The Houston CityPASS® Tourist Card; all you need to know

If you're thinking about touring the city of space travel, the Houston CityPASS® is for you. There is so much to see and do in Houston, from museums and parks, to the amazing Space Center and Downtown Aquarium, that this tourist pass will become your best ally when it comes to enjoying the city.

Located in the state of Texas, Houston is one of the most charming cities in the United States, where there are endless different options to have a great time. With the Houston CityPASS® card, you'll save more than 50% on admission fees and avoid waiting in line at each attraction. The Houston CityPASS® is the best way to get around the city of Houston.

The best option

Houston CityPASS® Tourist Card

Houston at its best, save on tickets and skip the lines

The Houston CityPASS® offers you discounted admission to 5 of the city's top attractions, from the Space Center to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH) to the Children's Museum. The ideal way to see the best of Houston.

From $77 at Hellotickets

Sightseeing passes are a good idea if you plan to tour a city. In the case of Houston, there are so many things to do and visit that it's super convenient. With the Houston CityPASS® card, you can access the city's main attractions while paying much less for your admission.

You will visit places like the impressive Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH), one of the largest in the country; the Children's Museum, the Downtown Aquarium, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Zoo, and of course, the most popular of all: the NASA Space Center.

Houston is perfect to visit with the little ones, since there are many museums and attractions especially designed for them. Let yourself be carried away by the Houston CityPASS® and skip all the lines, you will be able to enter directly everywhere and get the most out of your days in this amazing Texan city.

"Recommended if..." you are visiting for more than 3 days. The Houston CityPASS® Tourist Card is valid for 9 days, during which you can choose from a variety of options and visit the city's main museums and attractions. It is also ideal if you are traveling with children, as you can save on the price of your tickets and avoid waiting in line. In addition, in places like the Museum of Natural Science, the Space Center or the Children's Museum, the little ones will be fascinated.

The price of the Houston CityPASS® is around $63 per person, which saves you more than 50% off the cost of admission to any of the major attractions. You can pay for it from the comfort of your cell phone or computer and choose the attractions you prefer when you visit them.

The vast majority of the city's museums are located in the area known as the Houston Museum District. This area gathers no less than 19 of the best cultural spaces in Houston, which is really practical when planning your visit.

Using the Houston CityPASS® is really easy- once you've purchased it, all you have to do is show the pass on your smartphone when you enter one of the many included attractions. The pass is valid for 9 days from the time you use it for the first time. Keep in mind that some of the attractions may require a reservation in advance, so I recommend you to find out before planning your itinerary for the day.

As it is virtual you don't have to worry about anything, just take your cell phone with you. At the entrance of each attraction, the entrance staff will scan a QR code generated by the Houston CityPASS® card, and that's it, enjoy! This way, you'll avoid waiting in line at each attraction and enter directly.

The Houston CityPASS® has it all - choose from admission to some of Houston's best museums, including the Children's Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH), the Museum of Natural Science, the Downtown Aquarium and more. Make the most of your stay in Houston by saving on admission fees and skipping the lines.

You can visit the NASA Space Center, a fascinating place where you will also learn about the universe and space travel. This is considered one of the top 10 things to do in Houston with kids. You'll see authentic rockets, artifacts collected from space missions, a collection of astronaut suits that were used in space, the training site and even the Apollo 11 mission control center.

For adrenaline lovers, the Houston CityPASS® also includes admission to the Kemah Boardwalk, an amusement park located in Galveston Bay. Here you'll find all the fun, with rides, restaurants, bars and the best views of the bay. Ideal to spend a day of pure excitement, or enjoy the nightlife of Houston, as it is one of the best nightlife activities in Houston.

• The Houston CityPASS® is always a good deal if you plan to visit the city for more than 3 or 4 days, since with the number of museums and attractions included, you'll run out of time if you're only here for 1 or 2 days.
• Houston is a wonderful city that invites you to enjoy it, both day and night. If you are someone who likes to explore and learn, the Houston CityPASS® card is ideal, as it will save you time and money.
• If you're traveling with a large family group, it's also a great way to save more than 50% on admission fees.

