Best Areas to Stay in Dallas, Texas

Downtown Dallas is the best area to stay in this Texas city because it is home to the most important attractions, the best museums, and the best public transport connections.

The Downtown area is divided into several smaller districts, each one with a different flavor:

The Main Street District occupies the most central portion of the Dallas Downtown Historic District. Centered around Main Street, this small strip is home to skyscrapers, luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, and designer boutiques.

A couple of hundred yards north lies the Arts District. Dallas’s own Museum Quarter is packed with world-class institutions focusing on art, history, and science. Some of the unmissable attractions here include the Dallas Museum Of Art, the Crow Museum of Asian Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

The West End Historic District is home to Dealey Plaza, infamous for being the place where US President John F. Kennedy was killed in 1963. Most JFK-related attractions in Dallas are located in this area, including The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, with exhibits on John F. Kennedy’s presidency, assassination, and legacy; The Grassy Knoll, and John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza. The small Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is also located nearby.

Further south is the Reunion District, home to Hyatt Regency Dallas and Reunion Tower, a 561-feet-tall observation tower offering the best panoramic views of the city. The Reunion District is also home to Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station, Dallas’s main intermodal transport hub offering DART (Light Rail), Trinity Railway Express commuter rail, and Amtrak intercity rail connections.

Speaking of transportation, Downtown Dallas is the best-connected district in the city, and probably in the whole of Texas. While Dallas is, for the most part, a car-loving, suburb-dwelling kind of town, its most central districts are very well-connected by public transportation (DART, trolleys, and city buses), so if you’re looking for the best area to stay in Dallas without a car, the answer is Downtown.

Downtown is also the best area to stay in Dallas for business. Not only is this skyscraper-packed area where some of the most important companies in Texas are headquartered, but it is also home to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, one of the largest in the state. Additionally, Downtown Dallas has a wide selection of business hotels ranging from mid-range options like the Fairfield Inn & Suites to the most luxurious big-brand chains like Fairmont.

All and all, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for the best area to stay in Dallas for sightseeing or wondering about the best location in Dallas for business travelers. All roads (light rail lines, bus routes, and tramways) lead downtown.

Uptown Dallas is located in the heart of the city, just north of the Arts District.

This lively area is the most densely populated neighborhood in town and is considered the home of Dallas’s premier nightlife and restaurant scene.

Uptown’s two main commercial thoroughfares, McKinney Avenue and Cedar Springs Road are home to an incredible amount of no-frills sports bars, stylish cocktail lounges, upscale eateries, and fancy bistros frequented by the city’s beautiful people.

Other than fine dining and eclectic nightlife, Uptown also offers some great tourist attractions like the Museum of Geometric and MADI Art, Turtle Creek Park, and the nearby museums in the Art District.

As expected from a central, upmarket area in one of the wealthiest cities in Texas, Uptown is packed with accommodation. The hotel offering in Uptown Dallas ranges from classic glamour to over-the-top swanky in some of the city’s top-rated boutique and luxury hotels like Hotel ZaZa or The Ritz-Carlton.

With regards to transportation, Uptown Dallas is known for being a very pedestrian-friendly area. The whole neighborhood is also crossed by the McKinney Avenue Trolley, offering easy access to the Arts District and Downtown Dallas. Additionally, if you’re traveling by car, Uptown has direct access to Interstate 75, and most hotels in the area offer parking spaces.

If Uptown Dallas is home to the glitz, Deep Ellum is home to the funk.

Deep Ellum is located directly east of Downtown Dallas, across from Interstate 75.

This colorful neighborhood is famous for its alternative scene, impressive street art, delicious Tex-Mex food, and low-key atmosphere.

A major nightlife spot in Dallas, Deep Ellum offers indie and blues live-music venues, hipster bars, quirky cafés, artisanal breweries, experimental theaters, and crowded nightclubs.

Not too far lies Baylor District. Centered around the Baylor University Medical Center, one of Texas’s major health institutions, this area stands out for its historic mansions, shady, pedestrian-friendly streets, and residential areas.

When it comes to accommodation, this area offers a decent selection of mid-range hotels like the Home2 Suites by Hilton; budget, backpacker-friendly alternatives like Deep Ellum Hostel; and quite a few privately-owned tourist apartments.

DART Rail Green Line connects Deep Ellum and Baylor District to Downtown and South Dallas. Meanwhile, the rest of Old East Dallas is connected by the city’s bus network.

Located north of Dallas’s Historic West End District, Victory Park is a very central and well-connected area to stay in Dallas.

This smart neighborhood is home to The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, an avant-garde science museum with 11 permanent exhibit halls and interactive displays.

Meanwhile, the American Airlines Center, located in the heart of the district is home to the Dallas Mavericks basketball team and serves as a multi-use arena and major concert venue.

Victory Park also boasts a lively nightlife and dining scene and several luxury hotels like The Guild and the W Dallas.

To move around this area, both Downtown and Uptown Dallas are within walking distance. Additionally, Victory Station offers DART and TRE connections.

The Market Center area is located about 2.4 miles northwest of Downtown Dallas.

This area gets its name from the sprawling Market Center, a wholesale trade center.

This gigantic fair and exhibition complex hosts dozens of events every year, attracting business travelers from around the world.

Market Center has a wide range of accommodations ranging from small motels and cheap apartments to upscale business accommodation.

This area is ideal for those traveling on a budget. It is fairly close to Downtown Dallas.

Market Center is connected to other areas of the city through the orange and green DART lines.

The Galleria area is one of the best areas to stay in Dallas for shopping.

The Galleria Dallas is located in North Dallas, at the intersection of Interstate 635 and the Dallas North Tollway.

This huge shopping center offers 200+ stores and restaurants, as well as an ice rink and several hotels.

The area around the Galleria offers a combination of quiet, suburban residential developments, shopping strips, business centers, and parks.

While The Galleria is connected to the rest of the city by Dallas’s bus network, this area is more suitable for visitors with a car.