Tours
The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern is a former drinking water reservoir built in 1926 for the City of Houston. BBP restored and repurposed the 87,500 square-foot Cistern into a magnificent public space for tours, performances, and art installations.
Tours offered Wednesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm
Reservations are required to visit the Cistern. Free First Thursdays generously sponsored by KBR. Children ages 9+ only. Please see options below.
TOUR INFORMATION
- Reservations are required to visit the Cistern.
- No children under the age of 9 are allowed inside of the Cistern.
- Please allow approximately 30 minutes for parking/check-in. Latecomers may not be admitted, and tickets are non-refundable.
- Full participation in the tour requires walking a distance of one-quarter mile in 25 minutes. Accommodations can be made for those needing stationary or seated tours.
PARKING
Limited, free parking is available adjacent to the Cistern in The Water Works parking lot (105-B Sabine Street) and along Sabine Street.
Additional parking options in the area include City of Houston Parking Lot H and along Allen Parkway.
PRICING AND DISCOUNTS
- $2 discount for military, youth (ages 9-17) college students, and seniors (65+). Must present I.D. upon checking in.
- BBP Members receive discounted tickets for select tours. Learn more about Membership here.
- All Cistern tours are free on the first Thursday of the month thanks to generous support from KBR. Reservations are required.
Explore the depths of this former drinking water reservoir and discover a unique infrastructural remnant of Houston’s history.
- Learn about the history and architecture of the Cistern on this 30-minute fully guided History Tour.
Book a unique group outing with a private, docent-led Cistern History Tour for up to 30 people.
DURATION
30 minutes
SCHEDULE
- Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 4pm, pending availability.
- Private Tours are not available on the first Thursday of the month.
Practice guided meditation in the Cistern.
- Sound Healing Meditation: This 45-minute session includes singing bowls and wind chimes encourage mindfulness and connectivity in this unique acoustic space. Cushions or mats are welcome. Saturdays and Sundays at 10am.
- Light and Sound Immersion Meditation: A 45-minute restorative evening sound healing meditation set by Saumil Manek of Union is Creation while shifting light patterns by Kelly O’Brien of Fenris create a serene, dreamlike atmosphere. This unique experience invites deep relaxation, inner stillness, and a heightened connection to the senses. Cushions or mats are welcome. Wednesdays at 6pm.
Experience an otherworldly combination of light and sound during this annual light installation showcasing the repeating columns and their uncanny reflections on the surface of the water below. A unique and original soundscape follows the moving lights around the cavernous Cistern. On view November 28, 2025 – January 18, 2026.
Ars Lyrica presents Ring in the Peace, a 20-minute multi-cultural musical journey from the ninth century onward. This performance offers listeners a new, memorable musical experience accompanied by the ethereal lighting of Cistern Illuminated.
Enjoy expert-led tours along Buffalo Bayou on topics including wellness practices, the ecology of the bayou, the meanings and musings behind our public art, and more.
Join a Wellness Walk led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. All are invited to walk the trails and pathways of Buffalo Bayou Park while discussing topics including mental and physical health as well as the benefits of being exposed to nature.
DURATION
90 minutes
COST
Free
Learn about the native flora and fauna along Buffalo Bayou! Follow along this discovery tour of the bayou ecosystem with Nancy Greig, former director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Nancy loves the outdoors, especially beekeeping and tending birdhouses in her garden.
DURATION
90 minutes
COST
$5
Head to the heart of downtown to discover the history of Buffalo Bayou and Houston. This engaging walking tour explores the development of the city we know today through an exploration of architecture, ecology, public art, and more. Experience fascinating historic buildings, witness the formation of a new Mexican Free-tailed Bat colony, and uncover a few local secrets all along the unique bayou trails winding through downtown Houston.
DURATION
90 minutes
COST
$5
Take one of our self-guided tours at your own pace and learn interesting facts about areas along Buffalo Bayou Park.
Buffalo Bayou Park is full of the wonders of nature. Use this guide to explore and experience everything Houston’s greatest natural resource has to offer on your next visit.
