The Strand Reviews

Many shops and bars offering about anything one would want,
Parking was easy because of the way in which the city has kiosks to pay or add time to your spot without going back to your car

Great shops and galleries. We spent time here after our cruise. We went in some galleries, many local shops. There are a lot of dining options here too. You can also hop on a trolley.

Find a spot to spit and spend some time walking around explore the shops and restaurants, lots to see. I enjoyed reading all of the informational signs spread around the area and found an atty turtle!

If you enjoy beautiful architecture, unique shops, good food, and ice cream, the Strand is for you. I personally love to stroll down this street and just enjoy the historical mystique and the SHOPPING. The ice cream is also GREAT! I highly recommend.

walked along the strand after a visit to the Railroad Museum. Lots of interesting shops for gifts and beach clothing, charming buildings.

Chill atmosphere... nice bars and bartenders!!! Definitely recommend this area to drink and hang out!!! Uber and lyft easy pick up and drop offs!!

Local here. The Strand is a lot of fun--There are stores and restaurants for everyone; my personal favorites are The Witchery, La King's Confectionary, Galveston Bookshop, Skinsational Body Products and Taquilo's (a Tex Mex restaurant). I also took a lantern light ghost tour in The Strand last October and the history of the buildings is fascinating!

We have been visiting the Strand in Galveston since 1983. There are a lot of specialty shops, bars, antique shops and restaurants in the Strand. Take the Trolley from the Seawall and make a day of it. This is a piece of History and is excellent.

We visited the Strand while staying in Galveston and while there were some nice shops, the area could use a bit of TLC. It reminded me of a smaller, quieter New Orleans without the hurricanes. It was fun for a few hours but I wouldn't want to spend any longer than that.

My wife and I do a Galveston trip a few times per year. A visit to the Strand is a must-do item as my wife loves to shop here and I enjoy hitting the candy stores. They also have bars/night life too. During this particular trip, they had live music playing in one of the small park areas along the Strand.

It was a nice little walk around the stretch. There's not a ton to do and especially from Sunday-Thursday, many of the restaurants and bars are closed so when we went there really wasn't too much to do down there. It has a few cute shops and such. I recommend it for the weekend or if you really just want to take a stroll down the main stretches of the town.

Really enjoyed going to the various shops and bars along the strand. Go during the off times to avoid large crowds. I have gone during events and it is always so crowded. This time of year is great for enjoying without the crowds!

Quaint shops - just wish more of them were open. Both chocolate shops were excellent. Few people in town, now that the cruise ships are not running.

Our group had a blast especially at the Toy store and the confectionery. There were shirt shops, art places, bakery, toy store. Beautiful buildings ect.

The stores that was open was very colorful, nice selection of clothes, gifts, variety of clothes, prices. Nice candy store , with large selection.,The architecture is lovely. They use these old building well, kept up.

Packed full of architectural delights. I’m not a shopper (but there are a lot of little shops along the strand, so if you’re into shopping this place is for you). Amazing façades. Be sure to stroll down to the end to see the Art Deco railroad museum.

The Strand was great. It was so clean and enjoyable. New restaurants since we had been there several years ago. It has expanded to include several more streets of shops away from the harbor. Why go to New Orleans when you can go here.

Nice to walk here, see the beautiful Victorian buildings, visit a nice shop or gallery, and find a please to hang out for a drink or a bite. Don't forget to also stop at the Old Opera House!

There are many shops and restaurants here to check out. We enjoyed looking at the different items and shops. A lot of them have the same types of things, like touristy beach items and some overpriced, but it was fun nonetheless to explore.

We really quite enjoyed strolling through this part of the downtown area. There are lots of magnificent old buildings to keep you busy looking at all the details. They are remarkably well preserved and give you a good idea of what Galveston must have been like in its heyday. The shopping not so much. We were hoping to have found some local artisans, but mostly it seemed to be typical tourist stuff you can find pretty much everywhere.

The old buildings were great to see, and all the shop keepers were nice and friendly . Great variety of shops .

We spent a nice afternoon here strolling and window shopping while enjoying the opportunity to enjoy a beer while doing so. There are a wide variety of shops, from typical souvenirs to high end clothing and home decor. I am so pleased that this lovely area has been restored and is enjoying a well deserved renaissance.

We basically went here to take a picture in front of the Galveston mural and kill some time until dinner. It’s a neat area, but we didn’t really see anything unique. Very similar to other tourist beach shopping districts all over the world. Kids will love stopping at the ice cream and candy confectionery.

We walked this area after dinner at one of the restaurants here. So many to choose from. There is shopping and good food of all kinds. Little candy shop and the oldest ice cream in Texas at La Kings . Lots of good bars. Parking is premium realty here. Be prepared to walk. Tons of old buildings with great architecture. A fun experience for a date or a family.

Always seems to be neat and clean. Store owners all seem to be nice and know how to treat customers. Always enjoy it

The Strand is not as good with the number of shops it had in the 1980's versus today. There are some though that are unique. Lots of Tourist shops now with junk. Not as many restaurants in this area either.

Recommended but not as grand as it once was. Other streets are more interesting in general.

We walked here from the beach side of the island, about a mile and a half walk. A lot of shops to look for local treasures or souvenirs. We stopped by several bars for drinks or just strolled along the streets looking at the beautiful architecture. Was a Real Fun way to spend a day.

The hotel well located near theaters.
I paid over 400$xnight.
The bathroom is so tiny the toilet is almost under the sink.
I asked manager why they don’t show pictures of bathrooms he said they are all different since it is an old structure.
I purchased a room in a hotel not a museum.
Disappointed!!!

Something for everyone. Mostly clean and good safe environment. Smells better than most city and downtown areas. Secure and lighted. Nice staff

Worth a visit to enjoy the architecture. Didn’t care for the bars, restaurants or shops. Parking can be inconvenient. Went 04/01/23, warm day, not too crowded.

The Strand has beautiful, historic buildings, and great restaurants. You have to pay to park most of the time. There is also a ghost tour offered at night of the Strand if you want to hear more history of it.

You must stop by LapaLapa for a frozen cocktail while strolling the strand. They seem to have the best. Always a fun shopping experience.

We loved The Stand. There are some fun shops here and just what you want when on vacation. I also saw a number of cool vintage stores, some were converted into cafes. There is an old fashioned ice cream parlor too. The Strand is close to the cruise ship port. The area was very clean and there are wide sidewalks on both sides of the street. We walked around day and night and felt safe. Be careful of the high curbs because in some places it is a big step down and it is like that due to street flooding during storms.

Great place to walk, grab something to eat and simply enjoy town with its beautiful architecture and old houses!!!

So many stores for all sorts of interests & ages! Lots of neat places to eat, drink, or have a coffee too. The history here is incredible knowing what these buildings have seen over the decades. Go off the Strand and explore side streets too though! Post office street is a fave of mine for neat shopping & antique stores!!

Very cool area. We came down to walk around as we had a windy day. Lots of shops and could easily find meals. Will be down here again I’m sure!

The best thing about this popular commercial street is the architecture and accompanying explanatory signs. Really helps put things in context. Unnoticed probably by the drinking crowds, but really it's more family friendly than boisterous. Typical smattering of souvenier stores and eateries; there are really two interesting parallel streets worth walking. Also a starbucks nearby if you want a coffee.

For those of you who are considering a trip to the Galveston Strand, it will be worth your effort and remember “The Strand” includes much more than Strand Street. Plan to go early and stay late, as there is an awesome assortment of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Most places are kid friendly during day light hours, while there are a few adult only, late night bars, as well. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing.

Our favorite part as always is the great live music. Lots of talent and style. Every store we visited we were treated like a local. One day we visited was Juneteenth and enjoyed the love, music, and guest speakers. In the past we've only been here before we were going on a cruise. This trip we got to explore much more. We enjoyed this better than the beach! Only negative was the parking meter hassle. Up in our age we had to walk a lot befor we could enjoy Galveston.

