Austin has been slowly turning the heads of travelers for the last ten years. It first attracted folks with its quirky slogan of “Keep Austin Weird,” and this was followed by music lovers who wanted to experience the live music capital of the world. Today, it draws people who love the city’s outdoor offerings, want a Tex-Mex and barbecue foodie experience, or just simply want to have a good time.
No matter your reason for visiting Austin, we want you to experience the very best the city has to offer. We cover all the bases – art, music, hiking, and festivals. While you may not be able to do them all in one trip, we’re sure that Austin would welcome you back with open arms time and time again.
1. Float upon Lady Bird Lake
When the city of Austin turned part of the Colorado River into a reservoir, the intention was to create a cooling pond for a power plant. Little did they know how the reservoir, named Lady Bird Lake, would become such a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.
Lady Bird Lake is located just south of downtown Austin, and the 468-acre reservoir is a go-to destination for water sports enthusiasts. Expect to see kayakers, canoers, rowers and paddleboarders on the water every day of the week. Six watercraft rentals, like Zilker Park Boat Rentals and EpicSUP, are located along its shores, making it easy for visitors to rent a watercraft and get out there.
If canoeing and kayaking aren’t your thing, you’ve still got options. Enjoy the serene views of the reservoir via the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and the many lakeside parks that it meanders through.
Planning tip: Experience Lady Bird Lake with someone else at the reins – Lone Star Riverboats offers sunset and bat-watching cruises, whereas Capital Cruises is a local go-to for dinner and lunch cruises. Austin Duck Adventures is a fun option that takes you on a land and water tour in a Hydra Terra vehicle, which is basically a vehicle that drives right into the reservoir and turns into a boat.
2. Bar hop through Rainey Street
Rainey Street is a charming little district that cozies up to Lady Bird Lake and isn’t too far from the Austin Convention Center. It is comprised of historic little bungalows that have been renovated and turned into bars like Half Step and Clive Bar and restaurants such as Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden and Emmer & Rye. Because of the neighborhood’s compact size, it’s easy to hop from place to place on foot. The lively district feels cozy thanks to the house-style bars – like you’re having a drink in your friend’s backyard.
3. Take a dip in the Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre spring-fed pool in the city limits, is a truly natural wonder. Fed by four different springs, the average temperature of the water is 68-70°F, which means you can swim here year-round. The water is clear and has an almost turquoise color, with depths of up to 18ft. It opens at 5am and closes at 10pm, which means you can effectively watch the sun rise and set floating in the water. While there is a small fee to swim here in the summer, it’s completely free from November 1 to spring break.
Planning tip: Lifeguards are on-site between 8am and 6pm – outside of those hours, you swim at your own risk. Buy your ticket online or at a kiosk when you arrive. Veterans and children under one year old get in free.
4. Have a night out on 6th Street
Ask any Texan where to party in Austin, and they’ll point you to 6th Street. Lovingly referred to as “Dirty Sixth,” this entertainment district is located between Congress Avenue and I-35 in Downtown Austin. It’s often compared to Bourbon Street in New Orleans because it’s full of bars with live music, restaurants and clubs that bring out visitors during the day and well into the late hours of the night. And like Bourbon Street, 6th Street closes to through traffic Thursday through Saturday night.
Maggie Mae’s may be the most iconic bar on 6th Street with its five bars, two stages and multiple floors, but there is no shortage of incredible establishments on Dirty 6th. Dive fans will love The Jackalope, while Esther’s Follies serves up vaudeville acts, comedy and satirical shows. And don’t miss Midnight Cowboy, a reservations-only lounge with a phenomenal cocktail menu.
5. Surround yourself with culture at SXSW
Every March, thousands from around the globe descend upon Austin for South by Southwest (SXSW). Founded in 1987, SXSW is a combination of conferences and festivals; people come together for big discussions on tech, climate change, education, energy, travel, cannabis, the workplace, startups and more. Three different festivals coincide with the conferences – a film and TV festival, a music festival and a comedy festival.
Detour: Austin doesn’t shut down just because SXSW is going on – take a break from your packed SXSW itinerary and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the St. Patrick’s Day Austin Festival.
6. Learn about Austin’s Chicano and Latine history
As with many parts of Texas, Austin has been influenced by its Chicano and Latine residents since its founding. You can’t visit the city without seeing this influence in the town’s food, street names, art and music.
Start your journey into the Latine community at the Mexic-Arte Museum, which showcases Mexican and Latine artists from the US and beyond. La Peña Gallery exhibits similar artists on a smaller scale, while Teatro Vivo is a phenomenal destination for English and Spanish performances that focus on the Latine experience. Round out your trip with a self-guided East Austin Barrio Landmarks historic walking tour via Preservation Austin. This tour honors the Mexican-American community of East Austin by taking travelers to important places like the Holly Street Murals, Parque Zaragoza and the Herrera House.
