The Open Road Travel

Austin is a fabulous city that perfectly demonstrates both Texan and Mexican culture, giving visitors the chance to experience both sides of this massive state. However, like everything in Texas, Austin is a big city, so choosing the 10 best things to do in Austin can be quite a challenge.

From beautiful pieces of historic architecture and monuments detailing the city’s legacy to stunning natural wonders and examples of Austin’s “weird” culture, there is plenty to do and see on any visit to the state capital of Texas.

That is why we want to give you a helping hand and identify what we feel are the 10 best things to do in Austin for you. This should make life a little easier when it comes to planning your dream travel itinerary for your own trip to the “Live Music Capital Of The World”.

Austin is the capital and 4th most populous city in the state of Texas, as well as the 11th most populous city in the U.S. as a whole. It is also the second most populous state capital in the country, behind only Phoenix, Arizona, as well as the most southern capital in the lower 48 states.

While it was officially settled in 1835 and incorporated 4 years later, the first Spanish missions were erected here in 1730, making Austin one of the oldest permanently inhabited areas in Texas. As of 2020, it is also among the fastest growing cities in America.

The city is perhaps best known in modern times for its quirky nature and “Keep Austin Weird” slogan.

Various art, film, and music festivals, such as the legendary South By Southwest (SXSW) are held here each year, while you also have the iconic Austin City Limits studio and festival.

Austin has even been used to record various movies and TV shows through the years, as its year round warm weather provides maximum opportunities to shoot. Its output even includes the smash 1974 film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.

With many of the establishments and neighbourhoods throughout the city playing up to this “weird” and wonderful reputation, Austin offers a unique experience unlike anything else you are likely to find in the United States.

The best time to visit Austin is from mid-June to the end of August. This is not only the warmest period in the city each year but it also avoids the rainy stretches that occur at both the beginning and end of summer, giving you the best all round weather.

It is also the perfect time for those hoping to see the bats that live under the Congress Avenue Bridge or experience the legendary Austin 4th Of July Celebrations.

As we move on to our list of the 10 best things to do in Austin, I am going to suggest a broad range of options. These will include things to appeal to travellers of all different interests, while ensuring you have something to cover everything that Austin is known for.

One of the most unique, iconic, and suitably weird sights you are likely to witness in Austin is the swarm of bats that live beneath Congress Avenue Bridge. Each year in spring between 750,000 and 1.5 million pregnant bats take refuge under the bridge to breed.

Then, once the breeding is done, they are joined by the males and raise their young there until early fall. Considered to be the largest urban bat colony in the world, each night during the summer they come out and take flight at dusk.

As the sky fills with hundreds of thousands of bats, backdropped by beautiful views of the sun setting over the river, it creates a truly incredible experience.

With an estimated 100,000 tourists coming to the city to witness the sight for themselves each year, "Bat Bridge" is not only amazing but also extremely important for the Austin economy, annually generating around $8 million.

6th Street in Downtown Austin is the heart of the city’s nightlife scene, as well as the epitome of the Austin slogan “Keep Austin Weird”.

Its collection of bars is second to none, offering everything from dive and sports bars to live music venues, where you can hear local bands playing the style of blues that Austin is famous for on any given night.

The food on offer is equally impressive. With everything from restaurants serving traditional Texan and Mexican cuisines to Voodoo Donut 6th Street offering weird and wonderful baked delights, there will be something to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters.

You even have unique attractions, such as the Museum Of The Weird, which plays on Austin’s unique slogan and culture, with quirky exhibits and paranormal displays. Put it all together and a trip to 6th Street is a night out you won’t soon forget.

Built between 1882 and 1888 using Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, the Texas State Capitol was deemed the 7th largest building on Earth upon its completion.

To this day it remains the 6th tallest capitol building in the country, ahead of even the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.

A United States National Historic Landmark that is listed on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places, it features a stunning dome and rotunda, and a design based on the national capitol itself that is completed with a combination of marble and local red granite.

Aside from being home to the Governor Of Texas and the Texas Legislature, the inside of the main building is full of beautiful works of art, depicting famous people and events from Texan history.

On the grounds of the Texas State Capitol, you then have an incredible collection of museums, memorials, statues, plaques, and even the highly informative visitor center, all of which detail different aspects of Texas’ long, rich history.

All in all, the Texas State Capitol is the best place in the city to learn about both Austin and the state of Texas as a whole.

The Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail is a beautiful, 10 mile trail that runs along the banks of the Colorado River in Downtown Austin.

Named after a former Mayor Of Austin, it is a fabulous place to take a walk or a bike ride, as it is filled with the region’s wildlife and offers stunning views of the city.

Running past attractions like the Stevie Ray Vaughn Statue, Statesman Bat Observation Center, Zilker Botanical Garden, and the Austin Nature & Science Center, it gives you the opportunity to see some Austin landmarks that you may not have deemed worthy of making a dedicated trip to visit.

With the various parks you travel past offering plenty of places to stop and rest, The Boardwalk At Lady Bird Lake providing unobscured panoramic vistas of Austin, and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere throughout, there may not be a better way to experience Austin in all its glory.

Austin City Limits is the longest running music television program in America, having been continuously produced since its inception in 1974. It is considered by many to be the primary reason why Austin earned its nickname the “Live Music Capital Of The World”.

Starting out as an outlaw music show, it burst into the mainstream and has even held the incredibly successful Austin City Limits Music Festival in nearby Zilker Park since 2002.