This historic shopping district is much like other historic tourist shopping areas. Artsy shops, sweet treats and places to eat are similar to many other areas. It was blazing hot the day we visited and visited most of the shops to beat the heat. Most shopkeepers were cordial and welcoming. We enjoyed talking and visiting with the proprietors of Amy Lane. They were wonderfully nice and kind! We ate lunch at Hubcap Cafe, which has yummy burgers! Warning though, their Mermaid Water cocktail is strong!

You do have to pay to park and we chose a lot over the street.

I love shopping on the Strand. Unique items are available in clothing, jewelry, candles, skincare. Will visit at least twice a year

The strand was a part of Galveston, I hadn't had the chance to explore, but I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed the scenery, the food, drinks, souvenir shops, boutiques, atmosphere, and the view of the bay! My Galveston adventure will stretch from the Seawall to the Strand!

We went to the Strand every day while in Galveston. Sometimes to shop others to just sit and have a drink. There are many options for both of these activities. The one thing the strand has that sets it apart is the people. Between the locals that come down every day and just hang out too the tourist staying in Galveston and the Cruise people. The people-watching is what makes this area great. There are many great shops and some really good food and live music nightly. Definitely make this a place to go when in Galveston.

Visited the strand. Great atmosphere, music, shopping and food. Had a wonderful time. Will return next year

Typical historic downtown. Plenty of shops, restaurants, and parking. Nothing amazing here though it is pretty central to other things in the area.

Absolutely the best part of our whole family vacation. Spent the auto walking Strand Street, then sat and enjoyed the live band.

No matter what mood you're in you will find something to quench your thirst or fill your belly! Always nice to walk around and I usually find something to buy that I didn't know I needed!

Dickens on the Strand is an annual event that is a city party where attendees are expected to dress in costumes, but it is not required. The original concept was to dress in Victorian period outfits, but that has been greatly expanded to the point where "anything goes" to include pirates, cowboys, fantasy, crazy, .... I have included pictures to give you a sense for what is popular. You do get a reduced entrance fee if you go in costume.
There is a lot to see, do, eat, drink, and admire. For me, being able to get unobstructed views of the buildings is worth the price of admission. The architecture on the Strand is stunning, and for the most part, in good condition. The remaining Victorian structures are in the photos I have included with this review. There are some 20th century buildings in the mix, but I tried to keep them to a minimum.
There are a host of options as to what you can do at the fair. Many activities are off the Strand. Some of the historic properties on Broadway are featured for activities and tours. Two of my favorites are: Ashton Villa and the Bishop's Palace. There also a special tour of the Moody Mansion--home of the most influential family oh the city. The city was one of the most affluent and financially significant cities of the south in the late 1800's until the hurricane.
There are two incredible historic hotels in the city. My favorite is the Treemont, which is in the downtown Area--a great place to stay and eat. The Galvez is on the Seawall and has great views of the Gulf. There are two modern hotels that are of note and make for a good stay--Moody Gardens &San Luis (with an outstanding steak house). There are a number of B&B options.
As for the event, there are multiple stages with entertainment and all of the shops, restaurants, bars, and street vendors are open. It is impossible to go hungry or thirsty here! The bed races are very funny!
Parking can be a serious challenge. Go as early as you can to make certain you minimize your walk to the entrances.

The stand has so pretty cool shops that are not expensive. Not only that but it has some of the best candy shop's !

Lots of great shopping that will appeal to most crowds. The Rocky Mountain chocolate factory is always a favorite for my kids. They have fantastic candy apples.

Waiting to board ship or an extension before you come or go from Galveston, easy to enjoy, no parking problem away from the docks.
Same things to see like the docks, sailing ships, railroad museum, all close to the strand, see above.

Parking can be an issue so plan to do a bit of walking or pay $10+ in a lot. The Strand is several blocks in size so there will be walking involved either way. The earlier the better because it gets really busy. The cruise ship passengers also like to explore the area before boarding so it can get super crowded at times. The shopping is mainly boutiques, beach novelty, and candy shops. Interesting to browse and easily spend an entire day here. Best food is down by the piers. Most of the food is basically the same in price, $13 for a burger/fish sandwich $25 for seafood, so the ambience is the only thing that is different. Also the beef jerky store has tons of free samples, so it is worth a stop in to see.

Great fun shopping area in historic old buildings. Had some great ice cream and enjoyed the boutiques. My youngest really liked “The Witchery “

my husband and I have been to the Strand many times in the past. We found it extremely clean and neat, with friendly employees. Some of the questionable stores in the past have cleaned up their act and have nice articles for purchase. Also, it seems that some nice restaurants are opening.

Check out La King’s confectionery to see taffy pulling several times per day. Lots of other great shops on The Strand selling touristy stuff. Has a bit of a cruise port feel to it. Some great restaurants around as well. Great way to spend an afternoon.

Very cute area, there’s food and boutiques and such. Be sure to have your water bottle. It’s a pleasant area for walking and exploring. The shops are quite expensive in my opinion but as a tourist attraction I get it. It’s worth the visit.

Fun place to walk around and grab a beer or frozen drink..lots of fun little shops and music playing..a must do when visiting Galveston...kid friendly too!

Great for souvenir shopping, drinks on the go, and quick food. Parking is always an expensive pain in the butt. We pd $15 and stayed for about 3 hours.

Not a extensive area therefore it is quite easy to walk and enjoy all that The Strand has to offer.

The many restaurants, shops and attractions all combine to insure a welcome mat for all.

There is parking available, however, you must use a credit card ( no cash) in both lots and on the street. Be aware that they take parking very seriously and if you do not pay or stay over the alotted time, you WILL BE TOWED.

This shopping and restaurant area is basically supported by the Port of Galveston. The cruise passengers visit this area during the day while the ships are in port.

We paid $10 for parking, and we were close to all the shops. There are unique boutiques all the way to standard souvenir stores in this area. There’s a little something for everyone! I had broken my foot previous to this visit and had to use a knee scooter to get around. Ramps were pretty easy to come by, but it had rained and there was flooding in some of the ramp areas. Fortunately I was able to walk a bit and use the steps instead, but if you are unable to do that you would have a hard time getting around. Not all of the shops had ramp access. Neat historical buildings! Lots to look at. There are also restaurants and small cafés, and coffee shops.

This area is nice, old buildings and such. Looks like it’s cool to walk around with an open beer. Almost all the shops sell it! I found the shops to be a bit pricey. One snap was selling banana boat sun screen for $15!

This is a shopping and dining area away from the beach in the historic part of Galveston. Parking fees vary, so be sure to compare rates.

Loved seeing all the old buildings and shopping in and out of the stores. Lots of touristy type stores with t-shirts, jewelry, an art gallery, antique shops, lots for everyone! I highly recommend if you are in Galveston.

It was very clean, great atmosphere. People were friendly and most of the shops were open for us to shop before and after dinner.

The best place to be in Galveston Texas and I will come everyday and I say that because it's very fun all of the time and I would consider coming here all of the time

Anything you need, want or can imagine is available at The Strand. Fun place to visit and spend time with family!

We walked along browsing shops after we picked up drinks at one of the shops. It’s a nice area, with shops and restaurants. Nice old buildings. We were there for about 15-20 mins. If you’re in the area it’s worth the quick stop

Historic... shopping... boutiques... food... souvenirs... bayside... walkable... what’s not to love? Just find parking 😜

Went twice during a vacation with friends and family. The strand was fun to walk along. During the day it can get pretty crowded. But there are tons of fun stores and places to walk around. There’s a bit of something for everyone. My daughter and I loved the little henna shops and of course the confectioner store.

Definitely drive through to view all of the fantastic homes and restaurants. Not much parking except street paid parking. Watch out for the 2 foot high curbs in some places. We especially liked the old Original Mexican Cafe where the food was outstanding.

A lot of Victorian buildings, which create a unique atmosphere, a lot of tourist-grabbing shops ruin it, too bad

Everyone enjoys a stroll under in the shade with neat shops. The atmosphere is great and you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Maybe plan lunch on the harbor there and then walk across the street to the Strand. You will see things to buy and you can enjoy an authentic old time ice cream shop.

