Texas · best-of list
32 Top Things to Do in Texas
All 32 things to do our route editors picked in Texas, across 12 destinations, gathered in one list. 25 come with an insider tip, and 18 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
32 things to do in Texas, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
San Antonio 5 picks
Mission San José
San Antonio · On our Texas BBQ Trail route + 1 more
Largest of the four missions in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
Tip: Rent a bike to ride the Mission Reach trail between missions.
Photo: Liveon001 ©Travis Witt · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Alamo
San Antonio · On our Texas BBQ Trail route + 1 more
1718 mission and site of the 1836 battle, with the church and Long Barrack.
Tip: Free entry; reserve a timed church entry online.
Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
River Walk
San Antonio · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
Stone-lined walkways along the San Antonio River, with cypress trees and bridges strung with lights through the holidays.
Tip: Take a river barge after dark for the best view of the lights from the water.
Photo: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0
San Fernando Cathedral
San Antonio · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
Cathedral founded in 1738 on Main Plaza, whose facade hosts San Antonio | The Saga, a free light projection on the city's history.
Tip: The projection runs several nights a week after dark; check the schedule before you go.
Photo: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0
The Pearl
San Antonio · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Restored brewery complex with restaurants, shops and a weekend farmers market.
Photo: Pearl · Google
Texas Hill Country 5 picks
Blanco County Courthouse
Texas Hill Country · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
Limestone 1916 courthouse on Johnson City's square, outlined in lights and decorated for the season.
Photo: Nicolas Henderson · CC BY 2.0
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
Texas Hill Country · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
LBJ's ranch on the Pedernales, with the Texas White House, his birthplace and family cemetery on a self-driven tour.
Tip: Pick up the free driving permit at the LBJ State Park visitor center across the river.
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Marktplatz
Texas Hill Country · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
Fredericksburg's town square with the Vereins Kirche replica, a tall German Christmas pyramid and the town tree in season.
Tip: Come at dusk when the pyramid and tree are lit.
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
National Museum of the Pacific War
Texas Hill Country · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
Large World War II museum in Admiral Nimitz's hometown, with aircraft, a combat zone and the Nimitz Hotel.
Tip: Allow at least half a day; tickets are valid for 48 hours.
Photo: Myotus · CC BY 4.0Pedernales Electric Cooperative lights
Texas Hill Country · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
The electric co-op's headquarters lawn in Johnson City, its live oaks wrapped in lights, centerpiece of the town's holiday display.
Tip: Free to walk; park once and walk the two blocks to the lit courthouse square.
Dallas 3 picks
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Free general admission museum anchoring the Arts District.
Photo: Oliver · Google
Reunion Tower GeO-Deck
Dallas · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Observation deck 470 feet up with 360-degree city views.
Photo: Hitesh Prajapat · Google
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Dallas · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Museum on JFK's assassination inside the former Texas School Book Depository.
Tip: Buy timed tickets online; allow time for the audio guide.
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake 3 picks
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
The bridge carrying Congress Avenue over Lady Bird Lake, with the Capitol at one end and a wide sidewalk facing the fireworks.
Tip: Arrive early, as the sidewalks fill well before midnight; the show is to the west, toward the Lamar bridge.
Austin's New Year
Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
The city's free New Year's Eve concert at Vic Mathias Shores, ending with a drone show and fireworks over Lady Bird Lake.
Tip: Arrive by 9 pm to get a spot on the lawn near the water; entrances are at the east and west ends.
Photo: AdrienWikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
A curving walk-and-bike bridge over Lady Bird Lake beside the Lamar Boulevard bridge, with open views of the skyline.
Photo: Sk5893 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown Dallas & Reunion Tower 3 picks
Reunion Tower
Downtown Dallas & Reunion Tower · On our Dallas New Year's Eve route
The 561-foot tower with an LED globe; at midnight on Dec 31 it launches Lone Star NYE, a 360-degree fireworks, light and drone show.
Tip: There is no public viewing at the tower on Dec 31; ride up to the GeO-Deck on Dec 30 instead.
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ronald Kirk Bridge
Downtown Dallas & Reunion Tower · On our Dallas New Year's Eve route
The old Continental Avenue bridge over the Trinity, now a pedestrian park with shade sails and a straight view of the downtown skyline.
Tip: Bring a blanket and arrive by 10 pm; the deck is open to wind off the river.
