Are you planning to explore Houston at night? As the most populous city in the state of Texas, Houston has plenty of fun activities. Whether you’re planning a romantic date, a family night, or a boozy party, we’ll show you where to go. For first-time visitors, you’ll discover the most popular areas to explore. Occasionally, there are even venues with live events in Houston. But before we review each activity, here are our recommendations.
- Best Areas to Walk in Houston at Night – Kemah Boardwalk, Houston Theatre District, Tanger Outlets Shopping, and Chinatown.
- Best Places to Visit in Houston with Kids – Escape Game Houston, Children’s Museum of Houston, and iFLY. Houston Zoo and Market Square Park are also great for families if there are events.
- Most Romantic Places to Visit in Houston at Night – Go on a dinner date at the Downtown Aquarium, a quiet stroll along Kemah Boardwalk, or watch the sunset at Twilight Epiphany Skyspace.
1. The Escape Game Houston
If you love puzzles, this is an activity for you. Take your partner, family, or friends to the Escape Game in Houston where you can test your wits. There are 5 epic games to choose from, all with unique and varying difficulties to suit your group. At the start of your chosen game, you’ll be given clear video instructions on the story, rules, and objectives. You’ll have up to 1 hour to solve each game. Make sure you book ahead though, as it can get busy at night. This is a fantastic night activity if you’re looking for a fun and interactive experience with your group.
- Opening Hours: Daily 8am-11:30pm
- Duration: 1 hour for each game
- Address: 794 Sorella Ct #127, Houston, TX 77024, United States
2. Downtown Aquarium
The Downtown Aquarium is a public aquarium and a restaurant. Moreover, it was developed by combining the Central Waterworks Building and Fire Station No. 1. See more than 300 species of aquatic life sourced from all over the world. These are all housed in aquariums holding a total of 500,000 gallons of water. If you’re on a romantic date, you can book an underwater dining experience. You’ll be surrounded by sawfish, guitarfish, and reticulated rays that swim by your table at the restaurant!
- Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 10am-8:30pm; Friday & Saturday 10am-10pm
- Duration: 1-3 hours
- Address: 410 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
3. Kemah Boardwalk
Get a thrilling theme park experience as you visit the Kemah Boardwalk at night. Located on the shores of Clear Lake and Galveston Bay, you’ll find a wide array of rides and attractions. However, you do have to pay a small fee per person depending on the ride. Walking on the boardwalk is free though, so you can simply go sightseeing if you’re not a thrill seeker. There are also retail stores, waterfront restaurants, and live shows & events. This is another great option if you’re planning a quiet date with your partner.
- Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 12pm-7pm; Friday 12pm-9pm; Saturday 10:30am-10pm; Sunday 10:30am-10pm.
- Duration: 1-2 hours
- Address: 215 Kipp Ave, Kemah, TX 77565, United States
4. Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is one of the largest museums in the US. You’ll find over 65,000 works of art and they’re not just the usual paintings. There are sculptures, interactive displays, and featured exhibits. Interestingly, these come from six continents, spanning over 6,000 years of history. Keep in mind, the museum is only open late on Thursdays till 9 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Opening Hours: Wednesday 11am-5pm; Thursday 11am-9pm; Friday & Satruday 11am-6pm; Sunday 12:30-6pm
- Duration: 1-3 hours
- Address: 1001 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005, United States
5. Houston Theatre District
Spanning 17 blocks in the downtown Houston area, the Theatre District is home to a number of large venues. This includes the Alley Theatre, Jones Hall, and Wortham Theater Center. Although, the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts is perhaps the focal point of the district. With a capacity to seat over 3,000 guests, they showcase some of the best live shows including Broadway classics. Some familiar titles include Hamilton, Wicked, and Moulin Rouge. If you’re traveling with family or your partner, keep an eye on their featured shows.
- Opening Hours: Show times vary; district is open daily
- Duration: 2-3 hours
- Address: 17 block area, Houston Theater District.
6. Market Square Park
Market Square Park is one of the more popular family parks in Downtown Houston. A blend of fountains, a lovely garden, and an open lawn make this a pleasant place to relax at night. Occasionally, they have movies under the stars so keep an eye on their events calendar. Some nights, there’s even bingo with live music in the background. It’s the best area for a night picnic if you don’t have time during the day.
- Opening Hours: Daily
- Address: 301 Milam St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
7. Haunted Walking Tour
What better way to explore the city than to go on a combination haunted night tour and pub crawl? Walk through the downtown area, with stops at historic buildings, each with its own ghostly sightings and creepy tales. Incidentally, a costumed guide will keep you fascinated for two and a half hours with stories about Houston’s haunted past. Quench your thirst (for both drinks & scary stories) at four bars along the way. Each bar has its own unique supernatural story to tell.
- Departure Point: Char bar, 305 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002, USA
- Departure Time: 8:30 PM
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
8. Children’s Museum of Houston
There is a lot to look forward to at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Incidentally, it was voted as “America’s No.1 Children’s Museum”. Progressive exhibits and interactive bilingual learning programs are aimed at kids from birth to 12 years. Moreover, these programs have a vision to light the young ones’ passion for lifelong learning. Explore the 14 galleries spread over 90,000 square feet with your children. Head on to the Invention Convention to encourage young minds to invent their own gadgets. Alternatively, choose PowerPlay where kids can jump, crawl, and leap to their hearts’ content. The best time to go at night is on Thursday when the museum closes at 8 pm. It’s part of the Houston Pass so you can visit other attractions in the city.
