StayAreasIs Downtown a good place to stay in Dallas?
Yes, especially for a first visit or a convention. The museums, Dealey Plaza and the airport train are on hand, though some streets are quiet at night.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- Convention visitors
- Art and history lovers
Look elsewhere if
- You want lively streets at night
- You want a neighbourhood feel
- You're uneasy around homelessness on city streets
Hotels in Downtown
All Downtown hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Downtown
Downtown is the most convenient place to stay in Dallas for sightseeing and business. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is at its western end, the Arts District and Klyde Warren Park are at its northern edge, and the convention centre is to the south. All four DART light rail lines meet here, including the train to DFW Airport.
The area mixes historic buildings with glass towers. Main Street has grand hotels like the Adolphus and the original Neiman Marcus, the Arts District holds the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Meyerson Symphony Center, and food trucks fill Klyde Warren Park at lunchtime. Reunion Tower's lit ball watches over it all.
The downside is that downtown can feel empty after office hours. Some blocks are quiet at night, homelessness is visible in places, and most of the city's best restaurants and bars are in Uptown or Deep Ellum. Parking is expensive.
What makes downtown worth it is how much you can see on foot. You can stand on Dealey Plaza in the morning, spend the afternoon in free museums and eat at a food truck in Klyde Warren Park. With the train to the airport, it's the easiest first base in Dallas.
Getting around
- Reunion Tower12transit
- Dealey Plaza13walk
- American Airlines Center14transit
- Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center14walk
- The Sixth Floor Museum15walk
- Dallas Museum of Art16walk
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)50
Downtown questions
Is Downtown a good area to stay in Dallas?
Yes, especially for a first visit or a convention. The museums, Dealey Plaza and the airport train are on hand, though some streets are quiet at night. It suits first-time visitors, convention visitors and art and history lovers.
How much does a hotel in Downtown cost?
A typical double is around $220 a night at a budget hotel, $300 mid-range and $620 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Downtown?
About 50 minutes door to door: DART Orange Line from DFW Airport Station to downtown.
How far is Downtown from the main sights?
Door to door from Downtown: Reunion Tower 12 minutes, Dealey Plaza 13 minutes on foot, American Airlines Center 14 minutes and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center 14 minutes on foot.