Best Time to Visit Houston, Texas

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

March and April are the easy picks. Days are warm, evenings are cool, and you can sit on a patio in Montrose or walk Buffalo Bayou Park without sweating through your shirt. February is also rated Excellent, though it can feel grey and damp. Rain is steady but rarely ruins a whole day.

October and November work just as well. October is still warm and a bit wetter than you'd guess, but it has plenty of sun. November is cooler and calmer. If you want museums in the Museum District, a Rice Village stroll and a Texas barbecue crawl in the same weekend, these months are your best bet.

Summer: hot, sticky and indoors

From June to August, Houston is hot and heavy. August is the hottest month at 36°C, and the air stays thick even after dark. Afternoon storms roll in often, with rain on 13 to 15 days a month. That's not all-day rain, but it's enough to rearrange your plans.

Do this: spend midday indoors. The Space Center Houston, the Museum of Natural Science and the Galleria are all air-conditioned. Save outdoor time for the evening. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with September the riskiest stretch, so buy flexible tickets if you travel then. Summer is low season for visitors, so hotels are often easier to find.

Winter and the event calendar

December and January are mild, with cool nights and lots of grey skies. January is the coldest month, with highs of 17°C. It's a good time for the city's food scene and for NASA tours without the heat.

The big event is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at NRG Park, which runs through much of late February and March. It brings big crowds, concerts and plenty of fried food, so hotels fill up near the park. Travelling with kids? It's a fun reason to visit, but book rooms well in advance. In spring, the Houston Art Car Parade draws people to downtown in April. Autumn is football season, with Texans games at NRG Stadium.