If you’re wondering what to do when visiting one of Texas’ big cities, peek at our recommendations.
Don’t you dislike planning trips and not knowing the best attractions to see? When I plan trips ahead of time, I go to Viator to see what’s hot. So, today, I’m sharing where to go and the best attractions to visit in Texas’s largest cities. This list of top city attractions in Texas includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. And a few more like Arlington and Amarillo.
Here’s the kicker – I’m using Viator to help write this article. In doing so, Texas Travel Talk will receive a small commission if anyone uses a link I have supplied here to purchase tickets. This great info is two-fold – you’ll know what to see and do and where to buy tickets, and TTT will earn a commission, which helps us to stay afloat so we can provide our readers with excellent festivals, events, and fun things to do in Texas all year around.
Top City Attractions In Texas: Why Guided Tours Are the Way to Go
I love to take guided tours whenever I travel in Texas or another state.
I was floored when I went to Quebec City, Canada, and went on a tour with a local guide who knew the area. There is no way I would have known all the history of Quebec if I hadn’t gone on this tour. Long story short – this tour intrigued me, and thus, I always want to hire a guide wherever I go. When we go to Colorado Springs next month (Jan. 2025), I booked two tours (from Viator), one for the Garden of the Gods and the other for Pikes Peak. That’s the way to go when traveling to a place for the first time.
Top City Attractions In Texas
But first – did you know that more people live in Austin than Fort Worth? Did you know that more people live in San Antonio and Houston than in Dallas?
Okay, below are the top recommendations in big cities in Texas, and where to find how to purchase the tour, the jeep, the attraction ticket, and anything else we find. Let’s go!
Please remember that Viator’s prices can change and are out of our control. However, sometimes prices go on sale, which is great!
Top City Attractions In San Antonio
San Antonio is by far one of the best cities to visit in Texas. It offers so much, and there is much history there. Plus, the riverwalk is a sight and probably the center of all things San Antonio. This city is also known as the Alamo and special San Antonio Missions. Experiencing all this on a tour with an expert is far better than going alone. They know so much and will tell you things you would probably never know.
San Antonio Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
Climb onboard the Old Town Trolley of San Antonio and enjoy a fully narrated, fun-filled tour to the Alamo, the historic Pearl District, San Antonio Zoo, Botanical Garden, Witte Museum, River Walk, La Villita, Tower of the Americas, Market Square and much more!
1 hour 45 minutes. 12 Stops. $51.91/person
Get the deets: San Antonio Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tour
The San Antonio Missions are filled with history and religious importance. Get the full story on the area, consisting of five missions close together, from a guide who knows the area well. You’ll see four out of the five missions of the site, as well as La Villita Historic Arts Village, Alamo Plaza, and the Espada Aqueduct.
3-1/2 hours. $75/person.
Get the deets: San Antonio Missions UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tour
San Antonio Full-Day Historic City Tour
This tour is great for first-timers to San Antonio. The tour allows you to learn your way around San Antonio with a guide to navigate and narrate the journey. You’ll discover historical highlights of San Antonio that take you to Mission Concepcion, downtown markets, parks, squares, eateries, and more.
This is an 8-hour at $119/person.
Get the deets: San Antonio Full-Day Historic City Tour
Purchase A San Antonio CityPass
For $59/person, you can choose four of these attractions. The pass is valid for nine (9) consecutive days.
Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises – Narrated River Cruise
San Antonio Zoo – General Admission
The Tower of The Americas – Tower Ticket
The DoSeum – General Admission
San Antonio Botanical Garden – General Admission
Witte Museum – General Admission
San Antonio Museum of Art – General Admission
The Alamo — Exhibit and Church – Admission to The Alamo Exhibit and free Church entry
Get the deets: San Antonio CityPASS®.
San Antonio Night Sightseeing Tour+Riverwalk Boat Cruise & Tower
This would be my pick. I’ve done the boat cruise twice but would always do it again.
Explore San Antonio’s history at night and watch as the city illuminates its beautiful culture and immense history! Glide effortlessly through historic sites on eco-friendly electric micro shuttles. This tour blends modern convenience with the charm of the past, offering an efficient and enjoyable way to discover the rich cultural tapestry that defines downtown San Antonio.
