Updated · On BootsnAll since 2002 · History
Overview and Things to Consider
Dallas is a major finance and tech hub spread across the Texas plains. Downtown has been revitalized with museums and new development, and Uptown is trendy and walkable. The food scene has grown fast, with serious restaurants and a wide range of cuisines. The city sells itself on culture, shopping and food, but it also carries the trauma of the JFK assassination. Winter is mild and summer hot and humid. Outside downtown and Uptown, you'll need a car. The culture mixes the modern with Texas iconography.
Getting There and Around
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is huge and well connected. The metro area sprawls, so you'll need a rental car for most exploring, and most visitors rent one. Downtown and Uptown are walkable. Ride-shares exist, but highway distances add up. DART transit covers some areas but isn't comprehensive. Parking is available and fairly cheap. The city is built for driving, not walking.
What's Changed Since 2016
The dining scene has grown a lot as acclaimed chefs opened restaurants. Hotel and retail money keeps flowing into downtown. Uptown is trendier and more expensive. The tech industry and the population have both grown. The Dallas Arts District has a higher profile, and high-rises keep going up across the city.
Ideas to Consider for Your Visit
The Sixth Floor Museum documents the JFK assassination and Dallas history. The Dallas Museum of Art is excellent, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is well done. The Arts District has galleries and cultural institutions, Uptown has restaurants and nightlife, and Highland Park has shopping and upscale dining. Deep Ellum is the place for street art, galleries and music venues. The food scene is serious, so eat around the city. Cowboys fans can visit AT&T Stadium in Arlington (30 minutes away). The Texas School Book Depository building is historic but heavy.
Realities to Be Aware Of
Summer heat is intense (100+ F). Traffic is heavy at rush hour, and distances are longer than they look. Some neighborhoods are unsafe, so ask locals about where you're going. Poverty and homelessness are visible in parts of downtown. The JFK museum has a complicated relationship with the tragedy it documents. The culture can feel aggressively Texas-focused in ways that grate. Parking can be hard in popular neighborhoods. The weather is unpredictable: ice storms can shut the city down in winter, and spring can bring severe storms.
If Dallas Is Part of a Longer Trip
Austin is 3.5 hours south for live music and outdoor swimming. San Antonio is 4 hours south for the Alamo and River Walk. Fort Worth is 30 minutes west for history and museums. Most visitors spend 2-3 days in Dallas as part of Texas exploration.
Yearly Things to Consider
Fall (October-November) is pleasant and the best season. Winter (December-February) is mild, with occasional cold snaps and ice storms. Spring (March-May) is pleasant but can bring severe storms. Summer (June-September) is hot and humid, hard going for outdoor activities. Avoid July-August heat.
Ideas for Itineraries
Two Days in Dallas
Day one: Sixth Floor Museum, Arts District, museum visits. Day two: Uptown exploration, restaurants, Deep Ellum art scene, shopping.
Four Days with Fort Worth and Food
Day one: Dallas museums and history. Day two: Uptown and food scene. Day three: Drive 30 minutes west to Fort Worth for cowboy culture and Western museums. Day four: More Dallas neighborhoods or return to Fort Worth.
Dallas and Austin
Spend 2 days in Dallas museums and food. Drive 3.5 hours to Austin. Spend 2 days in Austin for music, barbecue, and outdoor swimming. Return to Dallas or fly from Austin.
Texas Triangle Cities
Spend 2 days in Dallas. Drive 3.5 hours to Austin. Spend 2 days in Austin. Drive 3 hours to San Antonio. Spend 2 days in San Antonio. Return to Dallas or fly from San Antonio.
FAQ
Yes, if JFK history interests you. The museum is respectfully done and provides important historical context. It's not exploitative despite the subject.
2-3 days to experience museums, neighborhoods, and food scene. The city sprawls, so you won't cover everything in one visit.
Yes, for most exploring. Downtown and Uptown are walkable, but the city sprawls, and a car opens up far more neighborhoods.
Very good, and getting better. Uptown and downtown have excellent restaurants, and the range of cuisines rivals major food cities. Explore the neighborhoods for the best meals.
Downtown, Uptown, and tourist areas are generally safe. Some neighborhoods have serious safety concerns - ask locals. Use common sense about where you walk after dark.
Update history (12)▸
· Rewrite
Edited for readability and the BootsnAll voice: generic phrasing cut in 9 passages, no facts changed
· Fact-check
Fact-checked against current sources: no corrections needed
· Rewrite
Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
1 member blog post from 1 blogger
- 2011: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)
· Contributors
2 Insider dispatches, by Heather Hill
· Archive
Covered in BootsnAll's round-the-world destination guides
Archived copy of /rtw/destinations/na/dallas.shtml· Contributors
1 Insider dispatch, by Heather Hill
- September 2002: Dallas: More than just yee-haws and oilrigs - Dallas, Texas - Heather Hill (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
· Contributors
Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers