A Visitor's Guide to Exploring Downtown Dallas, TX
Author Brad Lane has traveled extensively throughout Texas, and enjoys exploring the downtown streets and museums of Dallas.
Dallas is one of the top 10 largest cities in the United States, with the skyscrapers in its downtown district speaking to this size. However, the enormity of downtown Dallas isn't overwhelming — not if you know what you're looking for.
The appeal of downtown Dallas comes from modern touches mixing with landmark history. Iconic buildings commingle with public parks downtown, where eye-catching art lines the century-old sidewalks. From world-class museums to bronzed cattle sculptures, restaurants, and retail, these hot spots of entertainment and attractions are all within walking distance in downtown Dallas.
The many things to do in Dallas come together for a memorable visit. And, an encompassing view of this downtown development is visible from the top of the Reunion Tower near the heart of the city. This 561-foot observation deck also serves as a significant beacon for downtown at night.
Whether you're a first-time visitor or frequent traveler who'd like to know more, this visitor's sightseeing guide to "Big D" lays out the best tourist attractions, entertainment, and hotels in Dallas.
On This Page:
- Where is Dallas, Texas?
- Things to Do in Downtown Dallas
- Museums in Downtown Dallas
- Entertainment in Downtown Dallas
- Arts and Culture in Downtown Dallas
- Food and Dining in Downtown Dallas
- Shopping in Downtown Dallas
- Exploring Outdoors and Being Active in Downtown Dallas
- Getting around Downtown Dallas
- Where to Stay in Downtown Dallas
Where is Dallas, Texas?
Dallas is in the north-central part of the state, approximately 250 miles north of Houston, and 190 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. It's the county seat of Dallas County, which county-wide represents over nine million Texans. Dallas has a low elevation of approximately 430 feet above sea level and is in the Central time zone.
The Central Business District of Dallas is at the heart of the city and is bounded by interstate on all sides. A loose definition of downtown culture also extends into nearby districts like Deep Ellum, Uptown, and the Design District.
Dallas combines with two other principal cities to the west to form the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. The Dallas-Fort Worth area includes the city of Arlington and represents the largest concentration of people in the state. In total, Dallas-Fort Worth is home to over seven million residents. Planes, trains, and interstates lend easy access to the entire Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Things to Do in Downtown Dallas
Dallas is a well-established city with over one million residents and provides several fun things to do. The enormity of this city and its skyscrapers acknowledge this population as you stand on any bustling downtown street corner. The top places to visit in "Big D" include vibrant public parks, professional sports centers, and a bountiful collection of museums.
One prominent spot to experience Dallas is Pioneer Plaza. Bronzed longhorn steer statues inhabit this famed public space in Dallas. The park also features three cowboy cattle drivers directing the herd. This plaza represents the legacy of Dallas and sets a tone for culture throughout the rest of the city.
From the bronzed cattle in Pioneer Plaza to the free-admission Dallas Art Museum, the city undeniably has a cultural flavor of its own. The giant Eyeball sculpture downtown stands as further evidence of this. The Dallas Arts District offers even more creative flair to the city, as do other nearby neighborhoods like Deep Ellum and the Bishop Arts District.
Food in downtown Dallas provides the true taste of the city. From five-star dining to casual bites on a patio, local restaurants add to the excitement of visiting the city center. Slow-cooked meats from places like the Pecan Lodge are often a staple of repeat visits. The Dallas Farmers Market is open seven days of the week and offers more tastes to explore.
History runs deep in Dallas. The city has seen rapid growth, turbulent moments, and triumphant times since establishing in the mid-1800s. It's well worth the time in Dallas to touch upon this history at places like the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. If anything, the city's history speaks for itself from the many historic buildings and landmarks of downtown.
Other fun things to do downtown include catching live music, taking a trolley ride, and spending time at a beautiful downtown park. On the outskirts of the central part of the city, other cultural attractions like the Dallas Zoo and the George W. Bush Presidential Library offer excellent day trips from downtown.
To engage in the full Texas experience, stores like Wild Bill's Western Store in downtown feature a superb selection of Stetsons and cowboy boots.
