Austin is one of the best cities in the US to visit if you’re in Texas. It’s great for a weekend or longer trip while exploring Texas. Plus, there are heaps of the best things to do in Austin dotted all across (and around) the city.
If you’ve ever been to Texas, you’ll know it has a culture and identity all to its own! It’s no wallflower and a massive state. Honestly, I didn’t even fathom the size of the state until we started driving across it, and it took me nearly 10 hours to cross the state. Ginormous is an understatement.
It’s easy to visit if you’re on a broader trip to see the best places in Texas. After all, it’s only around 100 miles from San Antonio if you want to drive and tour some of the bigger cities and epic places down south. Plus, you can also tag along on a trip to Houston as part of the trip and explore a much bigger town if that’s the vibe you’re looking for.
Anyway, I don’t want to keep rambling on. After all, you’re going to have your hands full exploring all the best things to do in Austin. Just make sure to pack some sunblock! It gets swelteringly hot between June and August, and it was roasting when we explored this area of Texas.
Take a look below at the best things to do in Austin. Have the best trip.
1.) Take a dip in Barton Springs Pool
Grab sunscreen and a beach towel, and head to Zilker Park for a lazy day. Here, you’ll find the lovely Barton Spring Pool, which is gorgeous on a hot day. Plus, it’s one of the best things to do in Austin to cool down in the summer sun.
There’s a small entrance fee for access to the freshwater pool (supplied by a nearby natural spring), which is the perfect spot to soak up some of that famous Texan sunshine. Honestly, I’d say to save this for after a few days on your feet exploring; you’ll savour it then.
Afterwards, you’ll have worked up quite an appetite! So, get yourse’f straight over to Terry Black’s BBQ. It’s one of Texas’s most famous BBQ spots, and the ribs are so good.
Just be prepared for a queue as lines are long, especially on a weekend. Oh, and remember there’s minimal parking outside the restaurant. If you can, grab an Uber or taxi to get you there – it’s much easier as we had to wait ages to find a parking spot.
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2.) Lake Travis
Just outside the city limits of Austin is Lake Travis. It’s an absolute gem if you fancy a more chilled day away from the city streets and is perfect in the hot summer months.
Now, Lake Travis spans 18,000 acres (impressive, right?) and is chock-full of fun, outdoorsy activities, too. This means you’ll find heaps to see and do whilst you’re here.
Plus, you’ve got the nearby Volente Beach Resort and Waterpark if you fancy some thrills and spills on their huge waterslides. It’s totally great to visit if you’re heading to Austin with the broader family as it’s contained in one area and there are varying slides and pools for all ages.
For a bite to eat on the banks of Lake Travis, head to The Oasis on Lake Travis. It’s a yummy spot for a sunset dinner that serves up some of the tastiest tacos in the area. We loved it. Just make sure to book a table in advance, it can get visit on the weekend.
Once here, you can book a place to stay by the lake, so if you’re looking for a change of pace from city life, you know where to go. It’s one of the best things to do in Austin if you fancy leaving the city limits for a while.
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3.) Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton Museum of Art is an absolute gem in Austin and one that’s really easy to visit when exploring the city centre. Located at the University of Texas at the Austin campus, it is one of the largest and oldest university art museums in the United States!
Once inside, you’ll get to explore their seasonal exhibitions and permanent placements that make this museum amazing. We loved the ‘Art of the American West’ exhibit.
It is one of the best things for art lovers to do in Austin. Oh yeah, I nearly forgot, just remember that the Blanton Museum of Art is closed on Monday and there’s always free entry every Tuesday. On other days, tickets are around $15-20 each.
After working up an appetite, head for lunch at Josephine’s House. It’s a small little restaurant tucked away in a historic house in the city, serving a tasty bite. We loved their steak and eggs and their kale salad. So good.
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4.) Hippie Hollow Park
Okay, so I have intentionally not shown a photo of Hippie Hollow Park in Austin. It’s a ‘clothing optional’ park where nakedness is the name of the game!
It is located on Lake Travis, the only clothing-optional park in Texas, so feel free to enjoy the sunshine in your birthday suit! Now, it’s certainly not for everyone, but it’s something different if you fancy it, and it’s a welcoming and respectful place.
After all, the city motto of “Keep Austin Weird” is living strong here.
Once you arrive back in downtown Austin, make sure to visit Little Swedish Hill for their excellent coffee and fresh pastries. It’s a great place to stop for a snack or even for a light breakfast.
Plus, if you’re in the area, you can easily hop over the road to Clark’s Oyster Bar for their oysters served with fresh horseradish. They are actually incredible and well worth visiting if you love shellfish.
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5.) 6th Street
6th Street in Austin is a pretty epic place to visit in the early evening for dinner, drinks and live music on the weekends. It’s a fun-fuelled area that has some amazing places you can’t miss – especially if you’re a foodie.
