10 Free Things To Do in Galveston

Galveston Island is a popular vacation destination on the Texas Gulf Coast, just an hour's drive from Houston. When I visited for the first time with Kel over a weekend in April, we found lots of free things to do to help keep our costs down.

Between meals, museums, and other paid attractions, we walked along the Seawall, explored the historic Strand District, and saw a submarine on land. Here are ten ways to enjoy Galveston Island for free, laid out over a day.

Galveston's Attractions

1. Watch Sunrise From Galveston Beach

A sunrise walk on Galveston Beach is a peaceful way to start the day. The sky fills with soft hues as the sun rises over the Gulf of Mexico. We chose an Airbnb three blocks from the beach to make such walks easy.

You might spot brown pelicans gliding above the waves, sandpipers darting along the shoreline, or even dolphins breaking the surface offshore. Watch for the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle tracks in the sand during nesting season (April to July).

2. Stroll the Seawall

The Galveston Seawall was built after the Great Storm, a devastating hurricane in 1900, to protect the island from future storm surges.

Construction began in 1902, and the original section stretched 3.3 miles. Today, it extends over 10 miles along the Gulf and stands 17 feet high and about 16 feet thick at its base.

It's located along Seawall Boulevard and is a popular pedestrian path. The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is accessible from the Seawall at 25th Street, though it's not free. Adults pay $12 to walk onto the pier, while a ticket that includes 16 rides is $29.99.

The Seawall represents a significant engineering feat and reflects Galveston's resilience and commitment to rebuilding. Over time, murals and markers have been added, turning it into both a storm barrier and a cultural landmark.

3. Peek Inside the Grand Galvez

The Grand Galvez, affectionately known as the "Queen of the Gulf," is a historic beachfront hotel at 2024 Seawall Boulevard, four blocks from the Pleasure Pier.

Opened on June 10, 1911, it was constructed for $1 million to revitalize Galveston's tourism industry following the Great Storm.

Designed in the Mission and Spanish Revival styles, the pink hotel has hosted notable guests, including U.S. presidents and celebrities. Recently, scenes from the Yellowstone prequel 1923 (Season 2) were filmed here.

Before leaving on our first road trip to Galveston, I'd read about the hotel's recent multi-million dollar renovation. While staying there was beyond our budget, I enjoyed walking through the Gatsby-inspired interiors.

The lobby, East Loggia (pictured above), Peacock Alley, and Founders Bar with its burgundy Baccarat crystal chandeliers all looked new. We enjoyed a casual lunch at the hotel's restaurant, the Galvez Bar & Grill, and learned about the hotel from old black-and-white photos on the walls.

4. Explore the Historic Strand District

The Strand Historic District in Galveston covers five blocks between 20th and 25th streets along what's now Avenue B.

Known as the "Wall Street of the South" in the late 1800s, it features an unrivaled collection of Victorian-era commercial buildings—brick and iron-fronted structures dating back to the mid-1850s through the 1880s.

Architectural landmarks include the Hutchings-Sealy Building, one of Texas's earliest steel frame constructions built in 1896, and many designed by Nicholas Clayton.

Today, it houses museums, galleries, shops, and cafes, including the Galveston Railroad Museum in the restored Santa Fe station. 

The Strand is also deeply tied to Juneteenth. At the corner of Strand and 22nd Street (Kemper Street), General Gordon Granger first read General Order No.3 on June 19, 1865, announcing freedom to the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas.

Today, you can follow a self-guided Freedom Walk and see markers and exhibits honoring that pivotal moment.

5. Discover Galveston Historic Seaport

Walk a few blocks north of The Strand to reach Galveston's Seaport. You can see the Galveston Channel, with Pelican Island on the opposite side.

The port is home to the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA, a National Historic Landmark and Texas's Official Tall Ship. It has been meticulously restored and sailing again since the early 1980s.

You can observe it for free from land, or for $18, tour her decks, explore the on-site museum, and experience the immersive "Ship to Shore" exhibit tracing 19th-century immigration at what was once called the "Ellis Island of the West."

