Where to Stay in Houston: Best Areas & Hotels

From “Space City” to “Silicon Bayou,” Houston is a place of epic nicknames and an even more epic reputation. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and there’s no bigger city in Texas than Houston. Located at the southeast vertex of the “Texas Triangle,” near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, this huge metropolis is famous for being a world-leading center for healthcare and research, as well as a science and cultural hub home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the renowned Museum District. If you were looking for the best areas to stay in Houston, you have come to the right place!

As the most populated and diverse metropolitan area in the Southern United States, Houston has a wide range of attractions for visitors. From the aforementioned Johnson Space Center and Museum District to a compact Downtown district packed with 19th-century architecture, theaters, restaurants, and an aquarium, H-Town is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Texas. Its size and economic strength also make it a world-class center for conferences and business travelers. All and all, Houston is home to one of the largest concentrations of four and five-star hotels in America. That said, the sheer size of its accommodation industry means there is accommodation for all tastes and budgets in the city.

It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time visiting Houston or if you’re a business traveler, keep reading this article to find out more about our top picks of the best areas to stay in Houston.

Accommodation Options in Houston

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What’s the Best Area to Stay in Houston, TX?

The best area to stay in Houston is Galleria, especially if you’re looking for a safe district with great shopping, nightlife and food, and superb hotels. Located some 8 miles west of the city center, Galleria is an upscale residential and shopping district home to some of the city’s best-rated hotels, luxury malls, and top-notch eateries.

Find Available Accommodation in Galleria & Uptown Houston.

Best Hotels in Galleria & Uptown Houston

• Best five-star hotel: The Post Oak Hotel
• Best four-star hotel: Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria
• Best three-star hotel: Drury Inn & Suites Houston Galleria
• Best budget hotel: Extended Stay America Suites – Houston – Galleria – Westheimer
• Best tourist apartments: Locale Houston – Uptown

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Where to Stay in Houston for Sightseeing

While most Houston tourist attractions can be found in its central neighborhoods, some, like NASA’s Johnson Space Center are outside of the city, so there’s not a single district that we could classify as the definite area for sightseeing. In the end, the perfect location will depend on your priorities, tastes, and budget. That said, these are some of the most interesting districts for visitors:

• Compact and pedestrian-friendly, Downtown Houston is home to the main historical sights in the city including the Theater District, home to the  Houston Grand Opera and the Downtown Aquarium, the historic Market Square Park and the office-oriented Central Business District. Some of the best hotels in this area include the Marriott Marquis Houston and The Lancaster Hotel.
• A few miles south lies the elegant Museum District, full of shady streets and home to Hermann Park and the main cultural institutions in Houston including the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Holocaust Museum and the Houston Museum of African American Culture. A great option in this area is the Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District.
• Set between Downtown and the Museum District, Midtown Houston is a centrally-located residential area packed with nightlife and restaurants. Houston’s Midtown is also home to a broad offer of tourist apartments and condo hotels such as Sonder at Mid Main Lofts.
• While not the most central or attraction-packed district in town, Uptown Houston is a safe and upscale area home to The Galleria mall, one the largest shopping center in Texas. Hotels here among the best in the city and include luxury properties such as The Post Oak Hotel.
• Last but not least, Southeast Houston is home to the Johnson Space Centrer, a must-see attraction, especially when traveling with kids. A great hotel in this family-friendly area is the Courtyard by Marriott Houston NASA Clear Lake.

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The Best Areas for Tourists in Houston: District by District

1. Galleria & Uptown: Best Location in Houston for Shopping & Safest Area to Stay

Uptown – The Galleria is the best area to stay in Houston for those looking for the best-rated hotels in the city.

Why is this the best area to stay in Houston, TX:
• Safest area for tourists in Houston
• The Galleria shopping center
• Upscale area
• Luxury hotels
• Upscale restaurants and shopping
• Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Uptown Houston is located around 8 miles west of downtown. This district, a mix of residential, commercial, and office developments is anchored by The Galleria mall and is the second-most important business center in the city.

