Things to Do in Houston for Adults and Couples: Events, Night Activities, and Free Things to Do

Houston. An Incredible South Texas Getaway.

With 2.4 million city residents and a metro-wide population of 7.8 million, there’s nothing small about this sprawling region of south Texas. For statistical purposes Houston is the fourth most populous city in the U.S., and Greater Houston, comprised of ten counties, has the fifth largest metro area population in the country. Needless to say, there’s a lot going on here.

Visitors to Houston come here to tour museums, attend a sports event, take in a concert, enjoy some incredible dining and clubbing options, or to shop at the myriad of tempting stores at the Galleria that aren’t found in their hometown. Whatever you are seeking in a getaway to Houston, you will surely find it here.

Watch Your Favorite Sports Teams in Action

For sports fans who enjoy travelling to watch their favorite teams in action, Houston offers year-round professional and college options.

Major League Baseball

The Houston Astros regular season schedule runs from April through October with 81 home games at Daikin Park in downtown. With 41,000 seats and a retractable roof, you won’t have to worry about your chosen game being rained out. Ballpark tours are also a fun experience if the team is away from home when you’re in town. Play ball!

NFL Football

Located seven miles southwest of downtown adjacent to the closed but still standing Houston Astrodome, NRG Stadium is the 72,000-seat home of the Houston Texans. While inclement weather rarely interferes with football games, this facility also offers a retractable roof that can let the sunshine in when the weather cooperates.

NBA Basketball

Downtown’s 19,000-seat Toyota Center is the place to see some of the world’s best hoops players. The Houston Rockets 41-game regular season home schedule runs from September through April. Houstonians are hopeful that the WNBA will return to the city soon, hopefully as early as 2027.

Major League Soccer

The MLS is alive and well in downtown where the Houston Dynamo FC plays its home games at the 22,000-seat, open-air, Shell Energy Stadium. The league’s seasonality will be changing beginning in 2027, but for 2026 the schedule will run from late February/early March to October/early November, with the playoffs taking place in late November and December.

University of Houston

Newly named Space City Financial Stadium is the on-campus home of the Division I, Big-12 Conference member, Houston Cougars. Home games are played in the fall with the current 40,000 seats planned to be expanded to 60,000 seats in the coming years. The men’s and women’s basketball teams and the women’s volleyball team play at the on-campus 7,100-seat Fertitta Center. The ‘U of H’ is conveniently located just three miles (10 minutes) east of both downtown and midtown Houston.

Rice University

A small but highly regarded college just minutes south of downtown, Rice is the Ivy-type school of the region with fewer than 10,000 total undergraduate and graduate students combined. But they field an excellent Division I baseball team that frequently makes it to the College Baseball World Series. Games are played outdoors at 7,000-seat Reckling Park and make for a fun activity without the steep ticket prices for Astros games.

World-Class Museums

When the summer heat and humidity becomes unbearable, what better way to stay cool is there than a visit to some of Houston’s museum? With the creation of the Houston Museum District in 1977, the city made the commitment to being a destination for experiencing art, history, science, and so much more.

The concentration of museums in the walkable and bikeable area just minutes from downtown makes visiting multiple museums on the same day a real possibility. The Museum District has been compared to Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Of course, not every museum of interest is located in the District, so the list below of popular favorites also includes several that are in other parts of the metro area.

Houston Museum of Natural Sciences (HMNS) + Cockrell Butterfly Center

in the Museum District. Egypt, Africa, minerals and gems, Faberge Eggs, the World Around Us, and so much more.

Space Center Houston

25 miles southeast of downtown Houston is the world’s leading learning center dedicated to space exploration. This Smithsonian affiliate is Houston’s top attraction overall as well as the number one destination for international visitors.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

in the Museum District. An enormous collection of 5,000 years of art and culture. Asian, impressionist, African, American, European, as well as modern and contemporary art under one roof.

Houston Museum of African American Culture

FREE!, art exhibits and film screenings. Located in the Museum District.

Meow Wolf Interactive Art Experience

Two miles north of downtown Houston, this immersive art experience centered on Radio Tave is surreal, wild, and something you have surely never seen before.

