Best Museums in Houston

Since man landed on the moon, the city of Houston has become synonymous with space travel, thanks to the fact that NASA is located here. However, beyond the obligatory visit to the Space Camp, the city has a very good offer for museum lovers. From the Museum of Natural Science, the Holocaust Museum and the Children's Museum, to the wonderful Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH), I can assure you that you won't get bored here.

There is so much to see and do in Houston, it is a beautiful, cosmopolitan city full of attractions. Located in the US state of Texas, Houston is the largest city in the American South. In the so-called Museum District, you will find an unparalleled offer. But fear not, here I have selected for you the places you can't miss on your visit to the city. Are you ready? Here we go!

Definitely a must-see if you're in Houston. The Space Center has everything for you and your loved ones to have an unforgettable time. With artifacts collected from the various space missions, a gallery of astronaut suits, and even parts of real rockets and spacecraft, visiting the NASA Space Center is definitely one of the best things to do with kids in Houston.

You can tour the entire Space Center aboard a motor tram (TRAM) on a guided tour. You'll see real rockets in Rocket Park, visit the astronaut training camp, and take pictures in the control centre used for the Apollo 11 mission, the first to reach the moon. An absolutely fascinating place.

Information of interest:

• Location: 1601 E, NASA Pkwy, Houston.
• Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm.

Another favourite with children and adults alike is the Houston Museum of Natural Science. With amazing exhibits, visiting this museum is one of the must-do things to do if you are on holiday in this amazing city. You can see the ancient Egyptian pavilion, with royal sarcophagi and mummies dating back to no less than 2500 BC.

The collection also includes decorative objects, weapons and jewellery. You'll also see the Cabinet of Curiosities, where natural and man-made treasures are on display, from ancient helmets and scorpions to the skeletons of prehistoric animals. This is one of Houston's best museums, hands down, and a unique experience. It is located within the Museum District.

Information of interest:

• Location: 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston.
• Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

Enjoy one of the most popular places in the city of Houston, the Children's Museum. It is an atypical museum, since here what is forbidden is not to touch.

With activities where the little ones are the protagonists, from secret spy games, where they will have to complete missions using deduction, physical dexterity competitions and get in touch with nature at the Eco Station. They will also be able to carry out experiments in the Mater Factory. A place full of colour and fun for children to have an unforgettable time.

Throughout its 14 exhibits, children will find endless challenges and will be able to experience incredible adventures. A place to observe, create and invent, surrounded by an unbeatable environment.

Useful information:

• Location: 500 Binz St, Houston.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, Sundays from 12pm to 6pm. Mondays the museum is closed.

Another of the most interesting places in Houston, especially for history buffs, is the Holocaust Museum. A moving place where you can learn about one of the greatest genocides of humanity.

The Holocaust Museum is one of those places that are very moving, but necessary to visit. Here you can see different installations and archive images, which aim to keep the memory alive. In addition to its permanent collection, there are also temporary exhibitions and displays with local and international artists to raise awareness.

The Houston Holocaust Museum is one of the largest in the United States and also one of the most prestigious.

Information of interest:

• Location: 5401 Caroline St, Houston.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Marvel at the Houston Health Museum. Here you'll learn about the human body and its different systems, and children can experiment at their leisure in the laboratory, observing the incredible cellular universe.

It's a playful space, full of attractions for the little ones (and not so little ones). They can see a skeleton riding a bicycle, tour the inside of the human body, watch a huge heart almost 4 metres long beat, learn how the brain works, and learn about the importance of health care.

In addition to the permanent sections, there are always temporary exhibitions, so you will never get bored in this museum. Here science and fun go hand in hand.

Useful information:

• Location: 1515 Hermann Dr, Houston.
• Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Thursday from 10am to 7pm and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. The museum is closed on Mondays.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the city. It is the second largest art museum in the United States and the oldest in Texas. Its collection of objects from ancient civilisations and its rooms with works of art from all corners of the globe are truly exceptional.