The Galleria is the largest shopping center in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. It is home to many upscale fashion boutiques, mid-range chain stores, luxury restaurants, and a large indoor ice skating rink.

Uptown Houston is also home to other smaller shopping centers, eateries, nightlife areas and entertainment venues. More importantly, this district also is host to Houston’s largest hotels, with many high-end and boutique-style properties.

This Houston area attracts some 20 million visitors each year and, while it is not connected by the METRORail system, it is served by the bus network on Westheimer and Hidalgo streets. Furthermore, taxis are widely available and most of the large chain hotels offer private parking for those traveling by car.

Other than The Galleria, other attractions in Uptown Houston include Memorial Park and the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, with nature trails and exhibits in various plants habitats.

Best Hotels in Uptown Houston / Galleria Area

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2. Downtown Houston: Best Location in Houston for Sightseeing & Business Travelers

Full of both historical attractions and shiny skyscrapers, the Downtown district is the best area to stay in Houston for those looking to be close to everything.

Why is this the best area to stay in Houston, TX:
• Very central location
• Best area to stay without a car
• Central Business District
• Main Street, Historic District & Theater District
• Market Square Park
• Connected by METRORail, bus & train

History, business, and shopping all come together in Downtown Houston.

Houston was founded in 1837 at the junction of Buffalo and White Oak bayous and served as the capital of the short-lived Republic of Texas from 1837 until 1839. Centered around Market Square Park, the Main Street Market Square Historic District is home to Houston’s oldest structures and historical sights. Around the park, there are three 19-century buildings still standing; the Fox-Kuhlman Building, the Baker-Meyer Building, and the Kennedy Bakery Building. Other historic buildings in the district include the Houston National Bank, the Magnolia Brewery Building, the Henry Brashear Building, The Rice Hotel, and the Union National Bank Building.

A few blocks southeast from Market Square lies Houston’s Theater District. This 17-block section of Downtown Houston hosts many professional performing arts organizations and is home to several world-famous venues including the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Ballet, Theatre Under the Stars, and The Alley Theatre. The Bayou Place Entertainment Complex is home to dozens of restaurants and bistros, bars, live music venues, several theaters, and cinemas.

Other than historical buildings and cultural venues and as couldn’t be otherwise, Downtown Houston is the city’s Central Business District. Up until the 1970s, Houston’s skyline was rather modest compared to other major American cities. From 1971, with the culmination of 714-feet-tall One Shell Plaza, the race for the tallest building began in Downtown Houston. Today, the city is home to seven of the ten tallest buildings in Texas, with six of them located downtown. At 1,002-feet-tall, the 1982 JPMorgan Chase Tower is the tallest structure in the state.

Downtown Houston is also home to the main sports and events venues in the city; Minute Maid Park, Toyota Center, and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Other attractions in the district include the Houston City Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, Annunciation Catholic Church, Discovery Green, and the Downtown Aquarium.

The downtown district is the best area to stay in Houston without a car. All three lines of the METRORail system cross the neighborhood, offering a convenient interchange on Main Street. The Amtrak Station, located north of Market Square, offers train connections on the Sunset Limited east towards New Orleans and west towards Los Angeles (via San Antonio and El Paso). Likewise, the Greyhound bus terminal is located on Main Street.

When it comes to accommodation, Downtown Houston has a very wide hotel offer ranging from top-notch luxury brands to mid-range business-style hotels and a few generic budget options.

All and all, Downtown Houston is the best area to stay in Houston for sightseeing, business travelers, concerts, and sports events.

Best Hotels in Downtown Houston

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3. Midtown & Montrose: Best Area to Stay in Houston for Nightlife & LGBT Travelers

Midtown and neighboring Montrose are the best districts to stay in Houston for those looking for great nightlife and a central location.

