Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern - Houston (TX)

4 /5 Sharma, B: I had been thinking about visiting this place for a long time. Just yesterday I found out that entrance to the cistern is free every first Thursday of the month and, today being coincidentally the first Thursday of this month, decided to finally do it - everyone loves a free thing, right? Theres also free parking available but you might need some luck to get an available space. The tour into the cistern was pretty bare-boned; some history recounted, some dimensions and capacities discussed. We made an entrance into a darkened space and the guide used her flashlight to illuminate different parts of the place to explain each one. We then did some fun echo and reverberation stuff and finally the lights were turned on to enjoy the whole cistern in all its splendor. The guided part lasted maybe eight to ten minutes, after which we were free to walk around on the surrounding walkways. You may have seen pictures, during your research, of all the columns beautifully lit up. Well, lighting on this tour was very basic. Only the periphery was lit up, the rest of the space was still dark. The complete lighting is apparently only switched on during special events. Over all, it was a nice and enjoyable 25 minutes or so. After visiting the cistern, if you have the time, you may want to go for a walk on the trails next to the bayou, and make it a nice healthy morning for you.

5 /5 Jan P: This is a magical place. Regardless of the time of year, or whether or not there is an art installation, it’s worth a visit. We came for the Cistern Illuminated show and it was lovely. Be sure to take a stroll down Buffalo bayou either before or after your tour. There is free parking in the adjacent lot, but it’s often full.

5 /5 D Z: Had no clue Houston had a cistern system. Its about 99 years old and is no longer used for the local drinking water. The tour is about 20+ minutes. Very easy walking. No issues. Fantastic tour guide, incredibly knowledgeable (Rosemarie), sang acapella which echoed wonderfully (listen to video).

5 /5 Michael Stevenson: This was a really fun and interesting place to visit. We went on a Wednesday afternoon. Our group had around 8 people, so it didn’t feel crowded or rushed. We took the history tour where our guide walked us around the perimeter of the cistern, explaining the history of it and its impact on Houston. We also learned of the additional programming the park puts on down there (like concerts and sound baths- which sounded equally amazing). Overall, the tour took about 30 minutes. If you’re looking for something unique and interesting to do, or even just a break from the heat, check this out. You can even score free parking if you time it right. We didn’t plan very well ahead of time (I had only heard about the cistern and thought you could just walk in there), but check the schedule and maybe book ahead of time if you need/want to go at a specific time or have a tight schedule. We only had to wait about 30 minutes to go in, but there’s a gift shop and plenty of other things to check out around the Buffalo Bayou Park to pass the time while you wait.

5 /5 Em DL: If you are looking for a quick historical trip or date, this is the right place for you! Arrive early and enjoy walking above the cistern at a park. There is virtually no wait time, but parking can be a little tight. Tickets are under 16 dollars each, but no children under 9 years old. Tour guide was knowledgeable, interacted with the group a lot, and showcased the beauty and history of the cistern wonderfully. He even gave tips as to best angles for taking pictures