Esplanade and admire neighbourhood murals. On Dynamo/Dash match nights, arrive early or rideshare; finish with pan dulce from a classic panadería like El Bolillo.

Day 2: Southwest Feast – Asiatown (Bellaire) and the Mahatma Gandhi District (Hillcroft)

Today is about strip-mall brilliance: Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian and Pakistani flavours packed along Bellaire and Hillcroft. Expect short drives and big appetites; bring cash for small spots and be ready for busy car parks.

• Morning: If it’s a weekend, go early for dim sum at Ocean Palace or Fung’s Kitchen; on weekdays, opt for Vietnamese phở or a bánh mì and cà phê sữa đá along Bellaire. Tip: arrive by 10:30 to avoid long queues for dim sum.
• Midday: Explore Dun Huang Plaza and nearby malls; try fiery plates at Mala Sichuan Bistro or a DIY hot pot, then grab bubble tea. Pop into H Mart for a snackable second course from the food court and a browse of Korean staples.
• Afternoon: Shift to Hillcroft’s Mahatma Gandhi District for spice shopping and sari-browsing; refuel with South Indian dosas and chaat at Shri Balaji Bhavan and pick up a box of mithai from Raja Sweets. Traffic can be hectic on the feeder roads—patience pays.
• Evening: Crack into Viet-Cajun at Crawfish & Noodles (Jan–Jun is peak crawfish season; order spicy garlic butter). Out of season, go for chargrilled oysters (best Nov–Apr), Korean BBQ on Long Point, or a late dessert-and-karaoke run back in Dun Huang Plaza. Many small spots are BYOB; ask about corkage.

Day 3: Smoke, Heights charm and chef-driven Houston

Blend Texas barbecue tradition with neighbourhood wandering and a modern, award-winning take on Mexican and Gulf cuisines. Plan for an early start—top BBQ sells out.

• Morning: Queue for brisket at Truth BBQ or The Pit Room; go at opening and order fatty brisket, a beef rib to share, and classic sides. Rodeo season (Feb–Mar) adds the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest atmosphere—expect heavier traffic and big appetites across town.
• Midday: Walk the Heights: browse 19th Street, cut over to the M-K-T trail and Heights Mercantile, and sip an iced coffee at Boomtown or a beer at a laid-back ice house. Weekends bring lively brunch crowds—street parking fills quickly.
• Afternoon: Dip into Spring Branch’s Long Point Road mini-Koreatown for a light reset: soondubu at a tofu house, Korean fried chicken to share, or a cooling bingsu. This corridor is unflashy and authentic—choose busy rooms over fancy signage.
• Evening: Book ahead for Tatemó’s masa-led tasting menu; alternatively, choose Xochi (Oaxacan) or Caracol (coastal Mexican) for a polished finale. Cap the night with cocktails at Anvil Bar & Refuge; if you’re drinking, rideshare. August visitors: Restaurant Weeks offers excellent value at many of these spots.

By Air

• George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH): ~23 miles north of Downtown (25–45 minutes by car off‑peak; 45–75+ minutes at rush hour). Major United Airlines hub with extensive domestic and international services (non-stops to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha, multiple Latin American hubs). Ground transport: taxis/ride-hail, hotel shuttles, car hire. No rail link; limited local buses – most visitors use road transport.
• William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): ~7 miles southeast of Downtown (15–25 minutes by car). Primary base for Southwest with broad US coverage plus Mexico/Caribbean flights. Ground transport: taxis/ride-hail, car hire; METRO local bus 40 runs to/from central Houston (allow ~50–70 minutes).

By Train

• Amtrak (Houston Station near Washington Avenue): Served by the tri-weekly Sunset Limited (Los Angeles–San Antonio–Houston–New Orleans).
  • Typical journey times: New Orleans ~9 hours; San Antonio ~5 hours; Los Angeles ~36–40 hours.
  • Connections in San Antonio to the Texas Eagle for Austin, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago (check timetables; limited frequencies).

By Coach/Bus

• Operators include Greyhound and FlixBus, with multiple daily services to major Texas cities and beyond. Main routes and typical times:
  • Austin: 2.5–3.5 hours
  • San Antonio: 3–4 hours
  • Dallas: 3.5–4.5 hours
  • New Orleans: 5.5–7 hours
• Pick-up/drop-off points vary by operator and schedule (often in Midtown/Downtown or park-and-ride locations). Check your ticket for the exact stop.

By Car

• Primary approaches: I‑10 (east–west), I‑45 (north–south), I‑69/US‑59 (southwest–northeast), US‑290 (from Austin/ northwest). Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Tollway) and the Hardy Toll Road are cashless toll roads.
• Approximate driving times:
  • Austin (via US‑290 or SH‑71/I‑10): 2.5–3 hours
  • San Antonio (via I‑10 E): 3–3.5 hours
  • Dallas (via I‑45 S): 3.5–4 hours
  • New Orleans (via I‑10 W): 5–6.5 hours
• Traffic is heavy at peak times; allow extra time. Ensure your hire car is set up for electronic tolling. Hurricane season (June–November) can affect travel.