Houston’s a city that never quits there’s always something fun around the corner, whether you’re an early bird or a night owl. From world-class museums to quirky arcade bars like Cidercade, here’s a roundup of day and night ideas to make the most of your time in Space City.
Morning Fun
Space Center Houston
Kick off your day exploring NASA’s official visitor center. Get up close to real spacecraft, touch a moon rock, and even meet an astronaut (if you time it right).
Hermann Park Paddle Boats
After fueling up with a kolache from a nearby bakery, rent a pedal boat on McGovern Lake. It’s a serene way to wake up your senses and you’ll get great skyline views.
Breakfast Tacos in Midtown
Head over to El Rey for breakfast tacos that’ll power your morning adventures. The migas taco here is legendary.
Afternoon Adventures
Museum District Stroll
Spend a few hours hopping between the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Contemporary Arts Museum. Bonus: most museums have free or discounted admission days.
Graffiti Park at Sawyer Yards
Channel your inner artist or just snap vibrant photos at this warehouse-park turned outdoor gallery.
Cidercade Houston
Looking for a grown-up playground? Cidercade (621 Dallas St.) offers 150+ arcade games and 36 rotating ciders on tap all for one flat admission fee. It’s perfect for challenging friends to classic Pac-Man, skee-ball or just chilling with a crisp cider.
Evening Excitement
Buffalo Bayou Sunset
Rent a kayak or walk the trails along Buffalo Bayou as the sun dips behind downtown Houston. The changing light over the water is magical.
Midtown Bars & Live Music
Midtown is your go-to for live music and creative cocktails. Check out Axelrad Beer Garden for hammocks and local bands, or Koelschip for Dutch craft beers.
Dinner in Montrose
Montrose has everything from bistro-style French to modern Mexican plates. Uchi’s sashimi or Truth BBQ’s brisket both come highly recommended.
Late-Night Delights
Cidercade After-Hours
Come back to Cidercade later for its “Night Owl” vibe lights dim, beats pump, and you can still play all your favorite arcade games.
Rooftop Bars
Head to Mongoose vs. Cobra or Z on 23 for skyline views, small plates, and specialty cocktails. Great spots to cap off a busy Houston day.
Midnight Tacos & Food Trucks
No trip to Houston is complete without street tacos at Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue or one of the rotating food trucks parked downtown.
From morning museum crawls to late-night arcade battles at Cidercade, Houston’s lineup of activities has something for everyone. Keep this list handy, and you’ll never run out of fun things to do by day or by night in Bayou City.