Big Texas city of art, history and style
Dallas is a big, confident city in north Texas, the core of a metro area of more than eight million people. It has one of the largest arts districts in the US, the Sixth Floor Museum on the Kennedy assassination, lively neighbourhoods like Deep Ellum and Bishop Arts, and great shopping. It suits city breaks focused on art, food and history, with cowboy culture a short drive away in Fort Worth.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
A museum in the former Texas School Book Depository about the life, death and legacy of President Kennedy. It overlooks Dealey Plaza.
2026 adult tickets are $24 online and $27 on site, with lower senior and youth prices; free for ages 0 to 5.
Gardens on the shore of White Rock Lake, famous for spring and autumn flower displays. It is a family favourite.
Check the official site for current prices.
A large art museum in the Arts District with collections from ancient to contemporary. It anchors the district.
Check the official site for current prices.
A tower with a ball-shaped top and an observation deck with city views. It is a skyline icon.
Check the official site for current prices.
A hands-on science museum in a striking cube building with dinosaurs and interactive halls. It is great for kids.
Adults $27, youth $17; add-ons extra (2026).
A park built over a freeway, linking the Arts District and Uptown, with food trucks and events. It is a lively green space.
Free to visit.
A historic district known for blues roots, street murals, bars and live music venues. It is the city's nightlife hub.
Free to explore.
A museum and garden devoted to modern and contemporary sculpture, in a Renzo Piano building. It is calm and elegant.
Check the official site for current prices.
The vast home of the Dallas Cowboys, with tours and events. It is famous for its huge video board.
Check the official site for current prices.
A historic district with a daily cattle drive, rodeos, saloons and Western shops. It is the best place to see cowboy culture.
Check the official site for current prices.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one downtown and the Arts District, day two the Perot Museum and Arboretum, day three Deep Ellum.
Magnolia Market and the Dr Pepper Museum.
96 mi · Car, about 1 hour 30 minutes each way
Charming historic downtown square.
31 mi · Car, about 45 minutes
Historic Main Street, wineries and a lake near the airport.
22 mi · Drive, about 35 minutes
Fossilized dinosaur tracks in the Paluxy River.
81 mi · Drive, about 1h45 each way
Best: March to May and October to November. Warm days, comfortable evenings and festival season.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
Late September to October
A huge fair at Fair Park with rides, food and Big Tex.
July 4
Fireworks and events.
Around New Year
A major college football game at Arlington's stadium.
Late summer
The tourism site lists it as a yearly dining event.
There is no US advisory for its own cities, so this is based on UK FCDO advice for the USA, which notes violent crime rarely affects tourists but urges care in unfamiliar areas at night; in Dallas use normal city precautions downtown at night and do not leave valuables in cars.
Downtown, the Arts District and Uptown are walkable, but the city as a whole is car-oriented.
DART light rail and buses connect downtown with DFW and Love Field airports, and the free M-Line trolley runs in Uptown.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, business
Near Dealey Plaza, the Arts District and DART.
Best for: couples, nightlife
Restaurants and bars along McKinney Avenue.
Best for: nightlife, music
Murals, live music and bars east of downtown.
Best for: food lovers
Independent shops and restaurants in Oak Cliff.
| Main airport | Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), 19 mi from the center |
| To the center | DART light rail, taxi or ride app; Dallas Love Field (DAL) is closer to downtown for domestic flights. |
| Around town | Use DART and the M-Line for the center, and ride apps or a car for neighbourhoods and Fort Worth. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Smoked brisket and ribs.
Fajitas and frozen margaritas, said to have been invented here.
Breaded steak with cream gravy.
State Fair favourite.
Dallas runs a Margarita Mile promotion for tourists.
A classic Texas big-night-out.
The city claims a role in the machine's invention, a fun local story.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent in sit-down restaurants and bars, and a few dollars for hotel and taxi services. |
| Payments | Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere. |
| Etiquette | Americans are informal and friendly; tipping is expected for most services. |
Dallas was founded in 1841 as a trading post by the Trinity River and grew with railways and cotton in the late 1800s. Oil discoveries in east Texas in the 1930s made it a banking and business center. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza. Since then the city has grown into a major corporate, transport and cultural hub.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.