As one of the 10 largest cities in the United States, Dallas may feel like a huge, almost overwhelming place to visit. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The local Texan spirit, combined with virtually endless international inspirations and the city's inherent warm, friendly, and welcoming attitude make Dallas an utterly enjoyable and diverse place to visit and discover.
From the sleek, contemporary buildings gracing downtown Dallas to its historical landmarks, verdant public parks, art destinations and festivals, world-class restaurants, and seemingly endless shopping opportunities, this city most definitely deserves a top spot on your travel bucket list.
Popular Attractions Around Dallas
The attractions that Dallas offers would be too many to list in this essential guide, so we’ve narrowed them down to our top three — let’s discover them together below.
Reunion Tower GeO-Deck
A trip to Dallas should include a visit to the Reunion Tower. This is arguably the best place from which you can admire the city’s skyline, not to mention a great choice for a romantic evening out.
The visit begins with an elevator ride that takes you 470 feet up to the GeO-Deck, which offers 360-degree views of the entire downtown area. But there’s more. With interactive displays, a souvenir shop, and a rotating café, the Reunion Tower makes for a truly impressive and unmissable attraction for anyone visiting Dallas.
Extra tip: Once you have completed your visit, remember to take a look at the Reunion Tower from the ground, especially when evening comes. More than 250 LED lights illuminate the tower, and its gorgeous light shows can be admired throughout downtown.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dallas is full of interesting museums and art centers, but the most popular is probably the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Here, you will be able to discover dinosaur fossils, stunning minerals, and even look at a human brain!
The museum also features compelling interactive exhibits, a 3D movie theater, and a lovely café where you can grab a quick bite in between sights.
Dallas Zoo
Animal lovers will be pleased to hear that Dallas is home to a fantastic zoo located just three miles south of downtown. This is the oldest and biggest zoo in Texas, occupying a total of 106 acres and housing around 400 different species of animals.
The zoo is proud of its commitment to animal protection and conservation, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Visitors will not only be able to observe the animals who live here but, in some cases, will also have the chance to interact with them, too.
Major Annual Events in Dallas
Dallas is home to many exciting annual events throughout the year. Here we explore three popular ones.
Dallas Blooms
As the name suggests, Dallas Blooms is all about celebrating flowers and nature. Taking place in spring and presented by Veritex at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, this floral festival brims with over 500,000 different spring blooms, creating a superb and vibrant floral display that draws crowds from all over the country.
With spring flowers from more than 100 different varieties of bulbs, hundreds of Japanese cherry trees, thousands of azaleas, and more, the festival made its big post-pandemic comeback in 2022.
But there’s more to Dallas Blooms than impressive flowers, colors, and scents. Every year, local and international artists take part in the festival by releasing new art, performing live music, running daily tastings, and organizing floral demonstrations. All this transforms Dallas Blooms from a simple flower festival to a wonderful celebration of spring, art, and nature, attracting visitors of all ages.
The Riverfront Jazz Festival
Whether or not you are a jazz connoisseur, one thing is for sure: The Riverfront Jazz Festival is one of the unmissable events in Dallas and one that creates a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere throughout the entire Labor Day weekend.
For two full days, audiences will enjoy almost non-stop jazz concerts taking place on three separate stages — Jazz, Blues and Soul, and Promising Young Artists — as well as educational activities and workshops, jam sessions, shopping opportunities, comedy, and decadent food.
This is certainly one of the city’s’ staple events, and a much-loved way to spend a Labor Day weekend in timeless style.
Dallas Arts Month
First established in 2013 — and originally called “Dallas Arts Week” — this event gained so much traction and popularity over the years that it grew to become the Dallas Arts Month.
This annual event takes place in April and aims to be a triumphant celebration of art and culture throughout the city. With anything from theater to music performances, art exhibitions, festivals, and so much more, people from Dallas and beyond gather to share the wonders and excitement of art and culture.
Again, after the forced halt dictated by the pandemic, this festival returned in 2022 with its first in-person programming since 2019. It is now about to launch its tenth installment, promising to bring a real renaissance of art and culture to the city.
Experience the Best of Dallas at a Discount
Despite its large size, Dallas is in fact a very friendly, welcoming, and pleasant city to visit, whether you are going for a weekend trip or are planning a longer stay.
Regardless of whether you love exploring its outdoor haunts, such as its world-famous zoo, or if you are more of an art and culture lover, this city has something for everyone — from museums to art festivals, from jazz events to flower celebrations, and more.
Do you want to experience all that Dallas has in store for you by taking advantage of some great deals and discounts? If so, check out Dallas CityPASS® tickets, and be sure to book your Dallas trip today!
Dallas Lodging
To get the most out of your stay in Dallas, we recommend finding lodging near Dallas's top attractions. Use this map to find the right lodging for you:
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