Travel guide · United States
Dallas travel guide
JFK history, a free downtown arts district, brisket and the State Fair
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Dallas is a big, spread-out Texan city whose essential sights cluster downtown: the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza, where President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and an Arts District of free and low-cost museums including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Crow Museum of Asian Art, with Klyde Warren Park built over the freeway between them. Around the centre, Deep Ellum, Bishop Arts and Lower Greenville supply the live music, murals and restaurants, and Fort Worth's Stockyards and Arlington's stadiums are a short drive west. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are March–April and October–November.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- March–April and October–November
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- DFW, DAL
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$350 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- JFK history, Arts District, Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex
Why visit Dallas
- The Sixth Floor Museum tells the story of President Kennedy's assassination from the building where Lee Harvey Oswald waited, overlooking Dealey Plaza.
- The Arts District is one of the largest in the country, and the Dallas Museum of Art and Crow Museum of Asian Art have free general admission.
- Texas barbecue, Tex-Mex and the frozen margarita, invented in Dallas in 1971, are taken seriously here.
- The State Fair of Texas at Fair Park each autumn is a huge celebration of fried food, livestock and Art Deco architecture.
- DFW Airport is a major hub with nonstop flights across the world, and Love Field is close to the city centre.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Museum · Downtown
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Inside the former Texas School Book Depository, this museum traces President John F.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Downtown
Dealey Plaza and the JFK Memorial
The small park where Kennedy's motorcade turned onto Elm Street remains much as it looked in 1963, including the grassy knoll and the railway overpass.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Arts District
Dallas Museum of Art
With free general admission, the DMA covers about 5,000 years of art, from ancient Mediterranean and pre-Columbian pieces to European paintings by Monet and Van Gogh and modern American works, plus a strong collection of African art.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Gallery · Arts District
Nasher Sculpture Center
A Renzo Piano building with a glass-vaulted gallery opening onto a walled sculpture garden, showing modern and contemporary sculpture by Rodin, Matisse, Picasso, Calder, Henry Moore and others.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
Museum · Arts District
Crow Museum of Asian Art
A small, free museum of art from China, Japan, India and South-East Asia, known for its jade collection, Buddhist sculpture and a carved sandstone façade from India.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Park · Arts District
Klyde Warren Park
A deck park built over the sunken Woodall Rodgers Freeway in 2012, joining downtown's Arts District to Uptown.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Food
Where to stay
Downtown and the Arts District is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and families
Downtown and the Arts District
JFK sites, art museums, Klyde Warren Park and converted office towers
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, couples, food lovers and luxury
Uptown and Victory Park
Patios, the Katy Trail and vintage trolleys on McKinney Avenue
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Deep Ellum
Murals, live-music venues and barbecue east of downtown
$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and shopping
Bishop Arts District
Independent shops and restaurants in leafy North Oak Cliff
What to eat
- Smoked brisket — Central Texas-style brisket, rubbed with salt and pepper and smoked low and slow until it has a dark bark and a pink smoke ring.
- Frozen margarita — Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez adapted a soft-serve machine to make the first frozen margarita machine in 1971; the original is now in the Smithsonian.
- Tex-Mex with queso — Enchilada plates in chili gravy, crispy tacos and fajitas start with chips, salsa and a bowl of molten queso, often with ground beef, guacamole and pico de gallo stirred in.
- Chicken-fried steak — A tenderised beef cutlet breaded and fried like fried chicken, smothered in peppery cream gravy and served with mashed potatoes.
- Corny dog — A hot dog dipped in cornmeal batter and deep-fried on a stick, popularised at the State Fair of Texas by Fletcher's, which has sold them there since the 1940s.
- Texas steak — Dallas has a strong steakhouse culture, with thick bone-in ribeyes and dry-aged cuts served with creamed spinach and loaded baked potatoes.
When to go
The best times to visit Dallas are March to May and October to November, when temperatures are comfortable for walking between museums and parks. Spring brings Dallas Blooms but also a risk of severe storms; October has the State Fair and big football games. Summer is very hot, though hotel rates drop.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Wildflowers, Dallas Blooms and comfortable days, with severe thunderstorms and hail possible. |
| Summer | June–August | Very hot, often above 35°C; best for indoor museums, the aquarium and pools. |
| Autumn | September–November | Heat breaks by October, with the State Fair, college and pro football and pleasant evenings on patios. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild with sharp cold fronts and occasional ice; quiet and good value for city sightseeing. |
Getting there and around
Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) lies about 30 km north-west of downtown; DART's Orange Line runs from Terminal A to downtown in about 50 minutes, and a taxi or ride-hail takes 25–45 minutes. Dallas Love Field (DAL), about 10 km from downtown, is linked by DART bus to the light rail and is 15–20 minutes by car.
Dallas sprawls across a huge metro area, and most residents drive. Visitors staying downtown or in Uptown can manage with DART light rail, the free M-Line trolley, the streetcar and ride-hailing, renting a car only for Fort Worth and day trips.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Sixth Floor Museum, the Arts District, Klyde Warren Park and an evening in Deep Ellum or Bishop Arts. A third day adds the Arboretum, the Perot Museum or the Bush Center; a fourth makes room for Fort Worth's Stockyards and museums.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
Summer heat is the main hazard, so carry water and avoid long midday walks. Spring storms can bring hail and tornado warnings, so take local alerts seriously. Car break-ins are common; leave nothing visible in parked cars.
Flights to Dallas
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Dallas?
Two days covers the Sixth Floor Museum, the Arts District, Klyde Warren Park and an evening in Deep Ellum or Bishop Arts. A third day adds the Arboretum, the Perot Museum or the Bush Center; a fourth makes room for Fort Worth's Stockyards and museums. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Dallas?
The best times to visit Dallas are March to May and October to November, when temperatures are comfortable for walking between museums and parks. Spring brings Dallas Blooms but also a risk of severe storms; October has the State Fair and big football games. Summer is very hot, though hotel rates drop.
+What is Dallas known for?
JFK history, Arts District, Texas barbecue, Tex-Mex, State Fair of Texas, Dallas Cowboys and Frozen margarita. The Sixth Floor Museum tells the story of President Kennedy's assassination from the building where Lee Harvey Oswald waited, overlooking Dealey Plaza.
+Is Dallas expensive?
Dallas is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$350 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Dallas?
Not essential for a short city break based downtown or in Uptown, using DART, trolleys and ride-hailing. A car makes sense for Fort Worth, Arlington stadiums and Hill Country or Waco day trips.