Activity Houston, USA

Houston City Tours

5.0 (2 reviews) 5 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

2 reviews

5.0

Step into the center of Houston's most photographed site. Hear the sounds and feel the mist of 11,000 plus gallons of water falling every minute. — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

The world famous Water Wall. — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Houston's Quirky Charm: A Tour of the Unconventional

Houston offers more than just skyscrapers; it boasts a unique artistic and architectural landscape. Our tour highlights the city's quirky side:

Statues of David Adickes: Larger-than-life president busts and Beatles statues offer unforgettable photo ops.

Beer Can House: A testament to recycling ingenuity, shimmering with thousands of flattened beer cans.

Gerald D. Hines Water Wall: A mesmerizing architectural wonder, cascading water creates a stunning visual and auditory experience.

We cover over 40 miles/64 kilometers in several areas with the most comprehensive tours of Houston

Day Trips Half-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours

At a glance

Duration: 5 hours
Confirmation: Confirmed within 48 hours
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–5
Guide: English
Operated by: Houston Historical Tours - Day Tours

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Adults (3–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Expert Guide

Not included

Not included: We ask you to tell us your preference for lunch: barbecue, Mexican, vegetarian, or something else so we can accommodate you.

Itinerary

Theater District

Passing by

Did you know that only New York City has more downtown theaters than Houston? We will drive by the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts for musicals, Jones Hall for symphonies, the Margaret Alkek Center for Dance for the ballet, the Wortham Theater Center for the Houston Grand Opera, the Alley Theatre for regional repertoire plays, and the House of Blues for musical concerts.
Daikin Park

Passing by

See the home of the 2017 and 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros baseball team.
Toyota Center

Passing by

See the home of the Houston Rockets basketball team. This is also the site for concerts and high school graduations.
Shell Energy Stadium

Passing by

This is the home of the Houston Dash women's soccer team, the Houston Dynamo men's soccer team, and the Texas Southern University (TSU)'s football team.
Downtown Tunnels

20 min

On Monday through Friday, if you like, we will take about a 3 block walk into the underground tunnels of downtown Houston. We have over 7.5 miles/12.1 kilometers of underground tunnels that house over 500 businesses and thousands of employees. The tunnels are air conditioned and heated as needed. It is a city under the city. The tunnels are closed on Sunday, Saturday, and holidays.
Stop 6

Passing by

See parks and plazas, statues and monuments, historic sites and markers, skyscrapers, governmental buildings, and houses of worship.
River Oaks

Passing by

Drive through the wealthiest neighborhood in Houston with mansions that date to the 1924. This is one of the largest subdivisions of millionaire homes in the nation. It is over 2 square miles.
Rice Village Shops

Passing by

Drive through one of the three best walking areas in Houston. It is next to Rice University and is full of mom and pop boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. It is a very popular area to shop.
Rice University

Passing by

The Rice Institute, later Rice University was found in 1912. It is the most respected and highest ranked university in the Deep South. On September 12, 1962, President Kennedy gave his famous speech explaining why we were planning to go to the moon at the Rice football stadium. That same stadium was home of Super Bowl VIII on January 13, 1974. I still have my ticket from that game. How much do you think it cost to attend?
Houston Museum District

Passing by

Houston has over 35 museums in multiple areas of the city. We will pass through the major Museum District to see:

1. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH).

2. Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden.

3. The Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston (CAMH).

4. The Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH).

5. The Asia Society Texas Center.

6. The Children's Museum.

7. The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science.

8. The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS).

The Children's Museum is the #1 children's museum in the US according to Parents Magazine. The HMNS is the 4th most visited museum in the US. The MFAH is the 4th largest art museum in the US. The CAMH and Sculpture Garden are free at all times.

You could spend days visiting these magnificent museums.
Hermann Park

Passing by

Hermann Park is the most popular park in Houston and a major attraction. Inside it are:

1. The John P. McGovern Centennial Gardens.

2. The Japanese Gardens.

3. The HMNS.

4. The most famous statue in Houston, that of General Sam Houston.

5. A replica of the Washington Monument and reflecting pool.

6. Miller Outdoor Theatre (MOT). We have FREE performances here almost every weekend from March to November.

7. Jogging/walking trails.

8. A children's train.

9. The Houston Zoo.

10. Peddle boat rides for up to 4 people.

11. Cafes.

12. More.

A tourist can easily find enough activities to keep herself/himself busy for days.
Stop 12

Passing by

Houston has the largest medical center in the world with over 20 different hospitals, research institutions, and colleges of medicine. Some of the sites we will see include:

1. Ben Taub Hospital.

2. Memorial Hermann Hospital.

3. Houston Methodist Hospital (HMH).

4. Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).

5. Prairie View A&M College of Nursing.

6. Kindred Hospital.

7. Texas Children's Hospital (TCH).

8. Texas Women's University (TWU) College of Nursing.

9. The University of Texas (UT) MD Anderson Cancer Center.

10. The Women's Hospital of Texas.

11. More.
Reliant Stadium

Passing by

See the home of the Houston Texans's football team and the site of the Houston Rodeo as well as concerts.
Stop 14

Passing by

This opened in 1965 as the first domed stadium in the world. It was the home of the former Houston football team, the Oilers, the Houston Astros, the rodeo, concerts, conventions, and much more.
Gerald D. Hines Waterwall Park

15 min

This is the most photographed area in Houston. Lots of young ladies like to have quinceanera and bridal photos taken here. The water wall is a 64 foot/21 meter high semi-circle with 11,000 gallons of water pouring off the top every minute. It is very refreshing to cool down and feel the mist during hot and humid days.
Lakewood Church

Passing by

Lakewood Church is one of the largest churches in the US. It has a seating capacity of 16,800 people. Its pastor is the world famous televangelist Joel Osteen. It has multiple services per week with 10s of thousands of people attending.
The Galleria

Passing by

This is the 5th largest shopping mall in North American and the 4th largest shopping mall in the US. Before Covid in 2020, it had 375 stores. It has a full-size ice skating rink, food court, assorted high end restaurants and some of the most high fashion and expensive stores in the US.
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

10 min

This mansion was built in 1928 for a woman with a most unique name: Ima Hogg. Miss Ima amassed one of the biggest collections of American art and furnishings dating to the colonial period in the 1600s. We often stop here to give you an opportunity to walk on the suspension bridge that is over Buffalo Bayou. You can take photos of this scenic area, but you will need to return to tour the house and gardens.
Beer Can House

5 min

This novel house is the second most famous house in Houston. It is lined in over 50,000 beer cans. The owner was a dedicated alcoholic. He died of liver cancer. The garage, fences and gate are also lined in beer cans. Many people break out laughing as they take photos here. You can return on your own to pay to tour the house at a later date.
Memorial City

Passing by

Memorial Park is the largest park that is wholly in Houston and Harris County. It has 1,466 acres/5.9 kilometers squared. It has a Nature Center and Arboretum, Olympic size swimming pool, an 18-hole golf course, a jogging path, Eastern Glades over swamps, and more. We will drive 3 miles/4.8 kilometers through it.
EaDo's

Passing by

Eado is an abbreviation for East Downtown. This used to be the former Chinatown. It is now a popular area for young people for eating, drinking, and entertainment.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

We meet inside the rotunda of the Houston City Hall at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002 on Monday through Friday. City Hall is closed on weekends. On weekends, we meet at a park bench on the east side of City Hall.

End point

We meet inside the rotunda of the Houston City Hall at 901 Bagby Street, Houston, Texas 77002 on Monday through Friday. City Hall is closed on weekends. On weekends, we meet at a park bench on the east side of City Hall.