- Opening Hours: Monday closed; Tuesday- Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 12pm-6pm; Thursday: 10am-8pm.
- Address: 1500 Binz St, Houston, TX 77004, United States
9. iFLY Houston Memorial Indoor Skydiving
Fly without wings at the iFLY Houston Memorial! Cutting-edge vertical wind tunnel will lift you off the ground so you can experience flying indoors at night. You will go through a special training session with a flight instructor, to prepare you to “fly”. Learning how to deal with the vertical wind tunnel will help you get the most out of the experience. With an instructor by your side, flying will be completely safe. Helmets and bodysuits will be provided so you’ll be geared for the skies. Even kids can attend!
- Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 12pm-8pm; Friday 12pm-9pm; Saturday 9am-10pm; Sunday 10am-7pm
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Address: 9540 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77055, United States
10. Scavenger Hunting & Games
Go on an exciting scavenger hunt at night and explore Houston at the same time. You will download an app on your smartphone to play the game. It involves texting with a remote survival guide as you go on the hunt. As you explore Houston, you’ll have to find items and complete hilarious tasks. In some hunts, you will have to answer questions to earn points. There are several scavenger hunt themes, such as zombie apocalypse, wacky walks, clue-gathering, and crazy dash.
- Duration: 1 to 2 hours
11. Tanger Outlets Shopping
Go on a shopping frenzy at Tanger Outlets. This is a shopping mall chain where you will find a variety of designer outlets and brand-name stores. If you’re lucky, you may find some remarkable discounts. Spend a few hours scoring great shopping finds at shops. Brands include Cole Haan, Burberry, Armani Exchange, Coach, Kate Spade New York, TAG Heuer, and a whole lot more. Relax and enjoy the evening breeze after shopping as you stroll on the outdoor walkways. On your way back, you can get a snack at the food court.
- Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 9am-9pm; Sunday 10am-7pm
- Address: 5885 Gulf Fwy, Texas City, TX 77591, United States
12. Houston Zoo Night Events
Located within Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo is spread over 55 acres with over 900 species of animals. This is the second-most visited zoo in the United States, housing more than 6,000 animals. From November to January, they have “Zoo Lights”, plus other late-night events throughout the year. Besides seeing all the lovely animals, there’ll be lighting displays and sculptures. Trees will also be wrapped in lights to brighten up the zoo. Keep an eye on their calendar events so you don’t miss out. For food, there are five cafes and dining options inside including food trucks serving American and Asian fare.
- Opening Hours: Generally 6pm – 9pm
- Address: 6200 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030, United States
13. Baseball at Minute Maid Park
See for yourself how the people of Houston love baseball. In the same way, watch an Astros game at Minute Maid Park, This features a natural grass playing field and a retractable roof stadium. With a seating capacity of more than 41,000, the ballpark will surely let you feel the high energy of watching an intense baseball game! The park’s main entrance is the historic Union Station. It was made part of the ballpark as a homage to the city’s railroad history.
- Address: 501 Crawford St, Houston, TX 77002, United States
14. Twilight Epiphany Skyspace
Watch the sunset at the Twilight Epiphany Skyspace, designed by artist James Turrell. The abstract structure resembling a pyramid was designed to complement the light during sunrise and sunset. As a result, it produces a breathtaking light display featuring LED lights that project into a thin white roof. Make sure you head to the Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion before sunset on Wednesdays to Mondays. This is the best time to see this spectacular light sequence.
- Opening Hours: Daily 5am-10pm; Tuesday Closed
- Address: Suzanne Deal Booth Centennial Pavilion, Houston, TX 77005, United States
15. Houston Chinatown
Houston has one of the largest Asian populations in the United States. At night, Houston Chinatown will be buzzing with life. Though largely residential, the area is also filled with family-owned restaurants. Many will feature authentic Asian cuisine, with choices ranging from curry to pho and dim sum. For bargain-hunting, head on to Harwin Drive for fashion, jewelry, and electronics at discounted prices. The Hong Kong Food Market grocery store is where you will find fresh Asian produce and seafood. At the end of the day, treat yourself to a massage from one of the parlors around Chinatown.
Opening Hours: Shops and restaurants opened daily at varying times
16. Topgolf
Topgolf is a sprawling entertainment complex combining a cutting-edge driving range and a local hangout spot. This is where you can enjoy golf at night, regardless of your skill level. It features over 100 climate-controlled hitting bays and a Toptracer shot tracker. Later at night, you can head on to the full-service restaurant and bar for a sumptuous meal & drinks. Alternatively, you can go to the rooftop terrace & fire pit for a chill-out barbecue session. If you’re looking for a fun social venue with friends at night, this is a popular option.
- Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 9am-11pm; Friday to Saturday 9am-1am
- Duration: 2-3 hours
- Address: 1030 Memorial Brook Blvd, Houston, TX 77084, United States
Also read:
- 11 Best Romantic Houston Hotels with Private Hot Tub
- 14 Romantic Luxury Hotels in Downtown Houston
- 13 Best Luxury Houston Hotels in Galleria Area
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