Museums in Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the place to be for museum lovers. Beautiful museums across Dallas highlight the natural world and historical moments. One of the best museums in Dallas is also the most intertwined with the city. This must-visit attraction is on the sixth floor of a historic Texas School Book Depository.
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is dedicated to the life and assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th U.S. President of the United States. The assassination took place in Dallas on November 22nd, 1963. The museum is in the exact space where the gunman reportedly took his shot. The museum illustrates the life and political career of JFK, as well as the investigation and conspiracies surrounding his assassination.
The Sixth Floor Museum is on the west end of downtown. The Dallas Holocaust and Humans Right Museum is also on the same block and transports visitors to a darker time in world history.
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is another popular museum downtown. Dinosaur fossil skeletons, sparkling minerals, and a human brain are on display at this natural history museum. The building includes five stories of structured and interactive exhibits, as well as a 3D movie theater and quick-bite café.
The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum also attracts national attention in Dallas. The library and museum are north of the downtown district and accessible with a short bus ride. The museum showcases the eight years of George W. Bush's presidential career and includes a replica Oval Office.
Near the presidential library and museum, the Frontiers of Flight Museum is also worth the day trip. This 100,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to aviation and space flight throughout the ages. Aircraft, spacecraft, flight trainers, and other aviation artifacts comprise the multi-gallery exhibit space. Ample outdoor grounds are also available to explore.
Entertainment in Downtown Dallas
The Reunion Tower is a fun place to visit for a 360-degree view of the city. After taking a luxury elevator ride 470 feet up to the GeO-Deck, this central attraction overlooks the entire downtown. With 360-degree indoor and outdoor views, the entire metropolitan area is also in focus at the Reunion Tower. The GeO-Deck features interactive displays, memorabilia, and a rotating café.
The Reunion Tower is also appreciated from below. The tower has over 250 LED lights that illuminate the city at night. The different light shows of the Reunion Tower are visible from several vantage points downtown. The Reunion Tower has grown into a symbol of the city and adds some significant color to Dallas after dark.
Less than a mile from the Reunion Tower, the Dallas World Aquarium (DWA) is another family fun downtown destination. In a renovated warehouse in the Historic West End District, DWA features birds, mammals, reptiles, and a wide variety of marine life. The aquarium is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and participates in conservation efforts across the world.
For other animal experiences, the Dallas Zoo is three miles south of downtown. Operating as the oldest and largest zoo in Texas, the 106 acres encompassed by the zoo are home to approximately 400 species of animals. Driven by a mission to connect people to wildlife, and accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Dallas Zoo offers several ways to interact with animals.
The American Airlines Center is near the downtown core, offering buzzer-beaters and last-minute goals. This lively indoor arena is home to two professional sports teams, the NBA's Dallas Mavericks and the NHL's Dallas Stars. It's a massive sports venue that is rocking most weeks of the year. American Airlines Center also hosts major concerts, conventions, and special performances.
Arts and Culture in Downtown Dallas
Art is readily appreciated at the Dallas Museum of Art. This museum offers free admission to most of its global art collections. It's been operating for over 100 years and is one of the largest art museums in the country. Hours are well spent roaming throughout the facility's collection of over 24,000 works.
West of the museum, the 20-square-block Dallas Arts District features other acclaimed cultural institutions. The Nasher Sculpture Center and Klyde Warren Park are nearby, with beautiful and well-designed outdoor spaces. Klyde Warren is a popular park on warm days in Dallas, especially around lunchtime when food trucks line the curbside.
Further artworks are displayed with institutions like the Crow Museum of Asian Art at the Trammell Crow Center. And on the southeast end of the Dallas Arts District is One Arts Plaza. This acclaimed public space features decorative outdoor space and a mix of retail, restaurants, and live music. Other institutions like Meyerson Symphony Center and Winspear Opera House in the Arts District put on classical performances.
The Deep Ellum district also contains a dense concentration of arts and culture east of the downtown core. It's known for its creative nature and as a lively neighborhood to catch some live music on the weekends. Deep. Some of this artistic vibe is visible in the many murals around the area.
