Visit Galveston, the City Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico

Galveston is a coastal city in Texas, about 50 miles from Houston, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. It’s perfect for escaping the metropolis, relaxing on the beach and experiencing its authentic southern city atmosphere. With nearly 30 miles of beaches, museums, and many historic buildings and neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Galveston is a destination that will please everyone, from history buffs to those who want to live the beach life.

In addition, there are attractions designed for families, such as the Moody Gardens or Pleasure Pier, a state park to enjoy nature, and the third largest carnival in the United States. Let’s discover the main things to see in Galveston, a city that really has a lot to offer.

Historical Notes

The island on which Galveston stands was discovered in 1588 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Grijalva, but the first people to inhabit it were the troops of the governor of Louisiana in 1870. The city proper was born in 1817, on a settlement by the famous pirate Jean Lafitte. During the American Civil War, Galveston served in the Confederacy, for which it was an important supply port, a function that continued later, especially for the cotton trade, and thus becoming the main port of Texas.

It prospered thanks to this vocation, but in 1900 it was devastated by a violent hurricane, which killed 8000 people. Even after reconstruction, it was no longer able to recover its commercial supremacy, which passed to nearby Houston. In the ’20s it reinvented itself as a seaside resort and tourist destination, thanks to the casinos (and other less legal activities) founded by the Maceo family.

In the 1950s the casinos were closed, and the city had to find other forms of entertainment. Museums, commercial and historical districts, and other tourist attractions were born. Unfortunately, the fate of this unfortunate city was again marked by other hurricanes: in 1961, 1983 and 2008, which caused huge economic damage, and a heavy depopulation.

Best Time to Visit Galveston

Galveston has an oceanic climate, so let’s take a closer look at what that means:

• mild winter, but not enough to swim or enjoy the beach, with temperatures around 50 °F.
• spring with pleasant temperatures around 70 °F.
• humid summer with very high temperatures, even 95-10 °F. This is also the season of rains and hurricanes, which can occur especially between August and September.
• fall similar to spring, with less rain than summer and pleasant temperatures until late October.

The best time to visit Galveston is mid-seasons, when it’s not too hot, and there’s no risk of running into dangerous hurricanes. Spring break (college spring break, usually between March and April) and carnival are high season, so accommodations are less available and more expensive.

How to Get There and Other Tips

You will most likely be visiting Galveston as part of an on-the-road trip, so here are directions for getting to the city by car:

• From Houston, take I-5 south to the end of the highway, which becomes Broadway Avenue. From here, continue straight ahead to get to downtown. The drive is 50 miles and the journey takes about an hour, but allows for some slowdowns, particularly on the Houston Beltway.
• From New Orleans, take I-10 northwest following the signs for Baton Rouge. Continue on the same road west to exit 781A. From here, take TX-8, the Houston toll beltway for 8.6 miles, then follow signs for I-45 S/Galveston and continue to the end of the highway, as above. The total trip is 382 miles, with a travel time of about 6 hours.
• From Corpus Christi, take TX-35 toward Portland, and stay on this road until you reach Palacios. From here, take FM-521 Road E to Brazoria, then TX 332 E to Lake Jackson. From here, choose whether to take the faster FM 2004 N until you rejoin I-45, or continue on 332 to the coast, and continue to Galveston following County Road 257. I recommend this second option, which is more scenic because it skirts the Gulf of Mexico. The road is 220 miles long, and takes about 4 hours to travel.

Which itinerary to fit into

One day is enough time to see the main attractions in Galveston. You can also consider a day trip from Houston, depending on how comfortable you are with your itinerary. Here are two trips you can fit it into:

• Texas Road Trip, between Houston and Corpus Christi or some other Gulf Coast location.
• Southern Route, the so-called Dixieland, also including Louisiana and Mississippi. In this case, fit it in between New Orleans and Houston. The drive to or from New Orleans is a very long one, so it would be best to plan for a night in the city.

Getting around Galveston and parking tips

You can visit downtown on foot, but you’ll need to get around by car to reach other attractions. Park by the side of the road for a fee (metered parking). Except during high season there are no particular difficulties in finding a place. Prices range from $ 1.50 to $ 2.00 per hour between 9.00 and 18.00, with a daily maximum of $ 16.

Things to Do in Galveston

First thing: as soon as you arrive in town, go to the Visitor Center, located at the Chamber of Commerce at 2228 Mechanic Street. They will give you maps and brochures, and can advise you on events. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m., and Sunday from noon.

Downtown

The Strand Historic District is Galveston’s historic district, its beating heart. It extends into the rectangle between 20th, Mechanic Street, 25th and Harborside Streets, and its main artery is The Strand, also known as Avenue B.

