Sixteen rides, two roller coasters, carnival games, and souvenir and snack kiosks: Landry's restaurant group packs a lot into its post-Ike redo of Galveston's historic, 1130ft Pleasure Pier. Hours vary drastically by season, so call to verify if you'll be visiting outside of summer. For a lower-key but similar set up – with a no-admission, a la carte option – we prefer the Kemah Boardwalk.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Garten Verein

0.47 MILES

Constructed in 1880 as a social club for the German residents of Galveston, the Garten Verein (garden club) dancing hall was once a center of the city's…

2. Bryan Museum

0.68 MILES

Housed in the 1895 Galveston Orphans' Home, this excellent museum displays documents and artifacts from the Bryan family's collection, covering state and…

3. Ashton Villa

0.86 MILES

The Galveston Island Visitors Center occupies most of the ground floor of this 1858 Italianate villa, while the remainder is reserved for private events.

4. Moody Mansion & Museum

0.87 MILES

One of the grandest mansions on the island, dating from 1895, this 28,000-sq-ft home still shines with the splendor of Galveston's heyday as an American…

6. Bishop's Palace

1.16 MILES

This sumptuous Gothic mansion, built in the 1880s for the Gresham family, became home to the Catholic bishop of neighboring Sacred Heart Church in 1923…

7. Frost Bank

1.24 MILES

This 1874 bank building has undergone several name changes over the years, and the name on the marquee still belongs to the 1923 'United States National…

8. Galveston Railroad Museum

1.35 MILES

Housed in Galveston’s beautiful former Santa Fe Railroad Station, this little museum holds exhibits on train history and old rail cars as well as model…