Solo travel · Dallas · United States
Solo travel in Dallas
How to enjoy Dallas at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kevin1086, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Dallas works for solo travellers who stay central: the Arts District museums are free or low-cost, bar counters at barbecue and Tex-Mex spots are sociable, and Deep Ellum's music scene is easy to dip into alone. Many solo travellers base themselves in Deep Ellum.
Key facts
- Base
- Deep Ellum
- Getting around
- Tram
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Language
- English and Spanish
Solo travel tips
- Stay downtown or in Uptown to walk to museums, trolleys and restaurants.
- Eat at the counter in barbecue joints and Tex-Mex bars; staff are chatty.
- Join free events at Klyde Warren Park, such as fitness classes and games.
- Use ride-hailing between neighbourhoods at night rather than walking long distances.
- Visit the Arts District museums on a weekday when they are quietest.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Deep Ellum
Deep Ellum began as a Black and immigrant commercial district and a blues hub in the 1920s, and it remains Dallas's live-music neighbourhood. Elm, Main and Commerce Streets are lined with murals, music venues, bars, tattoo studios and well-known barbecue, and the area is a short DART ride or walk from downtown.
- Good
- The best live-music district; Street art everywhere; Good-value food
- Watch out
- Loud and crowded at weekends; Few hotels
- Nearby
- Elm Street, Fair Park, Downtown Dallas
Great on your own
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Museum · Downtown
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Use the included audio guide and allow time on the seventh floor, which hosts changing exhibitions with a similar view.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Downtown
Dealey Plaza and the JFK Memorial
Stay on the pavement; standing on the white X marks painted in Elm Street means stepping into fast traffic.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
Museum · Arts District
Dallas Museum of Art
Start with the European and American galleries upstairs, then walk across Flora Street to the Nasher's garden.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
Gallery · Arts District
Nasher Sculpture Center
Leave time to sit in the garden; the sculptures change character with the light through the day.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
Museum · Arts District
Crow Museum of Asian Art
Check the ground-floor gallery for temporary exhibitions before heading upstairs to the jade.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Victory Park
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Take the glass escalator to the top floor and work down; it avoids the crowds at the ground-floor dinosaur hall.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Meeting people
- Barbecue queue — Join the line at a Deep Ellum barbecue joint before lunch, order brisket, sausage and ribs by the half-pound and share at communal tables.
- State Fair food — In autumn, the State Fair of Texas unveils new deep-fried creations every year; buy coupons and share small portions with friends.
- Deep Ellum — Live-music venues, dive bars and late-night food along Elm and Main Streets.
- Uptown — Cocktail bars, rooftop lounges and patio bars along McKinney Avenue.
Sensible precautions
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.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Staying connected
- Free Wi-Fi is available at both airports, in public libraries and in most cafés; US prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to buy.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dallas good for solo travellers?
Dallas works for solo travellers who stay central: the Arts District museums are free or low-cost, bar counters at barbecue and Tex-Mex spots are sociable, and Deep Ellum's music scene is easy to dip into alone.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Dallas?
Deep Ellum: Murals, live-music venues and barbecue east of downtown.