Best things to do in Dallas

Whether you’re in town to see the Dallas Cowboys rack up a few touchdowns or swing by the city’s arts district, don’t miss everything else the ‘Big D’ has to offer. The best things to do in Dallas covers many exciting activities, from exploring the location of a hit 80s soap to catching a symphony.

Green spaces throughout Dallas are linked by a gorgeous trail you’ll want to hike or bike along, and the world-class museums showcase everything from spacecraft to cowgirls. Don’t miss a visit to the city’s much celebrated freeway park – this urban space has transformed Dallas in the very best way.

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

8525 Garland Road, Dallas, TX 75218

If you like your nature beautifully curated – rather than wild and rugged, take a drive northeast out of Dallas on Garland Road. As you pass by the east coast of White Rock Lake, pull into the 66-acre plot of Dallas Arboretum.

These award-winning gardens and arboretum are world-renowned. Year round, the colorful borders are full of seasonal blooms, lush green lawns provide the perfect place to lay out a picnic blanket and the Children’s Adventure Garden is full of fun for budding gardeners.

If you’re passionate about eating fresh and keeping your food miles to a minimum, drop by ‘A Tasteful Place’. The 3.5-acre, ornamental garden and kitchen offers daily free food tastings and cooking demos.

Reunion Tower

300 Reunion Boulevard East, Dallas, TX 75207

Scaling this sky-high icon is one of the best things to do in Dallas. The quick ascent rewards you with 360-degree panoramic views over the city ­ along with pop-up events, interactive digital displays and evening light shows.

Located in downtown Dallas, the main observation deck sits at 470ft up and the glass elevator ride to the GeoDeck is a quick and fun way to take the leg work out of the vertical climb.

Woo your partner with a ‘Love is in the Air’ date night – seeing the sparkling lights of the city’s skyline is romantic, providing both of you have a head for heights. Elevate the experience a little further by booking a table in the tower’s upscale restaurant, Crown Block. Here you can feast on seafood and steaks with perfect views of the city.

Drive out to Southfork Ranch

3700 Hogge Road, Parker, TX 75002

Millions of people across the world will instantly recognize Southfork Ranch. For 13 years the white barns, green pastures and swimming pool were the backdrop to the Ewing family drama of the hit TV series Dallas.

Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Dallas, you can take a tour of the ranch and experience the Ewing family lifestyle for yourself. Walk around the huge ‘mansion’, get up close to memorabilia and props from the show and hang out in the grounds to get those all-important pop-culture selfies.

For the ultimate ranch experience consider a stay – or a full day immersed in ranch living. Options include horseback rides, helicopter tours or a seat at ‘J.R.’s VIP Steak Dinner’.

Hike the Katy Trail

Katy Trail, Dallas, TX 75201

The Katy Trail is one of the best things to do in Dallas for adventure lovers. 3.5 miles of wide paths guide you from north to south through several of the city’s parks and neighborhoods. As well as hiking the route, you can bike, skate or jog your way through the city, with opportunities to spot Katy Trail art along the way.

Although the well-maintained paths were laid in 2000, the route has been a key part of Dallas’ transport system since 1865. Previously part of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, the K-T rail lines were abandoned and eventually donated back to the city in 1993.

Don’t miss the chance to take part in Katy Trail events such as the annual Katy 5K.

Hear a symphony at the Meyerson

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201

Established in 1900, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is one of the biggest performing arts organizations in the USA. Concerts at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center include traditional classical performances, live music, interactive concerts and multimedia events that showcase the orchestra’s wide-ranging musical talents.

Expect to enjoy an array of musical genres, with concerts that celebrate golden eras of pop music, powerful interpretations of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 and highly skilled performances of Brahms’s piano concertos.

The acoustic qualities in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center have been compared to some of the best in Europe. Just a few blocks away from downtown Dallas, the Symphony Center is just next door to the Winspear Opera House – another formidable concert venue.

Klyde Warren Park

2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201

Explore a freeway in an entirely different way at Klyde Warren Park. Located on the top of Woodall Rodgers Freeway, this five-acre urban park has become a much loved green space in Dallas.

While motorists cruise along the recessed road below, families relax, walk, picnic and move through yoga poses on the grass above. The interactive water park is the best place to cool off in summer and the shaded dog park is a welcome spot for canine companions. As well as a calendar of daily activities, pop up events are scheduled throughout the year.

There’s always something new here. A diverse range of food trucks pitch up at the park – along with movie nights, Party in the Park, Halloween and Independence Day celebrations.

Dallas Museum of Art

1717 North Harwood, Dallas, TX 75201

At the heart of the city’s urban arts district, you’ll find 25,000 creative pieces waiting to be seen at the Dallas Museum of Art. The collection spans an impressive 5,000 years of history, covering themes including indigenous American art, design and decorative pieces, US and Canadian art, as well as African and European work.

Alongside the permanent and rotating exhibits, events, talks, concerts and art classes for little ones are available on selected dates.

Galleries can be found on all four levels of the museum and admission is free for most of the collections. Special exhibition tickets are also available for temporary exhibitions.

Frontiers of Flight Museum

6911 Lemmon Avenue, Dallas, TX 75209

When George Haddaway (former editor of Flight Magazine) donated his collection of aviation artifacts to The University of Texas in 1963, he set off a chain of events that led to the creation of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

From a collection of artifacts to a facility covering 100,000 square feet, the museum’s journey is as fascinating as the spacecraft, aircraft, missiles and simulators on display.

Take the 15-minute drive north of downtown Dallas to enter the hangars. You’ll get up close to a Learjet, an F1 racer, a ‘flying pancake’, an Apollo 7 Command Module and many more aircraft and replicas.

Dallas has a whole host of things to do, but it’s worth exploring further too. The lakeside restaurants and galleries of Granbury are just a 90-minute drive away – ideal for a change of scene during your stay in Dallas.

Learn more about Dallas

Planning a trip to Dallas? We have more expert guides to help you find places to stay, eat and explore in the city. Check out our articles below.

• Best restaurants in Dallas
• Dallas driving guide
• Dallas’s neighborhoods