Seasonal day sails offer a rare chance to feel the wind in the sails against a Gulf Coast backdrop. While tickets were sold out while we were in town, we happened to be at the Seaport when it set sail (and I was a little envious of those on board).

Another historic ship making its permanent home at the Galveston Seaport is the Battleship USS Texas, a dreadnought that served in World Wars I and II. This beast of steel, guns, and armor is being restored and may open to the public at Pier 15 as early as 2025.

Based on my amazing experience touring the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, I cannot wait to step aboard the USS Texas.

One of the more curious attractions at the Galveston Seaport is the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum. This former oil drilling platform can be viewed for free from a distance.

However, if you can afford it, pay the $12 admission to step onto the platform's outdoor deck, which is full of heavy equipment. Beyond the interesting facts about deep-sea drilling and machinery, the platform provides additional views of the Seaport and Channel.

6. Visit the Galveston County Museum

The Galveston County Museum is located in the historic courthouse at 722 Moody / 21st Street and displays county stories and artifacts from Galveston's past. It offers free admission every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding county holidays) and complimentary parking on-site.

7. Picnic at Seawolf Park

For more naval history, visit Seawolf Park on the east coast of Pelican Island. Parking is $10, so it's not entirely free unless you bicycle there or pay to fish; parking is included in the $6 resident or $15 non-island resident fishing fee.

The park includes grassy areas ideal for picnicking and a playground. However, the main draw is the Galveston Naval Museum, where visitors can tour the USS Cavalla submarine and the USS Stewart, a destroyer escort.

It's possible to see the exteriors of these vessels without paying the $14 admission fee. But, like the decommissioned oil rig, I found it worth the cost to climb aboard them.

8. Hang Out on the Beaches

Galveston Island has roughly 32 miles of Gulf-facing beaches along its southern and eastern shores. These stretch from the island's eastern tip near East Beach to the western end near San Luis Pass.

Here are the principal beaches, moving east to west:

1. East Beach (R.A. Apffel Park) – Known for festivals, events, and a lively atmosphere (alcohol permitted).
2. Stewart Beach – More family-oriented with restrooms, chair rentals, and lifeguards.
3. Seawall Urban Park – Runs for 10+ miles along Seawall Blvd, with beach access points and amenities all along the strip.
4. Beach Pocket Parks 1 and 2 – Managed by the Galveston Park Board, located west of the Seawall.
5. Galveston Island State Park – Offers both beach and bay access with nature trails, camping, and birdwatching.
6. Jamaica Beach – A quieter residential area with public access and a laid-back vibe.
7. San Luis Pass Beach – Remote and scenic, popular for fishing but with strong currents (swimming not advised).

9. Catch the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry

The Galveston–Port Bolivar Ferry offers a scenic, free 2.7-mile ride across Galveston Bay, operated around the clock by TxDOT. A round-trip ride takes about an hour, including loading, and you may spot dolphins, seabirds, passing ships, and the Bolivar Lighthouse en route.

I wasn't aware of this activity on our first trip, but it's on my list for next time. You can book a sightseeing cruise in the Seaport to get a better chance of seeing wild dolphins.

10. See Sunset at Galveston Island State Park

Finally, I want to end on a calm, quiet note. Kel thought visiting Galveston Island State Park for sunset one evening would be fun, and she was right.

Galveston Island State Park spans over 2,000 acres of dunes, wetlands, prairies, and beaches and offers four miles of walking trails through diverse habitats.

You can spot raccoons, armadillos, marsh rabbits, and more than 300 bird species, including egrets, ducks, and Clapper Rails. Boardwalks lead through dunes and marshes to observation platforms, while Alligator Loop skirts freshwater ponds where alligators sometimes emerge.

Alternatively, if you can't make it to the state park at dusk, head to Lee and Joe Jamail Bay Park for sunset over Offatts Bayou.

Our weekend in Galveston, Texas, was a mix of good food, historic sites, and laid-back exploring. Between checking out museums and grabbing lunch at the Grand Galvez, we squeezed in a lot without spending extra—sunrise on the beach, a walk along the Seawall, Seawolf Park, and sunset at the state park. I’m looking forward to returning and catching that ferry ride we missed.