Flights to Houston with Air France from ZAR 17,535*

Discover the skyscrapers of Houston

Houston is like the rest of Texas: huge and awe-inspiring at the same time. Although it's not the state capital, it is the most populous city, with a little over two million inhabitants. Houston experienced a population boom in the 20th century due to strong economic growth. Many oil companies have their headquarters here and the city is now considered something of a global energy powerhouse. It is also home to numerous factories specialized in making oil and gas-derived products. The city's history and expansion are thus directly linked to the Spindletop oil well strike near Houston in 1901.

However, Houston is about a lot more than the oil industry. NASA's biggest site is found in Houston and the city is a real hub of cutting-edge technologies and research and development.

If you're a fan of space exploration, Houston is the perfect place to satisfy your curiosity by visiting the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, the only NASA site open to the public.

If you're looking for Houston's old city centre, stop now - there isn't one. The city was historically divided into districts known as wards of which the city centre, which is also the business district, was just one. Downtown Houston hosts some of the most impressive skyscrapers in the whole of the USA. Houston is composed of a number of distinct areas, including Texas Medical Center in the south of the city, which is one of the largest medical complexes in the world, and the Uptown district to the west, the city's second biggest central business district.

Houston boasts many museums, especially art galleries.

Set off on the discovery of Houston's hinterland

During your stay in Houston, you may have the opportunity to visit sights that are a little further afield, such as Brazos Bend State Park which borders the Brazos river over a stretch of several kilometres. It's a great place to stroll or cycle along paths that wind through forests and past lakes. This huge park even has its own resident alligators.

The state capital, Austin, is a two hour thirty minute drive from Houston. This pleasant city is very much a university town. Go a little further still, just past the city of San Antonio, and you'll come across Alamo village, a movie set for the western 'The Alamo', filmed in 1960. The state of Texas has many sites of historical interest and attractions that offer a glimpse into the state's cultural heritage. On top of this, it boasts many areas of outstanding natural beauty, which is hardly surprising, given that it's the biggest state in the USA after Alaska. Why not consider hiring a car in Houston to better explore the city and state?