15 Totally Free Things to Do in Houston

Watch the bats, admire world-class art, get outdoors, and more.

With a population of nearly 2.3 million and 640 - plus substantial miles to cover , you ’d think spending some time in one the nation ’s big cities would be a pretty penny . But if you work it flop , you may actually spend zero pretty pennies , and zero worthless ones , too . There ’s a wealth of entirely free , entirely fun shipway to get your Houston jollies , from transformativegarden strollsand gratis movie nights to super nerveless one - of - a - kind experiences featuring things like LED lights , captivating art , and bat . Here ’s how to have a zero costgood timein Houston .

Culture up with a visit to Houston’s finest museum

Deepening your reason of the world through art , history , refinement , and science is deserving any penny you may spend on it , but sometimes , you do n’t have to spend a single one . Many of the Houston Museum District ’s finest institutions — fromMuseum of Fine Arts HoustonandThe Menil Collectionto theHouston Zoo — bid destitute days , and some are barren all the time(though many also take and appreciate donation ) .

Watch bats spiral out from underneath a bridge

True tale . Many night ( ordinarily when the temperature is above 50 and it ’s not rain down ) , you ’ll find around200,000 + Mexican free - trailed batsspiraling out from underneath the Waugh Bridge . Locals started point out them eld back , and while the bat have seen some difficult clock time due to hurricanes and winter frost , the colony remains strong . Show up at the take in platform at the southeast corner of the Waugh bridgework along Allen Parkway just before sundown and you ’ll belike catch a show .

Bike the city’s many awesome trails

Okay , so you have to have a bike for this to be all devoid . If not , you’re able to tick off out rental at one of our local bicycle shops or rive aBCycle . Once you do secure some wheels , the city ’s renovated salary increase and bike trail are a wonder , include theHeights Hike & Bike Trail , Brays Bayou , White Oak , andBuffalo Bayou Trails , andTerry Hershey Park , for starters .

Take in transformative art at the Project Row Houses

double a class ( in March and October ) in one of the city ’s oldest African - American neighborhoods — Houston ’s historic Third Ward , seven rowing houses are transformed into persuasion - provoking installations by visiting artists and collectives . Each artwork house touches on ethnical identity , turn to a challenge or issue confront the community , and its impact on the urban landscape painting . Installation rounds prevail around four months , and while installed , the art theatre are heart-to-heart to the public Wednesday - Sunday from noon to 5 pm .

Catch plays, concerts, and more at Miller Outdoor Theater

The free seasonal programming at this Hermann Park amphitheatre is a Houston bucket list point for certain . Usually starting in the spring and running through fall , the theater host an raiment of concert and show from the Houston Symphony and Shakespeare to classic films , melodious theater , and jazz . wad a picnic and enjoy the entertainment from the hill , or score some free covered seating ahead of time .

Break a sweat with a free fitness class

first light yoga . Zumba on the leafy vegetable . Parkour . Whatever your preferred path to break a sweat , you may likely discover a spare version of it at one of Houston ’s many parks . There ’s open to the public computer program atDiscovery Green , Levy Park , Midtown Park , Sugar Land Town Square . And if you ca n’t find one that suit your schedule , there ’s always ol’ reliable — Memorial Park’sthree - mile running loop .

Taste through a flight of artisan cheese

speak of picnics … The local cheese guru over at Houston Dairymaids offer a free five - cheese tasting every goddamn twenty-four hours it is open . While it ’s true there is no kick to taste , something tells us you ’ll be open up that billfold to purchase some high mallow , and maybe some cheese - friendly wines and accompaniments .

Get awestruck by James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany” Skyspace

Over by the Shepherd School of Music on Rice Campus lies an epic blend of fine art and speech sound , James Turrell ’s sensational Twilight Epiphany Skyspace . Composed of concrete , stone , composite steel , and grass , the architectural stunner is acoustically organize and equipped with extremely nerveless LED luminousness that project a succession onto the cap and through an aperture . The visuals go down around 40 min before sunrise and 10 minute of arc before sunset , and it ’s totally free to experience ( just be certain to show up early and grab a seat ) .

Watch classics and blockbuster films without buying a ticket

BothDiscovery GreenandMarket Square Parkhost open to the public movie night under the star ( Market Square does seasonal Bingo nights , too ) . Plus , a bunch of Houston parallel bars and brewery have been known to shake free movie screenings , including drink fueled playfulness zonesAxelrad , Eureka Heights Brewing Co , andSocial Beer Garden .

Explore Houston’s many, many parks and gardens

Houston ’s got a mountain of parks , so we ’ll give you a drumhead set out . You ’ll decidedly want to hit big guns likeBuffalo Bayou Park , Memorial Park , and itsHouston Arboretum and Nature Center . There ’s alsoHermann Parkand itsJapanese GardenandMcGovern Centennial Gardens . look to get some steps in ? There ’s thesetotally underrated nearby hikesandmost beautiful runs in Houston .

Have a puppy playdate at Johnny Steele Dog Park

Over in Buffalo Bayou Park , the two - acre Johnny Steele Dog Park is a pup ’s dream . get your good pal and countenance ‘ em go amok among the other dog , or just pop out by on your run to get in some puppy watching . Other entirely free and all fun attraction in the park include a skate car park , public art installation , and moxie volleyball royal court .

Embrace the stillness at Rothko Chapel

Those who need serenity now can find out it with a visit to the total zen geographical zone , Rothko Chapel , over on Menil Campus ( which is also gratuitous and deserving an exploration ) . create by American creative person Mark Rothko , the tranquil , consecrated space dubs itself “ a sanctuary for the quester , ” invite all walks of life to find the beauty in the quiet disruption of murals and dark . Outside the space , Barnett Newman ’s Broken Obelisk soars over a ruminate pool , the sculpture a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr.

See up-and-coming talent at Rudyard’s open mic night

Every Monday Nox , local comedy veterinary and starter polish off the stage to either totally pop it or shamelessly turkey while working their material . The beer may not be loose , but the laughs are . Doors unresolved at 7:30 pm and the show start up at 8 pm .

Dig your toes in the sand

Galveston Island ’s 32 - miles of Texas coastline are opened to you at no charge anytime of twelvemonth . There ’s the booze receive East Beach at the island ’s far eastern tip , family - well-disposed Stewart Beach over by where Broadway conform to the Seawall , and the quieterWest End Pocket Parks , for starters . The 2000 - plus acreGalveston Island State Parkis worth a visit , too .

Go art & mural hopping

Your Instagram cup will runneth over with good material after your mural , graffiti , and nontextual matter go of the metropolis . Head to the Arts District Houston and you ’ll find an entireArt Alley . TheHouston is Inspired graffiti wallby local artist Gonzo247 is a pail leaning shoot in Downtown . Nearby , Discovery Greenplays home to a routine of awing nontextual matter installations . White Oak’sgot a whole bunch of fun single . And over by the East terminal , Smither Park’sgot funky mosaic sculptures by the 12 .

James Turrell Skyspace