Dallas
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Sarah Heath is a freelance writer from East Tennessee. She now resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and dog. Her curiosity and passion for traveling intensified while living in Chengdu, China for several years. In her free time she enjoys hiking, studying Mandarin, cooking, and searching for all the best spots in the DFW and surrounding areas.
Why We Love Dallas: Dallas started out as a center for commerce and agriculture, but gained significance in the 20th century after the discovery of its vast oil supply. Residents and visitors today will find that Dallas’s offerings go much deeper than just oil. Dallas is located in the 4th largest metropolitan area in the US, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Dallas and the DFW metroplex offer residents and visitors culinary delights, diverse culture, and a plethora of economic opportunities. Dallas is a great destination for sports fans, foodies and those wanting to experience southern hospitality.
Best of Dallas
✨ Things to Do
Dallas’s diverse culture and urban environment offer a variety of different activities. From museums to free art installations, there is a little something to keep any type of traveler busy.
- The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden – This 66-acre oasis on the shores of White Rock Lake is known for its stunning display of seasonal flowers and festivals.
- Kylde Warren Park – A 5.2 acre public park located over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway. It is a great place to take in the city’s atmosphere.
- Reunion Tower – This attraction is home to the Geo-Deck, an observation deck offering 360-degree panoramic views and the Crown Block restaurant.
- Dallas Farmers Market – The farmers market consists of The Market Building, which is open 7 days a week, and The Shed which is open on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Dealey Plaza – A city park near where JFK was assassinated and the Sixth Floor Museum.
👉 Read the full list of best things to do in Dallas.
🗺️ Where to Stay
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (DFW) is the 4th largest metroplex in the US. This fast-growing metroplex offers a variety of accommodations. Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, let’s take a look at where to stay in Dallas.
- Uptown – A walkable urban district with plenty of eateries, green spaces, nightlife, and the free M-Line Trolley on McKinney Avenue.
- Downtown Historic District – A business district offering a mix of modern skyscrapers, charming historic buildings, and easy access to many of the popular tourist destinations.
- The Arts District – A performing and visual arts district with art galleries, performing arts venues, museums, and skyline views.
👉 Read the complete guide to where to stay in Dallas.
🛎️ Best Hotels
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The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (DFW) offers a variety of accommodations. From luxury hotels to budget friendly stays, Dallas has something for any type of traveler.
- HALL Arts Hotel Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton – A curated hotel in the heart of The Arts District. Enjoy walkability to many attractions and views from the rooftop pool.
- Hotel Crescent Court – A stunning hotel in a highly walkable area of Uptown. This hotel has 5 restaurants on site, a spa, and shopping nearby.
- Hotel Zaza Dallas – A boutique hotel with fun vibes, a spa, and the award-winning Dragonfly restaurant.
🍽️ Best Restaurants
Dallas’s food scene has a wide-selection of options. Whether you are craving world famous Texas BBQ or a fancy dinner, you’ll have plenty of choices.
- The Mansion Restaurant – Enjoy an elegant dinner featuring American Cuisine with French influences.
- Monarch – Take in amazing views of the Downtown while enjoying wood-fired Italian food and handmade pastas.
- Dragonfly – A contemporary restaurant inside the Hotel Zaza serving New American dishes with Asian influences.
- La Stella Cucina Verace – An Italian owned and operated fine-dining restaurant in the Hall Arts District.
- Terry Black’s Barbecue – A Texas BBQ restaurant from Austin serving pit-smoked meats from 4th generation pit masters.
🚗 Best Day Trips
- Fort Worth – A city where the Old West blends with modern vibrancy famous for its stockyards.
- Arlington – A city packed with sports and entertainment, including the AT&T Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas, the Texas Ranger’s Stadium, and Texas Live!.
- Waco – Visit the Magnolia Table and Shops at the Silos curated by Fixer Upper star Joanna Gaines.
- McKinney – Enjoy a walkable historic downtown filled with boutiques, eateries, and plenty of curated boutiques.
- Eisenhower State Park at Lake Texoma – Visit one of the largest reservoirs in the United States and search for ancient fossils.
👉 Read my complete list of day trips from Dallas.
🏘️ Best Neighborhoods
- Dallas Downtown Historic District – The Dallas Downtown Historic District is in the heart of Downtown and is home to many of Dallas’s top attractions.
