Houston has no shortage of ways to see holiday lights, from neighborhood drive-through displays to walk-through installations. A double-decker sightseeing bus is another option in downtown Houston.
Houston City Tour’s Holiday Lights Tour runs about 80 minutes, traveling through downtown and nearby areas past seasonal lighting and well-known landmarks. Christmas music plays onboard, with brief stops at select locations for photos, while guides point out historical details along the route.
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Tours depart from Houston City Tour’s downtown visitor center, which opened in 2022 and serves as the starting point for the company’s routes. The space includes a coffee shop and a Texas cowboy-themed souvenir store. For Holiday Lights Tour departures, guests can stop inside before boarding for hot cocoa, cookies and a visit with Santa.
Houston City Tour’s double-decker bus is decorated with holiday lights during its seasonal Holiday Lights Tour through downtown Houston. (Houston City Tours)
Houston City Tour began operating in 2012 with a 12-passenger van offering guided tours from City Hall focused on Houston history and culture. The company expanded its fleet in 2013 and added its first open-top British double-decker bus in 2015.
Houston City Tour’s Holiday Lights Tour
When:Through Dec. 31
Where: Houston City Tours, 1302 Dallas St.
Details: $34.95 and up; houstoncitytours.us
“We are a family-owned and operated company, and this year we’re proudly celebrating 13 years of showing off Houston,” said Stefanie Marina, the company’s marketing director. “My family started Houston City Tour with one bus and a dream to make Houston feel more like a destination city for both visitors and locals. You’ll still often find us personally greeting guests and answering questions.”
The company’s double-decker buses have appeared in major civic events, including Houston Astros World Series championship parades and promotional events with the Houston Texans. Next year, the company plans to add additional routes and tour options in anticipation of increased visitor numbers during the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to the Holiday Lights Tour, Houston City Tour offers several year-round options, including its double-decker sightseeing tour through downtown, a NASA/Space Center Houston tour, a full-day Galveston tour and a guided Downtown Tunnel Tour. Seasonal offerings also include the Haunted Houston Tour and other themed routes. The Holiday Lights Tour runs through Dec. 31.
This article originally published at Houston City Tour’s Holiday Lights: What to know about the downtown double-decker bus tour.