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Texas

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Rio Grande at the Rio Grande Overlook. Mexico is on the other side of the river.

©Kris Davidson/Lonely Planet

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Overview

Bigger than a whole heap of countries, Texas is vast, diverse and welcoming: from big-city lights to small-town simplicity, white-sand beaches to high-country hikes.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • The Alamo, San Antonio, TX

    The Alamo

    San Antonio

    For proud Texans, the much-fabled Alamo, entered freely off San Antonio’s central plaza, is not so much a tourist attraction as a place of pilgrimage…

  • San Antonio, Texas, USA cityscape at the River Walk.

    River Walk

    San Antonio

    The River Walk is a 15-mile-long glorious network of waterside pathways that’s tucked below street level and lined with bars and restaurants. It's the…

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    Sixth Floor Museum

    Dallas

    Dallas means many things to many people, but for tourists, the city is still indelibly linked to the assassination of President John F Kennedy. Movies and…

  • Dallas, Texas, USA. Dallas Museum of Art.

    Dallas Museum of Art

    Dallas

    The city's major art museum offers a high-caliber world tour of ancient and contemporary art. Founded in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art is an impressively…

  • Bronze sculptures, Cattle Drive, Pioneer Plaza, Dallas, Texas

    Pioneer Plaza

    Dallas

    For a Texas-sized photo op, or simply a sight of what claims to be the largest bronze monument on earth, head to Pioneer Plaza in the heart of Dallas…

  • DALLAS, March 23, 2017 -- People visit the flower show "Dallas Blooms: Flower Power" at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Dallas, the United States, March 22, 2017. The flower show was held from Feb. 25 to April 9 under the theme "Peace, love and flower power". (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing via Getty Images)

    Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

    Dallas

    Spreading northeast of Dallas along the shores of White Rock Lake, this gorgeous 66-acre arboretum is a rainbow-colored wonderland of plants and flowers,…

  • Rothko Chapel

    Rothko Chapel

    Houston

    Commissioned by Dominique and John de Menil (also founders of the Menil Collection) in 1964 to create a nondenominational chapel, American abstract…

  • Congress Avenue Bridge bats in Austin during sunset.

    Bat Colony Under Congress Avenue Bridge

    Austin

    Austin is known as the capital of Texas quirk, so it shouldn't be surprising that it's a city tradition to sit on the grassy banks of Lady Bird Lake and…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Plan your trip to the Lone Star State with this guide to Texas' best experiences.

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Best Places to Visit

Everything might be bigger in Texas but don't let the distances put you off. Here are the best places to visit in the Lone Star State.

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Best Time to Visit

The wide geography of the Lone Star State means there's no such thing as a bad time to visit Texas. This month-by-month guide can help you plan your visit.

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Things to Know

Cars. Guns. Oversized everything. Texas is as big, as brash and as brilliant as you've heard. Here's what to know before visiting.

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Transportation

Whether you plan to navigate the Lone Star State by bus, train or motorbike, our guide to getting around Texas is here to help.

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Free Things to Do

While most top tourist destinations across Texas are worth the price of entry, there are also plenty of places to visit that don’t cost a dime.

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Money and Costs

Texas might not leap out as a budget destination, but it's easy to save while exploring this enormous state. Try these top budget tips.

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Traveling with Kids

Build a tradition with your family to return to again and again at one of these nostalgic and chic summer resort camps.

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Best Road Trips

Texas' big empty roads are just waiting for you to explore them. Pick one of our favorite road trips and get under the hood of the Lone Star State.

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