Are you planning a trip to Texas and wondering which city is the best?
Or maybe you’re a local who is curious about how the cities compare.
We have ranked all the major cities in Texas to decide, once and for all, which is best.
From the bustling streets of Houston to the vibrant music of Austin, each city has something unique to offer.
But which one tops the list for the best visitor experience?
In this blog post, we will reveal our exciting findings based on important factors like hotel prices, crime rates and the number of amazing attractions and restaurants.
So get ready to discover which Texas city is the ultimate travel destination!
You might be surprised by the results.
1. Houston
Score: 5/5
Houston is a bustling city, known for its diverse culture, delicious food and numerous top attractions.
According to the data we collected, Houston ranks first among the six major cities in Texas for several reasons.
Firstly, the city has an impressive 2,020 tourist attractions listed on Tripadvisor, making it the top city for tourists looking for things to do.
The average rating for the top 5 most popular attractions was 4.68 out of 5, showing that tourists are very satisfied with what Houston has to offer.
With 7,872 restaurants, Houston also has the highest number of dining options compared to the other major cities in Texas.
Of these, 2,582 are rated 4-stars or higher, which is the most out of all the cities we looked at.
The average price of a 3-star hotel in Houston is $87.60 per night which is reasonable and affordable for most travelers.
Surprisingly, Houston wasn’t the most expensive city in Texas for tourists.
The main downside is that Houston does have a high crime rate of 57.34 per 1,000 residents.
Despite this, its numerous attractions and high-quality restaurants make it a top destination.
Some key attractions in Houston include the Space Center Houston, the Houston Zoo and the Museum of Fine Arts.
2. Austin
Score: 4.2/5
Austin is a lively city, famous for its music scene and vibrant culture.
Based on our data, Austin scored 4.2 out of 5, ranking second among the six major cities in Texas.
The city has 1,617 tourist attractions listed on Tripadvisor which means it offers plenty of activities for visitors.
Plus, the average rating for the top 5 most popular attractions was 4.7 out of 5 which shows that tourists are satisfied with what Austin has to offer.
Austin has 3,297 restaurants in total and an impressive 45.9% of them are rated 4-stars or higher.
This makes Austin the city with the highest percentage of highly-rated restaurants so it’s perfect for foodies!
One downside is that the average price of a 3-star hotel is $115 per night which is high compared to the other cities we looked at.
Despite the higher hotel prices, anyone visiting Austin can enjoy a variety of excellent dining options and attractions.
Austin’s crime rate is 41.62 per 1,000 residents which is lower than some other major cities.
Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin hosts numerous music festivals and events throughout the year.
Key attractions include the Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake and the Barton Springs Pool.
3. San Antonio
Score: 4.1/5
San Antonio is a historic city, known for its rich cultural heritage and famous landmarks.
According to our data, San Antonio scored 4.1 out of 5, ranking third among the six major cities in Texas.
The average rating for its top 5 most popular attractions was 4.72 out of 5 which is the highest among the cities we compared.
This shows that tourists are extremely satisfied with the attractions San Antonio has to offer.
San Antonio actually has 1,222 tourist attractions listed on Tripadvisor which gives visitors plenty of options to explore.
The average price for a 3-star hotel in San Antonio is $83.80 per night which is quite affordable compared to other cities we looked at.
The city has 4,257 restaurants, with 1,559 of them rated 4-star or higher, making up 36.6% of the total.
However, San Antonio has the highest crime rate of 59.58 per 1,000 residents which is the main reason it ranks at number 3 on this list.
Some key attractions in San Antonio include the Alamo, the River Walk and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park.
The city is also famous for its annual Fiesta San Antonio, a festival celebrating its diverse cultures.
Despite the high crime rate, San Antonio’s excellent attractions and dining options make it a popular tourist destination.
4. El Paso
Score: 3.3/5
El Paso is the only major city located in West Texas and is known for its desert landscape and rich cultural history.
According to the data, El Paso scored 3.3 out of 5, ranking fourth out of the six major cities in Texas.
The average rating for its top 5 most popular attractions was 4.7 out of 5 which shows that tourists love the attractions offered there.
However, El Paso only has 390 tourist attractions listed on Tripadvisor which is the lowest number among the cities compared.
