25 Must-Have Experiences in Galveston

1. Watch a sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico or sunset on Galveston Bay

2. Discover the unique boutiques, antiques, art galleries and restaurants in Historic Downtown

3. Follow in the footsteps of immigrants arriving in Galveston in the 1880s at the new Ship to Shore immersive experience

4. Play on the Historic Galveston Island Pleasure Pier

5. Visit Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid and Rainforest Pyramid

6. Take the self-guided Freedom Walk tour to learn about Galveston’s rich African American history and the birthplace of Juneteenth

7. Rent chairs and umbrellas and lounge on Stewart Beach and East Beach

8. Tour historic mansions—1892 Bishop’s Palace and 1895 Moody Mansion

9. Splash into Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark

10. Visit one of the world's largest collections of historical artifacts, documents, and artwork relating to Texas and the American West at The Bryan Museum

11. Eat at the iconic Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant

12. Take a walking/biking tour of the East End Historic District’s beautiful historic homes and the Galveston Tree Sculptures

Trolley Transportation

With a transfer station located at 21st Street & Seawall Boulevard, visitors may ride the trolley throughout Downtown Galveston, along the historic homes on 25th Street, then connect with the rubber wheel trolleys and go as far west as Moody Gardens, or as far east as Stewart Beach.

Cost: $1 for adults, free for children accompanied by an adult. Fare includes the transfer at 21st & Seawall.

Hours of Operation: Visit website for latest hours of operation. galvestontrolley.com

13. Take a dolphin tour from Pier 21

14. Tour or watch a live show at The Grand 1894 Opera House

15. Watch saltwater taffy being made the old-fashioned way at LaKing’s Confectionery

16. Explore Pier 21’s one-of-a-kind museums, including the Ocean Star Drilling Rig Museum Galveston Historic Seaport and 1877 Tall Ship Elissa

17. Learn about locomotive history at the Galveston Railroad Museum

18. Catch fish from a pier, on a chartered trip, or go wade fishing

19. Go on a year-round historic cemetery or ghost tour

20. Take a kayak tour with Artist Boat or visit Galveston Island State Park for outdoor adventure

21. Visit the Galveston Naval Museum at Seawolf Park for a tour of a WWII submarine and Navy destroyer escort and great fishing

22. Go bird watching to see some of the 300 species found in Galveston

23. Play golf at Moody Gardens Public Golf Course

24. Buy fresh seafood at Katie’s Seafood Market or Sampson & Son’s Seafood on Pier 19

25. Attend one of the many year-round festivals, including Mardi Gras! Galveston—the third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country

Parking on The Island

The best way to pay for parking along the Seawall and Historic Downtown is through the PayByPhone app. Simply download the app to your mobile device. PayByPhone goes by license plate number, so you can park anywhere by entering your location code. Please note that the Seawall and Historic Downtown do not share the same parking code.

Seawall location code: 5004

Historic Downtown code: 5689

PayByPhone: 866.234.7275