Fort Worth is more than just Dallas’ neighbour

Texas’s cities each have their own personality, but Fort Worth? It stands proudly apart. While Dallas is faster-paced and leans more cosmopolitan, Fort Worth exudes a deeply Texan warmth: a mix of cowboy grit, artistic sophistication and laid-back charm. It’s a city where longhorn cattle still parade down cobblestone streets, where world-class museums rival those on the coasts and where a night out dancing might be followed by the finest gourmet meal you’ve had all year.

Cathay Pacific now offers daily direct flights from Hong Kong to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), making it easier than ever to explore North Texas. And with CX’s limited-time special fares, including options for travellers heading to offline US cities, you can turn your journey into something more. Stay 48 hours or longer in DFW and transform a stopover into a true encounter with Texas culture. Spend two days soaking in Fort Worth’s distinctive spirit before continuing on to destinations like Houston, Miami or Philadelphia. 

Only-in-Fort-Worth experiences

Fort Worth offers a distinctly different side of North Texas – one rooted in Western heritage, historic stockyards and a vibrant arts scene you won’t find anywhere else. And with Dallas just a short drive away, it’s easy for travellers to experience both cities in a single trip, pairing Fort Worth’s cowboy charm with Dallas’s modern, metropolitan energy.

Cowboy and cowgirl culture

Start at the Fort Worth Stockyards, where the Old West lives on. Twice a day, cowhands lead a herd of Texas longhorns down the brick avenues, horns sweeping impossibly wide as the crowd gathers to watch. It’s not just a show – it’s a tradition, and Fort Worth keeps it alive with pride. For a true taste of cowboy competition, catch the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, where skilled riders and ropers showcase their athleticism and ranching skills.

Just steps away is Billy Bob’s Texas. Spanning 100,000 square feet, it is famously crowned the world’s largest honky-tonk. Inside, you’ll find live country music, free line dance lessons, cold beer and even real bull riding for the pros and semi-pros. On weekends, the place buzzes with locals dancing shoulder-to-shoulder with visitors, proving that Texas hospitality is more than a stereotype.

To understand the women who shaped the West, visit the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame. It’s the only museum of its kind, dedicated exclusively to the trailblazing women who pushed boundaries across frontier history. Exhibits blend rare artifacts and archival footage with storytelling that feels both intimate and awe-inspiring.

Arts of the West 

Fort Worth’s cultural depth may surprise you. The Kimbell Art Museum is home to masterpieces spanning centuries, including Michelangelo’s only painting in the Americas: ‘The Torment of Saint Anthony’. The building itself is a landmark of modern architecture, and wandering its vaulted concrete halls feels like stepping into a sanctuary.

Across a tranquil reflecting pool sits the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. It’s an oasis of glass, water and light, and home to significant works by Picasso, Philip Guston, Anselm Kiefer and countless contemporary artists. Grab a moment on the terrace overlooking the sculpture garden, which is especially serene in the early afternoon.

Outdoors

If you want fresh air before your next flight, head to the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. Spread across 3,621 protected acres of prairies, forests and wetlands, it’s one of the largest urban nature preserves in the United States. Bison roam across grasslands, trails loop around quiet lakes and birdlife is abundant. It’s a peaceful, restorative counterpoint to the city’s busier neighbourhoods.

Where to eat and drink in Fort Worth

Start with barbecue because, in Texas, you’re practically required to. Goldee’s BBQ, run by a group of young pitmasters, has become a sensation. It was formerly ranked as the #1 barbecue joint in Texas by Texas Monthly and honored with a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand. The menu changes often, but the melt-in-your-mouth brisket is always a standout. 

For a refined meal with unmistakable Fort Worth character, book a table at Ellerbe Fine Foods, where seasonal, Southern-inspired dishes are served in a beautifully renovated former gas station. It’s inventive without being fussy, welcoming without being casual and everything on the menu highlights the best regional ingredients.

Then there’s Second Rodeo Brewing, an open-air brewery set inside the Stockyards. With live country music, in-house craft beers and a breezy courtyard, it captures the free-spirited side of Fort Worth. It’s the kind of place where you might stop for one drink and end up staying long after sunset.

Explore more U.S. destinations from DFW

Once you’ve soaked up Fort Worth’s cowboy charm and cultural highlights, DFW makes it easy to continue exploring other US destinations. Houston, Texas’s largest city, draws visitors with its world-class dining, vibrant Museum District and the ever-impressive Space Center. Miami offers a strikingly different vibe, from its sun-drenched beaches and Art Deco streets to lively Cuban cuisine and nightlife that pulses late into the night. Meanwhile, Philadelphia invites travelers to dive into American history, explore a thriving art scene and savor iconic cheesesteaks along the way. With DFW as your hub, hopping from the authentic Western spirit of Fort Worth to the diverse flavors and experiences of these cities couldn’t be easier.

Why stop in Fort Worth?

Fort Worth might move at a different rhythm – its pace is slower – but it’s never dull. It’s a place where cowboy culture isn’t a performance but a lived identity, and that spirit echoes through the museums, rodeos and culinary institutions that shape this city. With Cathay Pacific’s special fare* (valid until February 28, 2026) and flexible stopover duration, it’s the perfect window into Texas before continuing your US journey to Austin, Denver, or St. Louis from HK$7,563.

*Special fare applies when you travel with Cathay Pacific through DFW to Phoenix, Austin, Cleveland, Orlando, Miami, Denver, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington, Tucson, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, St Louis, and more from now until November 30, 2026 (blackout period applies).