Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Dallas?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Dallas?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Dallas, Texas? Most people spend two to four days in Dallas during their visit. After all, the upscale city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, enjoy an evening out, and go shopping.
Dallas is a sprawling city in north Texas. It's known for its business sector and is said to have a bit of a posh personality. There are many museums and cultural opportunities around town as well as great Texas food and countless shopping opportunities.
Do you have one or two days to visit Dallas? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Dallas?
One day is usually not enough time to experience the upscale city of Dallas, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, enjoy an evening out, and go shopping. So, you'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside two to four days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend a day in Dallas
Don't miss the Sixth Floor Museum during your trip to Dallas, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Secret Food Tour of Dallas with Private Tour Option ($99)
The public transit in Dallas is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Dallas?
Dallas isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. A weekend is probably not enough. You'll feel rushed to see the main attractions of Dallas such as the great museums and landmarks along with the terrific food. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more than just a 2 day trip. Most travelers schedule two to four days to fully experience this city. Nevertheless, if a weekend is all you can spare, we have some suggestions for your weekend getaway to Dallas below.
Dallas, Texas
How to spend 2 days in Dallas
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Dallas will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Dallas, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.
A few tour suggestions include:
- JFK Assassination Tour with JFK Museum and Oswald's Rooming House ($77)
- JFK Assassination and Museum Tour with Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House ($77)
- Dallas and JFK Full-Day Tour with Sixth Floor Museum and Oswald Rooming House ($133)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Party Bike Pub Crawl in Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas ($55)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Dallas, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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