Photo: IcedCowboyCoffee · CC0Trinity Groves
Downtown Dallas & Reunion Tower · On our Dallas New Year's Eve route
A cluster of restaurants and patios in West Dallas at the foot of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, facing the skyline and the tower.
Tip: Book a patio table well ahead, or arrive by 10 pm; it is the most popular free viewing spot.
Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair 3 picks
Celebrate SA
Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
The city's free New Year's Eve party across Hemisfair, La Villita and nearby streets, with music stages, food and midnight fireworks.
Tip: Arrive by 9 pm to get close to the tower; food lines grow long after 10 pm.
San Antonio River Walk
Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
Stone paths one level below the streets, lined with cypress trees, bridges and restaurants, and strung with lights through the holidays.
Tip: Walk the downtown loop after dark on Dec 30, when the lights are on and the paths are calmer.
Photo: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0
Tower of the Americas
Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
The 750-foot tower built for HemisFair '68, with an observation deck and a revolving restaurant; the fireworks burst around it at midnight.
Tip: Ride up on Dec 30 at dusk for the view over the city before the crowds.
Photo: Corey Leopold · CC BY 2.0
Bishop Arts District 2 picks
Kessler Theater
Bishop Arts District · On our Dallas New Year's Eve route
A restored 1942 neighborhood movie house in Oak Cliff that now hosts concerts several nights a week.
Tip: Check the calendar for shows on Dec 30 or Jan 1.
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Texas Theatre
Bishop Arts District · On our Dallas New Year's Eve route
A 1931 movie palace on Jefferson Boulevard, where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested, now showing films with a bar inside.
Tip: Check the schedule for a Jan 1 matinee.
Photo: Renelibrary · CC BY-SA 4.0
Downtown Houston 2 picks
Discovery Green
Downtown Houston · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
A 12-acre park between the convention center and the skyline, with a lake, lawns and a seasonal ice rink.
Tip: Walk it on Dec 30 at dusk, when the towers light up around the lawn.
Photo: Hequals2henry · CC BY-SA 3.0POST Houston
Downtown Houston · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
The 1960s Barbara Jordan Post Office turned food hall and venue; its Skylawn rooftop hosts a ticketed party with midnight fireworks.
Tip: Tickets for the Dec 31 party sold out in 2025; buy early and arrive near 9 pm to claim a spot on the lawn.
Hermann Park & Museum District 2 picks
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Hermann Park & Museum District · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
Dinosaur halls, a gem and mineral vault, a planetarium and the glass-cone Cockrell Butterfly Center at the edge of Hermann Park.
Tip: Holiday hours vary year to year; confirm whether it opens on Jan 1, or go on Dec 30.
Houston Zoo
Hermann Park & Museum District · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
A 55-acre zoo on the south side of Hermann Park, with elephants, gorillas, a big aquarium and an evening holiday lights event.
Tip: Buy timed tickets online; check Jan 1 hours, and whether Zoo Lights is still running that week.
Photo: Rasar90 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pearl & Museum Reach 2 picks
Pearl
Pearl & Museum Reach · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
The 1883 Pearl Brewery, rebuilt as a district of restaurants, shops and lawns on the river at the top of the Museum Reach.
Photo: Clyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0
San Antonio Museum of Art
Pearl & Museum Reach · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
Antiquities, Asian and Latin American art in the castle-like former Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach.
Tip: Closed on Jan 1; see it on Dec 30 instead.
Photo: Nan Palmero · CC BY 2.0
Austin 1 pick
Texas State Capitol
Austin · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Pink-granite capitol, taller than the US Capitol, with free guided tours.
Photo: LoneStarMike · CC BY 3.0
Zilker Park & Barton Springs 1 pick
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Zilker Park & Barton Springs · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
Bronze and stone sculptures by Charles Umlauf set among ponds and trees across the road from Zilker Park.
Tip: Check holiday hours; it is small enough to see in under an hour.
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Texas?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 32 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Texas has the most things to do on this list?
San Antonio and Texas Hill Country lead with 5 each; the other picks are spread across 10 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
18 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Mission San José, The Alamo, River Walk, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Texas
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- San Antonio 5 on this list
- Texas Hill Country 5 on this list
- Dallas 3 on this list
- Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake 3 on this list
- Downtown Dallas & Reunion Tower 3 on this list
- Downtown San Antonio & Hemisfair 3 on this list
- Bishop Arts District 2 on this list
- Downtown Houston 2 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.