This guide will serve as a portal to Buffalo Bayou and its surroundings, orienting you as you walk, run, cycle, or paddle from Buffalo Bayou Park, through downtown, and soon east of downtown all the way to the Port of Houston Turning Basin.
Explore forty stops along the trails of the Buffalo Bayou Park, with ROCO providing the soundtrack to its landmarks and public art. #ROCOBuffaloBayou.
The Buffalo Bayou Revealed audio tour is presented by Houston Public Media. This audio experience provides you with interesting facts about areas along Buffalo Bayou Park. Listen below, or download the tour as a .zip file.
It’s time for a new boat! Help us continue offering unforgettable journeys along Buffalo Bayou. Click here to contribute and support our next chapter on the water.
Boat tours are currently unavailable as we await our new boat. We anticipate tours resuming in early 2026.
Hop aboard Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s pontoon boat to see Houston from a new angle! From nature-focused tours, guided history tours, or your own private celebration, there’s something for everyone. Children ages 4+ only.
Buffalo Bayou Partnership boat tours are currently unavailable while our boat undergoes necessary repairs. We anticipate boat tours resuming in 2026.
Take a cruise through the heart of Houston with your friends and family on one of BBP’s public boat tours. Throughout the year, BBP offers a variety of ticketed pontoon boat experiences, including:
- 45-minute nature-focused Buffalo Bayou Cruise: Twilight Tour
- History Tours and Port-to-Port excursions to learn the behind-the-scenes of Houston’s past with a historian
- 90-minute rides to watch the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony emerge at dusk with a wildlife expert (available spring and summer)
Buffalo Bayou Partnership boat tours are currently unavailable while our boat undergoes necessary repairs. We anticipate boat tours resuming in 2026.
Bilingual Buffalo Bayou Cruise: Twilight Tour / Crucero de Buffalo Bayou: Crepúsculo
These 45-minute boat rides are a great way to spend the time on the water with your family and friends. Escape the bustle of the city and enjoy the cool breeze as you glide along Buffalo Bayou’s waters. Look for graceful herons, jumping fish, and even an occasional alligator on the banks. Children ages 4+ only.
Estos paseos en bote de 45 minutos son una excelente manera de pasar el tiempo con su familia y amigos. Escápese del bullicio de la ciudad y disfrute de la brisa fresca mientras se desliza por las aguas de Buffalo Bayou. Observe garzas elegantes, peces saltadores e incluso un caimán en las orillas del agua. Solo niños de 4+ años.
DURATION / DURACION
45 minutes / 45 minutos
SCHEDULE / DIAS Y HORARIOS
First Saturday of the month, 5pm / Primer Sábado del mes a las 5pm
DEPARTURE LOCATION / LUGAR DE SALIDA
Allen’s Landing: 1019 Commerce Street (en Main Street). Continúe hasta el muelle por las escaleras en cascada (adyacente al Sunset Coffee Building, el edificio de ladrillo marrón de 3 pisos). El barco estará atracado en el muelle.
Buffalo Bayou Partnership boat tours are currently unavailable while our boat undergoes necessary repairs. We anticipate boat tours resuming in 2026.
Great for friends and family, team-building with co-workers, or hosting out-of-town visitors, BBP’s private pontoon boat tour cruises through the heart of downtown along historic Buffalo Bayou, past iconic sites and industrial relics. The boat can accommodate up to 21 guests ages 4+ only. Outside food and beverages are welcome. Add a historian for an additional $100. View the Private Boat Tour FAQ here.
DURATION
90 minutes
COST
$600
- For safety reasons, children under the age of 4 are not allowed on the pontoon boat.
- The pontoon boat can accommodate up to 21 guests at a time.
- Please note that ticket purchases are non-refundable and support the work of Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Guests will receive a full refund in case of cancellation due to weather.
DEPARTURE LOCATION
Allen’s Landing: 1019 Commerce Street (at Main Street). Proceed down to the wharf via the cascading stairs (adjacent to Sunset Coffee Building, the 3-story brown brick building). The boat will be docked at the wharf.