Detour: Austin’s Black history is equally as enthralling. Javier Wallace is the founder of Black Austin Tours – his tours recount how people of African descent have shaped ATX, and he even takes travelers onto the Colorado River to show how the waterway was used in race-based enslavement and as an important gathering spot in Austin’s Black community.
7. Hike to waterfalls and swimming holes without leaving the city
Most US cities don’t have hiking destinations within the city limits, but Austin does. Southwest of Downtown Austin is a 7.25-mile green space called the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Barton Creek runs through this public land area, creating a fantastic geological destination full of 12 miles of hiking and biking trails, forests, waterfalls, swimming holes and cliffsides for climbing.
For this reason, Barton Creek Greenbelt is incredibly popular – especially on weekends and in the summer. Steep ascents make for strenuous hikes while swimming holes bring folks together to swim and relax. Twin Falls, Sculpture Falls, Gus Fruh and Campbell’s Hole are some of the most popular destinations within the park, but they’re just a few of the beautiful and magical aspects of this truly magnificent outdoor destination.
8. Listen to amazing bands at Austin City Limits Music Festival
The “live music capital of the world” offers tunes at a wide range of bars every day of the week, but die-hard music fans should consider attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
In 1974, KLRU-TV created Austin City Limits, a televised concert series on PBS that’s been going strong ever since. In 2002, Austin City Limits launched a Music Festival and has since featured over 100 artists at Zilker Park. The festival brings out 225,000 patrons every year for a two-weekend event. It’s the ultimate music festival, one that will have you listening to world-famous and Texas-based musicians at nine different stages.
Planning tip: There is no parking at Zilker Park during the festival (except for a limited amount of accessible parking spaces), so you’ll have to consider other transportation options. The most sustainable transportation method is to rent a MetroBike and park it with the MetroBike valet. A free shuttle runs between downtown and the festival, meaning you can walk to the pick-up spot from your downtown Austin hotel or a parking garage and it’ll take you to one of the entrances. CapMetro has some public bus routes that stop near Zilker Park, but you’ll have to walk the rest of the way. The festival usually partners with Uber and has specific areas where you can be dropped off and picked up by your rideshare.
9. Shop along South Congress Avenue or the other amazing independent shops in Austin
Austin isn’t without malls, but the most “Austin-y” experience you can have is shopping down South Congress Avenue. Nicknamed “SoCo,” it is the ultimate shopping destination for hipster boutiques, funky shops and western wear.
When you buy a beautifully made outfit at Cove Boutique, you’re supporting an Austin woman-owned shop. Go full cowboy and get your hat at Maufrais and your boots at Heritage Boot Co. or Tecovas. And if thrift store or vintage shopping is for you, Prototype Vintage is a must-visit. Don’t forget to support Austin authors at South Congress Books, a great place to decompress after some time spent in the overwhelming and colorful costume store, Lucy in Disguise.
We also love these suggestions from writer James Wong with all the best independent shops in Austin. If you’re trying to decide the best one to go to, Nina Beranato Jewlery is a fave with Beyoncé, so….
Detour: South Congress is home to one of Austin’s oldest and most famous attractions: Peter Pan Mini Golf. Since 1946, this local treasure has been serving up kitschy mini golf over two 18-hole courses. Don’t think this is just a destination for families – the BYOB policy makes it a fun option for adults, too.
Want more shopping recs for Austin? Head to these beloved local shops
10. Cheer on the Longhorns at a UT Football Game
We know that attending a football game in Texas is a bit on the nose – “football is king in Texas” and all. But even so, cheering on the University of Texas Longhorns is a pretty cool experience. The Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium is a massive space full of students and fans in orange and white cheering on the most beloved college football team in the state. The chants, the food and the entire atmosphere will knock your socks off in the way that only Texas football can.
Planning tip: Dive into the UT football game well before kick-off with some tailgating fun. Bevo Blvd is the ultimate pre-game street party, located on San Jacinto Blvd from 20th Street to the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Not only is there a street parade, but you get to greet the players as they enter the stadium and maybe even get their autographs, order food and drink from food trucks and watch other football games on two giant screens. The best part? You don’t need a ticket to visit Bevo Blvd. All are welcome, even those not attending the game.
Keep planning your trip to Austin:
Explore Austin’s surroundings on these day trips
Plan your city takeover in these top neighborhoods
Dive into family fun with these kid-friendly activities
Keep things wallet-friendly with these free experiences