Things to Do in Galveston
Galveston mixes Victorian streets, Gulf beaches and family fun: rides on the Historic Pleasure Pier, the glass pyramids of Moody Gardens, shops and candy stores on the Strand, and a free ferry ride with dolphins. On the west end, Galveston Island State Park has beach, marsh and trails. Here are the top sights while our full attraction guides are on the way.
Galveston, Texas · Galveston Island
Top sights
4 picks
Official links below
Full guides
Soon
Attraction guides on the way
Houston
About 1 hr
Drive to Galveston
Updated November 2, 2026 · Sights picked from our Galveston RV park guides
Top things to do
Top things to do in Galveston
Our full attraction guides for Galveston are on the way. Until then, here are the sights our RV park guides point to, each with a link to its official site.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
Rides, midway games and a roller coaster on a pier over the Gulf at 25th Street, on the Seawall. Park in the paid lots or meters along Seawall Boulevard.
Official site: Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier (opens in a new tab)
Moody Gardens
Three glass pyramids (an aquarium, a rainforest and a discovery center), plus a seasonal water park and the winter light show.
The Strand Historic District
Victorian iron-front buildings full of shops, candy stores and restaurants, a few blocks from the cruise terminals and the tall ship Elissa.
Official site: The Strand Historic District (opens in a new tab)
Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry
A free 20-minute car ferry across the ship channel to the Bolivar Peninsula, with dolphins in the wake and long lines on summer weekends.
Official site: Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry (opens in a new tab)
Thank you to the people behind these photos. Please support them by following along and giving their work a look. Sight photos, all via Wikimedia Commons or the agency named: Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0); Moody Gardens: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0); The Strand Historic District: Michael Barera (CC BY-SA 4.0); Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry: Larry D. Moore (CC BY 4.0). Top photo: Yinan Chen (public domain).
Disclaimer
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