Dallas – The Big Texan Metropolis
Dallas is Texas's most modern city and the most massive metropolis in the Lone Star State, even more so than the giant metropolis of Houston. This is a new city with very little ancient history but a lot of modern American history from post-World War II. Unfortunately, Dallas was the site of one of America's deepest wounds, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The assassination in downtown Dallas plays a significant role in the city's public fabric and is quite present during a tour of the city. Besides the sites related to Kennedy, the city boasts an art museum with a rare quality collection, an iconic tower for city views, and numerous professional sports teams whose games are definitely worth checking out during the season.
How many days are needed for a trip to Dallas?
For a trip to Dallas, you need a full day of touring. It's worth combining the city tour with a hop over to nearby Fort Worth, and dedicating at least two days to the metropolitan area.
It's highly recommended to find accommodation during your trip in Dallas; you can also stay in neighboring Fort Worth.
Click here to check availability and prices for hotels and motels in Dallas…
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What must you see and do in Dallas?
- View of the metropolitan area from the top of Reunion Tower (and watch the tower lit up in the evening)
- The darkest conspiracy theories about Kennedy's assassination at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
- Old and new at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza and The Old Red Courthouse
- The high-quality collection at the Dallas Museum of Art
- The stunning sculpture garden at Nasher Sculpture Center
- The unique chapel at Thanks-Giving Square
- The Attractions of Fair Park
- Games of the Mavericks (NBA), Texas Rangers (MLB), or Cowboys (NFL) in season
Click here to purchase the Dallas CityPASS online…
What is Dallas?
Technically, Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas, home to about one and a quarter million residents. However, the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area is the largest and central in the Lone Star State, with over eight million people. It is considered the fourth-largest metro area in the U.S., after the giants – New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
Click here for a half-day tour from Dallas to the heart of Fort Worth…
- Dallas itself is a very new city. The settlement was indeed founded in 1841, but it was a small town that developed alongside nearby Fort Worth, which also didn't grow much until the early 20th century
- In fact, Dallas was only defined as a city in 1956, but since then, it has developed at an incredible pace
- The most significant event that took place in this young city happened about seven and a half years later, on November 22, 1963. On that warm autumn day, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in the city center, in what is considered one of the deepest wounds in contemporary American culture. The assassination of Kennedy is profoundly associated with the new and developing city, and the historical day's remembrance is reflected in every corner of downtown.
Today's Dallas is not a stable city in many respects, and a visit is often short and straightforward. The city has some interesting attractions, but there are extensive parts of the city that should be avoided at all costs, mainly due to high crime rates.
Click here for a Texan culinary tour in the heart of Dallas…
Dallas Map
How to Get to Dallas?
How to Arrive by Flight to Dallas?
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
The Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is considered one of the largest airports in the USA. It serves as the home base and headquarters for the American aviation giant, American Airlines, which makes it one of the busiest airports in the USA, especially for connecting flights. The airport was built in the late 1960s, amidst the developing metropolis, halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. The airport has five terminals and is connected to all regional airports and beyond within the USA, Canada, and Mexico, as well as all major airports in Europe and the Far East.
The airport is only a fifteen-minute drive east to downtown Dallas and west to the center of Fort Worth. There is public transportation from the airport, but it's not recommended because it's slow and passes through areas you might want to avoid. So, the best options for leaving the airport are with a rental car or a taxi (or Uber). There is also air traffic between the airport and Dallas's older airport – Love Field (DAL) Dallas Love Field, where flights from major airports in the U.S. still arrive.
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How do you get to Dallas by car?
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex sits on Interstate 20, the highway of the Deep South. It starts in South Carolina, passes through Atlanta in Georgia, Birmingham in Alabama, and Jackson in Mississippi. After passing the metroplex in northern Texas, it merges with Interstate 10 east of El Paso. Dallas is the northern tip of the Texas Triangle; Interstate 45 connects it with Houston, and Interstate 35 connects it with San Antonio. Interstate 35 continues north to Oklahoma City.
When is the best time to visit Dallas?
Like all major Texas cities, Dallas is characterized by a southern climate, meaning a scorching sunny summer that's sometimes humid and occasionally rainy, and a pleasant winter that's mostly warm but every now and then… it can freeze over.