Additionally, the city has 1,715 restaurants (the fewest in the comparison) but only 534 of them were rated 4-stars or higher, which is just 31.1%.
This is also the lowest percentage of highly-rated restaurants so El Paso might not be the best for foodies.
It’s not all doom and gloom though as the average price of a 3-star hotel in El Paso is just $78 per night.
This makes it the cheapest option for travelers out of all the major Texas cities.
El Paso also stands out with the lowest crime rate of 17.22 per 1,000 residents which is remarkably lower than other Texas cities and makes it a very safe place to visit.
Some key attractions in El Paso include the El Paso Museum of Art, Franklin Mountains State Park and the historic Plaza Theatre.
Known for its vibrant mix of American and Mexican cultures, El Paso offers a unique experience for visitors.
Despite having fewer attractions and restaurants, the city’s affordability and safety make it a great destination to visit.
5. Dallas
Score: 1.8/5
Dallas is a bustling city in North Texas, known for its modern skyline and rich history.
According to the data, Dallas scored 1.8 out of 5, ranking fifth out of the six major cities in Texas.
The average rating for its top 5 most popular attractions was 4.6 out of 5 which was the lowest among the cities we compared.
This means that tourists were less satisfied with the attractions on offer compared to other cities.
Dallas does have 1,115 tourist attractions listed on Tripadvisor which means visitors have many options to explore.
Additionally, the average price for a 3-star hotel in Dallas was just $87.20 per night, making it an affordable option for most travelers.
The city has 3,880 restaurants, with 1,383 of them rated 4-star or higher, which is 35.6% of the total.
One major downside is that Dallas has a high crime rate of 46.06 per 1,000 residents which is a concern for visitors.
Some key attractions in Dallas include the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas World Aquarium, and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.
The city is also known for its sports teams including the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite having the lowest ratings for its top attractions, Dallas remains a popular destination for its diverse experiences.
6. Fort Worth
Score: 1/5
Fort Worth is a North Texas city known for its rich Western heritage and vibrant cultural scene.
According to the data, Fort Worth scored just 1 out of 5 meaning it ranks sixth out of the six major cities in Texas.
Fort Worth has just 604 tourist attractions listed on Tripadvisor which is a relatively low number compared to other cities.
Additionally, the average price of a 3-star hotel in Fort Worth was $115.20 per night, making it the most expensive among the cities we compared.
The city does have 2,006 restaurants, with 681 of them rated 4-star or higher, which is 33.9%.
Fort Worth’s crime rate is 32.27 per 1,000 residents which is moderate.
There were some positives though as the average rating for its top 5 most popular attractions was 4.7 out of 5, showing that visitors enjoy its highlights.
Key attractions in Fort Worth include the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Kimbell Art Museum and the Fort Worth Zoo.
The city is also known for its rodeo shows and cowboy culture.
Despite the higher hotel prices and fewer attractions and restaurants, Fort Worth offers a unique Western experience so is still worth a visit.
Methodology
To rank the major cities in Texas for tourism, we used several important data points.
Here’s how we collected and used the information:
1. Average Star Rating for Top 5 Most Popular Attractions
We found the top 5 most popular attractions in each city using Tripadvisor.
Then we looked at their average star ratings on Google Maps.
2. Average Price of a 3-Star Hotel
We took the average price of the top 5 hotels in each city from Booking.com.
This gave us an idea of how expensive it is to stay in each city.
3. Crime Rate
We checked the crime rate per 1,000 residents for each city using information from neighborhoodscout.com.
A lower crime rate means a safer city.
4. Total Number of Restaurants
We counted the total number of restaurants in each city according to Tripadvisor.
More restaurants can mean more dining options for tourists.
5. Number of Restaurants Rated 4-Star or More
We calculated how many restaurants in each city have a rating of 4 stars or more on Tripadvisor.
This tells us about the quality of dining options.
6. Percentage of Restaurants Rated 4-Star or More
We calculated what percentage of the total number of restaurants were rated 4 stars or more.
This helps us understand the overall dining quality in the city.
7. Total Number of Tourist Attractions
We used Tripadvisor to count the total number of tourist attractions in each city.
More attractions can make a city more interesting to visit.
By using these data points, we were able to give each city a score and rank them from best to worst for tourists.
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