Guide to Galveston: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to sunbathe. The best things to do in Galveston: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and beaches.

According to toppharmacyschools, Galveston is a famous American resort island located near Houston. The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico wash the spit of countless beaches of the resort, and the main boulevard – the Seawall promenade – is replete with signs of restaurants, clubs and bars. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife, festivals and concerts, as well as opportunities for a quiet family holiday with children – the main thing is to know which beach to go to on any given day of the week. There is entertainment for outdoor enthusiasts – trekking in vast “green areas”, all kinds of water sports, fishing, special trails for those who prefer to watch animals in their natural habitat. Galveston is famous for its shopping malls and famous brand stores, as well as for its “fiery” cuisine, borrowed from its neighbor Mexico.

How to get to Galveston

Galveston does not have its own international airport, so the most convenient way to get here by air is through Houston (160 km, about 1.5 hours by car along I-45). There are no direct flights from Russia to George Bush Airport ; you will have to make a transfer in New York or Frankfurt. The shortest flight (16 hours) is offered by Lufthansa.

There are direct shuttles to Galveston from Houston Airport, which must be ordered in advance from Galveston Express ( 16-75 USD per person, official website of the carrier (in English)). A taxi will cost 220-300 USD for 2-3 people. There are several car rental desks at the airport. The prices on the page are for August 2021.

Transport

There are 7 bus routes on the island, the cost of one trip is 1.50 USD, trams run along the entire embankment (from the water park to Stuart Beach). There are several taxi services in the city, operating through mobile applications or by phone, the most popular being Yellow Cab. The cost of the trip is 5-7 USD. It is convenient to move around the island by bike, most bike rentals are located on Seawall Boulevard, and they are easy to find while walking along the promenade. When renting for three hours or more, the cost will be 5-8 USD per hour.

The island is small, almost all the sights can be explored on foot. However, local authorities do not recommend going outside the Strand and Harborside Historic Quarters for safety reasons.

Galveston Hotels

There are many accommodation options in Galveston, but the bulk is designed for wealthy tourists. A double room in a 5 * hotel on the coastline costs 180-300 USD per night, in 3 * – 80-180 USD. Inexpensive type hotels and motels will cost 40-70 USD for a double room. Apartments are designed, as a rule, for 4-6 people and cost from 387 USD per night.

You can rent a villa overlooking the bay (capacity up to 14 people) for 975-1200 USD per day. Well-equipped beach houses for 6-8 people cost 510-630 USD per night. There are no youth hostels in the city, but there are campsites, the prices for which, depending on the season, are set by the beaches-parks.

Beaches

The beaches of Galveston stretch for 50 km along the Gulf of Mexico. East Beach, the easternmost of them, is considered not only the most beautiful, but also the most “hippie” of all. In the low season, it is quiet here, you can go fishing or bird watching, and in the summer the beach turns into a festival site and offers any entertainment. This is the only beach where alcohol is allowed.

At the other end of the island is Stewart Beach – a paradise for families and children. There is a rental of umbrellas and sun loungers, boogie boards and other water equipment, free showers and toilets, cafes, souvenir shops. Alcohol is strictly prohibited, lifeguards patrol the beach. Like other beaches, volleyball tournaments and sand figure festivals are held here.

All beaches have fine white sand and a gentle entrance to the water.

Poretto Beach is replete with cafes and restaurants for every taste, there are also rental points, including jet skis. The island has beaches-parks, the entrance to which is paid, the most famous of them are Pocket Parks, Galveston Island State Park and Palm Beach Inside Moody Gardens. These clusters offer a huge range of activities, from beach and water sports to special excursions, fishing, trekking and camping.

Cuisine and restaurants of Galveston

The traditional cuisine of Texas, and hence Galveston, was noticeably influenced by the geographical location: proximity to Mexico and the Caribbean Islands made its own amendments to the menu of local residents. For example, many dishes are served with guacamole sauce made from avocados, tomatoes and onions. Also try “burritos” (corn tortilla roll stuffed with minced meat and beans) and “enchiladas”, which look like rolled spicy pancakes. But since the island is popular with tourists, the cuisine of almost all countries of the world is represented here: there are Italian restaurants, Indian and Pan-Asian cuisines, seafood delicacies, famous American steakhouses, coffee shops and fast food eateries.

For numerous Mexican dishes, some restaurants even allocate a special column – “south of the border.”

In a medium-sized restaurant, a salad or a large sandwich with a side dish costs 5-8 USD, and in a gourmet restaurant, a dish will cost 30-50 USD. Fast food – hamburgers, inexpensive pizza, hot dogs and more – for 5-7 USD. Mexican tacos, burritos and quesadillas, which can be called the most popular food in the state, cost about 17 USD depending on the type of meat.

Entertainment and attractions

The compact historical center of the city pleasantly surprises with old buildings – it is not often that you come across a palace or an estate in an American downtown. Worth a stroll to the Grand Opera (1894), the Bishop’s Palace (1887) and Ashton Villa – one of the first brick buildings in the state.

In the evening, it is nice to stroll along the Seawall promenade, which offers a breathtaking view of the bay.

Kids and adults alike will love Moody Gardens, a stunning science and entertainment complex that includes an aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, and museum housed in three giant glass pyramids. Within the city there is a large water park ( off. site in English).