Austin is the capital of Texas and the self-styled Live Music Capital of the World, home to more than 250 live music venues in this sprawling central Texas city. Over 2,300 recording artists reside in Austin, including Willie Nelson, who left Nashville for Austin in 1972 and never returned
As a college town (home to the University of Texas), Austin is as big as you’d expect the Texas capital to be. The city covers 232 square miles with over 300 parks, including the massive 360-acre Zilker Park. It’s America’s 11th-largest city and one of its fastest-growing.
They claim everything’s bigger in Texas—and the state Capitol building (14 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol in D.C.) certainly is. So is the bat colony under Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge, where 750,000 to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats live their lives from April through October, making it North America’s largest urban bat colony.
Between hikes, neighborhood art, music events, offbeat neighborhoods, and infinite restaurants and pubs, Austin offers something for each taste and price range. This guide will assist you in getting the most out of your time in a city that happily lives by its slogan: Keep Austin Weird.
Time Zone
Central Standard Time (Daylight Savings Time observed seasonally).
Best Time to Go
March and October are perfect for fans of live music. March features SXSW (a huge music and multimedia festival) and the Urban Music Festival (honoring R&B, jazz, funk, and reggae). Austin City Limits, a two-weekend event with 130+ performers, dominates in October. The Austin Rodeo, featuring evening concerts, occurs in March.
For a sampling of Austin’s bohemian heritage, come in May for the Pecan Street Festival on 6th Street. If you’re fleeing winter, Austin provides warm temps—but skip July and August unless you adore blistering Texas heat.
Things to Know
Breakfast tacos are the norm; suits and ties are not. Flip-flops are suitable for most things—stilettos? Not exactly.
Austin is a very walkable city for Texas, but rideshares (Lyft/Uber) or a rented car are time-savers—distances appear smaller than they are.
It’s an Instagrammer’s paradise, with its famous murals such as “I Love You So Much” (South Congress), “Greetings from Austin” (South 1st Street), and the “atx” sculpture (5th and Lamar).
Lady Bird Lake isn’t a lake—a reservoir on the Colorado River, formed in 1960 as a cooling lake for a power plant.
How to Get Around
Cap Metro operates Austin’s public transportation (buses, MetroRail, MetroRapid) over 535 square miles, but weekend service might be reduced.
Rideshares, taxis, and bikes are fine, but a rental car is convenient for getting around.
Best Hotels
The Carpenter Hotel – A funky place to stay in an old union hall with original wood floors and minimalist style.
JW Marriott – High-end downtown, within walking distance of 6th Street and the Capitol.
Doubletree Suites – Comfortable suites close to the Capitol, some with Hill Country vistas.
Hyatt Regency – Pet-friendly with river views, near the bat bridge.
Hampton Inn Downtown – Budget-friendly and within walking distance of Stubb’s BBQ and nightlife.
Fairmont Austin – A 37-story luxury tower connected to the Convention Center.
W Austin – Includes a tequila bar and a record room with 8,000+ vinyls.
East Austin Hotel – Hip boutique atmosphere on 6th Street, some shared-bathroom budget rooms.
Omni Barton Creek Resort – A high-end retreat on golf, pools, and a spa.
The Driskill – Austin’s oldest hotel, a historic gem popular with presidents.
Best Restaurants
Launderette – Mediterranean cuisine and Austin’s “best burger.”
Franklin BBQ – Iconic brisket, favored by Obama and Anthony Bourdain.
Home Slice Pizza – NYC-style slices on South Congress.
South Congress Cafe – Tipsy brunches and retro atmosphere in a historic pharmacy.
Hula Hut – Tex-Mex and tiki bar on Lake Austin.
Salty Sow – Meat-lovers menu with duck fat fries and pork belly.
Contigo – Ranch fare with quail and ribeye.
Torchy’s Tacos – Inventive tacos (get the Trailer Park or Brushfire).
Kemuri Tatsu-ya – Texas BBQ and Japanese izakaya fusion.
Ramen Tatsu-ya – Nourishing ramen with all the amenities.
Things to Do
Texas State Capitol – Guided tours of this beautiful building and grounds for free.
LBJ Presidential Library – Interactive displays about the 36th president.
Austin Bats – See 1.5 million bats flying at sunset.
Barton Springs Pool – A 3-acre spring-fed pool (68°F throughout the year).
Bullock Texas State History Museum – From space console to cowboy heritage.
Harry Ransom Center – Residence of a Gutenberg Bible and historic photographs.
Blanton Museum of Art – Features Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin light temple.
Golf at Omni Barton Creek – Four golf courses championship.
The Paramount Theater – Luxurious theater for movies and live performances since 1915.
ACL Live at Moody Theater – Legendary stage for Austin City Limits.
Antone’s Nightclub – Blues club where Stevie Ray Vaughan performed.
Best Shopping
SOCO (South Congress Ave) – Vintage stores, Allen’s Boots, and offbeat treasures.
2nd Street District – Walkable combination of independent and chain retailers.
The Domain – Upscale shopping with Neiman Marcus and Louis Vuitton.
South First Street – Unique boutiques and neon sculpture.
BookPeople – Texas’ biggest independent bookstore.
Waterloo Records – Vinyl paradise with live acts.
Neighborhoods to Know
SoCo: South Congress’s hipster hangout for food trucks and views of the Capitol.
Rainey Street: Bungalow-to-bars ideal for day drinking.
Red River Cultural District: The epicenter of Austin’s live music activity.
Sixth Street Historic District: The storied bar-and-club strip.
Summers are hot/humid; winters are mild. Spring is rainy and brings tornadoes every now and then.
Avg. temps (°F):
Jan: 42–62
Feb: 45–65
Mar: 51–72
Apr: 59–80
May: 67–87
Jun: 72–92
Jul: 74–96
Aug: 75–97
Sep: 69–91
Oct: 61–82
Nov: 51–71
Dec: 42–63