3 hours. $159/person.
Get the deets: San Antonio Night Sightseeing Tour+Riverwalk Boat Cruise & Tower
Top City Attractions In Houston
Houston is a busy city with many unique attractions that will shine a light on your journey through Texas. Houston has museums, galleries, shops, parks, and the Space Center Houston. I can’t say the best time to visit because the city is always busy and the traffic is a mess, but it is well worth it if you take your time. Galveston is only 45 minutes away.
NASA’s Space Center Admission Plus Houston City Tour
If you’ve got 6 hours, this should be a great tour. Let the driver worry about the traffic, and you and your family relax in the back and soak up all the history.
See top sights around the city, like parks, landmarks, and historic districts, and then head to NASA’s Space Center Houston for a self-guided tour. $99/person.
See the perks: NASA’s Space Center & Houston City Tour
Houston CityPASS
This CityPass includes the Space Center Houston and four additional attractions of your choice.
Choose from – the Museum of Fine Arts, the Houston Zoo, Kemah Boardwalk All-Day Ride Pass, the Children’s Museum of Houston, the Downtown Aquarium, or the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
$76/person, and you’ll have nine consecutive days to use the pass.
See the perks: Houston CityPASS®
Houston’s Offical City Tour
Take a ride on the cute red bus that actually says “Houston’s Official City Tour” right on the side. Let someone else drive you around the city. See the historical highlights and cultural delights of Houston on this open-air bus. Listen to an audio commentary as you cruise past important landmarks like the historic City Hall, Market Square, Downtown Aquarium, and Graffiti Park.
1 hour 20 minutes. $40/person
See the perks: Houston’s Official City Tour
Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
I love a walking food tour. There’s always plenty to eat and so many stories to tell! On this tour, you’ll experience downtown Houston with a small group and a guide. Be sure to go hungry. Get ready for Houston’s food scene with tastes of brisket eggrolls, tacos, Vietnamese chicken and rice, and locally made ice cream. My experience of food tours is full meals at each place or at least enough to satisfy everyone and get your money’s worth.
3 hours 30 minutes. $77-$85/person
See the perks: Houston Walking Food Tour
Top City Attractions In Fort Worth
The Fort Worth Stockyards used to be small and offer free parking, and the Spaghetti Warehouse was the place to dine, but it is no longer. It’s grown and will continue to grow in the next few years. There’s no more free parking, the restaurant is gone, but so many more have come in. It’s the place to see real cowboys and to shop at stores for cowboy hats, boots, belts, and more.
Fort Worth Stockyards Foodie Tour
This tour is one I might do next. Even though I live just 20 minutes or so from this area and go quite a bit, I’ve never taken this tour. When in the Stockyards, one has to have a barbecue plate!
Explore Fort Worth, the city of real Texas cowboys and cattle drives. Get the true history of Texas’s famous livestock industry and watch real Texas cowhands drive a herd of Texas longhorns down Exchange Avenue. Your fully guided experience includes a Taste of Texas Dine-Around featuring a local craft brewery, Texas BBQ, and southern comfort cuisine.
2-1/5 hrs; $95/person
Check it out: Fort Worth Stockyards Foodie Tour with Food Tours of America
Stockyards History Tour Fort Worth Pub Crawl
Or, take this tour and sample some of our Texas beers! You’ll stop by a few saloons and be told about the hidden history of the cowboys and cattle drives over cold, refreshing beers.
Check it out: Stockyards History Tour Fort Worth Pub Crawl
2 hours 15 minutes; $45/person
Top City Attractions In Austin
Austin hosts many popular Texas festivals and events and is the Live Music Capital of the World. Right, there is interesting enough. And there’s so much that goes on in Austin that some won’t or can’t identify with; hence, it’s got a reputation for being weird. But Austin loves that, and the slogan is ” Keep Austin Weird. So, there you go!
Austin Walking Food Tour
Suppose you’re a foodie or have never been to Austin. In that case, this food tour in downtown Austin lets you explore the city’s central and historic area and sample numerous foods—from barbecue brisket to Austin-style breakfast tacos and even an Italian cannoli. You’ll also see some of the city’s popular sights and attractions along the way. It is always best to tour a city with a guide who knows it all and where to take you.
