A low-budget weekend itinerary

After spending time in Houston, I can confirm that everything is bigger in Texas, well, except your budget. That’s okay, because a weekend in the city is extremely affordable, making it the perfect destination for budget-conscious travelers interested in exploring the area’s food and art scene.

At the start of my trip, I didn’t know much about Houston, other than the fact that Beyoncé calls it her hometown (already a check mark in the “pros” column). A four-hour flight from New York later, I had a much better understanding of why the city is a must-visit destination for my foodie and art-loving friends. Plus, I checked out a few of Bey’s favorite spots for good measure.

I was in town for the Houston Rodeo – by far the city’s biggest tourist attraction (for good reason!) – but that’s not the only draw to H-Town. Art museums, public parks, chic cocktail bars, and excellent restaurants make it an attractive destination for your next long weekend when you’re on a budget. (Seriously, I spent more weekends at my New York home than on this trip.)

If you’re craving a change of scenery and want to start wearing cowboy hats on a daily basis, Houston should definitely be on your travel list. Here’s exactly how to make the most of a 48-hour trip to Houston:

THURSDAY

5:00 p.m.: Arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Once you land in Houston, head straight to your designated rental car kiosk. Picking up your vehicle and getting to the parking lot may take a while, but it will be worth it considering the Uber money you’ll save. Rental cars at the Houston airport can only cost around $50 for the weekend, while gas costs around $3 per gallon. Not to mention that there are parking lots everywhere in the city – and plenty of valet parking to boot.

Go to the accommodation of your choice to settle in. (By the way, I highly recommend La Colombe d’Or as a hotel; it’s beautiful, centrally located to the best art museums, and has incredibly large bathtubs. It’s also only 30 minutes from the airport.) Give give you time to settle in. – and possibly soak in the tub – before getting ready to head out for your first night in Texas.

Rental car: ~$50

Gas budget: ~$50

8:30 p.m.: Tex-Mex outing… and dancing evening

No trip to Houston would be complete without a little Tex-Mex (especially queso, aka cheese dip). When it comes to choosing a solid restaurant, there is no shortage of options. Armandos nevertheless stands out as a great place to start your trip to Houston (even if the menu is a little pricey). It is about a 10-minute drive from La Colombe D’or. There is also plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant.

On Thursdays, Armandos turns into a dance party around 10 p.m., as they clear the tables in the middle of the dining room. It’s open until 1am, so you have all night to eat and dance.

Dinner and drinks: ~$70

DAY 1 TOTAL: $170

Friday

10 a.m.: Find a nice café

You may want to take it slow on Friday morning, depending on how many margaritas you ordered the day before. The city is full of eclectic coffee shops: Blacksmith Coffee, Luce Coffee Roasters, and Koffeteria, to name a few. Pick one near you and watch the world go by while you eat something.

Breakfast and coffee: ~$16

12 p.m.: Enjoy panoramic views of the city (plus a viral lunch)

To really get a feel for the lay of the land in Houston, check out POST Houston ASAP. The roof of the building is free and open to the public and offers panoramic views of the city. Fun fact: This is actually the largest rooftop park in Texas.

After touring the rooftop, head to the food hall for lunch. If you want to try a viral creation from Houston, order lunch from YoYo’s Hotdog. The all-beef hot dog is topped with caramelized onions, fried onions, honey mayonnaise, YoYo hot sauce and cream cheese – a combination that works perfectly. Pair it with orange lemonade for the perfect salty-sweet lunch.

Lunch: $10

1:00 p.m.: Meet at tourist places

After lunch, drive 10 minutes to the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, which was once the city’s water supply and is now used as an exhibition space for artists. Every hour (except noon), visitors can tour the cistern and see the latest artistic instillation, “Haha Real” by Rachel Rossin. (Tickets to the exhibit are $15.) Afterward, feel free to explore and stroll around the park.

Then, drive 15 minutes to the McGovern Centennial Gardens in Hermann Park, a free public space that offers a perfect Instagram photo op in front of the dome.

After taking the photo (or several photos), head to the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection to complete your art and culture excursion. The Rothko Chapel is a must-see for modern art lovers and is just an eight-minute drive from Hermann Park.