- Uptown – Uptown Dallas is a 6-minute drive from Downtown. This neighborhood offers a walkable urban environment.
- The Dallas Arts District – A performing and visual arts district with art galleries, performing arts venues, museums, and skyline views.
- The Bishop Arts District – A trendy neighborhood with chic boutiques, numerous eateries, and a vibrant nightlife.
- Deep Ellum – A lively entertainment district with live music venues, vibrant street murals, and plenty of eateries.
👉 Read my complete guide to Dallas neighborhoods.
🍸 Best Bars
- Upside West Village – A chic rooftop eatery and bar with one of the best views of Downtown.
- Armoury D.E. – An eclectic bar in Deep Ellum serving a variety of craft cocktails and delicious food.
- Alexandre’s – An LGBTQ+ friendly bar in Oak Lawn serving craft cocktails and frequent live entertainment.
- Bowen House – A unique cocktail bar located in an old Victorian-style house in the heart of Uptown.
- Whiskeys – This black-owned whiskey bar is one of the best bourbon bars within Dallas proper.
🖼️ Best Museums
- Dallas Museum of Art – This museum with over 24,000 pieces is in the vibrant Dallas Arts District of Downtown.
- Perot Museum of Nature and Science – A family-friendly nature and science museum where you can learn more about dinosaurs, diamonds, and beyond.
- The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza – A museum located on the 6th floor of the former Texas School Book Depository Building. You can learn about the life, legacy, and assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
- Crow Museum of Asian Art – A free museum that celebrates Asian arts/cultures and showcasing items from ancient to contemporary times.
- Nasher Sculpture Center – A museum where you can explore modern and contemporary arts and sculptures.
🍺 Best Breweries
- Peticolas Brewing Company and Taproom – Enjoy a beer and game with friends in the Design District.
- West Lake Brewing Company – A craft brewery near downtown with a large taproom and restaurant.
- Oak Cliff Brewing Company – A brewery and taproom with a biergarten located in the heart of Oak Cliff.
- Four Corners Brewing Company – A brewery and taproom located in the former carriage house to The Ambassador Hotel.
- Manhattan Project Beer Company – A taproom in the heart of Dallas serving craft beer, coffee and food.
🏈 Best Sports Facilities
- American Airlines Center – A multi-purpose indoor arena in Victory Park, serving as the home to the NBA Dallas Mavericks and NHL Dallas Stars.
- AT&T Stadium – This retractable-roof stadium is in Arlington and is home to the NFL Dallas Cowboys.
- Cotton Bowl Stadium – A historic stadium that remains home to the Red River Showdown football game.
- Globe Life Field – This ballpark is located in Arlington and is home to the Texas Rangers.
- Toyota Stadium – This 145-acre soccer-specific stadium in Frisco is home to the FC Dallas professional soccer club.
Dallas Travel Advice
🗓️ Best Time to Visit
Dallas experiences very hot summers and mild winters. If possible, avoid planning your trip in the peak summer months (July and August). If you choose to travel in the summer, make sure to prepare and pack appropriately.
- 🌼 Spring – A great time to visit since weather is typically mild with comfortable temperature ranges.
- 🍂 Fall – Another great time to visit since the temperatures are usually mild and there are many events since the weather has cooled down.
- ❄️ Winter – Early winter weather is typically mild, but there is a chance of ice storms as you move into late winter.
- 🌞 Summer – The weather is very hot and humid this time of year. Heat can become very extreme, making outdoor activities less pleasant.
🚌 Getting In & Around
The Dallas-Fort Worth area is a sprawling metroplex that is very car-oriented. While there are some public transportation options like DART and The McKinney Avenue Trolley, you will most likely need to rent a car or use ride-sharing services if you want to take in everything that the metroplex has to offer.
- 🚶♀️ Walking – Dallas is quite car-oriented with a walkability score of 46. Uptown is one of the most walkable districts.
- 🚗 Driving – A car is recommended if you plan on experiencing the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area.
- 🚇 Public Transit – The DART busses and trains and The McKinney Avenue Trolley are options for public transportation.
- 📲 Ride Share – Uber & Lyft are active in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. As with most cities, prices can surge during peak times.
