10 of the Best Things To Do in Dallas, According To Reddit
Dallas does not reward passive visiting. It's a city of neighborhoods, not a single downtown loop you can tick off in an afternoon. The people who know it best — the locals debating on r/Dallas and r/askdfw — will tell you that the difference between a forgettable weekend and a genuinely great trip comes down to knowing where to go before you land.
We read through hundreds of threads, ranked the most-upvoted suggestions, and filtered out the tourist traps. What follows are the ten things that Dallas locals consistently recommend it is visiting every time someone asks.
1. Walk Klyde Warren Park — Dallas's Best Free Afternoon
Location: 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Downtown | Cost: Free
Built over a sunken freeway that once cut downtown Dallas in half, Klyde Warren Park is one of the most impressive pieces of urban design in Texas. It connects the Dallas Arts District to Uptown and has become the city's default gathering place — food trucks, a splash pad for kids, lawn chess, yoga classes, ping pong tables, and dozens of people simply sitting on the grass.
On Reddit, it's listed in nearly every "what should I do in Dallas?" thread as the first stop. It's free, central, and a perfect orientation point. Go on a weekend morning, grab breakfast from a food truck, and decide your itinerary from there.
Reddit verdict: "Start every Dallas day at Klyde Warren. Everything worth doing is nearby."
2. Visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Location: 411 Elm St, Downtown | Hours: Wed–Sun 10AM–5PM | Admission: $24 online, $27 at door
The former Texas School Book Depository building now houses one of the most carefully curated historical museums in the United States. The sixth floor — where Lee Harvey Oswald is believed to have positioned himself on November 22, 1963 — offers a view of Dealey Plaza that many visitors describe as quietly devastating.
The museum does not advocate for any particular theory of the assassination. Instead, it presents documentary evidence, historic footage, artifacts, and government investigation records in a way that lets visitors draw their own conclusions. The reconstructed "sniper's perch" in the corner window is one of the most emotionally powerful museum exhibits in the country.
Reddit users consistently describe it as a more impactful experience in person than they expected. "Visiting Dealey Plaza challenges everything you thought you knew about the geometry of what happened that day," reads one frequently upvoted comment.
Practical tip: Book online to save $3 per ticket and guarantee your time slot.
3. Spend an Evening in Deep Ellum
Location: East of downtown, along Elm, Main, and Commerce Streets | Cost: Free to explore
Deep Ellum is Dallas's live music and street art district, and it earns its reputation the hard way — by actually delivering. Over 25 live music venues operate within a few walkable blocks, hosting everything from country to metal to hip-hop most nights of the week. Trees, Club Dada, Three Links, and Sons of Hermann Hall each hold their own loyal following on Reddit.
The street art alone justifies a daytime visit — over 130 murals cover the neighborhood's walls, created by North Texas artists since a 2016 initiative transformed the area's exterior surfaces into a public gallery. The Deep Ellum Art Walk provides a self-guided tour of the highlights.
Reddit verdict: "Deep Ellum on a Thursday night is the best version of Dallas. Less crowded than weekends, just as much going on."
4. Explore Bishop Arts District on a Saturday
Location: West Dallas, around W Davis St and N Bishop Ave | Cost: Free to explore
Bishop Arts is the neighborhood Redditors recommend when someone asks for "the charming, walkable part of Dallas." It's small enough to explore entirely on foot but dense enough to spend a full afternoon in — indie boutiques, local coffee roasters, excellent restaurants, and galleries sharing blocks with century-old bungalows.
The dining scene here draws particular praise: Hattie's for Southern food, Lucia for Italian in one of the city's most beloved intimate settings, and multiple coffee shops that double as community gathering spaces. On Saturday afternoons the sidewalks are crowded in the best possible way.
Reddit verdict: "Bishop Arts feels like what Dallas would be if it slowed down. Go on a Saturday, eat at Lucia if you can get a table."
5. See the Dallas Museum of Art — Free Admission, World-Class Collection
Location: 1717 N Harwood St, Arts District | Hours: Tue–Sun 11AM–5PM (Fri until 9PM) | Admission: Free (general collection)
The Dallas Museum of Art has over 24,000 objects spanning 5,000 years — and most of it is free. Reddit threads about budget Dallas activities invariably lead here: ancient Mediterranean artifacts, an exceptional Pre-Columbian collection, European paintings, and a modern and contemporary wing that holds its own against far better-known institutions.
The museum sits at the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the largest contiguous urban arts district in the United States. It's walking distance from the Nasher Sculpture Center (also repeatedly recommended on Reddit for its garden and after-hours events) and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science nearby.
Practical tip: Friday evenings until 9PM — called "Late Nights" — are a local favorite for a relaxed museum visit followed by dinner in the Arts District.