In the second half of the 1800s, when Galveston was the main port of Texas, goods were sold here, and there were several auction houses, banks and lawyers’ offices. Several newspapers were also founded, including the only one still in business, the Galveston News, from 1942. After the hurricane of 1900, as we have seen, the city lost its commercial primacy to Houston, and The Strand became a warehouse area.

In the ’60s, an urban restructuring project was started, aimed at making it a commercial area again. Today it is full of restaurants, clubs and stores,  antiques stores and art galleries, next to the more touristy stores full of souvenirs and delicacies. But there are still many buildings from the Victorian era, to remind us of the former glory of the city.

Among them is The Grand Opera House, an 1894 Romanesque revival-style theater that can hold 1040 spectators. This building is a true hero, because it has withstood all the hurricanes that have hit the city, with only marginal damage.

Another noteworthy structure is the Old Galveston Customs and Court House, a symbol of the city’s wealth and power. From 1861, it was used as a customs house, post office and courthouse. In the classic revival style, it is red brick with a beautiful white colonnade, Ionic and Corinthian style, huge windows and a balcony. Its heavy cast-iron structure allowed it to survive the fire of 1885.

Historic Villas

Despite its unfortunate history, Galveston has maintained more than 550 historic mansions from the late 1800s, mostly concentrated in the area called the East End Historic District.

It is located east of downtown at 10th, Broadway, 19th and Mechanic Streets. The mansions are built in a variety of styles, from Victorian to Greek Revival, with colonnades, elegant porches, and wrought iron fences, surrounded by lush tropical gardens. This neighborhood, at the time inhabited by politicians and businessmen, is somewhat reminiscent of New Orleans and its Garden District. Among the most interesting villas are the Grover Chambers House, the oldest brick building in the city, and the Isaac Heffron House, from the late 1800s.

The most famous, however, is Bishop Palace, also known as Greshman Castle. It is unquestionably Galveston’s most beautiful building, an 1893 Victorian stone mansion. The first owners were Mr. and Mrs. Greshman, and in 1923 it became the seat of the diocese, which is why it is also called “Bishop Palace”.

Since 1963 it has been open to the public, who can visit its luxurious interior filled with sculptures, stained glass windows, staircases made of precious woods, and fireplaces from all over the world, one of which is clad in silver. Bishop Mansion is open Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $9 for children and teens ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and under.

Finally, although not in the East End Historic District, the Moody Mansion, an 1895 mansion belonging to one of the most powerful families in Texas, deserves a mention. Originally, the mansion belonged to the Willis family, who equipped it with unthinkable amenities and technology for the time: an elevator, a dumbwaiter, communication tubes for servants, heated clotheslines and electric lighting.

Financial magnate and philanthropist William Moody purchased it shortly after the 1900 hurricane, and lived there with his family until his death. The house remained inhabited until 1986, in fact it is still filled with the Moody family’s furnishings and personal effects, giving a good idea of their lifestyle. Moody Mansion is open daily except on American holidays, from 10am to 5pm (last admission at 4pm). Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for children and teens ages 6-17, free for ages 5 and under.

Galveston Museums

Here are some of the most interesting museums you can find in the city.

Texas Seaport Museum and the Sailing Ship Elissa

A short walk from The Strand, the Texas Seaport Museum houses the ship Elissa, a three-masted brig from 1877. Built in Scotland, she sailed the seas flying the Norwegian and Swedish flags. Passed from hand to hand, in 1970 she was retired and destined for destruction. She was purchased by the Galveston Historical Foundation, which completely restored her and brought her to the United States.

She has an iron hull and a teak rail. The masts are Oregon pine, while her 19 sails were sewn in Maine. She is still in operation today, but when she is anchored at the museum, you can visit her. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.). Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children and teens ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and under.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum

Would you like to visit a real oil rig? In Galveston you can enjoy this unique experience at Pier 19, not far from the Texas Seaport Museum. The Ocean Star self-lifting platform was built in 1969 and turned into a museum in 1997, after a nearly 20-year interesting career in the Gulf of Mexico, during which it was used to drill nearly 200 wells.

In its museum you can discover how the extraction of oil and gas from the depths of the ocean works. The subject may sound boring, but the exhibit is very interactive, colorful, and uses visual content such as models and practical examples to explain complex engineering concepts in a simple way.

One section is dedicated to the daily life of the crew, who could stay on the offshore platform for months. On the outside, however, all the very bulky equipment is on display, such as huge safety valves, coring pipes, cementing tools and escape pods. There’s also a Hall of Fame, which commemorates all of the industry’s prominent figures. Hours vary by day and season, so I recommend checking the website. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children and teens ages 6-18, free for ages 5 and under.