Its permanent collection includes both classical and contemporary art. Here you can enjoy works by masters such as Toulouse Lautrec, Gauguin, Seurat, Pisarro, Renoir, Monet, Modigliani, Giacometti, Degas, Braque, Cézanne and many more. An ideal place to enjoy painting, sculpture, decorative art and immersive installations that will leave you speechless.

The MFAH (Museum of Fine Arts of Houston) has some 60,000 works in its permanent collection, and excellent temporary exhibitions. Admission to this museum, as well as the Museum of Natural Science and the Space Center, are included in the Houston City Pass.

Information of interest:

• Location: 1001 Bissonnet, Houston.
• Hours: Wednesday 11am-5pm, Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-6pm, Saturday 11am-6pm and Sunday 12:30pm-6pm. Mondays and Tuesdays the museum is closed.

Enjoy a museum entirely dedicated to the automobile as a work of art. The ArtCar Museum in Houston is the perfect place for car and modern art lovers. With some rarities, collector's items, and above all cars that have been artistically intervened, this museum offers something completely different.

With the birth of the Hippie movement in the 1970s and particularly with its vans, the personalisation of vehicles changed forever. The ArtCar Museum has assembled an eye-catching and sizeable collection of works of art... on 4 wheels. Simply one of the most original and colourful museums you can visit, ideal for touring with the family.

Useful information:

• Location: 140 Heights Blvd, Houston.
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Mondays and Tuesdays the museum is closed.

With 17,000 works and objects, the Menil Collection is a must-see on your visit to Houston. Its permanent collection includes contemporary art, modern art, surrealism, objects from ancient civilizations, sculptures and paintings from Asian, medieval, Byzantine, African, and more.

Located in the main building on campus, the museum is complemented by the Menil Drawing Institute, the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Menil park and neighbourhood, where you'll find stunning outdoor sculptures, and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel. Each of these spaces are extremely interesting and entertaining.

Useful information:

• Location: 1533, Sul Ross St., Houston.
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-7pm. Mondays and Tuesdays the museum is closed.

Houston is the city of museums, and there are many options for you to visit and get to know. Among them, one of the most original proposals, and one of the most popular with children and adults of all ages, is the Houston Toy Museum.

This is a vast collection of games and toys from different eras and origins, although the vast majority are of North American origin. In this family-friendly space you can see how play has changed over the years, the materials used and the fashions of each era. A place full of magic, with some toys from the beginning of the 20th century.

What began as a private collection is today one of the largest collections of toys in the United States. With its share of nostalgia, the Toy Museum is one of those places you have to visit if you're in Houston. While it's not within the Houston Museum District, it's well worth it.

Information of interest:

• Location: 321 W. 19th ST. SUITE C, Houston.
• Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday from 11am to 4pm, Thursday from 11am to 5pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

Finally, another must-see museum is the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston. Dedicated to the world of aviation, here you can visit some 40 aircraft of great historical importance, as well as see objects related to them. The museum has its own runway and various activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Each of these aircraft is in perfect condition and perfectly operable. You can also experience a flight simulator and learn in the experiment room, which will help you to understand how it is possible for an aircraft to fly. In addition, there are also flight tours in some of their planes, you can choose between a Boeing PT-17 Stearman, a Cessna T-41 Mescalero, a North American T-6 Texan or a North American B-25 Mitchell.

A perfect combination of learning and fun, perfect to visit with children, as they will be amazed.

Useful information:

• Location: 11551 Aerospace Ave, Houston.
• Hours: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

The fascinating Houston Cockrell Butterfly Centre. Take a walk through all the colour of hundreds of thousands of butterflies. Throughout its 3 floors, you'll learn about the world's rarest and largest species, see live butterflies and play educational games.

It is a large glass structure built around a waterfall. The place recreates a tropical jungle, with exotic vegetation and hundreds of details. Perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

As you can see, Houston is full of museums, but not all the good stuff happens indoors. Houston is also famous for its incredible murals, and along its streets you can see all the charm of the most original street art. Take a tour of the city's best murals and take all the pictures you want. Ideal for showing off on your Instagram.