This is a great place to spend a few hours checking out the many shops, restaurants and historic buildings. I especially liked the plaques in front of some buildings giving their historical significance. It’s well maintained and folks are friendly. It will be fun to get there when they get their refurbished trams running again.

Great food and neat shopping!
Nice historic area, one hiccup no easily accessible restroom facilities

It was a great way for my wife and I to spend an afternoon on a nice day. We walked back and forth on the main drag, she enjoyed the shops, I took pictures of the architecture, there were plenty of places to eat and drink. Post Office street, just a few blocks over, is a little more upscale, and my wife bought an exceptional piece of pottery for a good price in one of the antique stores. We last visited in 2014 and it is better now. I hope it continues to thrive. Parking was not an issue.

A cool shopping, delicious dining, perfect people watching area of the island! You can easily stroll down the sidewalks and soak in the historic architecture that reminded us of the French quarter! These old buildings are homes to the best shopping on the island! Unique gifts, clothing, home decor, whatever you can think of, it can be bought on the Strand. The rail trolley to get around was also useful and very charming, reminded me of San Francisco a bit

Quaint downtown area with shops, restaurants and bars. You can do plenty here or do nothing but sit with a beverage and people watch. A good diversion when you want to get off the beach for a day. Close to the cruise terminal and wharf area. Parking can be inconvenient, but if you don't mind a short walk park a couple blocks off The Strand where it is free.

Loved walking around the area. So many shops and restaurants. Had coffee in an old building and just sat there people watching. Such a great place to go spend some time walking around. Lots of history.

If going on a cruise out of Galveston consider adding a day to see this Island up close as well. The strand is an old original building area with architectural beauty holding various variety of shopping , dinning beverage indulging pleasures. Wandering in and out of these stores one will find so much of either souvenir based goodies or one of a kind take home fun you will find the food or drink offerings a needed break along your steps. Clean conditions for such a rustic local. Just off the Strand but walking distance is a rail museum one would not expect there. The cruise ships are just behind the Strand and also a simple walk to take pictures and admire the grandeur of many! We had some great Mexican food on the strand at a little hole in the wall and a cold beer. When we were there the city trolly was down due to an event but this trolly takes you to the cities boardwalk fun ride location across town. This is an old town and for those who like history would be worth that extra day stay.

We always try to take a walk around at the Strand when we visit Galveston. There are lots of shops for all budgets, including souvenirs, toys, Resort Wear, collectibles, beauty products Etc. There are restaurants and lots of photo opportunities including street art and murals, a giant chair to pose with, covered awnings in an amazing candy store where you can watch them make fresh taffy.

Be careful when you are parking. There are markings for street parking with no meters. Apparently you are to be driving with your head looking way up to see if there are any parking signs or look a few hundred feet ahead to be able to read a small sign. It was fun walking around there and there are several benches to sit at for a break. Went into a restaurant to get something to eat. I was by myself and was seated by the hostess. I was about to leave as after almost 20 minutes of employees walking past me and kept ignoring me. When I got there, there were only a couple of tables with customers. Finally someone asked if I had been helped. Finally got my order taken and food. Afterwards I walked around some more. It was difficult to find a restroom there. When I got back to my car I had a $33 parking ticket. Galveston ended up being the worst vacation of my life.

The Strand it's like walking down any old town with all the Great hits, the bars, food, shops, everything with that Galveston twist and that's whats makes it special!

Took me a while to figure it out but grab a beer and soybeans let the ladies stroll the endless shops that all pretty much have the same thing.

A fantastic historic downtown! Blocks and blocks of majestic houses - shops, hotels, restaurants. Beautifully preserved. If you're into history, there are plenty if informational displays, if not - just enjoy a walk.

We enjoyed seeing these historical buildings being utilized and still maintained the original architecture and character. The Strand is beautiful and very lively.

My husband and I walked the streets in this downtown area when visiting Galveston. It was a nice day for a walk and we went in a few shops, didn’t buy anything other than water in the Rocky Mountain Candy Shop, lots of people in there buying candy but we have this chain store in our home town so nothing unique, we did walk a few blocks toward the water and ate at an excellent restaurant (Katie’s seafood).

The pros: the strand has some lovely preserved/rebuilt architecture. Many restaurants of all kinds, many with outdoor seating. Many many small shops with almost anything you can imagine.
The cons: the weather is a little warm in August to feel really comfortable walking around outside. We saw a significant number of publicly drunk, unkempt, unstable appearing folks in the afternoon/evening. Shops close fairly early in the evening.
In the end we actually enjoyed post office street more. But perhaps some of that is our taste as we don’t love a lot of tchotchkes and prefer restaurants with a little less fried food. But to each their own.

I enjoy visiting the Strand during late mornings on Sundays before the crowds show up. I grab a bite to eat and then visit the shops when they start opening up around 11am. The area is very pedestrian friendly and I haven’t encountered any issues walking around even if by myself. It makes for a great day

Always a great time day or night! 10/10 highly recommend!
Do yourself a favor and treat yourself (or your lady to some adorable clothes at Lapalapa and get theeeee best Bloody Mary while you’re there!

We walked around the Strand before taking a Dolphin boat tour. Wonderful place to wander, marvel at the architecture and read the history on most buildings. However, at about 10:00 am almost everything was closed. Just a few coffee shops and one or two souvenir shops open.
The Strand is about six blocks on either side of the road, and it is pretty obvious when to cross over and return. There is on street parking but you have to feed the hungry meter at the street corner. They do patrol the area so best not to cheat. There are also many paid parking lots about a block away at the harbor.

The Strand & surrounding area is very interesting. There are many specialty shops, restaurants, & sites built into lively historic buildings. Behind the Strand are 2 really good restaurants-Fisherman’s Wharf & Willie G’s. Above Willie G’s is an excellent presentation of the Great 1900 Galveston hurricane.

We chose to go shopping 2 different days because od the rain. Lots of unique shops and restauarants. I enjoyed looking at all the close up details of the buildings.

Great place to walk around and sitesee. Great places to eat and nice desert places to visit. Very historic area.

Visiting The Strand and surrounding historic area is a must when in Galveston. In addition to the assorted tourist attractions, there are some nice shops, beautiful architecture, historic sites, and good restaurants. Thee is a considerable cross section of society in this part of Galveston.

This is an older historic area of Galveston, near the cruise port. If you like to browse through little shops full of knickknacks and clothes and stuff, you'll love it. When your feet and body get tired of walking.. there are plenty of bars and restaurants to check out. Many of the bars have food offerings too. Plan on spending at least 4 hours checking out this area.

Fun area to shop. Disappointed that our favorite store with the handmade bath bombs ( in the building with the jerky and tea shop) was closed for some reason even though we were there during normal business hours. One of my other favorite stores was totally revamped, which was a disappointment too. They used to have a cool variety of stuff from fuzzy socks to candles and kitchen items. We did have fun discovering a few new store we hadn't visited before. Wear comfortable walking shoes!

Lovely old fashioned fronted buildings all located on one street
There are som touristy shops but despite this still some hidden independence gems
We walked from our b&b so had no issue with parking
We did want to take the trolley but it does operate in May! No idea why and what a loss as there were a lot of tourists around
We loved the old ice cream parlour which is very busy.
We loved the old fashioned sodas and how they are made and served
A must visit to Galveston

The shops each have unique items and atmosphere. Going to go back to wonder thru the railroad museum and take the train ride we arrived to the station after the last train left☹️. Poor planning on our part. Wonderful experience in each shop. 👍👍 everyone we encountered was friendly.

The Strand is just a nice place to walk around and visit all the shops, restaurants and lil bars. Make sure you venture off The Strand street itself and take in the next 4-5 avenues to explore!

This is the way to learn about old Galveston while shopping in some of the most interesting shops. Start at the railroad mueseum at thr south end of The Strand. They have a great model railroad inside the museum and real trains outside. The Polar Express will be here this Christmas season.

Walk down to La Kings two blocks from the museum for some great candy or ice cream or floats or milk shakes. It is an old fashion shop and you can see taffy being made.