3 hours; $99/person
Check it out: Austin Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
Austin Sightseeing and Capitol Segway Tour
If you’re okay riding a Segway, this just might be the tour for you. The last time I was on one, I fell and banged up my knees, but that’s clumsy me.
Go sightseeing in Austin by Segway on a 1.5-hour tour that allows you to cover more ground than other types of tours. Get an overview of downtown Austin and capture numerous photo ops as you pass by the Texas State Capitol Building, Congress Avenue, Warehouse Entertainment District, Lady Bird Lake, the historic Driskill Hotel, and other landmarks.
1-1/2 hours of downtown; $70/person
Check it out: Austin Sightseeing and Capitol Segway Tour
The Story of Austin: Downtown History Walking Tour
If you’re a bit of a history nerd and want to know about our Capitol, this walking tour is cheap and is probably worth every penny. Instead of exploring the city with a guidebook, drop the book and use a guide. They will tell you everything about Austin – probably more than you realize about the Capitol.
2 hours; $35/person
Check it out: The Story of Austin: Downtown History Walking Tour
Top City Attractions In Dallas
JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House
This tour is by far the most popular one in Dallas (according to Viator). If you’ve ever been intrigued about the actual happenings of John F Kennedy being shot and why, this tour is a must.
Somewhere at the intersection of presidential history and American mythology, the JFK assassination continues to fascinate Dallas visitors. See the site where the infamous shooting occurred on this special historical tour to Grassy Knoll and the Kennedy Memorial; separate the facts from the theories with the help of your guide, who will walk you through that day and its aftermath.
3 hours; $77/person
Get the scoop: JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House
Sightseeing Tour of Dallas
Travel with a guide who provides insider knowledge as you go on this small-group tour. You’ll see attractions such as Pioneer Plaza, Dallas City Hall, the Dallas Arts District, and Dealey Plaza, where JFK was shot.
3 hours; $63/person
Get the scoop: Sightseeing Tour of Dallas
Dallas’ Reunion Tower GeO-Deck Observation Ticket
A family-friendly tour at the Reunion Tower’s geO-Deck, where you’ll get 360-degree views of the epic urban landscape. Be sure to look through the high-definition telescopes and see the best of this Texas city day or night!
About 1 hour; $25
Get the scoop: Dallas’ Reunion Tower GeO-Deck Observation Ticket
Secret Food Tour of Dallas
Experience true Southern hospitality and discover why Dallas’ cuisine has always been a melting pot of various cultures. A guide will lead you through the art and music-filled streets that make up the foodie paradise of Deep Ellum, and you’ll sample BBQ brisket, award-winning Texas chili, buttery handmade biscuits, and lots more.
3 hours 30 minutes; $89-$99/person
Get the scoop: Secret Food Tour of Dallas with Private Tour Option
Top City Attractions In Amarillo
Amarillo, Palo Duro Canyon And Route 66 Day Trip
I almost fainted when I saw the price. But I looked again, and the cost of $779 is per group (not per person). This is a trip I would love to take. Palo Duro Canyon is a great outdoor adventure and a must-see.
They claim they are the only tour company in Amarillo. This tour takes you to the most visited sights in Amarillo, including downtown historic buildings, while you learn the history of Amarillo. Then, you’ll be on your way to the Palo Duro Canyon to learn about the rock formations. You’ll take a quick hike, shop, take a break at Canyon Square for lunch (lunch not included), and then a trip to Cadillac Ranch.
6 hours; $779/Group
Get the scoop: Amarillo, Palo Duro Canyon & Route 66 Day Trip
When you’re ready to plan your trip, you’ll want a place to stay in Texas, whether a small town or a big city. We’ve got you covered.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these top city attractions we chose to share. Viator has tons more. Please note that I’ve only supplied limited information about these tours. Be sure to read all the details before purchasing. Also, please remember that Texas Travel Talk will get a small commission if anyone uses one of the links. There are no extra costs to you for using these links. Thank you.
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