With the Austin City Limits studio located in Downtown Austin, you have the perfect chance to experience it for yourself.

See one of the TV shows being recorded, attend one of the various other shows held here through the year, or simply take a tour of the building to learn about the history of Austin City Limits.

There is even a merch store, where you can buy clothing and keepsakes to help you remember your trip. If you are in town while the Austin City Limits Music Festival is taking place, which is usually in early October, it is definitely worth checking that out as well.

Founded in 1883 and home to around 52,000 students, the University Of Texas At Austin is the oldest, largest campus in the University Of Texas system.

With various historic buildings, libraries, monuments, museums, and performance centres, it is a fabulous place to take a tour and appreciate the city’s architecture, history, and the artistic ability of some of its finest students.

Undoubtedly the biggest draw of the university though is the Texas Longhorns sporting programs. With athletics, baseball, basketball, golf, softball, swimming, and tennis, there is plenty of options to keep all types of sports fans happy.

That’s without even mentioning the Texas Longhorns football team. Playing their home games in the 100,000 seater Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, it is one of the biggest, most successful programs in the country, providing the perfect opportunity to catch a game.

McKinney Falls State Park is a 744.4 acre protected natural area at the confluence of the Williamson and Onion creeks. Established in 1976 and named after a local rancher, it is best known for its iconic waterfalls, Upper Falls and Lower Falls.

With countless hiking trails running throughout the park, it is a beautiful place to go hiking and take in the views of the creeks and falls. You also have the option to explore deeper into the park, to enjoy the wide range of local animal and plant life that is on offer.

You even have a few historic locations to seek out, such as the Smith Rock Shelter overhang and the ruins of the mid 1800s McKinney Homestead stone house, both of which are listed on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places. This makes it a destination with something to offer for all.

Austin is located in a part of Texas known as hill country, which boasts some of the most stunning landscapes you will find anywhere in the state. While you could explore the region surrounding the city on foot or in a car, there may be no better way than on a vintage steam train.

The Austin Steam Train Association offers a range of trips, each running for 44 miles (70 kilometres). You’ll travel in faithfully restored 30s, 40s, and 50s train cars and steam engines, as you travel past iconic landmarks and across wooden trestle bridges and rivers.

You even get to make a stop off at the historic 1912 Bertram Train Depot. With trips during the day, at sunset, and in the evening, as well as wine cruises and special tours on certain holidays, there are options for steam train fans of all tastes to explore the region in style.

With all trips departing from and returning to The Austin Steam Train Association Museum, you can even take a look at their collection of vintage cars and trains and learn more about both the vehicles and the history of the route you will be taking.

First opened in October 2012, the Circuit Of The Americas is a racetrack that was created to host the United States Grand Prix when it was added back onto the Formula One calendar. Boasting a 3.426 mile (5.514 kilometre) track, it is the ideal spot for American F1 fans to get their fix.

Aside from its premier event, the Circuit Of The Americas also hosts a number of other races throughout the year for organisations including NASCAR, MotoAmerica, MotoGP, Trans-Am Series, and W Series. This makes it a great destination for racing fans of all varieties.

The venue even boasts the Germania Insurance Ampitheatre and Bold Stadium, which host concerts, rugby, and soccer games, and hold 14,000 and 5,000 people respectively.

With so much on offer, it is always worth checking to see what is on at the Circuit Of The Americas when you visit Austin.

Texas is world renowned for its BBQ and there may be no better place to experience it in the Austin area than The Salt Lick BBQ .

The original location is located just outside of the Austin city limits, in nearby Driftwood, and has been serving the company’s own brand of high quality BBQ since 1967.

With a selection of perfectly smoked and cooked meats, as well as sumptuous sides and desserts, all served in beautiful, natural surroundings, The Salt Lick BBQ Driftwood is a perfect example of Texan BBQ in every sense of the word.

For those who don’t want to make the trip out to Driftwood though, fear not, as they also have a 2nd, smaller location in North Austin too.

You can even purchase things like sauces, rubs, salsas, shirts, caps, and bags to take with you, to try and recreate the experience in your own home.

The Driskill is a stunning, 5-star hotel, located in a historic landmark building erected in 1886. Its traditional architecture is combined with modern luxuries and amenities to make it the perfect representation of style and sophistication in Texas through the years.

The rooms are all air conditioned, pet friendly, boast beautiful décor and comfortable furnishings, and provide access to high speed Wi-Fi that is present throughout the property.

In the communal areas you have a restaurant, Café & Bakery that serve everything from gourmet 4 course meals to beer dinners in collaboration with a local brewery.

There is even a bar with live musicians every night, many of which are Grammy winners, perfectly living up to Austin’s nickname.

With other features like a fitness centre and concierge service, as well as a perfect location right on 6th Street, The Driskill is the best hotel to stay in Austin for the most convenient and comprehensive experience of the city possible.

Austin is a truly wonderful city and perhaps the best place in the state to experience all sides of what can be considered Texas culture.

Our list of the 10 best things to do in Austin will hopefully have given you everything you need to plan the perfect travel itinerary for when you visit the city yourself.

From the natural beauty of locations like the Colorado River and McKinney Falls State Park to the history of the Texas State Capitol and Austin City Limits buildings, there are options to appeal to people of all tastes and interests.

All you have left to do now then is start getting everything booked. That way you can guarantee you don’t have to miss out on any of your personal highlights and can start looking forward to seeing it all with your own eyes.