- 🚴♀️ Biking – Dallas has some great places to bike, such as The Katy Trail, but overall the city is not great for biking.
- 🛴 Scooters – Dallas relaunched their scooter program in 2023, which offers Lime, Bird, and Superpedestrian.
👉 Tips & Things to Know
- 🌞 – Take the weather into account – Dallas experiences very hot summers and mild winters. If you want to spend a lot of time outside, avoid planning your trip in the peak summer months (July and August).
- 🚗 – Plan transportation options ahead of time – Dallas has a lower walkability score (46) and is very car-oriented. Keep this in mind when you are planning your itinerary.
- 🍽️ – Try local cuisine and food from around the world – You can find a variety of food from around the world across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, especially if you are willing to get outside Dallas proper.
- 🗺️ – Experience the diversity of the metroplex – Take a ride outside of Dallas proper to experience other unique cities and developments that make up the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex.
- 🏙️ – Visit urban developments outside of Dallas Proper – The cities outside of Dallas proper have many urban developments. Including Shops at Legacy West, Frisco Star, Addison Circle, Grandscape, Water’s Creek in Allen, and Allen Premium Outlet.
🧳 What to Pack
- 👖 – Weather-appropriate clothing – I recommend packing layers if you plan to visit during the spring, fall, or winter.
- 🕶️ – Sunglasses & a hat – The sun can be very strong here, so I suggest packing sunglasses and a hat no matter the time of year.
- 🚰 – Reusable water bottle – Make sure to stay hydrated and keep safe from the heat, especially in the summer.
- 🧴 – Sunscreen – If you plan on being outside for extended periods of time, sunscreen is necessary.
- 👟 – Comfortable shoes – Whether you plan on walking around the different developments or visiting museums, pack some comfy shoes.
🤓 Facts & Info
- Census Population (2024) – 1.326 million (city), 8.34 million (metro area)
- Time Zone – Central Standard Time (UTC -5 / UTC -6 during daylight savings)
- Area Codes – 214, 469, 972, 945
- Airports – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Nickname – Big D
- Demonynm – Dallasite
- State – Texas
- Country – United States of America
💵 Costs & Budgeting
- 3 Star Hotel Room – $120/night
- 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – $250/night
- Rental Car – $45/day
- Public Transit Ticket – ~$4 ($3 to airport from center)
- Ride Share from Downtown to Airport – $38
- Take Out Meal for Two – $35-$50
- Sit Down Dinner for Two – $50-$100
- Draft Beer – $7
FAQs About Visiting Dallas
Is Dallas safe for tourists?
Most areas in Dallas are generally safe to visit as a tourist. As with any major city in the US, it is a good idea to research the specific areas that you plan on visiting ahead of time.
Is it worth visiting Dallas?
Dallas is worth visiting. While Dallas may not be one of the top tourist destinations in the US, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has a lot to offer. From its museums to its wide variety of food, there is something here for most types of travelers.
What is the best time to visit Dallas?
The best time to visit Dallas is usually in the spring or fall. The winters are not bad, but there is a small chance of ice storms. If you decide to visit in the summer, be prepared for 100+ degree weather.
Where are some good places to shop in Dallas?
Dallas is home to many great shopping areas and is even home to the original Neiman Marcus. The Galleria and NorthPark Center are two great options.
Does Dallas have a good nightlife?
Dallas has many great options for nightlife. Some popular neighborhoods include Uptown, Deep Ellum, and Lower Greenville are some great options for a lively night.
Meet Our Dallas Travel Expert
Sarah Heath
Sarah Heath is a freelance writer from East Tennessee. She now resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and dog. Her curiosity and passion for traveling intensified while living in Chengdu, China for several years. In her free time she enjoys hiking, studying Mandarin, cooking, and searching for all the best spots in the DFW and surrounding areas.
📰 Dallas Travel Guides
If you are looking for more recommendations for the Dallas area, check out some of our other guides. From the best areas to stay in to popular day trips, we will help you make the most out of your trip to the Lone Star State.
- A Local’s 42 Favorite Things to Do in Dallas
- Where to Stay in Dallas, By an Area Local
- A Dallas Neighborhood Guide, By a Local
- 15 Day Trips from Dallas Worth the Trip