How about some island clothes, nick nacks, island jewelry, or antiques. Just continue along the strand for the full 7 blocks ending at 19th street. You will see Hendleys Market, The 1871 Shop run by The Galveston Historically Society. Don't miss the snacks and meals you can enjoy. It is a great stroll and really fun.

I live in Galveston and The Strand is one of the happiest and fun places I truely enjoy at any time.

The Strand is a fine historic district with many grand old buildings. There are also a number of eateries on the strip. Other than that, however, it seemed to be a congregation of souvenir and t-shirt shops. It is a fine place to visit once, but it won’t take too much time to do so.

There are a handful of nice upscale clothing stores for women on the Strand and it makes for a nice half-day if you eat around lunch around the Strand area and stop by Katie's Seafood for fish or shrimp to take home. Highly recommended and not crowded due to Covid-19. Do take your facemasks.

We had feasted for a late breakfast on the Seawall and wanted to add an experience that captured a major flavor of what Galveston has to offer in addition to the obvious choices. A very good mix of shops to wander through while trying to find the perfect gift. Some good restaurants as well. The architecture is worth the stroll!

Spent the day walking The Strand checking out different shops, trying out foods and drinks! Plenty of places to cool off in during the summer months and plenty of places to shop at and plenty of places to grab a drink or three!

We enjoyed the visit to the Strand. Loved the shops and the atmosphere.... a must if visiting Galveston

Beautiful buildings with lots to do and see. Very dog-friendly. Great place for a family or singles to visit.

We really enjoyed our visit to the area. We were able to park a few blocks off of the main area and were able to walk up and down with ease.

There are so many nice shops and places to visit.

Parking anywhere on the streets in downtown is not free you need to load a special app and pay online. It costs $1.75 per hour. Do not park in one of the parking lots as most are all day parking only at $15. Worth finding a street spot and exploring the historic area.

Great area! Loved that you could walk around the area and drink! Nice shops, great restaurants and easy parking!

Didn't stay because parking was hard to come by and when we tried to pay for our spot, it would not take any of our credit cards.

My husband and I love to explore and shop. Also, the Tall Ship Elissa and Railroad Museum are close at hand. A lot of History packed on the Strand.

Not what I’d hoped for. It’s worth seeing but seems like it’s got lots of the typical T shirt shops like we see in every place we go. We did stop for a local beer which was good enough but hot.... too hot to enjoy. I guess it’s something to see if you like tourist curio type shops.

Walking along the Strand is quite interesting. The buildings are unique in architecture with interesting shops and restaurants. It takes one back to a bygone era.

We walked the area, had a couple of drinks. Mostly people watched.

You can see the cruise ships and port. Free parking is available if you’re willing to walk a bit.

The Strand was nice, but not as many shops/restaurants as I would have thought. You could keep busy there for a day, maybe.

Beautiful place, it is very relaxing and it has many stores to go to. The stores offer feom budget friendly to up scale, there is something for everyone.

Worth a one-time visit. A couple of blocks worth of quaint shops and eateries. Several good restaurants and pubs. Very little parking. If spending only three or four nights in Galveston Island I would recommend one afternoon/evening at the Strand and then spend the rest along the seawall and many beaches.

I have been going to Galveston for many years and always look forward to visiting the Strand. I went last Saturday evening but was disappointed to find many of the shops were closed or out of business. There also appeared to be more bars than I remembered. A couple of them had intoxicated crowds that spilled out onto the sidewalks and street, not family friendly. If you go with family, go in the day or late afternoon.

So many great shops! Unfortunate some were closed due to virus. :( Certainly understandable though. I still found some awesome things though!

One of my favorite places to walk around to shop at local stores, where you can find unique items. Don't miss Gracie's & Henley Market if you need to find a great gift. Several great delicious places to eat, where prices vary, most also serve drinks. A local favorite is Yaga's, where I like to order the Rasta Pasta. In the evening you might find a local band or movie at the Sangfest Park, that is always a fun time. Bring your own ice chest and chair/blanket, or pop into Stuttgarden Tavern, which is right by the Park. Enjoy looking up at the old building, that have beautiful architecture.

We found this to be a nice way to spend a morning having coffee and going for a walk but most of the stores have the same sort of tourist items in them. We found that after being on one side of the street, that the stores on the other side offered pretty much the same fair. Stopped at the beef jerky store, expensive but delicious. You are able to purchase alcoholic beverages and stroll the street and stores while consuming them, be beware, public restrooms are not available anywhere except in one building at the VERY end of the street. This was a turnoff. Did it once, probably wouldn't go back if we ever returned to the area.

We always love to visit the shops on the Strand when we are in Galveston. Even if you are not shopping it is a great place to just stroll down and enjoy a beautiful evening. They have awesome little places to grab a drink and sit out at the sidewalk tables.

Very relaxing day walking around the Strand Downtown area and stopping in some of the cute boutique specialty shops. Lots of restaurants and snack places to get a drink or bite to eat. Lots to choose from. Found some very unique gifts in a nice atmosphere.

Love walking The Strand. There are typical cruise-goers type places, but cute shops with unique gifts/clothes. A few places with really good coffee/lunch & dinner food. Christmas time is especially festive with sparkling lights and tours of historical mansions. We especially love the non Fertitta-owned restaurants. Better food and service FYI.

This is a great place to stroll and shop. There are some amazing and unique shops and very easy to walk and shop.

It was off season and Galveston was empty, but most of the Strand was open. We liked it. Beaches were nice too.

If it wasn’t for the fact that it was humid and hot, it would have been a nice midday walk and shopping trip. Most shops had some air circulation but still was dripping with sweat. Vulgar T-shirts prominently displayed outside many shops, marijuana/hippy/gay lovin’ peeps would feel right at home.

The Galveston Historic Strand (also the name of the street) is near the Galveston seaport and has quaint and interesting architecture, trolly stops, cruise ships, shops, eateries and no public restrooms. Disembarking from the trolly, we saw a couple brown and white signs with an arrow that said restrooms. There was even an area map with a star showing a restroom location. We followed the map to the bus station to locate the amenity. Low and behold, doors locked, no sign of a restroom on or near the premise. Most shops on the Strand also have a sign in the window "NO Restroom". We deliberately did not patronize these businesses. In a pinch? Go to the confectionary; great chocolate, ice cream, taffy, etc. and a public restroom. Spend your tourist $s here. So, be forewarned! I'm not sure what Galveston does with their surplus parking fee revenue, but they certainly don't use it for public restrooms. Shame! Speaking of parking, you will find parking a challenge on and near the Strand. There are fee parking lots and on the street fee parking. As a tourist to Galveston, I was put off by all the street parking for a fee. Guess the locals approve, since it exists.

Didn't find anything I loved while wandering around The Strand. Kind of disappointing. It really wasn't a standout in any way.

Lot of great shops and places to eat. All the stores were close together making walking easy and enjoyable.

Lucky for us- a wide choice of dining selections, creative art galleries to explore, hotel accomodations, entertaining services and a good variety of unique purchases are available along a very walkable area in Galveston. Rest a moment on a bench, taste yummy ice cream and chocolate. Life along The Strand continues growing as more people make this a destination.

Located in the historical old town, The Strand is like stepping back in time. It is located adjacent the the Ferry Port ⛴. Shops, dining, drinks, candy and more. If you like a bit of history this is a must.

Lots of fun. Beer to go. Lots of people watching. Go dressed up! The festival was so much fun! Definitely would go again!

Very nice shops that seemed to be reasonably priced. Some higher end boutiques. Great cafes. I wouldn't recommend for small children or people that struggle to walk.

Its a must whenever I visit Galveston! Awesome shops and you just never know what you will find! Fun places to take pics too. We took our granddaughter and she loved it too!

We toured some shops on the strand while exploring the harborside of Galveston. There is such a wide variety of them to see. We enjoyed it.

The architecture is like stepping back in history. The shops are hard to resist making purchases, looking for beach/ nautical decor then they have you covered. Not just touristy items but quality merchandise. Many fine eateries to choose from. 👍 experience.

