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's so much to see and do in Houston, from museums and parks, to the amazing Space Center and Downtown Aquarium, this tourist pass will be 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 plenty of 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 line!

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.

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Sightseeing passes are a good idea if you plan to tour a city. In the case of Houston, there's so much to do and see that it's super convenient. With the Houston CityPASS® card, you'll be able to access the city's top attractions for a fraction of the price of admission.

You'll see 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, as there are many museums and attractions especially designed for them. Let the Houston CityPASS® offers you the chance to skip the queues, get straight in and make the most of your days in this amazing Texan city.

"Recommended if..." you're visiting for more than 3 days. The Houston CityPASS® is valid for 9 days, during which time you can choose from a variety of options and see the city's top museums and attractions. It's also ideal if you're travelling with children, as you can save on admission fees and avoid queuing. Plus, at places like the Museum of Natural Science, the Space Centre or the Children's Museum, the little ones will be fascinated.

The Houston CityPASS® is priced at around 63 euros per person, saving you more than 50% off the cost of admission to any of the major attractions. You can pay for it from the convenience of your mobile 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 Houston's Museum District. This area brings together no less than 19 of the best cultural venues in all of Houston, which is really handy when planning your visit.

Using the Houston CityPASS® is really easy. Once you've purchased yourHouston CityPASS®, just 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 first use it. Please note that some of the attractions may require a reservation in advance, so I recommend you check before planning your itinerary for the day.

As it is virtual you don't have to worry about anything, just carry your mobile phone with you. At the entrance to 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 queuing at each attraction and enter directly.

The Houston CityPASS® has it all, with a choice of 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 entrance fees and skipping the queues.

You can visit the NASA Space Centre, a fascinating place where you can 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 centre.

For the adrenaline junkies, 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 for a day of thrills and spills, or enjoy the Houston nightlife, as this is one of the best nightlife activities in Houston.

• The Houston CityPASS® is always a good choice 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 both day and night. If you're someone who likes to explore and see, the Houston CityPASS® card is ideal, saving you time and money.
• If you're travelling 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 might not be for you. Here's when it's not for you:

• If you already know your way around the city and don't plan to visit attractions.
• If you're interested in some of the museums and attractions not included in the Houston CityPASS®.
• If you're visiting the city for only 1 or 2 days. In this case, while you may be able to save on admission fees, you won't 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 advisable to hire this tourist pass. However, if you are among them and you 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-do's on your visit to the city.

At the moment there are no other Houston City Sightseeing Passes. 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.

What's more, as it has a Hop on-Hop off mode , you can get off as many times as you like and get back on at any of the many stops along the way without missing a thing. A great way to get a taste of all that Houston has to offer if you're only in town for a few days.

• Plan your day: By knowing which attractions you plan to visit, you'll be able to better organise yourself and make the most of your time.
• Visit by zones: another way to make the most of your time in Houston. You can group museums and attractions according to their proximity.
• Don't dedicate a day to all the children's attractions: if you are travelling 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 spread these activities and museums over all the days you spend in the city. This way, every day they will have something exclusively for them, otherwise, a visit to one of the museums not specifically for children may not be fully enjoyed.
• Always have your phone charged: Since this is an entirely virtual pass, make sure you always have your phone charged, otherwise you won't be able to enter the various attractions included in the Houston CityPASS®.
• Be aware ofthe opening hours: before you decide to activate your tourist pass, check the opening hours of the attractions and museums you plan to visit. Be aware 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's best not to activate your pass 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 attractions not included in the Houston CityPASS® that you might 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 for a group of friends or with your partner, you'll be able to enjoy the view while sipping a refreshing drink. A tip: book for later in the day so you can catch the sunset show.

Marvel at Cockrell Butterfly Centre

Visit the Cockrell Butterfly Centre. A fascinating place, with hundreds of thousands of rare butterfly species, in an environment artificially created to emulate a tropical rainforest (waterfall included!). It is a 3-storey glass structure where you can see all the colourful 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'll enjoy the traditional flavours of local food, and you'll also be able to explore some of the amazing underground tunnels that criss-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, and I'm referring of course to its amazing murals. Take a guided tour of the city's best and take a selfie at your favourites.

Visit the Lone Star Flight Air Museum

This is a museum dedicated entirely to aviation. Ideal to visit with children, as they can climb into a flight simulator and get an inside look at 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.