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. Reservations are required to visit the Cistern. Children ages 9+ only. Please see options below.
Cistern Illuminated is a winter lighting experience created for the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. This special installation provides a unique perspective on this cavernous underground space, amplifying its 221 columns and seemingly-infinite reflection. Cistern Illuminated is designed by Houston artist and engineer Kelly O’Brien. On view from November 25, 2023 – January 7, 2024
DURATION
30 minutes
SCHEDULE
Wednesday – Friday 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm
Saturday & Sunday 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm
Experience the Cistern’s incredible reverberation with special performances by the Schola Cantorum of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. These periodic winter events feature ethereal songs from the seventh century to the present day.
DURATION
30 minutes
Learn about the history and architecture of the Cistern on this fully guided tour.
DURATION
30 minutes
SCHEDULE
Wednesday – Sunday at 12pm
On view February 2024
Tickets available in early December 2023
Rossin will create Haha real, an original, site-specific media and sound installation to open in February 2024 and be on view for approximately nine months. This work will transform this vast industrial relic into a unique world, drawing on both innovative technologies and ancient storytelling methods. Taking key inspiration from the classic children’s story, The Velveteen Rabbit, Rossin’s work will invoke themes of transformation and loss.
Book a unique group outing with a private, docent-led Cistern tour for up to 30 people.
DURATION
30 minutes
SCHEDULE
- Depends on availability.
- Private Tours are not available on the first Thursday of the month.
Practice meditation in the Cistern, led by Union is Creation. Singing bowls and wind chimes encourage mindfulness and connectivity in this unique acoustic space. Cushions or mats are welcome.
DURATION
30 minutes
SCHEDULE
Saturdays and Sundays at 10am
TOUR INFORMATION
- 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 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.
- Buffalo Bayou Partnership Members receive discounted tickets for select tours. Learn more about Membership here.
All Cistern tours are free on the first Thursday of the month.
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.
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 cruises, 90-minute rides to watch the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony emerge at dusk with a wildlife expert, opportunities to learn the behind-the-scenes of Houston’s past with a historian, and themed boat tours to celebrate the season.
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 $175. View the Private Boat Tour FAQ here.
DURATION
90 minutes
COST
$550
- 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.
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
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.
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.