Why is this the best area to stay in Houston, TX:
• Central location
• Quiet shady streets
• Best area for nightlife & food
• Art Deco architecture
• Houston’s LGBTQ+ district
• Connected by METRORail & bus

Located between the Central Business District and the Museum District, Midtown Houston is a lively and very centrally-located area with a few attractions and some of the best nightlife in town.

Like Downtown Houston, Midtown follows a strict grid plan and both are also centered around Main Street. Born in the late 19th century as a Victorian-style residential area for the upper classes, Midtown went through an economic decline during the 20th century that saw many of its residents move to the newly-created suburbs of the city. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, several public and private efforts were put in place to revitalize the neighborhood and the area became a hotspot for new residential and business developments, and a bustling nightlife and food district developed in its now gentrified streets.

Today, Midtown displays an interesting mix of historic buildings and new developments. While there aren’t many “traditional” tourist attractions in the neighborhood, the district is home to a few sights including 1920s Spanish-revival Isabella Court, the Trinity Episcopal Church, the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, and Midtown Park.

West of Midtown Houston lies Montrose. Known for its Art Deco architecture and impressive mansions, this district was designed in the early 20th century as a mainly upper-middle and upper-class residential area. Like Midtown, the neighborhood saw many of its residents move to the suburbs after WWII.

In the 1960s and 70s, Montrose became a haven for Houston’s counter-cultural and bohemian movements, welcoming hippy communes, alternative social centers, artists’ collectives, and the gay community. Since then, Montrose has been Houston’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood.

Not unlike neighboring Midtown, Montrose went through a process of gentrification in the 1990s and has since become one of the most desirable districts in Houston. Attractions in Montrose include the Menil Collection, the Houston Center For Photography, and the non-denominational Rothko Chapel.

Midtown Houston is well-connected to the city center and the Museum District through the METRORail system and the city’s bus network.

Best Hotels in Midtown Houston & Montrose

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4. Museum District: Best Location for a Cultural Trip

Home to some of the most important cultural institutions in Texas, Houston’s Museum District is a quiet and green neighborhood and one of the most convenient areas to stay in the city.

Why is this the best area to stay in Houston, TX:
• Convenient location
• Hermann Park
• Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Museum of Fine Arts & Contemporary Arts Museum
• Holocaust Museum Houston
• Connected by METRORail & bus

Located between Midtown and Medical Center, Houston’s Museum District is home to a collection of 19 museums, galleries, and cultural centers and organizations.

Considered one of the largest cultural districts in the southern United States, the Museum District is one of the most visited tourist areas in the city, attracting some 9 million visitors interested in art, history, culture, and nature.

Its southern end is occupied by Hermann Park, a 445-acre green area packed with gardens, monuments, and attractions. Opened in 1914, it is one of the oldest public parks in the city and is home to sights including the Hermann Park Golf Course, one of the first desegregated public golf courses in the United States, the Hermann Park Railroad, Miller Outdoor Theatre, the Houston Zoo, the Japanese Garden, Mecom Fountain, Pioneer Memorial, and Sam Houston Monument.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science, established in 1909 and located within the park, also includes the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre.

Nearby, the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the largest museums in the United States, displays a permanent collection consisting of 70,000 pieces from around the world and spanning 6,000 years of history. Its Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism collections are among the largest and most comprehensive in America. If you enjoy modern art, the Contemporary Arts Museum and Cullen Sculpture Museum are located next door.

If you’re traveling with kids, then make sure to visit the Children’s Museum Houston, a family-friendly museum with hands-on displays about science and nature. Likewise, The Health Museum offers interactive displays centered around the human body.

Other must-see institutions in the Museum District include the Houston Museum of African American Culture, dedicated to Black history, the Holocaust Museum Houston, the Czech Center Museum Houston, and the Houston Center for Photography.

The Museum District is very well-connected to Midtown and Downtown Houston thanks to the red line of the METRORail, which offers four different stops along San Jacinto and Fannin streets. The area is also well-connected by buses and taxis.