Food and Dining in Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas caters to every taste. Local fare throughout the downtown district ranges from curbside food trucks to gourmet underground steakhouses. Downtown also caters to every meal, with places like City Hall Bistro in the Historic District featuring full brunch menus. While Dallas offers a little taste of everything, no one should visit downtown without having some Texas barbecue.
In Deep Ellum, Pecan Lodge is a barbecue institution of the city. Doors of the Pecan Lodge open at 11am six days a week, and users should expect to wait in line to sample the restaurant's smoked meats. Other tastes to pursue in Dallas includes Tex-Mex at places like El Fenix next to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
The sushi and soba at Tei-An, near the Arts District, is among the best in the city. Other restaurants like Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse and Dakota's Steakhouse cater to special occasions. For some of the best pizza in the city, look no further than the specialty pizzas and Italian entrees of Campisi's near the giant eyeball sculpture.
Shopping in Downtown Dallas
The most iconic shopping spot in downtown Dallas is the Neiman Marcus flagship store. It's home to the corporate headquarters of this fashion brand, and its historic storefront sells runway-ready outfits for men, women, and children. Neiman Marcus is prominently on Main Street in downtown, almost within the eyesight of the Giant Eye across the street.
The neighboring Uptown District is home to other trendy and stylish shopping neighborhoods. Uptown Plaza Dallas features a wide range of restaurants and modern storefronts, as well as spas and yoga studios.
Farther north in Uptown, the West Village is a very walkable shopping plaza with retail, restaurants, and a movie theater. Expect trendy and fashionable storefronts in West Village and Uptown and easy walkability between each district.
Wild Bill's Western Store offers an authentic Texas shopping experience two blocks from the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza downtown. It features high-quality cowboy boots and western hats, and the leather aroma alone makes one want to pick up a lasso. Shirts, jackets, belt buckles, and bolo ties are also featured in this iconic western store.
Exploring Outdoors and Being Active in Downtown Dallas
One of the best natural spots near downtown is the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. This manicured space is a 30-minute bus ride from downtown. Visitors have nearly 20 unique gardens to explore upon admission to this bustling botanical space. A consistent family favorite is the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden.
The arboretum abuts the shores of White Rock Lake, and the surrounding White Rock Lake Park offers several other ways to get outdoors. A 10-mile hike and bike trail circle the entire 1,000-acre lake, and boat launches are available to access the water. White Rock Lake and the Dallas Arboretum are both top spots for picnics outside of downtown.
Within downtown, several public parks also encourage time spent outside. The recently installed Pacific Plaza Park offers nearly four acres of open space with a modern design. It's located near the heart of downtown on Pacific Avenue, bordering One Dallas Center and the Majestic Theatre.
Main Street Garden is another manicured green space in the heart of downtown. Visitors to Main Street Garden will find contemporary art installations and warm-weather events like Movies in the Park.
Belo Garden is another popular park nearby with interactive water fountains. Also known as Civic Garden, more than 100 trees comprise this compact 1.7-acre park, providing a nice refuge from the busy surrounding streets.
A great reason to explore outside in downtown is the Dallas Farmers Market in southeast downtown. The Dallas Farmers Market features a large open-air pavilion with vendors selling local produce on Saturdays and Sundays. Arts, crafts, and live music are also prevalent at these Farmers Markets at "The Shed." A 26,000-square-foot food hall is also connected to the pavilion and offers shops and atmosphere seven days a week.
Getting around Downtown Dallas
Getting around downtown is easy to do without a car. From public transit options to enjoyable walks on warm days, the city is almost more accessible without having to worry about parking. Visitors can also count on being able to find a cab or rideshare at any hour of the day.
The M-Line Trolley, also known as the Downtown Dallas Trolley, offers fare-free rides between the Dallas Art District and Uptown. The trolley operates every day of the year and generally makes stops every fifteen minutes.
The easiest way to get around the larger metropolitan is by using the services offered by Dallas Area Regional Transit (DART). This public transportation system includes rail lines, bus routes, and a streetcar.
Half-day passes are $3, and full-day passes go for $6. Single-ride fares are also available. Smartphone users may pay with their device if they have a digital wallet or the correct app. The DART system map covers every area downtown and well beyond.
DART also operates special lines that connect to spots like the American Airlines Center, the Dallas Zoo, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
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