First off, make sure to visit Whisler’s. It’s a bar that’s filled with graffiti, candlelight and a long list of cocktails that are perfect for a pre-dinner tipple. Now, like most places in Austin, Whisler’s can get busy on the weekends. If you want to avoid the crowds, head here on a Monday or Tuesday evening.
Oh, and don’t forget about their happy hour around 5-7 pm (approximately).
For a tasty bite to eat, get over to Suerte for one of the best Mexican meals I’ve had in the city. Now, it’s a relatively big restaurant but we still had to wait about 20 minutes for a table (as we didn’t book in advance).
Though, the wait was worth it as their carne asada is delicious.
Also, next door to Suerte is Daydreamer, a cocktail bar that we loved for an after-dinner tipple.
6.) Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Located near the Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Park, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden is a great way to enjoy some outdoor art.
Originally the home of American Sculptor Charles Umlauf, it is now a museum open to the public. Come here to have a gander at the native plants in the outdoor garden, as well as a variety of sculptures by Umlauf and other artists.
Afterwards, don’t forget to book this BBQ and wine shuttle tour that takes you to some of Austin’s most delicious spots. Honestly, Austin is such a foodie city, and you want to get the local knowledge to tap into the favourites here. We loved this tour for the wines and the visit to Salt Lick BBQ.
Just be sure to book this tour in advance. Tickets do sell out at peak times.
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7.) Texas Science & Natural History Museum
Located on the University of Texas in the Austin campus, the Texas Science & Natural History Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in Texas history and the wider world.
It has many exhibits, and its dinosaur section is so good. I’d even go as far as saying it’s one of the best in the state! Visits will take around 90 minutes, and it’s a great thing to do in Austin on a colder winter day or if the sun is stifling hot in June.
There is an admission fee, but it won’t break the bank (it is typically around $10-15). Plus, exploring exhibits that take you back in time makes it an interesting spot. Oh, and remember, the museum is closed on Monday.
Afterwards, take a look at the Texas State Capitol Building, too. Once here, you can join a free tour of the Texas State Capitol Building to learn so much more about the history of Texas and governance.
However, don’t fret if you miss the guided tours; you can head around the grounds with the free tour brochure that you can pick up at the Capitol Information desk. It’s one of the best things to do in Austin if you want to explore more of the city’s heritage, history and stunning buildings.
Afterwards, head over to Launderette, which isn’t a laundry spot. It is, in fact, a yummy Austin restaurant that we loved. We visited for dinner, and their fresh fish was so good. Oh, and don’t forget to try their famous birthday cake ice cream sandwich—it is so delicious.
8.) Hamilton Pool Preserve
If you want to head outside of the city for a bit, check out the naturally occurring Hamilton Pool Preserve. The pool is located just over 20 miles west of Austin and was formed by the collapse of an ancient underground river that formed due to geological changes and erosion in modern-day Texas.
However, you don’t need to concern yourself with any of that. For me, it’s just a great place to chill and relax while exploring the wider natural beauty around Austin. Once here, you’ll walk a small trail to the pool itself (around 0.25 miles) and get to bathe in the refreshing waters. It’s so amazing on a hot day.
Just make sure to pack some dry clothes for the drive back to Austin itself. No one likes soggy car seats!
After arriving back into the centre of Austin, head on over to Lamberts. They make a pretty epic BBQ and focus on slow-smoked meats. Thankfully, their queues are much lower than that of Terry Black’s and the food was great.
9.) Longhorn Caverns
I know, I know! Technically, it’s not Austin, but Longhorns Caverns is a must-visit if you plan a day trip outside the city limits. A 90-minute drive Northwest of Austin, this geological wonder is well worth the drive if you want to see something different.
Just book your tickets for a visit before arriving – you don’t want to get caught out if they are sold out on the day you visit.
Once here, you’ll tour the caves, learn about their unique history, and stop to say hi to the resident bat population. Again, it’s one of the best things to do in Austin if you fancy leaving the city limits, and it’s worth it if you’re driving northwest of Austin to Buchanan Lake.
If you’ve got time, make a little detour to nearby Perissos Vineyard and Winery. They have some of the best wines on this side of Austin, and we loved their tastings.
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10.) Paramount Theatre
Built in 1915, the Paramount Theatre is an iconic spot in downtown Austin and is easy to see whilst strolling the city.
Not only that, you can easily catch a live show or movie at the historic Paramount Theatre during your trip. Just be sure to check their listings to see what performers and shows are on before your visit.
Afterwards, head to the Austin Proper Hotel for drinks and a bite. We stayed at Austin Proper during our trip and loved the hotel chain (we previously stayed in their property in Downtown LA). I’d only say that their rooms can be smaller, but that doesn’t take away from how great the hotel is, especially for their bars and restaurants.
We loved their intimate cocktail bar, Goldie’s, and The Peakcock for lunch or dinner. Both are such a vibe and get quite busy in the evenings.
Read more: Best places to visit in Texas
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