Houston Zoo

Located just south of the Museum District in Hermann Park. With or without the kids, a fabulous way to spend the day. Birds, chimps, meerkats, flamingos, tapir monkey, and don’t miss the Malayan tiger exhibit.

The Menil Collection

FREE!, 30-acre campus open Wed-Sun, 3.5 miles southwest of downtown in the Melrose and Southampton neighborhoods, on the western end of the Museum District. More than 25,000 works presenting every type of art, including photographs.

Lone Star Flight Museum

15 miles southeast of downtown Houston: perfect to combine with Space Center Houston which is 10 miles further down the same highway. This aviation museum celebrates flight with a focus on Texas aviation history. The collection of commercial, general aviation and military aircraft is amazing.

Holocaust Museum

in the Museum District. The fourth largest museum of its kind in the U.S. is dedicated to educating students and adults about prejudice and hatred in our world, and the dangers to all of us that come from it. The World War II Jewish holocaust is the central theme, but other acts of genocide are also explored here.

The Museum of Health and Medical Science

in the Museum District; focused on the human body and medical science; visitors can take a larger-than-life walking tour that explores the human body, focusing on the major organs and their purpose. This fascinating museum includes dozens of interactive kiosks that will answer many of your questions on the spot.

ARTECHOUSE

This unique art museum presents multi-sensory art experiences designed for the digital age. Shows are offered hourly. Located five miles northwest of downtown in the Donovan Park neighborhood.

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston

in the Museum District. Modern art like you have never experienced before. Exhibits change semi-annually but without fail, will always have you opening your mind in ways that you never have before.

Some other interesting museums that you may want to check out include the Pop Air inflatable art at the Balloon Museum, the Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park in downtown, and the Museum of Illusions in the Galleria west of downtown.

Come for the Food, Stay for the Nightlife

Houston is a major airline travel hub for both domestic and international travelers, lending to the diversity of the region. Some of the beneficiaries of this are people who like a wide variety of food, meaning nearly everyone. So, depending on where you choose to stay, there’s bound to be an abundance of great dining options nearby, as well as late-night entertainment possibilities. In total, Houston offers more than 13,000 restaurants representing 70+ countries and naturally, every region of the U.S.

Since this article is geared towards adults traveling without the kiddies, you should be aware that there are several prime areas in Houston to find amazing food, live music, and an active dance floor if that is what you desire.

Downtown and Midtown

At their liveliest at the end of the business day and during weekend evenings, these adjacent areas include the Houston Theater District, as well as a slew of fine dining establishments and nightclubs. If you’re looking for some after hours action be sure to check out Line & Lariat at Hotel Icon (Marriott) for some distinctive contemporary Texas cuisine and the L&L bar adjacent. Other great options along downtown’s Green Street include Lucky Strike Houston, a bowling alley with food, drinks, and arcade, plus Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar with a nightly live show and plenty of raucous fun.

In nearby Midtown a quieter vibe can be found at 13 Celsius, a wine bar that serves up delicious small plates in a chill atmosphere that’s perfect for couples who actually want to have a conversation. For craft cocktails, creative menu, an outdoor patio, plus a balcony with views of downtown, you’re sure to enjoy an evening at Lost & Found.

Washington Avenue

Just 10 minutes west of downtown, the Washington Avenue entertainment area features an eclectic mix of restaurants, trendy bars, coffee shops, plenty of street art, and truly cool and unique boutiques and antique shops. This is a popular stretch of town for dining and clubbing, and during the day nearby Buffalo Bayou Park and Memorial Park, which includes the free Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, are wide-open inner city spots for outdoor activities. Recommended restaurants include Laurenzo’s Prime Rib, the extravagant Xo Sky Lounge and Restaurant with live music, and Provare for Italian cuisine.

West University and River Oaks

The options in this upscale and bustling area near Rice University are limitless. Known by locals as “The Village”, this 16-square-block shopping area is filled with local and chain stores, plenty of restaurants featuring international dining options, buzzy late-night clubs, wine bars, pubs, and daytime coffee shops. Trendy is key here, so come explore. There’s something here for everyone, and then some.