If in Galveston, it is a must see. So much to improve yet, I can only imagine how it would be to have several nice hotels there. But shopping is great and the ice cream and candy stores awesome.

We were in Galveston when it was not very busy. It was nice to not be rushed and to be able to leisurely explore the streets and shops.

Cannot wait to go again! Historical beauty abounds. This little piece of Texas is as charming and whimsical as it gets with a few fabulous shops! Johnny Was fans need to see Tina's! Greatest clothing boutique on the Island for women who like beautiful things!

The music as you wander the Strand is cool and the people are curiouser and curiouser. The Strand, as well as Galveston, is a small piece of old Heaven where time and many storms have seemed to pass it by but not without leaving their marks<3

Enjoyed walking in and out of unique stores. Lots of fun. Enjoyed just relaxing and enjoying the various boutiques.

Lots of businesses to walk in and browse. A large, Wonderful candy store. There's even a toy store. A ton of souvenir shops. Every store owners was extremely friendly. Various signs showing history of buildings post though out. Nice clean place to walk and enjoy a couple of hours.

The Strand has digressed into one T shirt place after another, typical tourist trap. I recall days gone by when there were all kinds of eclectic shops but sadly most are gone. What few that are there were overpricing their merchandise. Be careful where you park also, we got a $30 ticket for parking in a place that was not posted, after finding the ticket on our windshield I walked half a block up and found a small sign giving instructions on how to pay at a kiosk on the corner. Try contacting someone that might assist you in taking care of this travesty. You can contest it but you have to go to court and I live 5 hours away.

My primary reason for coming was to see the spot(s) where General Gordon G ranger issued General Order #3 that ended slavery in the United States. The initial spot and the equality mural were my main reasons for this district.

The Strand is just one part of the historical shopping district in Galveston. It has several unique shops, a few typical tourist shops, as well a great and unique restaurants. Do be careful of footing. Many of the sidewalks change surface from stone to brick to tile. Also be on the lookout fro plaques denoting 1900 storm survivor. The historical aspect of this street is one of the best parts.

We drove down to Galveston on a 72 degree sunny day in January! It was fairly quiet and just a beautiful afternoon. We stopped into several interesting shops and bought a few items (sweater on sale, chocolates and other 'necessities'). Also had to stop for drinks and appetizers - great! What an enjoyable afternoon!

Fun place to go to shop, eat and enjoy the beautiful architecture. There is a variety of shops to explore and no shortage of restaurants. Note - stores have steps in order to enter. Parking on street requires payment through an app or at a kiosk.

Such a fun place, even when it's a bit cold outside. Loved visiting the shops. Good prices for souvenirs.

Loved shopping in the fun stores and eating in some of the lovely cafes! Great historic buildings! So much fun!

We shop on the Strand every time we are in the island!! There are plenty of souvenir shops, along with some local shops too! We love the old style charm of the whole area!

I love walking the Strand street and seeing the many stores. They have a little bit for every taste. Although parking is a hassle, it's still worth a stroll. The Strand has a lot of history and it's worth a read from your browser.

We could go in and out of all the shops on the Strand all day. And the buildings are so very beautiful!!!

I had a few hours to kill while my husband was visiting the Ocean Star, so I parked at one end of the Strand and walked both sides of the road. Lots of gift shops and little boutiques, some really quirky (Pirate Stuff and Vape Supplies). Parking is free for handicapped drivers, phone-based parking app for all others. I had a great time, found some great bargains, and had a Starbucks too! This is definitely worth a stop when in the area.

Avoid due to greedy Galveston parking authority scams and illegal ticketing. While trying to use the parking app, my credit card was compromised, resulting in an immediate call from my bank who froze my card. When I asked the shop keepers how to use the app, customers told me it doesn’t work - although posted at every parking spot- and suggested I walk 3 blocks to the kiosk where I stood in line for ten minutes. This was what happened last year, exactly.

The next day, we parked at a handicapped spot, put up our sun visor and followed the instructions on the handicapped placard as how to hang the placard under a sun shade with the expiration date facing the rear. Walked to kiosk and paid for parking. Retuned to find a $500 ticket for,”illegal parking in a a handicapped spot.”

When I called the number on the ticket, they told me I had to bring my elderly parent to the courthouse before they closed that day to protest the ticket! We drove to the edge of town, sat and waited for a fricking hearing where the person who never introduced himself asked my parents age, showed a photo of the car and chastised us for following the directions on the placard, saying it was not their job to look around inside the car for the placard!

- 100 degree heat
- parking fraud
- interrupted lunch we had planned for 2 weeks
- ruined our shopping experience where we supported local with hundreds of dollars
- dragged my elderly parent through unnecessary stress and heat exhaustion
- missed an exquisite dinner

Unless you’re a glutton for punishment, save yourself the vacation drama.

I absolutely love the walk - there’s so much to see and take it. Make sure your camera battery is charged as there are lots of nice places to take photos.

Drove to The Strand while in Galveston thinking just another tourist trap are. Upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised. yes there are tourist trap but mixed in-between there are plenty of unique shops.

Beautiful old buildings with many different unique & tourist shops. Plus many restaurants. We took the trolley bus from Seawall Blvd to this area.

I was hoping for a little more than souvenir shops. It only took about 30 minutes to walk the area. There where a few specialty shops that were worth entering but mostly the same old stuff.

Some cool and interesting shops. Suggest going when it isn't triple digit temps. We could only take it for a short time.

Loved looking into all the shops and such! Loved the Candy shops and The Witchery shop! A Must go into

The Strand is a very scenic area with a lot of history. There are museums, a lot of restaurants, bars and shopping. The streets are blocked off for Mardi Gras every year, parades, music and vendors of all types. Worth a visit.

Strand had alot going on..shops everywhere..also had some high prices, that's the reason for 4 stars..as expected a typical tourist trap..but was fun to look anyway..

After several hours by car we finally arrive in Galveston; we leave the cars in Motel with luggage and walk to its main street along the seafront. In this long street you will find beautiful shops (we took for our Coordinator as a sign of thanks some items for the Christmas tree she loves) and many other very special. In one I found bottles with various flavors marked Route 66 and we took some.

This is the old downtown Galveston area next to the port where the cruise ships dock. It is full of historic buildings containing restaurants, souvenir shops and antique stores. It's a great place to relax and kill some time.

A lot of stores with trinkets and t-shirts. The railroad museum was very nice. Must pay to park except for handicapped. This place is not for the handicapped. You have to step up a foot high to reach the sidewalk and is not Walker and wheelchair accessible.

a little bit of everything to see here! Great food, souvenir shops, and a glimpse of the history of Galveston! Definitely recommend when you're visiting to Galveston to spend a few hours on the Strand.

Fun to shop and hit the bars. They also allow you to carry your beer down the strand which is nice. I love Galveston and this a a relaxing way to spend the day or evening.

Nice place to take a stroll. Several little shops and eateries can be found. Take some time to enjoy the architecture of the buildings in the downtown area.

Really great day of walking and shopping while transporting yourself back to a simpler time. Grab a quick drink or some food too while checking out the beautiful architecture

It's great that the unique history and architecture of Galveston have been preserved on the Strand. It can easily be walked in short period of time. Take a look at the unique shops and enjoy a meal here or near the Channel. The nice ladies in the pet shop spoiled our dogs as we browsed.

Lots of fun shops. Plenty of restaurants with good food and reasonable prices. We walked and walked. Many restaurants had outdoor seating.

Shops, Drinks, Family or a Date - spend a lot or spend nothing but to park. Thrift shops, gift shops, art gallerias, restaurants, bars & can enjoy a cold beverage walking down the street.

Read a lot about this area and we only made a dent in it, since we had our dog with us. I prefer boutique shopping, so maybe this just wasn’t my thing. We found a few of them, but most shops were souvenir type shops with some mix of shops with CBD being sold as well as some things I would consider questionable for younger children. They had a great ice cream shop there and a few stores were pet friendly, so we could bring our dog in to cool off in the heat. The Strand sits across from the port terminal for ships which was cool and I would have liked to seen more of that given time. Tons of restaurants there, which we didn’t try because of the dog.

