Know Before You Go: Houston

George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located about 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) north of Downtown Houston. The most affordable connection is bus route 102 Bush IAH Express, which takes around 55 to 65 minutes to reach the city center depending on traffic; a ticket costs $1.25. A faster option is route 500 IAH Downtown Direct, which reaches Downtown in about 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and costs $4.50. Alternatively, taxis, Uber, and Lyft are available. The journey typically takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic and costs around $35 to $60 depending on the provider.

Houston is sprawling and heavily oriented toward car traffic. The city can only be explored on foot in certain neighborhoods such as Downtown or Montrose. Bike lanes exist, but are not consistently developed throughout the city. For maximum flexibility, a rental car or ride-hailing services like Uber are recommended.

Tipping is an integral part of American service culture. In restaurants of all types, around 20 percent of the bill is customary. In bars, it is usually $1–2 per drink. Taxi rides also typically include a tip of around 20 percent. In hotels, tips of up to $5 are given depending on the service. Tips are usually added directly to the bill or given in cash.

Type A and Type B power outlets are used in the United States. Although the voltage of 120 volts is significantly lower than the European standard of 230 volts, this is generally not an issue for most modern electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, or cameras, as their power adapters can usually switch automatically between different voltages. However, due to the different plug shape, an adapter is still required, featuring two flat parallel pins, sometimes with an additional grounding pin.

Most shops open between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., especially in shopping malls. Grocery stores are often open late into the evening or even 24 hours a day. On Sundays, reduced opening hours sometimes apply.

Thanks to ​NASA and the Johnson Space Center, Houston earned the nickname Space City – but the city also offers many other highlights, such as the Museum District and an extremely diverse international ​food scene. It’s no wonder considering one in four residents was born outside the United States. As a result, more than 140 languages are spoken in Houston.