Houston - Get Around

Houston covers almost 600 square miles. The metropolitan area is even larger, with dozens of communities – from the piney woods to the east, and the Gulf Coast to the south.

While the Downtown district has buzzed back to life in the last few years, the heart of Houston and its major attractions are primarily west of city centre.

Downtown, find the lively cultural centre of the Theatre District and government headquarters. The east side are the centre of the Hispanic community, while just south-west of the city centre is the world-class Medical Centre and Rice University. Head west for wealthy River Oaks, fashionable Uptown and the petroleum corridor, and south to the relaxed atmosphere of coastal Texas.

Taxis are plentiful at the airports, and at major hotels Downtown or near the Galleria. For other neighbourhoods or hotel districts, it's best to work with the concierge, especially for return trips.

Houston buses are plentiful and inexpensive. Day passes are available at very decent rates – shuttles for special events are also available. Online trip-planning is a handy tool for finding your way to destinations.

Rail transport is fairly new and limited in Houston, with grand plans for expansion in the works. Currently, just one line is in operation, from Downtown, through the Museum District, Medical Centre and university area, to the Astrodome sports complex.

Simply put, Houston as a whole is not a walking city. Locations within Downtown – the Theatre District, sports complexes and hotels – are well within walking distance of each other. Neighbourhood shopping areas including Rice Village, Highland Village and part of River Oaks are fine to stroll around. But it's certainly best to take taxis between major attractions in different neighbourhoods.

Houston is a driving town, easy to navigate with a good map. Many Downtown streets are one way, while huge six- and eight-lane surface streets through Uptown allow for easy flow of traffic. Rush hour on the Loop road, Highway 610, can add an hour to a trip of even just a few miles. Be wary of highway construction – a constant – and the limited hours for street parking, especially Downtown and in the major shopping districts.

Experience the ways of the 1800s frontier, as you visit the George Ranch. Relive the final battle for Texan independence at the San Jacinto monument, or walk through the original city settlement at the Sam Houston Park. Catch a glimpse of the future of manned space flight at the Johnson Space Centre.

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County website