I might go back again to see if there’s more shops that I would like to shop in while on vacation.

Love the Strand - So Much to do and see. Lovely shops and the great atmosphere. Great Restaurants to pick from........it is a must!!

We had fun shopping and checking out the old architecture. There all kinds of stores from kitchy souvenirs to art to clothing boutiques. Something for everyone.

Very cool area, lots of shops and history. Definitely vist LaKings Confectionery for lots of goodies and awesome ice cream sundaes - however, super crowded, no social distancing, and very few with masks; protect yourself if you go if covid is a concern for you. The Dolphin World in the strand has some good stuff, but priced double of what the Dolphin World near Pleasure Pier charged, which is not too far away. There is a lot to see, loved the outdoor square where locals sold there products! We rented ebikes from Zipp E Bikes and they were so much fun to ride around and look at everything; you can even ride them to the sea wall and along the beach.

Really cool little strip of shops, restaurants and cafes, I enjoyed a relaxing walk and wander in the shops. Plenty of places to stop for a drink or bite to eat. No public toilets so you will need to coordinate that with visiting a cafe. Would recommend - make sure you stop at the ‘Welcome to Galveston’ Mural too.

I love the strand. It has a lot of pretty shops and things to do. This is a great town. The products are good.

Have been many times this year. Earlier this month my brother and I went to Dickens on the Strand. I recommend going at least once in your life. Next year I’ll go at night. I think it would be more magical.

This is a Cute place, lots to do. The candy shoppe was Fun. Great place to spend the afternoon. Great cafes!

Lots of great boutiques to shop at when visiting, especially if you are looking for nicer stuff! Bought lots of cute clothes.

A lot of unique stores. Nice clean public bathrooms. Parking can be a bit rough when it's busy but nice place.

This place was where you wanted to be from Thu-Sat. We enjoyed this area..WIth its bars and one or two dance clubs it was pretty feasible for our accommodations. We closed this area every night we went. The hospitality of the local population was OUTSTANDING!! The people are very friendly and when they find out you are from out of town. They kind of go out of there way to make sure you are having a great time... I will be going here again... Thanks Galveston!!

Christmas decor is beautiful! Love all the great shops and restaurants. The historic architecture is a must while in Galveston. Would definitely visit this area again.

A few nice stores on the strand but quite a run down area. Not the overflowing street of unique boutiques as described in a search we found about this area.
Defiantly worth a visit just to see some of the older homes and architecture.

Just your basic beach shops. Nothing special. It was still crowded even with COVID 19. There were very few places to sit. Best part was the chocolate covered frozen bananas and chocolate covered apples from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Parked for $10/day a block over on Pier 21. So much easier.

While visiting friends in Galveston we went toThe Strand to do some shopping for souvenirs . Parking was a little difficult because no signs were up to give you a price, just a number to call to pay by phone. We ended up finding two hour parking and trying to shop in that amount of time. We did enjoy the shops. We were all able to find fun/nice souvenirs.
(Beef jerky, t-shirts, decor, clothes, etc.)
Prices were about average for that kind of tourist attraction.
You can use the restrooms at the bus station.
We had a good time .

Fun times on Galveston Strand. LaKings is a must!! We go by there every time we visit. Great photo opportunities as well.

had not seen the Strand in over 5 years. It is hurting without the cruise ships, I suppose, but many shops and restaurants are open. Masks required and everyone was complying.

The Strand is my favorite get away. We live just a couple hours away and often make time to spend strolling through the shops. This particular trip we never even made it to the beach or sea wall.

There are numerous shops, bars and restaurants along the strand. You won't be at a loss for things to see and do.

Popped in today for breakfast and was greeted by the lovely new owners 😊 the food was delicious and the staff friendly and efficient, would highly recommend

Historic and a beautiful town just to walk around and visit shop or eat And I learned so much I didn't even know that it was such a historical town.

A mixture of tourist souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and little boutique shops. Some interesting, some just OK. But certainly worth a stroll when in the area.

If you love to shop this is definitely the place for you! Soooo many shops everywhere. They have many places selling alcoholic drinks to go so you can walk around and enjoy your drink at the same time. The prices are a bit high in some of the stores but that's to be expected in a tourist town. The architecture was amazing....so many old buildings with historical markers to see.

Word of advice....there is no free parking on the strand! There are signs for you to call and pay over the phone so don't forget to do this or you could get towed. A local told me we pay by license plate so we can drive from one parking spot to another since we pay by the time and not the spot. I dk how true that is as we parked in a lot for $10 all day but it could be beneficial to those who have mobility issues.

After shopping and lunch we also rode the trolley for $1. Such a unique way to see the beautiful city of Galveston. We enjoyed our trip to The Strand and we will be back.

The Strand is a great place to walk around and see some interesting historic buildings. There are also some good photo shot areas as well as restaurants. If you go to the end, the railroad museum is there as well. Don’t forget to pay for your parking with an app or one of the pay stations located on the streets.

Several blocks of historic buildings with restaurants and gift shops. Great way to spend an afternoon.

Great and unique shops . Lots of mom & pop places with great food and cute boutiques where you can find just about anything your heart desires. Nice and very clean

This is old downtown. Different shops from tourist to fine clothing. Bars to fine restaurants. The trick is, don’t go until at least 10 am., unless you just want to stroll to see what is there. Otherwise nothing is open.

Lots of neat shops here. We window shopped and stopped in a few places. Some shops have lovely christmas displays.
The big christmas tree lights up at dusk.
Lots of places to eat and drink.
Must go into La King Confectionery. TONS of chocolates and candies of all time. You can watch them do the salt water taffy pulling.
Parking is on the street and you must pay at the pay stations, or by calling the toll free number, or their web site.

This is a great place to visit. They have all kinds of small shops. There is something for everyone.

This is awesome! So much history and beauty in these old buildings. Shops and restaurants you'll never see it all in one day. Ultimate exploring, and friendly people items you'll never see anywhere else on earth. Wear comfy shoes! It's totally worth it!!!

There are two strands and both are a must. The day version is a laid back family atmosphere with lots of great stores for shopping interesting places to eat lunch. The night version is adult friendly and more intense. All the stores stay open for shopping however adult beverages and live music become more important. Street parking is available for a fee as are parking lots. Sunday the street parking is free. Either version of the strand is an enjoyable way to spend time on the island.

We enjoyed the Strand - great shopping venues along with coffee and ice-cream spots. The shop owners were all kind and gracious to us.

We spent a couple of hours on a Tuesday afternoon walking around, stopping into shops, and admiring the architecture. A very quaint and charming area with ample street parking.

So many shops to visit! Especially loved the candy store, the fudge was great. Enjoyed just browsing and visiting with the shops.

You can stroll along the street and shop in several stores. There are so many and the history is very interesting.

This area was perfect to walk around, get a drink, shop, snack or have a meal - a must visit place when in Galveston.

It was okay. Lots of tourist shops. Overpriced. Not really unique. Not exceptionally. Okay. Lots of booze. Not exactly a good idea

Today we stopped at The Strand after visiting the Galveston State Park for hiking. Sunday was free parking but we accidently paid so pay attention to what day it is! There are so many restaurants and shops to visit on the Strand it is well worth the visit with just the family or relatives or friends visiting. Very nice, like visiting Old Town Spring. Allow enough time to venture off into areas off the main Strand as there are all kinds of things to experience.

We always enjoy shopping on the strand. As a family we most enjoyed La King's Confectionery. We will be back to make more family traditions.

The Strand offers restored 1800's buildings housing all sorts of unique and curious shops near the docks. It can get quite crowded as it is close to the cruise ship ports.

Great place to walk around, grab lunch or dinner, shop, etc. The Candy Shop is a must, Mod Coffee, Sharks etc. It's a very cool place.

Always fun to walk around the Strand during the day and visit the shops. During the evening it comes alive with music. Feels like a mild version of Bourbon street in New Orleans.

