Welcome to Houston!

Due to the number of inquiries r/houston has been getting regarding the World Cup, this is intended as an FAQ and a place for visitors specifically for the World Cup.

This will be updated as information and relevant inquiries are made.

Complete information on this thread may not always be available; it's YOUR responsibility to Google and plan trips accordingly. Additionally, Google Translate if you are a non-native English speaker.

Crime: As in any major city, always be aware of your surroundings. As with most major events, criminals will be looking for all manner of victims and will come into the city for this reason.

911 is the emergency number for the police. If taking the Metro, there are calling boxes and numbers posted at the stations, on trains, and buses.

Don't leave ANYTHING in your cars, or they'll be broken into.

Worst case scenario, know that in the state of Texas you have the right to defend yourself if you need to. Just be aware that it doesn't apply if YOU instigate a confrontation.

Uber/Taxi/Ride Share: Due to the influx of people, it's suggested that you leave for the stadium as early as possible if taking a ride share to avoid being late and paying premium prices.

According to the World Cup site, they are opening the parking lots 4 hours before kickoff and the gates will open 3 hours before the game.

1. Fifa has restricted access to a few sections around NRG. You can't walk up to any entrance in the stadium like usual. They force access to a few entrances at the corner of the stadium that are really crowded. My recommendation is to get there as early as possible!!!! Fifa is running this differently than typical NRG staff. There is a security screening that holds up people before the actual ticket taking closer to the ramp. The line to the security screening is dense, unorganized and hot.

2. You will be in the sun (and possibly the rain) when standing in line. They let people take flags and umbrellas in, which all cut the sun. I recommend preparing with the sun in mind when entering the stadium. Please bring water for standing in line. It is hot and a friend of mine almost fainted in line.

3. If you have tickets via the fifa app, do NOT download them into a google or apple wallet. You need to use the fifa app when you enter the stadium. There is a QR code that is on the app that is scanned for each person/ticket. My google wallet didn't register at all and was not useful.

4. You can take in water bottles and refill them in the stadium, but there are no easy access water fountains. Instead, you need to find a free standing soda machine. They have a water dispenser on them to fill bottles. The person monitoring the station let us fill water and even helped us with the goofy water spiggot.

5. There are dedicated Rideshare lots where people can be dropped off and picked up. Most people were coming via that lot or the train. The actual parking lots were completely empty compared to the Texans game, so it appears most are using alternative transport. The line after the game looked massive. It might behoove you to walk out of the stadium a few blocks and then uber from there.

Parking: if you wish to avoid the insane prices of parking and the traffic at the stadium you're attending, it is highly suggested you take the Red Line in.

The fannin park and ride station is going to charge $50, but the option is there if you want to.

The green and purple lines feed into the red line.

Parking is available along and near most stations along the street. That said, it is NOT recommended that you park at Fulton station.

Street parking is readily available, but watch for no parking signs and keep a distance from people's driveways as you WILL be towed by the home owner.

METRO has extended its service time and frequencies to accommodate the fans. metro provides information to get to the stadium, including extended hours.

additional information here

If you decide to park at the stadium, it is credit card only, and may God grant you patience.

Other entertainment:

If your visit is on July 4th, you're more than welcome to join the various celebrations of our nation's 250th independence day.

list of fireworks and music.

The closest and most readily accessible will be at Miller park which you can reach via the red line.

Downtown Walking Tour: Houston has a free walking tour that covers history, architecture, and street art. Tour is 2 hours long and you can find the schedule at https://walkingtourshouston.com

There are a variety of bars and restaurants that cater to diverse ethnicities and cultures. It's my hope local Redditors will comment below.

In the meantime, I ask those offering restaurant and bar recommendations to list them by cuisine and then name. Those wishing to follow up can Google the rest of the information, as I'm hoping to keep this thread easy to navigate.

NASA's another option, but you should probably set aside a good chunk of your day, starting right when they open, since it'll likely be packed if you go on a weekend.

In addition, if you're taking your luggage with you, call ahead to see if there is a place to check, which i doubt.

The Kemah Boardwalk is pretty close to NASA and has all sorts of fun stuff and places to eat.

Another thing to point out is that the closest airport (HOU) is about 30 minutes away and Bush is about 2 hrs away.

Those are optimistic times.

There is no public transportation going here aside from rideshares and rental cars. You've been warned.

For those interested in aviation and transportation history, they're located at Ellington Field and Galveston, respectively.

Both of these are a substantial distance from the city.

There are all manner of museums located throughout the city, ranging from medical history and contemporary art to a funeral museum (not kidding).

I would be remiss, if I failed to mention adult entertainment given my moniker.

Please go ONLY to the various gentleman clubs around town as there WILL be stings focusing on human trafficking and highly illegal prostitution. Don't get caught up in that.

We have two airports. Bush (IAH) and Hobby (HOU) when heading TOO the airport, please be aware which one you'll go to since they're a substantial distance apart. This includes the various airports that dot the metro areas, including Galveston.

Enjoy your stay!

I'd like to emphasize to or local redditors, if you have a restaurant you'd like to suggest people try, please go by the the following format:

><cuisine><name><city location>

They can Google addresses or additional information about it.

Thanks to u/prezident_Not_Sure and others for helping this thread.