- The best season to visit the city is winter. Winter in Dallas is pleasant to cool, with quite a few sunny days and minimal precipitation. The days can be sunny and warm, but nights can get chilly to freezing. There isn't much precipitation in winter, and snow is a rather rare commodity
- The late spring and fall months in Dallas are relatively rainy, with May and June being particularly wet. During spring and fall, you can enjoy wandering around the city, and if it rains, simply step inside a museum or hop in a car
- Summer in Dallas is hot, sunny, and sometimes rainy in the afternoons, especially in August and September. The summer isn't the most pleasant time to wander around, as it can be very hot, sometimes dry, but often humid and quite exhausting
Click here for a guided tour of downtown Dallas…
Everything You Need to Know About Accommodation in Dallas
Accommodation in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex follows the American model, with a division between large urban hotels downtown and a variety of motels spread along major routes connecting both cities. Since Dallas isn't the friendliest city, especially after dark, if you're staying downtown, it’s wise not to wander the streets too much after sunset. The beautiful lights of the Reunion Tower are best admired from the proximity of your hotel.
Staying in the center of Fort Worth is more comfortable and friendly, and it’s definitely worth booking a hotel in the historic part of this neighboring city.
Click here to check availability and prices in Fort Worth hotels…
In the large metropolis, there are many routes where it's worth staying at a wide variety of motels. Along the routes of Highway 35 East (near Dallas) or Highway 35 West (near Fort Worth), and the roads connecting the centers of the two cities through the international airport, there is a huge concentration of all the major American motel chains. If you're visiting the city with a car (it's really tough without one), it's definitely recommended to stay in motels along the route near the metroplex's major airport.
Click here to find accommodation in Dallas's hotels and motels…
Map – Where to Stay in Dallas?
How to Plan a Trip Itinerary in Dallas?
The trip in Dallas is part of the Texan tour route, located in the eastern part of the state. This itinerary includes the other two cities of the Texan triangle – San Antonio and Houston, as well as Fort Worth, which is adjacent to Dallas from the west. Along the route, you can also make a stop at the state capital, Austin, on the way to San Antonio, which is the primary tourist hub of the entire state.
The trip around Dallas itself is quite simple, and almost everything there is to see and do in the city is found downtown.
- It’s recommended to start your city tour at Dealey Plaza, the site where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Overlooking the plaza is the nondescript building that has become an American icon, from which the president was shot. Today, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza occupies the sixth floor of this building, dedicated entirely to Kennedy's assassination and the conspiracy theories surrounding it.
- Adjacent to the plaza on the west is the city's modern symbol – Reunion Tower, featuring a geodesic dome atop a needle-like structure.
- East of the square, there's a fascinating cluster of museums, led by the Dallas Museum of Art, one of the finest museums in the heart of America. Next to the museum, it's worth visiting the Nasher Sculpture Center, a stunning sculpture garden.
- East of the museums lies the beautiful Thanksgiving Square.
- The visit to Dallas also includes the Fair Park, which has a range of attractions and pavilions.
On your Dallas day trip or the following day, it's worth adding a jump to neighboring Fort Worth, which is technically part of the Dallas travel route.
Click here for planning a travel itinerary in Dallas and Fort Worth and professional consultation…
Everything to See and Do in Dallas
Reunion Tower
The unique Reunion Tower is currently the symbol of Dallas, along with its outstanding sports teams. The tower rises above Interstate 35 at the westernmost part of downtown. It was built on a narrow strip of land between the city's railway line and the highway, right above Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station, or the city's historic Union Station.
The tower was built in 1978 as part of a plan to improve the western part of downtown. It stands above the large hotel facility of the Hyatt Regency Dallas. The tower is an utterly illogical combination of a needle-like tower (similar to the Tower of the Americas in neighboring San Antonio) with a geodesic dome on top. The tower’s height is 171 meters, with an observation deck and a luxury restaurant inside the dome.
The tower dominates the city's skyline, especially in the evenings when the dome is illuminated with stunning LED lights. From the observation deck, you can clearly see nearby Dealey Plaza, the place where President Kennedy was shot, and the Dealey Plaza building from where Lee Oswald assassinated the president.
