Downtown Houston
The best of Discovery Green and the downtown tunnel tours
Discovery Green, a free park downtown, the air-conditioned tunnels under the towers, skyscraper lobbies and a guided walk through downtown history. Here is how to spend a day downtown, with honest advice on when the tunnels are open, whether there is enough to see and which tour is worth the money.
See our 2 picks
Discovery Green is a free 12-acre park at 1500 McKinney St in downtown Houston. Below the downtown towers, the tunnels are open on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Astroville tunnel tour, from €27 with 4.9 stars from 263 reviews, shows you the tunnels and the skyscraper lobbies.
Our 2 picks for downtown Houston tours
The tunnel tour first, then a history walk with mixed ratings. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 27 October 2026.
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from €27 per person Our top pick 2 hours 4.9 (263) reviews on GetYourGuide
Astroville downtown tunnel tour and hidden gems
A 2-hour walk with a local guide through the air-conditioned tunnels and into old skyscraper lobbies. You can sit in a vintage 1959 BMW, and the guide takes photos. It meets at 914 Dallas St, in English or Spanish, with up to 15 people.
Best for First visit, a hot day
Check availability: Astroville downtown tunnel tour and hidden gems on GetYourGuide -
from €57 per person 2 hours 3.0 (9) reviews on GetYourGuide
Downtown walking history tour
A 2-hour walk past downtown landmarks and along the bayou paths, about the people who shaped Houston. It meets at 1019 Commerce St, with up to 20 people. Bring water. Mixed ratings so far: pick the tunnel tour first.
Best for History above ground
Check availability: Downtown walking history tour on GetYourGuide
Downtown Houston tours compared
| Tour | From | Group size | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astroville downtown tunnel tour and hidden gems | €27 per person | Up to 15 | First visit, a hot day | Rated 4.9 from 263 reviews, and the cheapest of the two. |
| Downtown walking history tour | €57 per person | Up to 20 | History above ground | The only tour here that stays outside and goes to the bayou. |
Astroville downtown tunnel tour and hidden gems
€27 per person2 hours 4.9 (263)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 15
- Who it suits
- First visit, a hot day
- Why we picked it
- Rated 4.9 from 263 reviews, and the cheapest of the two.
€57 per person2 hours 3.0 (9)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Who it suits
- History above ground
- Why we picked it
- The only tour here that stays outside and goes to the bayou.
- Both take 2 hours.
- Neither includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- Both offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 27 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Discovery Green: what it is and what to do
- 12 acres
- park size
- Free
- entry
- Daily
- 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Discovery Green is a free park in downtown Houston. It covers 12 acres at 1500 McKinney St.
It is open every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Restrooms are open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The park has a 1-acre lake, Kinder Lake, that is open for kayaking. In winter, an ice rink opens on part of the lake.
The park has no tour of its own. Pair it with the tunnel tour on a weekday.
The downtown tunnels: hours and how to get in
- 6+ miles
- of tunnels
- 95
- city blocks
- Mon–Fri
- 6 a.m.–6 p.m.
The tunnels are open on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are closed on weekends and in the evening.
They run more than six miles, about 20 feet below the streets, and link 95 city blocks.
Be ready for an underground business district: shops, food courts and office lobbies. A guide adds the story and takes you into old skyscraper lobbies.
You get in through the buildings above, and each building can set its own hours. Take a tour or a map: the city's tunnel page points to downtown maps.
METRORail runs through downtown. To get there by train, see getting around Houston.
Things to do in downtown Houston
The best things to do in downtown Houston are a tunnel tour, an hour at Discovery Green and a city tour.
Most of downtown fits in one weekday, because the tunnels close on weekends.
Fun things to do in downtown Houston on a hot day
On a hot day, go underground. The tunnel tour listing says the tunnels are air-conditioned.
The Cistern is another cool, underground stop. It is an old drinking-water reservoir in Buffalo Bayou Park, just west of downtown: see our Buffalo Bayou Park and Cistern guide.
Things to do in downtown Houston at night
At night, Discovery Green stays open until 11 p.m. Houston also has ghost walks that start at Market Square Park and at 301 Travis St.
For dinner with a guide, try one of our Houston food tours.
Discovery Green events and tickets
You do not need a ticket for Discovery Green: entry is always free.
The park hosts more than 600 events a year, and most of them are free. Check the park's calendar before you go.
The winter ice rink is paid. This season's dates and prices were not yet posted when we checked.
Discovery Green boat rides and bumper boats
Kinder Lake is open for kayaking. The park's visit page does not give rental prices.
We could not confirm bumper-boat times or prices. Check the park's site before you plan around them.
More of the city
To see the rest of the city in one go, take a Houston, Texas city tour on an open-top bus from 1302 Dallas St.
Tips for a day downtown
Book a weekday
The tunnels are open only on weekdays. Book the tunnel tour Monday to Friday, unless the listing shows weekend dates.
No babies on the tunnel tour
Babies under 1 are not allowed, because of the buildings' rules. Older children need their own ticket.
Wear walking shoes
Both tours are 2-hour walks. Neither suits wheelchair users or people with mobility problems.
Stay downtown
A hotel downtown lets you walk to the start. See where to stay in Houston.
Discovery Green and the tunnels: questions and answers
When are the Houston tunnels open?
What is Discovery Green, and where is it?
What is there to do at Discovery Green?
Is Discovery Green free?
More downtown Houston tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore of downtown Houston
Sources (8), facts checked on 28 October 2026
Written by the Best Travel Destinations editorial team.