First time traveling to Dallas. Any recommendations?
Posted by vickk96@reddit | askdfw | View on Reddit | 21 comments
I'm a 29 year old guy from Singapore, planning to visit Dallas from 22nd to 29th Jan 2026. This will be my first time visiting USA. I'm planning to stay at Tru by Hilton Coppell DFW Airport North. Any recommendations on where should I go and what can I do in Dallas as a first time tourist?
wherewuat@reddit
How did you end up enjoying your trip?
JLinCVille@reddit
Is this a business trip or tourism?
vickk96@reddit (OP)
Tourism. I'll be there only for a week though. I just booked my flight tickets. But, looking at some of the replies... :(
random_reddit_1010@reddit
The good thing is, Dallas Fort Worth airport is one of the best in the country. A flight to somewhere like New Orleans or Austin or even up north to like a Chicago is going to be at most $150 dollar round trip.
JLinCVille@reddit
Go somewhere else. Dallas is a terrible tourist destination and you’re staying in an office park.
Disastrous-Bonus3293@reddit
You should definitely rent a car. Are you here for tourism or a business trip?
I have worked in Singapore for a short time before, so I am somewhat familiar with where you are coming from. Unlike Singapore, DFW is car-centric, although there is public transportation. But for sightseeing, a lot of the attractions are far from the transit stops, so taking public transportation would take an eternity. Plus, the buses and trains have a significant amount of homeless people or sketchy people, many of them with mental health issues. I would hate for you to feel shocked having to deal with crazy people or strangers taking advantage of you, especially as a visitor from a safe place like Singapore.
Personally I would recommend renting a car, if you are confident with driving. The driving here is straight-forward, although there can be bad traffic during rush hour. If there is no traffic, then people drive fast, so you gotta do “defensive driving” to anticipate “rule-breakers”. If driving is not something you want to do, then you can Uber/Lyft, but it will be expensive.
As for attractions, here are some I recommend:
- Gaylord Texan (nice indoor place to walk around, although parking is $20+)
- Downtown Dallas (several good attractions like Reunion Tower, Sixth Floor Museum, Perot Museum, Dallas Museum of Art)
- Medieval Times (a little pricey but an interesting experience)
- White Rock Lake and Dallas Arborteum
- Fort Worth StockYards
If you have leftover time, it is probably good to drive around the neighborhoods and see how most people live. It is the exact opposite of Singapore, so most people live in low-density housing and drive their cars everywhere. That might be a shock in and of itself.
As for cuisine, it would be best to get some good food you won’t find back in Singapore, like Texas Barbeque (BBQ), Tex-Mex, or Mexican food. I eat at home most days, so I can’t give you specific restaurants, but others may chime in. Also, there is a huge Asian community here in DFW, although I’m pretty sure you can find better Asian food in Singapore. But if you are wanting to eat some Asian food, there’s a good Koreatown in Carrollton (search up H-Mart Carrollton, that whole area has a bunch of Korean businesses). There’s also several good Nepalese restaurants in Irving.
DFW is big, so it would be best to plan your itinerary wisely, to avoid driving long distances. Hope you enjoy your stay.
vickk96@reddit (OP)
Hey there! I really appreciate your response! Hope your experience in Singapore was a good one. I'll be in Dallas for tourism. Just a week though. My colleague was the one who shared with me about Dallas. Previously, he worked in the Republic of Singapore Air Force. They used to have a joint Air Force base in the state of Texas. During his time there, he often spends his free time traveling around USA. He shared with me that two of his favourite places in the USA is Dallas and San Francisco.
He mentioned that in Dallas, I can experience the true American lifestyle (cowboys etc.). Apart from that, he and I share the love for American fast food chains. He recalls his time staying at a Staybridge in the same area with all the fast food chains within reach. That made me feel excited to experience it myself.
Apart from that, he also shared his experiences in San Francisco. To be honest, he recommended me to visit SF rather than Dallas. However, he did mention that 7 days in SF is not enough. I also went to see the accommodation prices in SF and I felt like it doesn't work for me.
I'm a full-time employee and I only have 14 days of Annual Leave. I don't want to be using all of my leave so early in the year. I'm also a part-time student recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree this year. So I thought why not treat myself to a trip to the USA, since it has always been a dream of mine to visit.
Many might say why Dallas of all places and for the things I'm interested in, there are other places in the USA that could be better. But, I just feel like the flight and accommodation fits perfectly with my budget (given I'm going in less than 2 months from now). Nevertheless, I appreciate all the responses.
For now, I'll probably be going alone. One of my friends is still thinking if he wants to follow or not. Perhaps if he wants to, we'll probably rent a car (because I feel safer to have someone else with me while driving). If not, I guess I'll just have to stick to Uber/Lyft. Anyway, if I'll be alone, I'll probably do less and just enjoy my time there with all the food I can find. I don't mind a stay-in holiday. :)
Disastrous-Bonus3293@reddit
Yes, Singapore was great, and it was good to me. For the "true American" lifestyle, it can be a broad statement, as each state can have a different vibe, culture, and specialty. If you are looking for traditional "Texan Cowboy culture", Fort Worth has more of that. Dallas has a more big business, cosmopolitan, and money vibe.