Although the Museum District is home to some of the most visited tourist attractions in Houston, the truth is that this area is somewhat lacking in accommodation options. That said, there are several Airbnb-style apartments and a handful of hotels to choose from.

Best Hotels in the Museum District

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5. Texas Medical Center: Cheapest Area to Stay in Central Houston

The Texas Medical Center is home to a wide hotel offer and is a convenient area to stay in Houston.

Why is this the best area to stay in Houston, TX:
• Central location
• Hermann Park
• Texas Medical Center
• Close to some of the best hospitals in the country
• Connected by METRORail & bus

Houston is known for having the best medical communities in the country, perhaps the world. That’s not surprising since it’s home to the Texas Medical Center, the largest health sciences complex on the planet.

Renowned for its world-leading expertise in fields including cancer treatment, heart surgery, and pediatric care, the 21 hospitals, and 60+ institutions and research institutes in the Texas Medical Center welcome more than 7.2 million visitors each year.

TMC is located in south-central Houston, directly south of Hermann Park and the Museum District. As the most visited medical destination in the country, the area is home to a vast number of hotels ranging from simple chains to luxurious and boutique properties.

Houston’s MetroRail runs through the center of the district, which makes it easy to travel from the campus to the Museum District, Downtown, and NRG Park.

Best Hotels in Texas Medical Center

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6. Around NASA Johnson Space Center: Best Location for a Trip with Kids

It may not be the most central area to stay, but if it’s your first time traveling to Houston, NASA’s Johnson Space Center is probably the number one attraction on your list.

Why is this the best area to stay in Houston, TX:
• Houston Space Center
• Best location for a family trip
• Budget hotels

If you’re traveling to Houston with kids (or even without them), chances are you’re planning to visit NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, as it’s officially called, is NASA’s center for human spaceflight. Located in Clear Lake, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Houston, this gigantic complex is one of ten major NASA field centers and is especially famous for coordinating the Apollo program, which succeeded in landing the first humans on the Moon.

Its visitor center, Space Center Houston displays 400+ artifacts related to space exploration including the Mercury 9, Gemini 5, and Apollo 17 space capsules, and offers tours of some of the buildings where history was made, including the Mission Briefing Center.

With over one million annual visitors, Space Center Houston is one of the most visited attractions in Texas.

Best Hotels around Johnson Space Center

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7. Northwest Houston: Great Location with a Car

Home to the Energy Corridor and Bear Creek Pioneers Park, Northwest Houston is a mainly suburban area home to a wide selection of hotels.

Largely made up by expansive residential suburbs and parkways, West and Northwest Houston are great areas to stay for people traveling by car.

What this area lacks in attractions, it sure makes up in accommodation options. NW Houston is home to all kinds of hotels ranging from cheap motels to luxury properties.

Best Hotels in Northwest Houston

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Where to Stay in Houston: Useful Information

Houston is the fourth most populous city in the United States and is located southeast of the state of Texas, near the Gulf of Mexico.

This Texas metropolis enjoys tourist attractions such as the Space Center, home of US space missions, the Houston Galleria Mall, the Museum District, and the lively nightlife in Montrose.

Houston enjoys a subtropical climate, so the recommended months to visit the city are May and September. During the summer months, temperatures of over 90ºF (32°C) are common, while in mild winter, the temperatures drop to 61ºF (16°C).

The transportation system of Houston consists of light rail (METRORail) and Metro buses, with a variety of stations throughout the city.

In case of arriving at the Bush Intercontinental Airport or the Houston Hobby, you can take the Super Shuttle, the METRO bus, or a taxi to move to other Houston areas

Houston is a city of epic proportions. If your visit to Houston is solely to visit the NASA Space Center, you can choose to stay in its surroundings See accommodation near Houston Space Center.

Areas such as Downtown Houston and Galleria are recommended when deciding where to stay in Houston, as they have hotels that suit the purpose of travel, budget, and interests (See accommodation in Galleria | See hotels in Downtown Houston.

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