Address: Reunion Blvd E. 300, Dallas
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Reunion Tower observation deck…
Click here for all the information on climbing to the top of Reunion Tower…
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Just a bit north of Reunion Tower lies a piece of contemporary American history that runs deep. In the northern part of Dealey Plaza, at the intersection of Elm Street and Houston Street, John F. Kennedy's car made a sharp turn at midday on November 22, 1963. The open vehicle, carrying the American president along with his wife Jacqueline and Texas Governor John Connally, had just left Interstate 35 after visiting Fort Worth. Overlooking the plaza is the seven-story, somber office tower of Dealey Plaza, where, on the sixth floor, Lee Harvey Oswald awaited the American president. As the car slowed at the street intersection, Oswald fired three shots with a sniper rifle, the second hitting the president's back and the Texas governor, resulting in the president's death.
The gray building once housed the Texas book archive. Lee Oswald assassinated the President, then left the building and killed a policeman during his escape. The following day, Oswald was caught inside the theater where he was. After his initial interrogation, during his transfer towards the prison from the county jail, he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby.
Click here for a guided walking tour following the JFK assassination in downtown Dallas…
The story of Kennedy's assassination is an important part of American culture and undoubtedly the most central symbol of the young city. Besides the countless conspiracy stories, the gray building has become a symbol of the city and one of the most recognizable buildings in America. The museum operates on the sixth floor, the floor from which Oswald shot Kennedy, and it mainly tells about Kennedy's life and the story of the assassination. The museum also features displays and explanations about conspiracy theories, making it a truly eye-opening place. Beyond the historical window (though it's a reconstruction, this is the place where Oswald stood when he shot) from which the president was shot.
Address: Elm St. 411, Dallas
Click here for the museum's latest opening hours and entry fees…
John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza and The Old Red Courthouse
In the eastern part of Dealey Plaza, where John Kennedy was assassinated, a menacing concrete monument was erected in his honor. The memorial was completed in 1970 and is a square structure with adjoining concrete walls, with one wall missing to allow entry into the box. It is meant to create a peaceful, quiet place, yet it evokes extreme discomfort and resembles a threatening prison. In stark contrast to the dreadful monument stands the nearby Old Red Courthouse, one of the city's most elegant buildings. Built in 1891, it's one of the oldest in the city and undoubtedly the most beautiful.
Click here for a trolley tour following Kennedy's assassination…
The Dallas World Aquarium
The Dallas World Aquarium is located in the northern part of downtown in what is known as the West End District. It's a fascinating urban aquarium that opened in 1992, featuring exhibits of both land and sea animals. The aquarium isn't large, but it serves as a great getaway with the kids if it's too hot or rainy outside. The venue showcases a variety of fish species, jellyfish, amphibious creatures such as seals and penguins, as well as a small section resembling an urban zoo with land animals. The aquarium is built on conservation values and also functions as a rehabilitation center for injured animals.
Address: 1801 N Griffin St., Dallas
Click here for the aquarium's current opening hours…
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
The Dallas Museum of Modern Science and Nature is located on the northern part of Woodall Rodgers Freeway, the main road wrapping around downtown from the north. It's a stunning concrete structure completed in the early 2000s. The museum opened in 2006 as a home for city collections. The museum features displays of natural treasures found in Texas like dinosaur fossils and stunning minerals. There are also displays of large dinosaur reconstructions. In the scientific section, there are quite a few scientific experiments that you can actually play with and activate.
Address: N Field St. 2201, Dallas
Click here for the museum's current operating hours…
Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art is a prestigious and veteran institution now housed in a modern building in the northern part of downtown Dallas, next to the Nasher Sculpture Center. The museum itself was opened in 1903 and has amassed an enormous and significant collection over the years. It boasts around 24,000 artworks on display and in storage, making it one of the largest art museums in what is known as Middle America, between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains.
The museum's collection includes many important works by European artists and a large collection of American artists. The standout masterpieces in the museum’s collection are:
- Painting "The Fox in the Snow" by the giant of French realism Gustave Courbet
- The vast "Apollo and Artemis" by the great French neoclassicist Jacques-Louis David
- "Oedipus and Colonus" by the giant of French romanticism Théodore Géricault
- The famous painting "I Raro te Oviri" by Paul Gauguin
- "Saint John" by the Spanish/Greek Baroque giant El Greco
- Edgar Degas' bronze sculpture "The Masseuse"
- The collection also includes paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Edouard Vuillard, and quite a few works by the giant of Dutch modernism Piet Mondrian
Address: N Harwood St. 1717, Dallas
Click here for the museum's current opening hours…
Nasher Sculpture Center
The Nasher Sculpture Center is located just across the road from the magnificent Dallas Museum of Art. The center is housed in a modern structure with a lobby and a few sculptures, leading out to a breathtaking sculpture garden. The sculptures are set among trees and paths, making the garden more of a really attractive urban park than a museum.