Railroad Museum

Run by the nonprofit organization Center for Transportation and Commerce, the Railroad Museum is housed in the old Santa Fe Railroad station, the legendary rail route that connected Kansas with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Among the vehicles on display are freight cars in use from the late 1800s to the mid 1900s, and passenger cars from the 1940s and 1950s, with berths, dining cars and luxury cabins.

There is also a section dedicated to locomotives, in which the two Santa Fe Warbonnets stand out, recognizable by their bright red and yellow colors. This particular motif was created by the artist Leland A. Knickerbocker in the ’30s, and over time became a distinctive feature of these nice locomotives. But there are also many others, some steam and others diesel, always dating back to the first half of the 20th century.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has free parking. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for the over-65s, $6 for children between 3 and 12, free for children under 2.

Naval Museum

Galveston’s Naval Museum is home to two World War II vessels. The first is the submarine USS Cavalla, famous because it sank one of the Japanese aircraft carriers involved in the Pearl Harbor attacks. The second is the destroyer escort USS Stewart, a warship that escorted military convoys across the ocean, built in 1942.

This ship had a crucial task; in October 1943 it escorted President Roosevelt’s yacht to Tehran. During this meeting the American president decided, together with Churchill and Stalin, to organize Operation Overlord, the Normandy Landings, for the following June.

It is possible to visit all the areas of the two boats, including the command decks, engine rooms, and armaments. The private spaces of the soldiers, full of photos and documents, offer an insight into daily life on board. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.). Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for the over-65s, $8 for children between 5 and 12 years old, free for children under 4.

The Bryan Museum

This eclectic museum was only opened in 2015, and is housed in the former orphanage, a beautiful neo-Renaissance style building. Collector and industrialist J.P. Bryan purchased it in 2013 to make room for his immense collection, previously displayed in the offices of his energy company, Torch Energy Advisors, Inc.

Bryan is a descendant of one of Texas’ founding fathers, Stephen Austin, and because of that, he has a strong connection to the state’s history. He began collecting books, old guns and documents at a young age, eventually reaching the impressive milestone of more than 70,000 items. The collection includes furniture, saddles, spurs, firearms, Indian artifacts and clothing, as well as 30,000 rare books and documents in several languages, paintings, photographs, religious art, stone tools and arrowheads. A true survey of Texas history from antiquity to the present day, with special attention to Spanish influence.

The museum is open Wednesday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for the over-65s, $5 for children and teens ages 5-12, free for ages 4 and under.

Other Attractions in Galveston

Seawall

Following the hurricane of 1900, the city decided to equip itself with a protection system. Two years later the Seawall was born, a wall 10 miles long, 17 feet high, and almost `6.5 feet thick. Its walkway is the longest promenade in the world, largely covered with marine-themed murals.

The price of protecting the city, however, has been expensive. Within 20 years, in fact, the barrage caused the erosion of 300 feet of sandy shore, with the consequent disappearance of many accommodation facilities and a heavy economic impact. Where there were wide beaches, today nothing remains but a thin strip of sand.

The dam, which was useful against several hurricanes including Alicia in 1983, unfortunately could do little against Ike, in 2008. For this reason, a more efficient way to contain storm surges is now being studied.

Historic Pleasure Pier

The original 1943 wooden pier was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961. The current structure, which opened more than 70 years later in 2012, is a symbol of a proud city that doesn’t give up despite its unfortunate history.

Galveston’s Pleasure Pier looks a bit like Santa Monica’s. It is an amusement park, with rides such as roller coasters, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, rotating cups and many others. There are also gift stores, restaurants, and of course the great classics of every fair: cotton candy, hot dogs, funnel cake, and many other high-calorie snacks. Schedules are variable, so I recommend checking the official website.

As for prices, there are multiple choices. Simple entry to the Pier costs $10 for adults, $7 for those over 65, and $8 for children less than 5 feet tall. Individual rides cost between $4 and $6. If you want to take as many rides as you like, purchase the unlimited pass for $26.99 for adults, and $19.99 for children.

The Pleasure Pier has paid parking, but if you can’t find a spot, you can easily park on the street along the Seawall.

Moody Gardens

Moody Gardens, with its unmistakable three pyramids, is the most iconic of things to see in Galveston. Built in 1986, it is an educational playground designed primarily for families.

Each of the three pyramids is an exhibit on a specific theme: an aquarium with penguins and seals, a tropical forest with monkeys and parrots, and the Discovery Museum, dedicated to science. Plus, there are rides, 3D and 4D cinemas, interactive shows, and even a typical Mississippi steamboat.

There is also a golf course, an adventure park and Palm Beach, an artificial beach with water slides, open only in summer. In November and December, on the other hand, it is possible to attend the evening light and sound show. Schedules vary, also for each attraction, so I suggest checking on the site.