The Houston CityPASS® is really convenient, but it may not be for you. Here's when it's not for you:

• If you already know the city thoroughly and don't plan to visit attractions.
• If you are interested in some of the museums and attractions that are not included in the Houston CityPASS®.
• If you will be visiting the city for only 1 or 2 days. In this case, while you will be able to save on admission fees, you will not have enough time to fully enjoy all the options it has to offer.

As you will see, these are the few exceptions in which it is not convenient to hire this tourist pass. However, if you are among them and decide not to buy the Houston CityPASS®, but you still want to enjoy some of its many attractions, you can hire a guided tour. Of all the options Houston has to offer, a guided tour of the NASA Space Center is, without a doubt, one of the must-see attractions during your visit to the city.

At the moment there are no other tourist passes in the city of Houston. Luckily the Houston CityPASS® has it all, so you don't have to worry about finding better options to save money and get to know Houston.

Another great way to get in touch with the city is by hopping aboard the Houston CityPASS® tour bus. Here you can enjoy a guided tour of Houston's main attractions. It is a bus without a roof, with which you can visit the city and not miss anything, thanks to its 360-degree views.

In addition, as it has a Hop on-Hop off mode , you can get off as many times as you want, and get back on at any of the many stops along the way, without missing absolutely nothing. A great way to get an idea of all that Houston has to offer if you plan to stay a few days in the city.

• Plan your day: By knowing which attractions you plan to visit, you'll be able to better organize and optimize your time.
• Visit by zones: another way to get the most out of your time in Houston. You can group museums and attractions according to their proximity.
• Do not dedicate a day to all the children's attractions: if you are traveling to Houston with children, I advise you not to dedicate an exclusive day to all the attractions for the little ones. It is preferable to distribute these activities and museums among all the days you spend in the city. Otherwise, a visit to one of the museums not specifically for children may not be enjoyed to the fullest.
• Always have your cell phone charged: since it is a completely virtual pass, you must make sure you always have your cell phone charged, otherwise you will not be able to enter the different attractions included in the Houston CityPASS®.
• Keep inmind the schedules: before you decide to activate your tourist pass, check the schedules of the attractions and museums you plan to visit. Keep in mind that some may be closed on holidays such as Christmas, New Year's Day or Thanksgiving. If you plan to travel on any of these dates, it is preferable not to activate the card for that day or take advantage of other activities not included in the Houston CityPASS®, such as the Houston Health Museum or the amazing Menil Collection.

Here are some of the attractions not included in the Houston CityPASS® that you may want to include in your plans.

Take a Pedal Boat Ride on Galveston Bay

Another great way to see all the charm of the city, this time from the waters of the bay. Enjoy a few drinks aboard a pedal boat. Ideal to go with a group of friends or with your partner, as you can enjoy the view while sipping a refreshing drink. A tip: book for the last hours of the day, so you can witness the spectacle of the sunset.

Marvel at the Cockrell Butterfly Center

Visit the Cockrell Butterfly Center. A fascinating place, with hundreds of thousands of rare species of butterflies, in an environment artificially created to emulate a tropical rainforest (waterfall included!). It is a 3-story glass structure where you can see all the colorful exotic butterflies. An adventure for the senses, ideal for the whole family.

Join an incredible gastronomic tour

Take a culinary tour of Houston's best restaurants and bars. On this guided tour you will enjoy the traditional flavors of the local food, and you will also be able to visit part of the amazing subway tunnels that cross the city. A different experience for foodies.

Take a guided tour of Houston's best murals

Not all art is exhibited in museums, Houston has a good collection of outdoor art, I am referring of course to its amazing murals. Take a guided tour of the best ones in the city and take a selfie in your favorite ones.

Visit the Lone Star Flight Air Museum

This is a museum dedicated entirely to aviation. Ideal to visit with children, as they can get on a flight simulator and see the inside of some of the aircraft on display. The Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston has about 40 aircraft of great historical value.

The main curiosity of this museum, which has its own runway, is that all the aircraft are operable. In fact, you can take a ride in some of them.