Montrose

Every large city has its own quirky and edgy neighborhood that is popular with locals and out-of-towners who may not have a place like this back home. Montrose is a gay-friendly area where you will also find a younger crowd hanging out in affordable lounges with cheap eats like the Anvil Bar & Refuge and Poison Girl. With so many options along Montrose Blvd. and Westheimer Curve, you may want to explore multiple venues. If a more relaxed vibe is to your liking, the Boheme Café and Wine Bar offers a rear patio for escaping from the hectic world around us. Prefer more action? The Boheme’s Latin Nights and Drag Show Brunch are wildly popular. Yes, in Houston.

The Second Largest Theater District in the U.S.

Who knew? Houston’s Theater District encompasses 17 city blocks in downtown, making it second to only New York City in terms of size. The performing arts are alive and well here, with the primary venues being located on Preston, Bagby, Milam, and Walker streets, within walking distance of many of the city’s skyscrapers and city hall. Let’s take a look at the five of the 19 theaters here, including some historic buildings that consistently offer professional live performances.

Alley Theatre

The oldest theater company in the Lone Star State features two theaters under one roof – Hubbard and Neuhaus. On average there are 16 new plays and musicals produced by the non-profit each year, totaling as many as 500 performances. With so many opportunities to attend, just purchase your tickets in advance and plan a Houston getaway.

Bayou Music Center

One of Houston’s most popular locations for live entertainment which runs the gamut from musical performances to comedians, and even first-rate boxing matches. There’s always some fun entertainment on tap here that’s especially suited to couples and friends seeking an energetic evening out on the town.

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Opened in 2002, this spectacular facility seats 2,650 patrons in Sarofim Hall, with no seat in the house being more than 128 feet from the stage. With amazing acoustics and unmatched sightlines, touring Broadway and Theater Under the Stars plays and musicals that call Hobby Center home are an exhilarating experience for everyone who attends. Before the lights are turned down, gaze upward to the spectacular Celestial Dome Ceiling featuring over 2,000 fiber optic stars simulating a Texas summer night sky.

Jones Hall

With seats for 3,000 guests, the home of the Houston Symphony and the Society for the Performing Arts is a fabulous venue to enjoy a special night out. The enormous concert hall opened in 1966 and fills an entire downtown city block. SPA shows features artists from around the globe who excel in music of every imaginable type, dance, and shows geared to kids.

Wortham Theatre Center

Two beautiful theaters under one roof make for perfect homes for the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera. The Brown Theater, the larger of the two with 2,405 seats, hosts most performances for these resident companies. Smaller performances take place in the 1,100-seat Cullen Theater, which is also used by other production companies for solo artists, chamber music, and recitals.

The Best Areas to Stay in Houston

As with all large cities, there are many different areas worth considering to book hotel accommodations. Houston is no exception, with Downtown, Midtown, the Museum District, and the Uptown/Galleria neighborhoods among them.

As always, we rely on the Travelated hotel booking website to get our bearings and book our stay. Prices are always competitive, and they have so many options that there’s no need to look elsewhere.

Here are some of our favorite properties in Houston but bear in mind that Travelated offers dozens of possible hotels to consider in all price ranges.

Downtown

centrally located, close to light rail, the Theater District, restaurants, and several sports stadiums: Hotel ICON-Autograph Collection (4 stars); The Westin Houston (4 stars); Hilton Americas – Houston (4 stars).

Midtown

walkable with plenty of nightlife and dining options, centrally located adjacent to downtown and the Museum District: Hotel Saint Augustine (4 stars).

Museum District

great for culture enthusiasts, close to light rail: Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District (4 stars); Houston Marriott – Medical Center/Museum District (4 stars); Intercontinental Houston by IHG (4 stars); Hilton Garden Inn Medical Center (3 stars).

Uptown/Galleria

Houston’s luxury shopping area, upscale malls, superb restaurants and nightlife: Hotel Granduca (5 stars); The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria (4 stars); Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria (4 stars); The Chifley Houston – Tapestry Collection by Hilton (4 stars); Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Galleria (3 stars).

C’mon Down to Houston

If Houston isn’t on your radar for a vacation, perhaps it should be. An unbeatable mix of cultures along with down-home Texas hospitality awaits you in this exciting city. Whether you live within driving distance or are flying into town, make your plans soon to experience this amazing city that offers so much for visitors to enjoy. In fact, with so many attractions, you may want to think about coming here more than once.