Free Things to Do in Houston
In Houston, it's easy to enjoy budget-friendly attractions that make cents!
Spend your day exploring Houston’s greatest hotspots, while saving big with our list of the city’s most-loved free things to do. Luckily, for locals and visitors alike, several of Houston's most memorable attractions won’t cost a dime. And since you are saving money on activities, why not upgrade your hotel with these deals; you can also find amazing savings on these unique Houston experiences.
Since you're saving money on activities, check out these great hotel deals. And you can also find amazing savings on these unique Houston experiences and deals.
Get Outdoors!
Pack a picnic and settle in for the show at Miller Outdoor Theatre from March through November. The theater, set inside Hermann Park, also allows patrons to BYOB (no glass containers).
Spend a relaxing Saturday morning at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market strolling the market for a lazy day of people watching, buying local produce, or just munching on any of the free samples!
Here are our picks for things to do outdoors.
Catch a sunset or sunrise (if you’re an early bird) LED-light show at James Turrell's "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace on Rice campus. The grass covered pyramid illuminates and changes colors as the natural light reflects off the structure and is a 40-minute wonder for the eyes. The show is free and is only closed on Tuesdays.
Who’s afraid of the big, bad... bats? Witness 250,000 bats emerge at dusk from under the Waugh Drive Bridge, located over Buffalo Bayou between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive, if you dare.
Get Cultured!
The Menil Collection, widely considered one of the greatest of the twentieth century, consists of more than 16,000 works dating from the Paleolithic era to the present day. You could spend a whole day taking in the art, but don’t worry, the chic Bistro Menil is a great place to recharge and grab a bite to eat.
Get Moving!
After undergoing a $58 million project in 2015, Buffalo Bayou is now an outdoor haven for hiking, biking, art and the best views of the Houston skyline. Winding from Shepherd Drive through parts of the East End, the Buffalo Bayou's hike and bike trails are one of the best ways to take in the city.
The Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark is the creme de la creme of the grinding and boarding world. The $2.2 million, state-of-the-art facility – thought to contain the largest cradle in the world – is located close to downtown, near Eleanor Tinsley Park.
- Buffalo Soldiers National Museum: Thursday 1 - 5 p.m.
- Children's Museum of Houston: Thursday 5 - 8 p.m.
- The Health Museum: Thursday 2 - 7 p.m.
- Holocaust Museum Houston: Thursday 2 - 5 p.m.
- Houston Museum of Natural Science: Thursdays 2 - 5 p.m. (3 - 6 pm during the summer and holidays)
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: Thursday all-day