About a block away you’ll find the Menil Collection, another free art-filled museum. (Bonus: Beyoncé and Jay-Z actually visited the Menil collection during a visit to Houston in 2016 and posted fun photos there with the artwork.)

Tickets: ~$15

6:30 p.m.: Get dinner rolls and crudo

Take time to shower and relax at your hotel before heading out to dinner. Don’t worry, this restaurant is much more relaxed than a night at Armandos. It’s just a 10-minute walk from La Colombe D’or, so you can avoid the drive this time.

My meal at Handies Douzo was easily one of my favorites during my stay in Houston. If you are a fan of hand rolls, this is a must-visit restaurant. Grab a seat at the bar and try the Maguro Crudo (with bluefin tuna, pickled cucumber and ponzu) and the 3-piece hand roll set to try Handies’ version of BGB sake, hamachi and spicy tuna hand rolls . They also have a great sake menu.

Dinner and sake: ~$65

8:00 p.m.: Go out for inventive cocktails

Diversion Cocktails is an eclectic bar with an unpretentious entrance. It’s a bit of a drive (around 20 minutes), but it’s worth the detour. The bar’s surprisingly creative menu, which includes Pho Cup’d (a pho-inspired drink with bone broth and gin) and John Midas (a dessert-adjacent drink that features a dark chocolate bar filled with Luxardo cherries) .

Drinks: ~$40

TOTAL DAY 2: $146

SATURDAY

10:00 a.m.: Have breakfast in Montrose

Depart from your hotel on Saturday morning and load your luggage into your rental for the remainder of your day in Houston.

Start your day off right at Common Bond in the Montrose neighborhood. Whether you want a quick croissant to go or prefer to try shrimp and grits, Common Bond has it all. They also have plenty of coffee options and even mimosas if you’re craving them.

Breakfast: ~$25

11:30 a.m.: Do some shopping

Shopping always takes the edge off after a long day of visiting parks and museums. Houston is full of fun thrift and vintage stores, including Leopard Lounge and Pavement Modern & Recycled Fashion, all located in Montrose, just steps from Common Bond.

If you’re tempted to embrace the casual cowgirl trend, now is the time to do it. These boutiques are full of Western-inspired pieces: cowboy hats, boots and vests.

Purchases: ~$100

1:30 p.m.: Meet at one of Beyoncé’s favorite fast food restaurants

Frenchy’s is a must-stop during your stay in Houston, especially if you’re part of the BeyHive. Beyoncé is a fan of the fast food chain and even shouted it out in the lyrics of her song “I Been On.” Make the 15-minute drive from Montrose to Frenchy’s to experience one of the best fast food joints you’ll find.

The menu is very affordable, making it perfect for a last day lunch. The 5 Wing menu option, which includes a side and a 20 oz. drink, will only cost you about $13.

Lunch: ~$15

2:30 p.m.: Stop at Graffiti Park

Add a little more color to your Houston trip by visiting Graffiti Park, just seven minutes from Frenchy’s. The colorful street art is worth a closer look and makes a perfect backdrop for any selfies.

Once you’ve fueled up, head to the “Houston Is Inspired” mural for an additional photo op before getting back in the car for another 10-minute drive to the Museum District.

Photo session: FREE

3:30 p.m.: Visit to the Museum of Fine Arts

End your stay in Houston with a stop at the Museum of Fine Arts. A $24 ticket is enough to access all of the museum’s exhibits. This will give you the opportunity to discover the illuminated light tunnels, underground passages that connect the museum buildings, transformed into works of art.

Ticket: $24

5:00 p.m.: Return to the airport

Make sure you get back to the airport with plenty of time to get stuck in traffic, return your rental car, settle in at your gate, and daydream about Handies’ Maguro Crudo before your trip home. The airport is about a 30-minute drive from Houston’s museum district, so plan accordingly.

DAY 3 TOTAL: $164

Total cost: $480

48 hours and $480 later, you’ve discovered some of the best spots Houston has to offer outside of Houston Rodeo. Bonus points if you spend a little extra time in town to check out Space Center Houston. (I skipped this stop because just the thought of black holes gives me anxiety for weeks, but to each their own.)