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The fourth-largest city in the US, Houston is the hub of a sprawling metropolitan area. It's located in eastern Texas, 80km (50mi) northwest of the Gulf of Mexico on the southern edge of the US. The city is 385km (240mi) south of Dallas and 320km (200mi) east of San Antonio. Houston's as flat as a pancake; the trickling waters and high banks of the Buffalo Bayou snaking along west of downtown are the closest thing Houston has to an interesting landscape. The junctures of I-45, I-59 and I-10 define the compact downtown core where streets follow a fairly predictable grid pattern. The confusing metropolitan area stretches for about 1600 sq km (600 sq mi) out from there.
Loop 610 and Beltway 8 form concentric circles around the centre. Major neighbourhoods include Houston Heights, an affluent, quiet residential area north of downtown, overlooking the Buffalo Bayou; Montrose, the centre of Houston's gay scene, with a funky mix of shops, restaurants, galleries and tattoo parlours a few blocks southwest of downtown; the Museum District, sandwiched between Hermann Park and Hwy 59 southwest of downtown; and University Village, a few square blocks with hundreds of shops, cafes and pubs west of Rice University, adjacent to the Museum district.
Houston has two airports: Bush Intercontinental Airport is located 35km (22mi) north of downtown Houston; William P Hobby Airport is 18km (11mi) southeast of the centre. The Amtrak train station is in a scruffy area at the western edge of downtown Houston. The bus terminal is between downtown and the Museum District.
Getting There
Houston has two airports: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is served by major domestic and international airlines; William P Hobby Airport (HOU) is a main hub for Southwest Airlines.
Limited bus service is available to Bush Intercontinental Airport, making taxis and private shuttle buses a better bet. Bus service to Hobby Airport is more reliable. Both airports have car rental agencies.
Greyhound is the major bus carrier, with a web of services in all directions.
Amtrak service is very limited. The chronically late Sunset Limited was derailed by hurricane Katrina in 2005. You can travel between Houston and Los Angeles or New Orleans, but for the time being can't go further east to Orlando.
As a city built around the car, Houston has highways radiating in all directions.
Getting Around
The Metro network includes a light-rail system running along Main St from downtown through the Museum District to Reliant Stadium. Much of the 100 bus network is geared to the weekday commute in and out of the downtown area, which means that weekend service to outlying areas like Clear Lake and the Johnson Space Center isn't the best.
By far the best way to get around Houston is with a car. Museum District sights are clustered together so you can ditch your wheels and walk around a bit . Other sights and attractions are far enough that driving is the only convenient way to reach them. Driving is on the right.
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