Why go
- Largest city in Texas, United States.
- 3 recommended spots to eat and drink.
- Served by Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR).
History
Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County. Covering a total area of 640.4 square miles (1,659 km2), it is the ninth largest city in the country and the largest whose municipal government is not consolidated with a county, parish, or borough. Although primarily located within Harris County, portions of the city extend into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Houston also functions as the southeastern anchor of the Texas Triangle megaregion.
Eat & drink
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 32 airlines, 169 direct destinations
- United Airlines UA (ERJ, 737-800, A320, 737-900, 737-700, A319…) · 162 routes: Acapulco*, Aguascalientes*, Albuquerque, Alexandria*, Amarillo*, Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Atlantic City*, Austin, Bakersfield*, Baltimore, Baton Rouge*, Beijing*, Belize City, Bentonville*, Birmingham*, Bogota, Boston, Brownsville*, Buenos Aires, Calgary, Cancun, Caracas, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte*, Chicago, Chihuahua*, Cincinnati*, Ciudad Del Carmen*, Cleveland, College Station*, Colorado Springs*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Corpus Christi*, Cozumel, Dallas*, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Del Bajio* … +122 more
- Delta Air Lines DL (CRJ-900, A319, 717, Embraer 170, Embraer 175, 74M…) · 11 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta, Cincinnati*, Detroit, Memphis*, Mexico City, Minneapolis*, New York*, Paris*, Salt Lake City, Seattle*
- US Airways US (A319, A320, CRJ-700, Embraer 190, A321, 734…) · 10 routes: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Doha, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Salvador
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, 777, CRJ-700, A321, 737…) · 9 routes: Charlotte, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Doha, London*, Los Angeles*, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix
- Spirit Airlines NK (A320, A319) · 7 routes: Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Orlando
- Air Canada AC (A320, 737-800, A319, CRA, Embraer 170, 737…) · 5 routes: Calgary*, Edmonton*, Montreal*, New Orleans*, Toronto*
- Air China CA (ERJ, A319, 737-900, 777-300, CRJ, 737-700) · 4 routes: Atlanta*, Beijing, Cancun, Mexico City
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A320, A380, 737-800, 767-300, 777, 787-8…) · 4 routes: Amsterdam*, Frankfurt, London*, New Orleans*
- Air France AF (A319, 717, MD-88, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris
- Alaska Airlines AS (CRJ-700, 73J) · 2 routes: Los Angeles*, Seattle
- Alitalia AZ (717, MD-88, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris*
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (737-800, 757-200, 737-700, Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Bogota, San Salvador
- Copa Airlines CM (737-900, 787-8) · 2 routes: Panama City*, San Francisco*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A319, 717, 74M, MD-88) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*
- Turkish Airlines TK (A320, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Istanbul, New Orleans*
- AeroMéxico AM (EMJ) · 1 route: Mexico City
- All Nippon Airways NH (777) · 1 route: Tokyo*
- Birmingham European VB (737-300) · 1 route: Monterrey
- British Airways BA (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- China Airlines CI (717, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Finnair AY (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Denver
- Iberia Airlines IB (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Korean Air KE (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Pacific Wings LW (PA2) · 1 route: Victoria*
- Qatar Airways QR (777-200LR) · 1 route: Doha
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (777-300ER) · 1 route: Moscow
- Transaero Airlines UN (777-300ER) · 1 route: Moscow*
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A319, 717, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Virgin Australia VA (A319, 717, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 9 airlines, 49 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 737-300, 73C, 735, 737-800, 737-800) · 45 routes: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Branson, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Greenville, Harlingen, Indianapolis, Jackson, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Memphis, Midland, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Newark, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Panama City, Pensacola, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-durham, San Antonio, San Diego … +5 more
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 737-300, 735, 737-800, 73C, 717…) · 26 routes: Atlanta, Austin*, Baltimore*, Charleston*, Charlotte*, Chicago*, Corpus Christi*, Dallas*, Denver*, Greenville*, Harlingen*, Islip*, Kansas City*, Las Vegas*, Little Rock*, Los Angeles, New Orleans*, Oklahoma City*, Orlando*, Phoenix*, Providence*, Raleigh-durham*, San Antonio, Santa Ana*, Tampa*, Tulsa*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190) · 2 routes: Boston, New York
- Alitalia AZ (MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- American Airlines AA (M83, MD-80) · 1 route: Dallas-Fort Worth
- Delta Air Lines DL (MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- US Airways US (M83, MD-80) · 1 route: Dallas-Fort Worth
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR); 81 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: IAH has direct flights to 169 destinations on 32 airlines (incl. Atlanta, London, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Chicago…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Houston, Texas. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Trains & rail
Coaches & shuttles
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.