Overview
South and west of downtown, South Inner Loop is home to the Museum District, Hermann Park, the main campus of the University of Houston, Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, and NRG Stadium.
This district is bounded by freeways I-45 on the east, I-69 on the north, and I-610 (the "loop") on the south and west.
13 sights · 8 things to do · 7 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about South Inner Loop
Children's Museum of Houston
Fun, educational, hands-on museum featuring a whimsical courtyard with a rail caboose and a bayou river, and indoor exhibits with both a cultural and a scientific element.
Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
Non-collecting museum with rotating exhibits focusing on the ever-changing landscape of today's visual arts.
The Health Museum
Formerly known as the "Museum of Health and Medical Sciences", this museum is affiliated with the Texas Medical Center. Explore human anatomy, the life of a germ, the human genome, and more.
Holocaust Museum Houston
Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and millions of other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust …
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Permanent venues include the butterfly center, exhibit halls, planetarium, and IMAX theater, others vary by availability.
Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 95°F; winter lows dip to about 44°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Oct. (climate data from nearby Houston)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HOU William P. Hobby Airport, Houston — 8 mi away (major hub). Directions
- IAH George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston — 20 mi away (major hub). Directions
Best ways to reach this part of Houston are Metro light rail trains, Metro city buses, and by car.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Children's Museum of Houston, The Health Museum, Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Lunch Bodegas Taco Shop
- Afternoon ZaSpa, Museum of Fine Arts Houston
- Dinner Monarch Restaurant & Lounge
- Evening Kelvin Arms
Day 2
- Morning Hermann Park, Japanese Garden, Hermann Park Railroad
- Lunch Lucille's
- Afternoon Pedal Boats, Houston Zoo
- Dinner Croissant Brioche
Day 3
- Morning Houston Texans, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
- Lunch El Meson
- Afternoon Rice Owls
- Dinner Bombay Brasserie
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Best ways to reach this part of Houston are Metro light rail trains, Metro city buses, and by car.
Train
Houston's Metro light rail system is an easy, comfortable way to get to the Medical Center, Rice University, and Museum District. Trains run down the center of Main Street beginning as early as 4:30AM and running as late as 2:15AM.
Bus
Several Houston Metrobus routes run through this part of the city. Use bus lines 1, 8, 34, 65, 87, 292, and 298. There is also a local trolley service for the Medical Center. Bus lines for this area connect to the Metro light rail train line at the TMC Transit Center at Fannin and Pressler. Bus stop locations and schedules are on the Houston Metro web site.
Car
Houston is a sprawling city in which everyone drives everywhere. The Medical Center/Rice/Museum District area lies in between the Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59) and the South Freeway (TX 288).
- From U.S. 59 southbound, exit Fannin, then head left
- From U.S. 59 northbound, exit Greenbrier, then head right
- From TX 288 either direction, exit McGregor
- From I-610, exit Fannin and either head north, or use the Park and Ride lot and ride Metro
Street parking is available in much of this area, and there are public parking lots at the major museums, in Hermann Park, and around the Medical Center (the latter are most expensive).
See
Museums
See Holocaust Museum Houston
Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and millions of other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, the Museum teaches the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy to tens of thousands of people worldwide each year. Not recommended for children under the age of 10.
Other sites
See Hermann Park
Approximately 455 acres (about half the size of Central Park in New York City). George Hermann gave the parkland to the City of Houston in 1914. It is accessible via the MetroRail. Encompasses the Miller Outdoor Theater, the Houston Zoo, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Hermann Park Golf Course.
Do
Do Houston Texans
Houston's National Football League (NFL) team plays at NRG Stadium in the South Loop area, next to the now-vacant Astrodome.
Do Houston Cougars
Sports teams of the University of Houston, playing NCAA Division I sports mostly in the Big 12 Conference. As with most major universities, the hot-button sports are football and basketball, with men's basketball having periods of national prominence in the 1980s and 2020s. The most prominent venues are TDECU Stadium (football) and Fertitta Center (basketball).
Do Rice Owls
Sports teams of Rice University, playing NCAA Division I sports mostly in the American Athletic Conference. Due largely to Rice's very high academic standards, football and basketball have been generally mediocre over the last few decades; baseball has been the most nationally competitive sport during that time. Rice Stadium not only hosts Owls football in the fall, but also the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League in the spring. The stadium also has a place in the history of the US space program, as John F. Kennedy made his famous "We choose to go to the Moon" speech here in 1962. Other significant venues are Tudor Fieldhouse (basketball) and Reckling Park (baseball).
Events & Festivals
Do Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
NRG Stadium and NRG Park. Annually in March. The world's largest rodeo and includes rodeo events, calf scramble, and music concerts. It is known for its big-name music acts as much as it is for the rodeo. The livestock show attracts professional breeders who bring in their world-class livestock to be judged. There is also a carnival on the grounds.
Buy
Shop Rice Village
Some of Houston's most eclectic shopping is in the small businesses of Rice Village, roughly between Kirby and Greenbrier and around Rice Blvd. and University Blvd.
Eat
Eat Benjy's
Modern American dining. This is a favorite of many locals.
Eat Bombay Brasserie
Indian cuisine.
Eat Croissant Brioche
French bakery.
Eat El Meson
Great choice when you're hungry for ropa vieja or any classic Cuban dish.
Eat Monarch Restaurant & Lounge
A fine dining option at Hotel ZaZa Houston serving seafood and steak entrees with Mediterranean flair. The Lounge is available for dancing and Monarch Terrace overlooks Main Street & Mecom Fountains.
Eat Lucille's
Modern takes on Southern classics by a classically trained chef served in a cozy, vintage house.
Eat Bodegas Taco Shop
Tex-Mex spot for build-your-own burritos, tostadas, tacos & salads, with a tequila bar & patio.
Drink
Drink Kelvin Arms
Traditional Scottish pub atmosphere. Good variety of draft beers (including Belhaven), though their strong point is their outstanding selection of fine single-malt Scotch whisky.
Sleep
Budget
Stay Houston International Hostel
More of a large family house than a hostel, with bedrooms containing bunk beds for travelers. The house is in the downtown museum district so there is a lot to do within walking distance (Thursday is free museum day!) but it's in a residential area, so shops and restaurants are not immediately nearby. The bathrooms are shared and the facilities are clean. Hostel customs are observed at the hostel.
Mid-range
Stay Hilton Houston Plaza / Medical Center
Location in the midst of the Texas Medical Center. 80% suites. 100% non-smoking.
Stay Houston Marriott at the Texas Medical Center
Adjacent to several hospitals of the Texas Medical Center and connected to Methodist Hospital via the skywalk.
Stay Lodgeur Med Center (Lodgeur)
Furnished one-bedroom apartments available for short-term and extended stays. Located at 7010 Staffordshire, within walking distance of MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, and NRG Park. Convenient for medical visits or attending events like the Houston Rodeo. Each unit includes a full kitchen, in-unit laundry, and garage parking. Suitable for patients, caregivers, and professionals.
Splurge
Stay Hotel ZaZa
Upscale boutique hotel with an outstanding location next to Hermann Park and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, with easy Metro access, elegantly appointed rooms, and an atmosphere of pampered luxury.
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