Plenty of shops, restaurants, souvenirs. Make a weekend of it, well known restaurants as well as local. Must check out Stuttgarden Tavern close to Willie G's & Joe's.

This is a small area of Galveston with cute shops and small restaurants. Old historic buildings are pretty. Nothing truly unique about it, but it's quaint.

many shops and restaurants and some historic areas .
ample parking. bring your comfortable walking shoes as it requires alot of walking . great place for family and young children .

Must do in Galveston island. Lovely old trolley that gives the town a quaint classic feel. This district is full with historic shops, eateries, pubs and nightlife. My group was staying close to the cruise port and found this to be a great destination within walking distance of our hotel at the Tremont. Suggest to go at nighttime, safe and fun area

Cute shops, restaurants and atmosphere. Great place to pick up a quick souvenir. Not every shop was handicapped accessible, making it difficult for me to get in with a wheelchair.

It's a shopping district full of shops from clothes to candy and museums. It also has lots of historical markers around the area. Parking can be tough to get and can be pricey in some areas.

Lots to do on The Strand in Galveston. Lots of bars, places to eat, and places to shop. Great during the day and night. Night I would leave the kiddos at home if they are not of age.

We spent an afternoon wandering around shopping and having drinks. Lots of fun - friendly shopkeepers! Lapa Lapa was awesome!!!! Fun shop and great bar!! Party atmosphere on the weekends. Loved the online park and pay.

Unfortunately, we went down for dinner so missed most of the shops being open. Definitely will return to experience more. We ate at HearSay on the Strand. It was fantastic!

The Strand has some great restaurants but shops are so so. I think the cruise ships keep them in business. I just wasn't impressed. You have to pay to park on the street from 9am-6pm which isn't terrible just inconvenient.

I really lived this place. There are so many different stores. We were even able to purchase a tropical mask. Everyone should go down to The Strand to shop.

The strand is very clean and safe. Great shops and restaurants. People are very friendly. I have never seen a more dog friendly town.

Streets downtown of bars and shops everywhere. You walk & just go in them all. Parking is $1 hour. Must call number on parking sign. Across street is Pier 21.

I've visited Galveston several times over the past 3 decades, but this was the first time I spent much time in The Strand area. I was very impressed by the historical buildings and architecture from the late 1800's and early 1900's. Lots of quaint shops, bistros, bars, restaurants, art studios, theaters, and the wharf area for seafood. Galveston is not the typical beach town!

We enjoyed walking down the street and seeing the old architecture revitalized with modern shops. What a wonderful way to keep the area alive!!

This is such a fun place. I go often and don't tire of it. There are so many options for food, drink and shopping. Galveston has such rich history, so try a carriage ride, or one of the many other tours. Food - so many options, you can have a different type every day for over a week. The Black Pearl is my favorite for seafood. Star Drug Store is good, too. And you can take your dog and sit on the sidewalk to eat. Galveston Coffee Roasters is a must for coffee lovers looking to purchase beans. You can also learn a bit about beans, roasting and brewing.
Shops galore! I always hit Nautical Antiques and Tropical Decor. Such fun finds from salvaged ships - not sunken graves. There are so many repurposed and reused goods. Another must is The Admirality. I just love going in there to see what I can find. I just love the experience. Yaga for t-shirts, tropical shirts and clothes and just fun. Yaga, man! (Yaga Cafe is fun, too)
Bring your walking shoes! Parking can be a bit dicey - and Galveston DOES have a strong enforcement presence so Do NOT Risk it. The fine wasn't outrageous, just annoying... from person experience. Just pay the fee and relax.
go have fun and enjoy The Strand.

Enjoyable shops and galleries to browse. Covered walks are particularly nice to have in the rain. G Lee Gallery highlights many local artists.

Lots to see and buy! Always a good time! They have restaurants and desserts and tons of souvenirs in the wonderful little shops!

No people yet. Cruise ships weren't in yet. I don't think it will be hoppin till last of may. Depends on the covid-19 stuff.

Nice shops and restaurants, upscale shopping , walk inside buildings to be transported to the Victorian era.

One of my favourite places to visit. The Tremont House hotel was fabulous. Even though we arrived on the weekend of the biker's rally we really enjoyed our time here and could have spent more than 2 nights to see everything. It is a bit tricky if you don't have a vehicle but we managed.

Love walking The Strand! There are lots of shops, restaurants, and just the whole vibe is fun. Get yourself a drink and walk in and out of different shops.

If you love history and enjoy the architect of the 19th century, then it is well worth a drive on the Strand. Couple this with a drive on Broadway, a visit to the Historic Galveston Harbor (Elissa), and you will end on a fun-filled, high-note kind of day!

This historical/downtown shopping area (start at the corner of 25th and Strand), reminds me of 8th Street in Holland, Michigan. It's a quaint little area with a variety of shops, many bars, and some good restaurants. It's worth going to if you have some time to spare and are looking for some unique shops, but I wouldn't go out of my way for this. La King's Confectionery was crazy busy, and the prices are ridiculously high. They can ask those prices because of their prime location. I wasn't willing to pay their prices, so I didn't try anything, but it all looked delicious. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Riondo's Ristorante.

This area doesn't feel very authentic. More like businesses trying to make a buck off of tourists with mediocre merchandise. Visited several galleries; seems like they used to be much better.

We found free parking along Market and Post Office Streets close to 20th St. however you could only park for a maximum of two hours. It was just a few minutes walk from the Strand.

Do watch out for the curb heights to avoid damaging your car door as they were much higher than normal.

What made the Strand stand out was the utilization of original buildings with current shops, art galleries and restaurants. For history buffs like me, the city installed markers and plaque In front of many of these building which helped provide context and and significance that many other shopping areas don’t have.

Lots of outside dining and drinking so sidewalks were busy and added to the bustle as we wandered around the 5 blocks or so.

If you don’t feel like walking there was a trolley and trolley like bus that cruised through the Strand for just $1 a ride?

If you're looking for something to do before 6pm, this is it. We were doing other activities and came by here at 6:15 to look around and everything but the bars were closed.

Reminds you of a much cleaner and newer French quarter in New Orleans. Very high pavements. Some very nice shops and some very cheap merchandise shops. Looked like plenty of restaurants and bars too but we didn't partake. Several of the shops had discounts in a brochure we received at the visitor center.

Definitely one of the prettiest little seaports / beach towns I’ve seen. The place is charming and reeks of history. It can be a bit challenging to find parking over the weekend, but on a week day, you should be fine.
If you’re in Galveston, you must go downtown, and if you like history/seaports, then visit, even if you’re in the Houston or Texas city area. It’s quaint and reeks of charm and history

Take a walk in historic downtown, The Strand in Galveston! Located just minutes from the cruise ship terminal.
There are festivals throughout the year on The Strand including Dickens on The Strand at Christmas and Mardi Gras in February!
There are restaurants, tons of shopping, an old fashioned ice cream parlor, a fudge shop and so much more!
There is always live music playing somewhere! Lots of great locally owned restaurants- and lots of chain restaurants too.

It needs to be noted that most of The Strand is wheelchair INACCESSIBLE! !!

After a 20 minute search for a parking spot I took my mobility cart to a restaurant that was advertised as Accessible on Google. I was greeted by a staircase of more the 10 steps with no alternative entrance. We then started looking around and every single store and restaurant had at least one step to even enter. After paying for parking, we left the area very disappointed.

Great eats, shopping and friendly people all in a very quaint and historic atmosphere. Hurricane after hurricane hits this place and it keeps coming back better and better!

The area was full of shops of all kinds, fun shopping experience for the whole family. Find unique suviners and food and drink while shopping.

This region of the town is basically where all the action is. The Strand is mostly shops, restaurants and other small attractions. If you’re into architecture like I am then it’s definitely worth looking around just for that. There’s enough coffee shops here and cigar places to keep me interested. Overall, definitely worth it if you’re in Galveston.

The only thing I didnt like is the parking situation with paying on a corner machine and meter people coming around constantly trying to see who is getting the next ticket.