The sculpture center boasts about three hundred sculptures of various sizes, collected and donated to the city by Raymond and Patsy Nasher. The collection includes sculptures by Joan Miró, Henri Matisse, Frank Stella, Jacques Lipchitz, Richard Serra, and other artists.
Address: Flora St. 2001, Dallas
Click here for the museum's current hours…
Thanks-Giving Square
The small Thanks-Giving Square is a totally cool urban park that brings landscape design and modern architecture together. The park features channels, gardens, concrete paths, and modern sculpture, surrounded by downtown skyscrapers like an urban oasis (especially at the peak of summer). The square also houses a small chapel in a spiral modern structure and a place dedicated to explanations about Thanksgiving.
Fair Park
Fair Park is located in the eastern part of the city of Dallas, a five-minute drive from downtown. It's a large and spacious park where the annual Texas fair is held. Across the park, there are several attractions such as the Cotton Bowl Stadium, the Music Hall where open-air concerts are held, the Children's Aquarium Dallas, the Leonhardt Lagoon, the Ferris wheel, and the Hall of State convention center.
Sports and Entertainment Events in Dallas
Dallas is a sports empire. As befits the fourth largest metropolis in the USA, the city has a representation in each of the major leagues, and not just any representation, but top-tier teams. The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most impressive football empires in America, right up there with the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. Today’s team is considered the most valuable sports team in the entire world, across all sports.
Besides the Cowboys, the city also boasts the outstanding Mavericks, who have been thriving in the NBA in recent years, and the wonderful Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball. The Rangers have won the World Series only once, but they have been flourishing in recent years and even won in 2023. The city's hockey team, the Dallas Stars, has also been thriving in recent years. The city also has an active soccer team in the MLS, FC Dallas, and the WNBA team, the Dallas Wings.
Click here for a guided tour inside the Dallas Cowboys Stadium…
Basketball in Dallas
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are one of the best teams today in the NBA. The team was founded in 1980 and has won only once the championship, in 2011, under the leadership of the German giant Dirk Nowitzki. Fondly known as the Mavs, they play at the American Airlines Center just north of downtown, seating nearly 20,000 fans.
Home Stadium Address: Victory Ave. 2500, Dallas
Click here to purchase tickets for Mavericks games on their official site…
Football in Dallas
Dallas Cowboys
If the Mavericks are perhaps the team Dallas is most famous for due to their recent success, the biggest sports empire in the Dallas metropolis is the formidable football team of the Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys were founded in 1960 and have since become a staple name in the world of American sports. The team has won five Super Bowls during its operations, but it is best known for its excellent cheerleading squad and for now being the most valuable sports team in the world.
The team plays in the massive AT&T Stadium in Arlington, right midway between downtown Dallas and the center of Fort Worth. The stadium holds over 80,000 spectators, yet tickets are hard to come by. The team is the darling of the city, and the games are considered an experience (there aren't many games each season).
Home Stadium Address: AT&T Way, 1, Arlington
Click here to purchase tickets for Cowboys games on the team's website…
Baseball in Dallas
The Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are the city's baseball team and one of the powerhouses of the MLB league. The team was founded in 1961 in Washington D.C. and moved to Dallas after 12 years. The Rangers were considered one of the weaker teams in the league until they suddenly flourished in the early 2000s. Since 2010, the team has made it to the playoffs almost every year and even reached the World Series three times, winning just once in 2023.
The team plays in the covered Globe Life Field Stadium in Arlington. The stadium has a capacity of over forty thousand spectators, and usually, it's easy to get tickets for the team's games.
Home Stadium Address: Stadium Dr. 734, Arlington
Click here to buy tickets online for Texas Rangers games at Globe Life Field…
Hockey in Dallas
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are the city's representative in the professional hockey league. The team was founded in Minnesota in 1967 and moved to Dallas in 1993. About six years after moving to the city, they also won the Stanley Cup in an unforgettable season. Since then, the team has reached the playoffs several times and even lost the 2020 Stanley Cup. The team plays alongside the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center just north of downtown, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 spectators.
Home Stadium Address: Victory Ave. 2500, Dallas
Click here to purchase online tickets for Stars games at American Airlines Stadium…
