Dallas Travelers Recommend

Three days gives you plenty of time to explore everything Dallas has to offer, plus venture farther afield to nearby Fort Worth for a completely different Texas experience. With three days to spend in the DFW area, here are some ideas for how to make the most of your time.

Day 1: City Highlights

Kick off your stay in the Big D with a guided tour of the city. Zip around on a Segway tour to see downtown landmarks including Pioneer Plaza, the John F. Kennedy Memorial, Dealey Plaza, and the Dallas Arts District. Learn more about the history and heritage of Dallas as you go. In the afternoon, dive deeper into the city’s history and culture with a visit to one of its excellent museums. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza recounts the life and death of JFK, while the Nasher Sculpture Center counts some of the finest modern sculpture in the world among its 300-piece collection. If you plan to explore on your own, be sure to grab a multiattraction city pass before hitting the streets to explore at your own pace. In the evening, take the elevator to the top of Reunion Tower for 360-degree views of the big city illuminated at night.

Day 2: Sports and Shopping

Today is all about celebrating two Dallas icons: sports and shopping. In the morning, head to Dallas Cowboys Stadium for a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the most expensive sports venues ever built. Tours take you to areas normally off-limits to the public, including the press box, team locker rooms, postgame interview room, and even onto the field for a selfie in front of the jumbo screens. After lunch, indulge in some retail therapy—a popular Dallas pastime—with a shopping hop to three of the city’s best malls. Snag deals at Grapevine Mills, go upscale at Northpark Center, and browse the extensive collection of retailers at the Galleria Dallas. This evening, sample the flavors of Texas on a food tour of one of the city’s diverse neighborhoods—Uptown, Deep Ellum, West Village, or Downtown.

Day 3: Fort Worth Day Trip

Fort Worth might be Dallas’s “twin city,” but it feels worlds away. On a day trip to Fort Worth, you’ll get an Old West experience at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, stroll through Sundance Square in the heart of downtown, marvel at the water features at the Water Gardens, and enjoy the art collections at the Fort Worth Cultural District. Once the sun goes down, head over to Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky-tonk, for an evening of live country music, barbecue, and two-steppin’. Alternately, if you’re traveling with family, you might consider spending the day at Six Flags Over Texas in nearby Arlington instead, for 212 acres (86 hectares) of rides, parades, concerts, and live entertainment. 

With two days to spend in the Big D, you’ll have enough time to see the city’s highlights, learn about the infamous JFK assassination, and tour Texas icons such as the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and Southfork Ranch. You’ll even have some leisure time to explore on your own. Here are some tips for planning the ultimate 48 hours in Dallas.

Day 1: City Sights

Morning: Kick off your trip by getting an overview of what Dallas has to offer on a city sightseeing tour. Zip around downtown and the Arts District on a guided Segway tour, or opt for a small-group bus tour to cover more ground in less time. If you’d prefer to explore on your own, pick up a multiattraction city pass or challenge yourself with a self-guided scavenger hunt through the city.

Afternoon: After lunch, dive deeper into what interests you by visiting one of Dallas’ excellent museums. Several are concentrated in the downtown Dallas Arts District, including the Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher Sculpture Center. To learn more about an infamous day in Dallas history, take a guided tour of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, the location where JFK was shot.

Night: Now that you’ve worked up an appetite with all that sightseeing, treat yourself to a food-centric night on the town. Each neighborhood has its own distinct flavor, so pick one for a food tour—West Village for its casual eateries, upscale and pedestrian-friendly Uptown, eclectic Bishop Arts, or eccentric Deep Ellum.

Day 2: Texas Icons

Morning: There’s nothing quite like hearing the roar of the crowd at a Dallas Cowboys game, but if you can’t make it to one, opt for the next best thing—a tour of their state-of-the-art stadium. Go behind the scenes to see the press box, locker rooms, private suites, and interview rooms, and snap a selfie on the field.

Afternoon: Now that you’ve experienced a Dallas sports icon, spend the afternoon immersed in a pop culture legend at Southfork Ranch. This estate doubled as the Ewing Mansion in the popular TV series Dallas. See Jock Ewing’s original Lincoln Continental, as well as the live Texas longhorns and American quarter horses that live on the estate.

Night: As the sun goes down, wrap up your time in Dallas at the top of Reunion Tower for 360-degree views of the urban skyline from the indoor/outdoor GeO-Deck. Explore the city through interactive touchscreens as you take in the views from 470 feet (143 meters) in the air.

