Welcome to Galveston
Part genteel Southern belle, part sunburned beach bunny: Galveston Island is Houston's favorite playmate. The old gal took a pretty severe beating by hurricane Ike in 2008, but she's battled back to normal since. Sitting on a barrier island near the northern end of a 600-mile-long Texas coastline, Galveston may not have the state's favorite beaches, but there's nowhere else boasting such a beautiful combination of sun-drenched historic charms.
Top experiences in Galveston
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Travel guides
Starting at $38.99
Galveston activities
Houston Sightseeing Tour and Galveston Day Trip
Go to Visitors center in downtown to meet your double-decker bus for a fully-narrated sightseeing tour of Houston’s most iconic sites. Your 75-minute tour by open-top bus passes by Convention Center,Minute Maid Park—home of the Houston Astros baseball team, Houston’s Historic district, Buffalo bayou,Downtown Aquarium, Financial district ,The heritage society Park,Mid-town and more. After touring central Houston with your knowledgeable guide, transfer to a comfortable bus that takes you on a 55-minute drive to reach Galveston, a historic town located on the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed Oleander City, Galveston features miles of white-sand beaches, seaside restaurants, specialty shops and a fascinating history. More than 60 structures of architectural significance are spread among its six historic districts. Your coach passes one of the most famous buildings, a stunning Victorian mansion called the Bishop's Palace, aka Gresham's Castle. During your time in Galveston, enjoy close to three hours on your own to explore. You can purchase lunch in the historic Galveston Strand district then stroll the shops and soak in the small town’s ambiance. Visit the Galveston Seawall, a 10-mile levee with breathtaking views of Galveston Bay. If you would like to take a dolphin-watching tour on Galveston Bay, your guide can provide you with complimentary tickets for the boat. At the designated time, simply meet your guide to re-board your bus for the return trip to Houston. Throughout the day, learn from the informative commentary provided by your guide while a professional driver handles the navigation. You get to relax as you see iconic sites and learn about the history of Houston, Galveston and Texas during a fascinating 6-hour tour. Note: 6 hour tour includes travel time to and from attractions. When you arrive back in Houston, your bus returns you to the Visitors Center where your tour ends.
3-Day Houston Sightseeing Tour
On day 1 you'll experience the Houston Sightseeing Tour, seeing many attractions such as stadiums, Downtown Houston, Uptown Galleria, Discovery Green, Cullen Sculpture Garden, Texas Medical center, and select museums, art, and parks. You'll hear stories of elaborate River Oaks and the history of Buffalo Bayou. Day 2 will take you to NASA Space Center, with a guide who will escort you to Mission Control, Astronaut Training Facility, Rocket Park and more as well as arrange a 10% discount on gift shop items. After you're finished at the space center, you'll be transferred to Kemah Boardwalk & Amusement Park on the Marina for dinner (traveler's expense.) Restaurants include Cadillac Bar & Grill, Lighthouse Buffet, Bubba Gump Shrimp, Saltgrass steakhouse and more. You can also dine by the 150,000 gallon shark tank in the Aquarium. You'll love strolling through Lighthouse district or having a margarita on the pier in this beautiful town on the bay. Day 3 will take you to historic Galveston, once the largest city in Texas, where you'll get in-depth history, ghost stories, pirate stories, a ferry ride to dolphin watch, beach strolling, shopping, and entry to 1 selected museum (options are WWII USS Stewart & USS Cavalla, Texas Railroad Museum, Lone Star Flight Museum, Bishops Palace, Moody Mansion, Ocean Star Museum, or Pleasure Pier.) Also shop, beach walk, or stroll on The Strand at your own pace with map provided by your guide as you choose the activities during this 7.5 hour. Your guide will assist you with recommendations, including a tour that can be customized to add stop at Tanger Outlet mall, where you'll get huge discounts on designer brands from Ralph Lauren to Gucci. Your guide will provide multiple brochures for touring interest on each day to assist in planning destinations of most interest to you.
Surfing Lessons in Galveston
All ages and surfing experience levels encouraged! Men, Women, Children! Make it a family event! Whether you are a seasoned surfer looking for local knowledge about the Galveston breaks, or a brand new surfer ready to catch your first wave, Good Vibes Surf Lessons can help you with all the things you need to get out there. Good Vibes Surf Lessons offers Surf lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. We also offer shortboard lessons for advanced surfers! All surf lessons will take your surfing to the next level. At your selected time, meet at Galveston’s famous Babe’s Beach, which looks out upon the Gulf of Mexico. Squeeze on your provided wetsuit or rash guard and stand by your surfboard on the sand while your expert instructor details how to stand up on your soft and stable board — perfect for beginners. You’ll have plenty of time to practice your stance and learn how to paddle out to the surf before heading into the water. Lie on your board with your instructor at your side to assist you in catching the best waves. The 2-hour lesson is suitable for all skill levels, and your instructor will ensure your safety and enjoyment as you build your confidence and practice — even if you’re not yet ready to ‘hang ten’. We offer returning customer discount!