10 Fun and Free Things to Do in Houston

For families and travelers on a budget, free activities are always great news. In this iconic Texas city, home to a vibrant cultural scene and tons of green space, travelers can have plenty of fun without breaking the bank. Here is our list of the 10 best fun things to do in Houston for free.

Covering 12-acres in the middle of downtown Houston, a visit to Discovery Green Park is one of the most fun things to do in Houston for free on a nice day. From live music to festivals and art shows, there is almost always something happening. This park and urban oasis offers paths for meandering and ponds for floating model boats. Check out the Andrea and Bill White Promenade, the ideal place for a selfie with a 360-degree view of Houston’s skyline in the background. There’s a shaded Children’s Playground for the kiddos, lots of outdoor art to peruse, and even outdoor tai chi, yoga and Zumba classes, all offered free of charge.

While you’re having fun in downtown Houston, don’t miss the spectacular Houston water wall. The Galleria-area water fountain is the centerpiece of the 3-acre Waterwall Park and towers 64 feet in the air, with skyscrapers and a collection of live oaks as a backdrop. Try visiting after the sun goes down—some of the most beautiful photos from your trip will be of the Houston water wall at night..

Jazz, movement theater, Shakespeare, classic films, ballet—and that’s just a taste of the Miller Outdoor Theater events between spring and fall. Come with a picnic basket and BYOB (no glass containers please) as the sun sets, then settle in under the covered seating area for a (free) treat. There is something different to see every week, from dancing to oldies sung by the Houston Chamber Choir to patriotic shows featuring the U.S. Army Field Band.

Contemporary art meets Burning Man at this eye-popping ode to the Art Car. Affectionately known as the “Garage Mahal,” the Art Car Museum showcases all manner of motorized contraptions—some are festooned and bedazzled while others are done up like something out of a Mardi Gras parade. By displaying the talents of unsung artists with an eccentric point of view, this compact museum is a must-see when searching for things to do in Houston for free.

Houston isn’t called “Space City” for nothing. See where the astronauts are trained at Rocket Park, just outside of the Johnson Space Center. Four rockets are retired here: Little Joe II, Mercury-Redstone and the Gemini-Titan, along with the impressive Saturn V. On loan from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, the Saturn V has rocketed into space nine times and has carried 27 Apollo astronauts six times on their missions to the moon.

Start your visit to the 155-acre Houston Arboretum & Nature Center by taking a walk—there are 5 miles of nature trails, carved through a range of habitats that brim with birds, critters and native plants. Bring the kids here for walkabouts, educational programming like the Arboretum at Night and cane pole fishing. Fido is also welcome on a leash.

From free movie screenings to concerts and public art, the Market Square Park is a downtown gem and one of the cheapest things to do in Houston. The lovely Lauren's Garden—named for Houstonian Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas, a passenger on United Flight 93 on Sept. 11—is a relaxing place to just sit and be. The park is also a great place to enjoy free events for kids while in Houston.

Peruse the ornate headstones that mark the graves of politicians, oil tycoons, and Texas movers and shakers in the city’s first cemetery, designed as a park as well as a final resting place. Glenwood Cemetery’s most famous resident, Howard Hughes—aviator, engineer, film director and eccentric—was born in nearby Humble, Texas, explaining the large, anything-but-humble family plot.

This 90-minute Sam Houston boat tour of the Port of Houston is one of the best things to do in Houston for free, but you will need to make a reservation in advance, so be sure to plan ahead. The 90-passenger boat will give you and your group of friends a close-up view of the maritime traffic that navigates the 50-mile Houston Ship Channel. Great for larger, traveling groups, the tour also offers complimentary water and soft drinks to sweeten the deal.

You can visit some of Houston’s best museums anytime at no charge, and many others offer free admission one day a week.

Best Free Museums in Houston

• The Menil Collection—a wonderfully eccentric personal assemblage that hopscotches from the Paleolithic era to present day with some 16,000 works, including an impressive concentration on surrealism. (Free admission)
• Contemporary Arts Museum Houston —spotlights new work from American and international artists, and its gift shop is full of treasures. (Free admission)
• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft—local artists shine with craft as art at every turn. There’s even a garden connecting craft to plants out back. (Free admission)
• Buffalo Soldier National Museum—a historical museum honoring the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and chronicling the U.S. military service of African Americans. (Free admission Thursdays, 1-5 p.m.)
• Children’s Museum of Houston—a children’s museum with 90,000 square feet of educational interactive exhibits (Free admission Thursdays, 5-8 p.m.)
• Houston Museum District—Many more institutions in the district offer free museum days for visitors on specific days during the week.

So, if you’re looking for affordable fun while visiting Houston, add these free activities to your list. For even more incredible things to do, check out our Houston Travel Guide.