Other than that this place is pretty cool. There is a pirate museum and a haunted house and a giant chess set and a snow machine.
There stores are pretty cool too.

Loved the beautiful architecture and historical markers along the sidewalks. Enjoyed great food, quaint shops, and nice people.

Walking along the beach was very enjoyable. Don’t miss the Henry Moore sculpture memorial to those lost in the 1900 hurricane.
Our trip to the Visitor’s Center was helpful. We were given a brochure off the self guided tour of historic homes downtown as well as a booklet guiding us to the dozens of wooden sculptures made from trees destroyed in hurricanes. That was a special treat.
Visit the historic Hotel Galvez and try to have a meal there.

Cute shops, good food, and live music! A great place to spend the afternoon. The Strand has improved over the years.

We spent most of one afternoon walking the strand. The shops are quite nice. We purchased some fudge, tacos & a holistic healing bracelet. There is a nice little henna tattoo shop there as well.

So much to see, shop , buy, and take pictures. I actually love it when it is less rowdy. Make sure you download the parking app.

This is the best part of the city experience. This is the downtown, the area of the old architecture, the historic center. So a guided walking tour is a good idea, but even with just a simple map, you will have a great time walking around if you like history. And there are places to eat and drink.

Women like to shop whether they need to or not. Men like to drink beer whether they need to or not. The Strand accommodates both in close proximity.

Great place to shop, eat and drink. The Playground had Great bloody marys, had good ice cream at the candy shop.

Strolled The Strand during the Shrimp Festival. Really nothing but souvenir shops, overpriced women's clothing stores, and average restaurants.

Enjoyed the architecture and unique shops along this Main St. Just one block over is the waterfront though not necessarly the best views since it's a commercial port.

There was a bunch of food vendors and and pop up shops. We saw the Queen's Parade and the Lantern Parade, which were a lot of fun! Very festive - you'll have more fun if you dress up (even halfway)!

Whether you want to shop, eat or just enjoy seeing beautifully restored historic buildings, this section of Galveston is really worth seeing. Be advised that parking is not free. You must get a ticket from the pay machine on most corers and leave the ticket in a visible spot on the driver's side. Patrols are frequent.

Enjoyed walking into many local stores. I was there with 8 other people and we had a good time. We visited Moody Gardens the day before which I can also highly recommend.

The strand was one of my favorite things to do while visiting G. island. 1877 bar, and Buckshots, little shops, axe throwing, and just walking around. Gift shops with touristy stuff, local lore, must see.

Very pretty area to walk, lots of fun stores to visit and well kept historic buildings. Can spend a morning or aftertoon.

Always something special to see or do here. Gifts, antiques, clothing, beachwear, plus restaurants and bars. We especially love the Hendley Market.

Fun collection of boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants,and art galleries. Such fun to wonder the streets and shop in all the different stores.

Always love the Strand, but it's even better during Mardi Gras. The food,people and fun are a not to miss.

Park and then get out and walk this beautiful old neighborhood. Not to be missed! Lots of shops, pubs, museums, and restaurants many located inside these beautiful old places! Unique architecture!

The strand was alive with music and outdoor tables, lots of shops, food and drink! It was nice to see the older building revitalized and in use!

Because of Covid 19, not all places on The Strand were open. But there were enough open to still enjoy walking The Strand.

great place to pass some time. unique shops and stores. We enjoyed looking at the architecture in the area and learning a little of the history of Galveston

Beautiful old shopping district in Galveston, about a 5 block walk from Tremont hotel and Cruise terminals. Staying in the city for just 1 night, we thought this was the best area to roam and were not disappointed. It reminded my partner of downtown NewOrleans with the architecture, shops, and lovely atmosphere. The bars and restaurants were not very crowded which made it easy to see it all!

There were a lot of interesting stores on the Strand. Everything from old time Candy Store, to interesting soaps, t-shirts, jerky, a lotion store and many bars, restaurants and live music on the weekends.

The Strand has lots of nice shops. The only thing that I was disappointed about is a majority of the shops are not wheelchair accessible.

A lot of shops
All are aimed for tourists

Nothing special

Not easy to walk the street (heat) so avoid if you can.-.-.-.-.-.

what has happened to the charm of the strand. maybe my memory is remembering the glory days. the shops have taken a down scale turn and the parking is dreadful and ridiculously expensive.

Great place to head to while you’re in Galveston Island.

Shark Shack- amazing mahi mahi tacos
Taquitos- best chips and salsa and more.
Mama’s Flying Pizza- pizza and meatballs

It’s just a great change of pace and scenery from the beach. In the winter it’s less lively and shops close early. But it’s still a beautiful historic district to stroll around, have dinner or just a drink. Safe a pleasant.

A lot of pretty old buildings. A lot of cool shops. La King's Confectionary is a definite stop. There is a trolley service for the area too.

Nice to go walk and visit the shops and restaurants and have a grown up drink while visiting. Would highly recommend it!

Husband and I go every year and walking through here is a must! Some times we just get drinks and do some window shopping. Every store we walk in has such friendly staff!

We enjoyed walking the strand. Looking in the quite individual and quirky shops. A great deal of arts and crafts products were on display as well as more everyday touristy type goods.

My wife and I walked all around The Strand when we were in Galveston. It wasn't very crowded and I'm sure the coronavirus has not helped businesses in this famous, historice area of town. It's right near the cruise ship docks and with cruise ships not operating right now, it's not helping business there either. The historic buildings are always nice to see and some of the stores were open that we could go into. Of course, Dickens on The Strand is a big deal in the Houston area at Christmas time. Here's hoping that that darn COVID-19 goes away so these small businesses can get back to work.

I always love visiting the Strand when I’m in Galveston. It’s full of unique as well as a few touristy shops and unique places to eat. Also, the buildings are beautiful. You may even spot a ghost!

Parking is weird. They have signs posted on each block where info is for you to log in on your cell phone to pay to park. You have to be looking for it to realize you have to pay to park It took me 30 minutes to figure out how to do this

Great place to people watch and something for everyone. Lots of shops for those that like the knock knacks and T Shirts. Ice cream for the kids at La Kings. Adults can have a beverage and walk the streets with it. Nice place. Better restaurants on Post Office just a few blocks over for dinner.

Shopping was underwhelimg. Did visit in an off-season but it seemed like there were very few shops open and what was open seemed like every store had the same merchandise. Would like to visit again durning a more peak time to see if anything changes. Buildings and architecture was beautiful but shopping needs improvement.

Still a beautiful place to stroll and shop. Great restaurants and interesting architecture. Last time we were here was Marci Gras, so this was a completely diffferent experience lol

I love going to the Strand. There are amazing stores. There are several great restaurants also on the Strand. Customer service is always first class!

Love the strand! There is something for everyone! Food and fun and great shopping deals! Also many great treats to be found

Many good eating places on the strand, quick, fast food or fine dining. The prices are reasonable and ideal if you're on a budget.

I enjoy visiting the Strand in Galveston because I am reminded of the days of my youth. The buildings are old, the food is good, fresh, and new, and the little shops for souvenirs will give you a well rounded day.

So many local restaurants and shopping. I grew up here and spent many days, nights and days that turned into night on the strand. Fun for all.

We spent several hours walking the streets in the old town. The architecture was stunning on many of the buildings. We found zero free parking so a spot down on Pier 21 was $10 daily. Many shops and restaurants were open. We walked the Pier area as well, and up and down 3 streets. The visit was enjoyable and once Cruise ships return I image it would be very busy.

The Christmas decorations are beautiful and festive. Thank you for that! So glad to see so many diverse shops open.

This beautiful area is lined with historical buildings. It was so beautiful! One of my favorite places to visit while in Galveston. Paid parallel parking on the streets.

If your in Galveston definitely head down to the strand. They have fun shops and restaurants all in walking distance. Be sure to stop by LA Kings Confectionery for some sweet treats after you eat.

We downloaded the AP to pay for parking like the signs say and our credit card was stolen immediately. BEWARE.

Great area, very cute shops and restaurants. Close enough to the beach and great hotels in Galveston.