Practical Details

Welcome to Houston

Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the US — a sprawling, diverse, and business-driven metro area known for its energy industry, world-class medical center, and surprisingly excellent food scene (it’s one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country, which shows up on every menu). It’s spread out and car-centric, so getting around takes a bit of planning, but there’s a lot to enjoy once you’re settled in.

Airports

• George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) – the main international hub, about 25 miles north of downtown. Most international and many domestic flights land here.
• William P. Hobby (HOU) – smaller, closer to downtown (about 10 miles southeast), used mostly by domestic carriers like Southwest.

Check which one the flight actually goes into — people sometimes assume IAH by default.

Getting into the city

• Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Easiest option. From IAH to downtown, expect roughly 35–45 minutes and $35–55 depending on traffic/time of day. From HOU, it’s quicker, around 20–25 minutes and $25–35.
• Taxi: Available at both airports, similar pricing to rideshare, sometimes flat rates to downtown.
• Rental car: Both airports have full rental counters. Houston is very car-dependent, so this is worth considering if the person will be moving between areas (public transit is limited).
• Public transit (METRO): There’s a bus route from IAH, but it’s slow and not commonly used by travelers with luggage. HOU has better connections since it’s closer in.
• Hotel shuttles: Many hotels near IAH offer free shuttles — worth checking if staying nearby.

Practical tips

• Time zone: Central Time (CT).
• Traffic: Rush hours are roughly 7–9 AM and 4–7 PM — factor this in for airport transfers.
• Weather: Hot and humid most of the year; can be intense in summer (90s°F/30s°C with high humidity). Light layers are still smart because indoor AC is aggressive.
• ID: Domestic travelers need a REAL ID-compliant ID or passport as of the current TSA rules.