Visited 109 Countries: Most Surprisingly Great City to Visit Is Dallas

• I’ve been to 109 countries, but Dallas has surprised me more than any city I’ve ever visited.
• I thought the Texas city was just a business hub, but it was filled with incredible art.
• The food blew me away, and the Perot Museum of Nature and Science was impressive.

I’ve explored 109 countries across six continents, but a recent trip to Dallas surprised me more than any international destination I’ve visited.

Despite going on dozens of trips to Texas, I’d always dismissed Dallas as a business hub and transit point.

However, when I visited in the fall, Dallas felt on par with iconic European cities like Paris or Berlin, thanks to its innovative restaurants, world-class museums, and wide range of local events.

As a bonus, I enjoyed all of it in sunshine-filled weather, which is ideal for exploring outdoors and lounging at rooftop bars.

Here’s why I feel Dallas rivals many international cities in arts, food, and atmosphere.

Dallas has America’s largest urban arts district

Art is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Dallas, but the Texas city is actually home to the largest urban arts district in the US.

The district consists of numerous galleries and exhibits spanning 68 acres in downtown Dallas, and I found so much to see and do there.

A highlight of my trip was a visit to the Sweet Tooth Hotel. Don’t expect a place to sleep — once I arrived at the interactive exhibit, I was handed a key and told to explore.

Each room revealed a new interactive art installation that was an Instagrammer’s dream. The experience ended at its bar, where my cocktail arrived in a miniature bathtub with tiny rubber ducks.

It was the kind of quirky experience I’d expect in even bigger cities like London or New York, not Dallas.

I also checked out Deep Ellum, where the neighborhood’s street art rivals anything I’ve seen in my hometown, Melbourne, which is known as Australia’s cultural capital.

I spent hours photographing the vibrant murals and popping into eclectic shops.

The city’s Bishop Arts District was another pleasant surprise full of thrift stores, busy cafés, and a weekend market, where I found the perfect gifts for my family.

The city blew me away with one of the best museum experiences I’ve ever had

I’ll admit I’m not the biggest fan of museums — having visited hundreds across 109 countries, they often blur together.

However, the city’s Perot Museum of Nature and Science found a way to make museums exciting for me.

I loved attending its Thursdays on Tap, an after-hours event for adults over 21 that combines science with socializing and features live music, drinks, food trucks, and museum access.

The museum buzzed with energy as couples on dates, groups of friends, and even corporate teams explored the interactive exhibits.

While sipping a margarita and enjoying live music, I raced against a dinosaur in a virtual running exhibit (I lost) and created digital art with just hand movements.

It felt more like a night out than a museum visit — something I’ve rarely experienced, even in other large cities.

The food and drinks scene was even better than I expected

I found a lot of delicious meals and beverages while in Dallas.

One highlight was Mexican Sugar, a Latin-inspired restaurant with a unique blend of traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine. I especially enjoyed splurging on its private tequila-tasting experience.

The local barbecue scene also impressed me. I’ve spent a lot of time in Austin eating what I thought was the country’s best barbecue — but Pecan Lodge in Dallas made me question if that was true.

I also enjoyed visiting speakeasies, cafés, and food trucks and didn’t have a single bad meal during my week in the city.