Houston happenshere.
One city, dozens of neighborhoods. Five major-league teams, the largest medical center in the world, a downtown theater district, and a food scene shaped by cooks from every corner of the globe.
Before you head out,check the sky.
Conditions right now, the next twelve hours and the week ahead, straight from the National Weather Service. Humidity included.
Full forecast, radar and alertsIt's Halloweenin Houston
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The Houston checklist
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Pick a haunt, or a candy trail
Halloween Bars in Houston: Spooky Cocktails and Pop-UpsPick a haunt, or a candy trail
Ghost Tours Houston: Haunted History and Spooky LandmarksPick a haunt, or a candy trail
Haunted Houses in Houston: 8 Scream Parks Worth the ScarePick a haunt, or a candy trail
Haunted Places in Houston: 8 Sites and 3 Ghost ToursPick a haunt, or a candy trail
Halloween in Houston: Haunted Houses and Family Events0 of 6 done
Six neighborhoodsto startwith.
Houston is too big to be a single thing. It's pho on Bellaire Boulevard, the Menil Collection in Montrose, mission control at Space Center Houston, and a seawall walk in Galveston — sometimes all in one day. Pick a place to start. See all neighborhoods →
Three guidesto readfirst.
The Houston.com guides readers come back to most.
New and updated guides
62 things to do, this week in Houston.
“Eat your way across Houston, one neighborhood at a time.”
Tex-Mex on Navigation, regional Mexican in Montrose, brisket in the Heights, Oaxacan downtown, and pho down Bellaire Boulevard. Start anywhere.
Open the dining guide→Things you wouldn'tguess aboutHouston.
People in the city of Houston. The fourth-largest city in the United States.
Museums in the Museum District. Walkable, and many of them are free.
Major-league teams. Astros, Texans, Rockets, Dynamo and Dash.
Texas Medical Center. The largest medical complex in the world, just south of Hermann Park.
Last verified October 2026. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, City of Houston, NASA, NOAA.
Frequently asked questions about Houston
Which state is Houston in?
Houston is in Texas. It is the seat of Harris County, and parts of the city reach into Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Start with the Houston neighborhoods guide to see how the city is laid out.
How big is Houston?
The 2020 Census counted 2,304,580 people in the city of Houston, which makes it the fourth-largest city in the United States. The city covers about 640 square miles of land, more than New York City (about 300) and Chicago (about 227) put together. Browse every Houston neighborhood.
What is Houston known for?
Houston is known for NASA's Johnson Space Center and Mission Control, the Texas Medical Center (the largest medical complex in the world), the energy industry, and a food scene shaped by cooks from around the globe. It is also the biggest U.S. city with no citywide zoning, which is why a taqueria can sit next to a high-rise. See Space Center Houston, free things to do in Houston and where to eat.
Did an astronaut really say "Houston, we have a problem"?
Not quite. On April 13, 1970, after an oxygen tank exploded on Apollo 13, Jack Swigert radioed "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here," and commander Jim Lovell repeated "Houston, we've had a problem." The present-tense line comes from the 1995 film Apollo 13. Mission Control in Houston also took the most famous call of all from Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Why is Houston called the Bayou City and Space City?
Brothers Augustus and John Kirby Allen founded Houston in 1836 on the banks of Buffalo Bayou and named it after Sam Houston, so "Bayou City" is the original nickname. "Space City" came with NASA's Mission Control, which has guided American human spaceflight from Houston since the 1960s. Every Houston nickname, explained.
When is the best time to visit Houston?
October through April, when days are milder and outdoor plans are easier. Summers are hot and humid, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Read the best time to visit Houston, the first-time visitor's guide and hurricane preparation.
Is Houston a good place to live?
Many people move to Houston for jobs in energy, medicine and the port, and Texas has no state personal income tax. Because there is no citywide zoning, homes, shops and restaurants often share a street, so the right neighborhood depends on your commute and budget. Compare the cost of living in Houston and the moving to Houston guide.
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