On November 22, 1963, US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Today many attractions and monuments in the city commemorate not only that tragic day, but the man himself. Here are a few sights you should definitely not miss.

Dealey Plaza

Dealey Plaza, nicknamed the birthplace of Dallas, was also the location of the Kennedy assassination. Now a National Historic Landmark, the park is home to the now-famous grassy knoll from where some witnesses claimed the shots originated. JFK history tours often begin at this now iconic location in downtown Dallas.

Sixth Floor Museum

Situated in Dealey Plaza, the Sixth Floor Museum occupies the Texas school book depository in the same building where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots believed to have killed Kennedy. Two floors of exhibits recount the events of the day through film, photographs, artifacts, and oral histories from eyewitnesses.

Hilton Fort Worth

The Hilton Fort Worth—then known as the Texas Hotel—was where the Kennedys spent their final night together the day before his murder. While the original suite where the couple stayed is no longer there, room 808 sits near the same location. Old photographs of the Kennedys hang throughout the hotel.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza

Visitors who wish to pay respects to the fallen president can do so at John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza, a roofless granite monument with the president’s name engraved in gold. Created by architect Philip Johnson as an open tomb, the structure symbolizes JFK’s free spirit, while its free-floating design reflects the strong emotion of loss the nation—and the world—felt after President Kennedy was killed.

The Big D is a Texas icon, thanks to its football, eponymous television series, country music, and upscale ethos. There’s plenty to see and do in this Lone Star city, and even if you only have one day, you still have time for a uniquely Texas experience. Here’s how to make the most of your limited time in Dallas.

Morning: City Highlights

Take the morning to get your bearings with a sightseeing tour of Dallas. Learn about the city’s history as you cruise through downtown and the Arts District by Segway, or opt for a small-group coach tour to visit sites such as Pioneer Plaza, Dallas City Hall, and Dealey Plaza. If you’d rather explore at your own pace, pick up a multiattraction city pass to visit some of the most popular attractions—the Perot Museum, Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, Dallas Zoo, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum among them—at your leisure. 

Afternoon: An Afternoon with JFK

In the afternoon, take a step back in time to learn more about one of the most historically significant events to ever take place in Dallas, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Sift through stories and conspiracy theories with a local guide as you visit the Grassy Knoll, Kennedy Memorial, and the former home of Lee Harvey Oswald. Don’t leave Dallas without a visit to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and its collection chronicling the life and death of JFK.

Night: A Taste of Texas

Dallas is proud of its food scene, so loosen that belt and treat your tastebuds to the flavors of Texas this evening. Options abound. Head to a local barbecue joint for some slow-smoked brisket, sample the city’s best tacos and margaritas on a food tour, or explore the culinary scene of a particular neighborhood, such as Deep Ellum, West Village, or Uptown. After you’ve had your fill, finish your day with a night out on the town. Hop aboard a multipassenger party bike for a pub crawl.

Dallas, a city that epitomizes Texas life, has long been a showcase for Tex-Mex cooking and grilled meats. A new wave of immigrants from outside and inside the US has added flair to the culinary scene, reimagining classic dishes and cooking up some of the best Vietnamese and Mexican dishes this side of the Rio Grande.

Must-Try Dishes

Make like the locals and stand in line for barbecue. Meat cooked low and slow over hardwood coals personally selected by the pit master, barbecue is a statewide passion at the hub of Dallas food life. Brisket with burnt ends and sausages are a must. Dallas denizens and cowboys alike also share a love for chicken-fried steak — a breaded and fried beefsteak served with gravy — and every local has their favorite spot. Combining the best of Texas and Mexican flavors, Tex-Mex fare is as Texan as it gets. Fajitas served with corn or flour tortillas or queso with toasted tortillas exemplify the ease with which flavors cross borders. For the true expression of Mexico, Dallas falls hard for the octopus taco or really, any taco. More recent arrivals to the Big D, the Vietnamese and their iconic bowls of pho have made a soupy splash in this meat-loving city.

Must-Do Experiences

• Eat and drink your way through traditional sweets and meats on a food tour of the Deep Ellum neighborhood.
• Relive history on a walking tour of the architectural landmarks that map John F. Kennedy’s assassination before heading to a seated food tour of modern Dallas.
• Combine Dallas history with an eating tour of the city’s best Tex-Mex and Mexican taco houses, sipping margaritas in between stops on a luxury motor coach.