You can choose to visit a single attraction, or do the day pass at $60 for adults, and $50 for children between 4 and 12 years old, and for the over 65. Considering that the aquarium alone costs $36, the pass is probably the cheapest option, but it also depends on how much time you have available. Check out the updated pricing table to decide which option is right for you. Parking is free.

Galveston Island State Park

Galveston Island State Park is a Texas state nature park, a small natural oasis where you can swim, relax on the beach, or fish away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It overlooks an inland bay of the gulf and attracts a large number of fliers, especially migratory birds in the spring and fall. For this reason, it is a very popular destination for birdwatchers.

There are several trails that traverse the park’s various habitats, from prairie to bayou. Some are dedicated to hikers and cyclists, while others are for canoeing or kayaking.

Among the walking trails, the most popular are the Caracara Trail, to see the hawks for which it is named, and the Clapper Rail Loop, which traverses lagoon land, with sand dunes and marshes also inhabited by alligators. The two trails combined form an 8-track, about 1 mile long and level.

On the park’s official website you can download a map of the trails, and find information for kayak rentals. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is very busy on weekends and holidays. Admission is $5, free under 12, and valid all day.

Galveston Beaches

With nearly 30 miles of shoreline, it would be a shame not to take advantage of Galveston’s many beaches. As we have seen, unfortunately, the Seawall has “eaten away” much of the original coastline, but there are still several large beaches, always free but with the possibility of renting umbrellas and sunbeds. In addition, the water of the Gulf of Mexico is warm and shallow, therefore perfect for families with children. Here are the most beautiful beaches of Galveston:

• East Beach, at the east end of the island, is famous for live music in the summer.
• Stewart Beach, not far from downtown, has a small play area for children.
• Porretto Beach, with a beautiful view of the Pleasure Pier.
• Galveston Island State Park, which we mentioned in the paragraph above.

Best Places to Stay in Galveston

Galveston is not particularly big or busy, attractions are spread out just about everywhere, and parking is not expensive. For all these reasons, there is no specific area where sleeping is preferable. I would, however, recommend looking for something close to the beach, even if it’s further from downtown.

Two good options are the Best Western Plus Galveston Suites and the Holiday Inn Resort Galveston On the Beach, which overlook the sea and will provide you with beautiful sunsets.

All accommodations in Galveston

Best Places to Eat in Galveston

Galveston is an excellent place to taste typical Creole cuisine, with rich fish dishes. Two specialties above all are gumbo, a fish soup made with okra and a thick mixture of flour and butter called roux; and then there is po’boy, the typical Louisiana sandwich usually filled with fried meat or shrimp.

You can try these two dishes at The Spot, in an unbeatable location on the beach, or downtown at Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar. But Texas is also the realm of Tex-Mex cuisine. Taquilos, downtown, serves fajitas, enchiladas, tacos, and all the typical dishes of this tasty cuisine.

And for a snack? King’s Confectionery, at 2323 Strand Street, is a true institution. With its freshly made fudge, candy, ice cream sundaes, cotton candy, cookies and chocolates, this store is a true paradise for those with a sweet tooth… but not for dieters!

Galveston Events

Galveston’s most important event is its carnival, the third largest in the United States, after Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in St Louis. First celebrated in 1867, it features parades, floats and the traditional masquerade ball.

The two historical rival associations, the Knights of Momus and the Knights of Myth, challenged each other each year to propose the most beautiful floats and the most spectacular parades, to the point of spending large sums of money and spending months and months preparing them. Partly due to the high costs, and in part due to the impact of hurricanes and wars, for several years the carnival was celebrated only privately, with masked balls but no parades.

Public celebrations were restored in 1985, and since then the carnival has attracted 250,000 visitors from all over the world every year. It is held in the two weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, with the culminating evening on Shrove Tuesday. For exact dates, check out the site’s FAQ.

Things to Do Near Galveston

A very interesting attraction to visit in the vicinity of Galveston is the Johnson Space Center, which is the NASA headquarters in Houston. It is just 40 minutes away from the city, and it is an operational space base that also includes a museum. You can tour the base by streetcar, visiting the astronaut training camp, and the command center that handled the moon landing operations in 1969.

The museum includes several exhibits, including:

• Starship Gallery, where several spacecraft and a model of a space base are on display.
• Astronaut Gallery, with many suits worn on real missions in space.
• Mission Mars, the section dedicated to travel to the Red Planet.
• International Space Station Gallery, where you can learn everything about the ISS, the international space station that conducts important scientific research
• Independence Plaza, with the replica of the Space Shuttle Independence

Johnson Space Center’s hours of operation vary by season and day of the week. Please take a look at our article on visiting NASA in Houston for more details.