Houston City Hall

The basics

Houston city sightseeing tours often pass by Houston City Hall, where you can admire the historic building and walk around Hermann Square with its striking reflecting pool. Guided tours also allow you to explore inside the City Hall, where you’ll find great marble stairways and decorative medallions featuring Julius Caesar, Moses, Charlemagne, and Thomas Jefferson. The popular City Hall Local Lunch Market (formerly the City Hall Farmers Market) is held by the reflecting pool in front of the building in the spring and fall.

Things to know before you go

• Foodies won’t want to miss the Wednesday market, which features delicious seasonal dishes from local farmers and artisan producers.

• Free tours of Houston City Hall are held on Wednesday mornings, and reservations are required.

• Houston City Hall and the surrounding Hermann Square are both accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

How to get there

Houston City Hall is located at 900 Bagby St. in downtown Houston. It’s easy to reach on foot from Sam Houston Park, Tranquility Park, or Main Street. The closest MetroRail station is Main Street Square NB, 5 blocks away.

When to get there

Time your visit for the food market, held on Wednesdays at lunchtime during the spring and fall seasons, when crowds flock to Hermann Square for a bite. This busy square also hosts a number of events and festivals throughout the year, mostly on weekends, all against the striking backdrop of the City Hall.

Houston’s Skyline District

Surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers, Houston City Hall is part of the Houston Skyline District, which encompasses the Main Street Corridor, the Market Square Historical District, and the Houston Theater District. Landmark buildings in this district include the JPMorgan Chase Tower and Wells Fargo Plaza, the city’s tallest buildings, as well as architectural works by I.M. Pei and Philip Johnson, most of which are connected by the Houston Downtown Tunnel System.