How to Spend 48 Hours in Houston

The real art, in a city that is known for it, is to spend your time well, to make sure you do as much as possible.

From the best places for food, through to ideas if you want to stay active and outdoors, we've got you covered with our 48 Hours in Houston guide.

Start your day off right and get fuelled up.

It's time for an early morning feed at the famous breakfast joint called The Breakfast Klub. The Houston Chronicle recently awarded the restaurant the 2021 "Best of the Best" award, showing it's not just us who love it. Menu items include options such as grits, their signature wings and waffles, catfish and more.

It's also rated #1 on Yelp and 'Best in Houston' on Zagat, so it's the perfect opportunity to eat at a top-rated breakfast restaurant in the Museum Campus area.

Close to The Breakfast Klub is the Houston Museum of Fine Art, a must-see on any trip to Houston.

The Museum of Fine Art is home to more than 70,000 works of art to explore and features extensive collections of Italian Renaissance paintings, French Impressionism, American art, post-1945 European and American painting, as well as sculptures. There's also Latin American art, Asian art, Islamic art, African and pre-Columbian gold, American and European decorative arts. The list goes on.

There is a lot to appreciate within each museum area that you could easily get lost for hours. The museum even features a cafe if you want a pick-me-up after all of the walking you'll do.

This is one of the top things to do in Houston, so enjoy!

Nearby the Houston Museum of Fine Art is the well-known Houston Zoo, located within Herman Park.

Here, you can see more than 6,000 animals, ranging from giraffes and cheetahs to bats and otters. While you're here, make sure you check out the reptile and amphibian house and the elephant habitat areas they've got.

The Zoo also offers fun, optional activities, such as feeding giraffes and a free petting zoo. Visitors can enjoy spending the afternoon walking around the Zoo, and don't worry, there are plenty of snack vans dotted throughout.

After your long day of exploring all things to do in Houston, spend your evening trying a modern take on classic southern food and grab dinner at Lucille's.

Lucille's was founded by two brothers in honour of their grandmother, where the chefs use her classic recipes with a modern twist to delight guests. These include mouthwatering entrees ranging from chicken and waffles, roasted acorn squash, pork and beans, and more.

If you aren't too tired from your day's adventures so far, there is some great nightlife in the Museum Campus area. Head to Axelrad Beer Garden, where you can drink craft beer and hang out in hammocks for the rest of your night!

Start the second day of your 48 hours in Houston with a fantastic jolt of caffeine by stopping by the locally-owned Day 6 Coffee.

At Day 6 Coffee, you can sample a Texas latte uniquely made with caramel and vanilla beans. In addition to the great coffee, there are several breakfast bites to grab for your morning journey. Or, if you're on a go-slow, sit down in their pleasant environment and enjoy a larger breakfast (it is Texas, after all).

After your morning fill of coffee and pastries, head over to the Houston Downtown Aquarium.

You can see several exhibits at the Aquarium, as well as ride the Ferris Wheel over downtown Houston (the inner kid certainly comes out here).

Enjoy wandering through their Rainforest area, looking at the world's range of tropical rainforests, and taking a glimpse inside the rivers that flow through. Here you'll see piranhas, freshwater stingrays, colourful rainforest frogs, and even emerald tree boas!

Continue on your journey through the Shipwreck and explore the diverse oceanic life, such as living coral reefs, eels, and Pacific octopuses. You can even ride a train through the shark tank to watch them swim above you if you're brave enough.

The Aquarium gives visitors a good glimpse into the aquatic world and a fun time all-around. It’s easily worth a few hours of your 48 hours in Houston.

The must-stop for lunch after your aquatic adventures is Ninfa's on Navigation.

Their trademarked slogan is, "The best Mexican food in Texas since Texas was in Mexico", and what is a better place to try authentic Mexican food than at Ninfa's?

Stop for brunch and try specials such as homemade tamales, their famous fajitas, or the equally-delicious enchiladas.

After you're done eating, it's time to look to the stars at the world-renowned Houston Space Center.

It's about 30 minutes from downtown Houston, so you'll have to arrange transportation via public transport, but it's well worth the trip. Of all the things to do in Houston, this is one of the most popular destinations for visitors, with star-struck star gazers being as equally as enthralled as those there for casual viewing.

You can climb inside a replica of the Space Shuttle Independence or the Original Boeing Shuttle Aircraft Carrier, giving a real feel of what it's like for astronauts. You can even taste-test astronaut food for an afternoon snack while you're visiting (if you dare).

Also, don't miss out on the opportunity to 'touch the moon' while you're at the Space Center. The largest display of lunar rocks is on display here, and it is a really unique feature of the Center that everyone should experience.

Houston is an eclectic city that you can easily spend longer in. If you’ve got 48 hours in Houston, then you can’t go too wrong with the above itinerary, giving you a little bit of everything in the two days you have.

• Consider purchasing the Houston CityPass. This indispensable ticket offers access to all of the city attractions mentioned in this guide, all for one convenient cost. This ticket is perfect for all the things to do in Houston!

• Houston has a metro system that makes getting around the city easy and affordable. Make sure you have a Metrocard to make getting around a little easier so you can just swipe your card at each station.