6. Eat Real Texas BBQ at Terry Black's
Location: 3025 Main St, Deep Ellum | Cost: $15–35 per person
The Dallas BBQ debate on Reddit is long, heated, and never fully resolved. But the name that consistently comes up as the current consensus recommendation — especially for visitors who don't want to gamble — is Terry Black's BBQ in Deep Ellum.
The beef ribs are the centerpiece: thick, gloriously fatty, seasoned with the kind of confidence that only comes from people who have been doing this for generations (the Black family has been in the Austin BBQ scene for decades). The pork ribs and brisket follow closely. Unlike some legendary Texas BBQ spots, Terry Black's rarely runs out of food and the lines are manageable.
Reddit's general guidance: "If you want the least-risky, most-consistently-excellent BBQ in Dallas, go to Terry Black's. If you're feeling adventurous, try Cattleack — but they're only open Thursday and Friday."
7. Walk or Bike the Katy Trail
Location: Runs 3.5 miles from American Airlines Center to NW Highway | Cost: Free
The Katy Trail is a 3.5-mile urban trail built on a former MKT railroad line that runs through some of Dallas's wealthiest and most attractive neighborhoods. The trail itself is excellent for walking, jogging, and cycling, but Redditors particularly recommend it for the experience of moving through the city at ground level — away from traffic, through Uptown and Knox Henderson, past some of the most pleasant residential architecture in Dallas.
The trail connects directly to Knox Henderson, one of the city's best neighborhoods for café-hopping and people-watching. Katy Trail Ice House at the southern end is a consistently recommended outdoor bar for a post-walk beer.
Reddit verdict: "Katy Trail on a weekend morning, then brunch in Knox Henderson — that's a perfect Dallas Saturday."
8. Take in the View from Reunion Tower's GeO-Deck
Location: 300 Reunion Blvd E, Downtown | Admission: ~$22 adults, $14 children
Reunion Tower's spherical top has been part of the Dallas skyline since 1978, and its 470-foot observation deck provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and surrounding plains that stretches for miles on a clear day. In a city with no natural elevation, this is the best way to understand Dallas's scale.
Reddit recommends it both during the day and after dark. The nighttime view of downtown lights and the highway interchange arteries below is spectacular. The on-site Wolfgang Puck restaurant in the globe offers a dining-with-a-view option for special occasions.
Practical tip: Visit on a weekday afternoon to avoid weekend crowds. Sunset timing makes for the best light.
9. Browse the Dallas Farmers Market on a Weekend
Location: 920 S Harwood St, Downtown | Hours: Sat–Sun 8AM–5PM (market days) | Cost: Free to browse
The Dallas Farmers Market is one of those places that locals use as evidence that the city understands community. The weekend outdoor market brings local farmers, artisan food producers, and small vendors together in a genuinely useful and pleasant space — not just a tourist attraction, but a place where Dallasites actually buy their produce.
The adjacent Shed 2 building houses permanent vendors with prepared food from diverse cuisines. Redditors in budget threads consistently reference the Farmers Market as a cheap, satisfying Saturday morning — arrive hungry, leave with groceries.
Reddit verdict: "The Farmers Market on a Saturday morning is one of the best free things you can do in Dallas. Get there early for the best selection."
10. Photograph the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge at Sunset
Location: Singleton Blvd, West Dallas | Cost: Free
The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge — a cable-stayed bridge with a single 400-foot arch spanning the Trinity River — is one of the most photographed landmarks in Dallas, and it earns the attention. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the bridge offers an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline that appears in most serious Dallas photography.
Reddit's photography community uses the bridge as a shorthand for "the Dallas skyline shot." The golden hour view — bridge arch framing the cluster of skyscrapers against an orange and purple sky — is genuinely excellent. On evenings with interesting cloud formations, it's extraordinary.
Reddit verdict: "Sunset at the Hunt Hill Bridge. No question. That's the Dallas photo that makes everyone ask where you are."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a car to get around Dallas?
Yes, for most of these activities you will benefit significantly from a car or ride-sharing. Dallas is spread across a large geographic area. Klyde Warren Park, the Arts District, Deep Ellum, and the Sixth Floor Museum are walkable from each other in downtown. Bishop Arts and the Katy Trail require a short drive or rideshare.
When is the best time to visit Dallas?
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) offer the most pleasant weather. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making outdoor activities like the Katy Trail and Klyde Warren Park less comfortable midday. The Dallas Arboretum peaks in March during the spring bloom.
What is Dallas famous for food?
Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex, and upscale dining. Terry Black's handles the BBQ. For Tex-Mex, locals recommend Mi Cocina and Velvet Taco. The Bishop Arts District and Uptown areas have the highest concentration of excellent independent restaurants.
Is Deep Ellum safe to visit?
Deep Ellum is a popular entertainment district with businesses and foot traffic most evenings. It's busiest and safest Thursday through Saturday. Weekend streets become pedestrian-only zones after 10PM. As with any nightlife district, standard urban awareness applies.