As for American fast food, a common opinion here in the US is that many American Fast food chains are better outside of America. Especially global chains like McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and KFC, these seem to be on a decline in the US, skip those. While in Asia, those places taste a lot better. However, if you do want a good fast food experience, I'd recommend going for fast food chains that you can't find in Asia. You must try Whataburger, it's a truly "Texas" fast food place. My other recommendations are Chick-Fil-A (#1 rated in customer satisfaction, closed on Sundays), Braum's, Jack in the Box, Sonic, Culver's, Raising Canes, and In-and-Out.
Even though Dallas Fort Worth is not on the top list of places to visit in the US, it can be a good place for your first destination. The best thing you can get out of it is not the "touristy" attractions, but seeing how people here live. If you have spare time and get bored, see what the neighborhoods, malls, and stores are like. Take some time to relax and people watch in public spaces. For example, when I worked in Singapore, my biggest memories weren't the flashy attractions like MBS, Gardens by the Bay, etc. My best memories were mingling in the neighborhoods, shopping areas, and eating at local hawker centres.
Many of us locals do not think DFW is special. It's usually visitors, especially those who are from densely populated places, who get amazed at (or hate) how spacious the city is. Either way, it will be a fulfilling experience for you.
Just curious, what airlines and stopovers did you book to get to DFW? I'm always curious to see what are some good options, since I plan to visit Southeast Asia again in the near future.
PsychologicalWin6770@reddit
Dallas is not the city to just walk around and site see.
Make a list of things you would like to do, research and take a uber/Lyft.
The people are very friendly for the most part
vickk96@reddit (OP)
So far, this are the places that I'd like to go to (as recommended by a friend who's been there before): Galaxy Drive-In Theatre (Ennis, TX) GrapeVine Mill Fort Worth Stock Yard Fossil Rim Wildlife Center Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium Walk around Highland Park Village Allen Premium Outlets
Should I rent a car or stick to getting an Uber/Lyft to get around?
Disastrous-Bonus3293@reddit
I personally don't recommend going to Galaxy Drive-In, unless if you really want to experience a drive in movie theater. Allen Premium Outlets isn't really that special and is a far drive, unless you really want to go shopping at an outlet mall. Grapevine Mills has a Meow Wolf mueseum, the Meow Wolf museums are a cool experience
PsychologicalWin6770@reddit
I’d recommend renting a car, nothing fancy good on gas because you will be doing a lot of driving.
cducky0@reddit
Rent a car, will probably be way cheaper than uber/lyft. Try to get economy. Also, unfortunately, Dallas is probably one of the most boring cities in USA. Skip the stupid drive in theater. Everything else is super MID. Come here with 0 expectations and you just might survive your trip.
blacktoise@reddit
LOL if you go to the Galaxy Drive in, in Ennis you have to rethink your trip. That’s ridiculous and like an hour away
llamalovedee123@reddit
You 100% need a car to get to all those different places
mikeigartua@reddit
Considering you're coming from Singapore and it's your first time in the US, Dallas can feel pretty spread out, especially staying up in Coppell. That area is really convenient for the airport but you'll find getting into the city center and to many popular spots will involve some driving. Public transport isn't as extensive here as in some other major cities, so you'll likely want to consider ride-shares like Uber or Lyft to get around, as getting a rental car might be a lot to handle for a first-time US visitor. For things to do, Dallas has some great museums like those in the Dallas Arts District, with the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center, which are definitely worth a visit. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a significant historical spot that many first-time visitors find compelling. If you're into unique neighborhoods, Deep Ellum has a lively music scene and cool street art, while Bishop Arts District offers a more quaint feel with independent shops and restaurants. You might also check out Klyde Warren Park, which often has activities and food trucks, connecting the Arts District with downtown. Since you're looking for recommendations and want to make the most of your trip, especially being new to the US, a good way to get oriented and see some specific highlights without the hassle of planning every detail yourself is to look into guided tours. Platforms like Viator are pretty reliable for finding local tour operators with good reviews, covering everything from city highlights to specific interests, and can take some of the guesswork out of navigating a new place. Just keep in mind January can be chilly, so pack some layers. God bless.
Turbulent_Union5213@reddit
I'd like to be a little more encouraging than other posters - there are a lot of things to do, just in more central Dallas. Check out the JFK museum, the Perot, eat at a food truck in Kylde Warren Park. In that area, there are a few other museums - the Dallas Museum of Art and Nasher, the Dallas World Aquarium (not my favorite, but might be interesting for a first time in the US. Eat at a BBQ restaurant! Terry Black's would be great because there is no line. Definitely spend a day or two in the downtown area.
Northpark Mall could be interesting - a ton of art and much better shopping than the outlet malls you mentioned. Get some Chick-fil-A while you're there!
You should also make sure to get your fill of Tex-Mex (plenty of options, even the mediocre ones would probably be fine).
If you feel comfortable driving, you should definitely get a car because Coppell is not central to Dallas.
llamalovedee123@reddit
Also if you’re driving to ennis, might as well check out downtown dallas/klyde warren park area etc
blacktoise@reddit
Imagine staying in Coppel, then driving to Ennis to sightsee
What the fuck is OP doing
llamalovedee123@reddit
No fr like wtf is in Ennis
LvnLifeBadAss@reddit
You will be so bored in Dallas. Of all the cities in North America consider going somewhere else. Dallas is very spread out and driving can be quite challenging here.