"Keep Austin Weird" is one of the famous sayings in town, so you know you're up for a good time when visiting this Texan city! We've been dying to visit for years, and finally made our way over this July. After 4 days, we can say there are so many fun things to do in Austin, Texas, and we can definitely understand why it's loved by so many people!
We spent a full holiday weekend in Austin, exploring the city inside and out, with the help of a local friend. With his awesome recommendations, we truly experienced an incredible few days in this city, and can't wait to go back!
In the meantime though, we're going to share with you where to eat, how to get around, and all of the fun things to do in Austin, Texas. So let's dive right in!
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Where is Austin Located?
As the capital city of Texas, Austin is located exactly where one may imagine- in the center of it all. Austin's convenient location is what also makes it the perfect place to base your Texas travels, since you can easily reach the most popular cities in Texas within just 1-3 hours.
Austin lies 195 miles south of Dallas, 100 miles north east of San Antonio, and 165 miles west of Houston.
Austin is located in the center of the state of Texas.
How to Get to Austin, Texas
Being so centrally located, it is super easy to get to Austin! You can either fly to Austin, rent a car from another nearby city, or take a bus from most big cities in Texas.
As Houston was the cheapest airport for us to fly into, we decided to rent a car from the Houston airport, and we drove to Austin.
Where Do You Fly to to Get to Austin?
Austin has its own airport (AUS), which is just 10 miles south east of the center of the city, and 15 minutes drive away.
Cities in Texas that fly direct to Austin Bergstrom Airport include Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Lubbock, and San Angelo.
Other US cities that fly to Austin include Albuquerque, Asheville, Aspen, Atlanta, Auburn, Baltimore, Boise, Boston, Burbank, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Detroit, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Grand Rapids, Hayden, Honolulu, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Kerrville, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Midland, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Oklahoma City, Orlando, Orleans, Newark, New York, Oakland, Pheonix, Philadelphia, Portland, Raleigh, Reno, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa, Tulsa, Washington DC, Westchester, and Wichita.
Austin doesn't have a lot of international connections, but it does have flights from Cancun, Frankfurt, London, Mexico City, Monterrey, Ontario, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose Cabo, Santa Ana, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Flight Tip: Using Skyscanner you can put from "your city" to "the US". This way you can see which is the cheapest airport in the area to fly to. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates to fly to Austin each month!
Taking a Bus to Austin
If you would like to visit Austin from another nearby city, a very affordable option can be to take a bus. We typically use Flix Bus in the US, as it is the most budget friendly, and has a lot of different departures around the country. (Keep in mind for the cheapest prices you should book far in advance).
Here are a few popular routes to look into:
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas
Now that you know the basics, here are some fun things to do in Austin, Texas.
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Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #1: Explore the Nightlife
One of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas is to simply check out its booming nightlife. The city is full of bars, and has a mix of bars with live music, dance clubs, and even some rooftop bars. (You can skip to the nightlife section to learn more)
A great way to experience the nightlife in Austin is by going on a pub crawl. You can find a variety of pub crawls from live music pub crawls to haunted pub crawls! Here are a few fun ones that we recommend:
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #2: Swim at Barton Springs
When you visit Barton Springs, you seriously won't believe it's in the middle of a big city. This is a tiny slice of paradise, and has the option for two totally different experiences.
The public part of Barton Springs vs the municipal pool of Barton Springs
On one side, you have the municipal pool, which is a private area of the springs. It's $10 to get in, and there are bathrooms with showers, a diving board, and plenty of greenery to relax on.
The municipal pool is has amenities and is ideal for families.
On the other side, is the public area. Here you'll find people with their pets, own drinks, picnics, and floating devices. This is the free area, which has a bit more of a fun but wild crowd. You'll find rope swings, music playing, and overall a super fun vibe.
If you want the best waters, and a bit more a chill vibe, simply walk further down. Here is where you'll also find kayak rentals.
The public side of Barton Springs offers kayak rentals.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #3: Rent a Boat
One of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas that we experienced was renting a boat with our friends, and this is how we spent our Fourth of July.
Lake Austin is about 45 minutes outside of the city, and is full of people renting boats, doing water sports, and swimming. We charted a boat for the entire afternoon with a slide and brought our drinks and snacks for a pretty epic day.
Renting a boat is a fun group activity right outside Austin.
Other than renting a boat, Lake Austin is a great place to do any kind of water activities, swim, or to simply sine on the water, and is a great way to spend the day outside the city of Austin.
Lake Austin is a great way to spend the day outside the city of Austin.
Here are a few boats that you can charter on Lake Austin:
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #4: Watch the Sunset at the Oasis on Lake Travis
Looking for the ultimate sunset spot in Austin? Well, just 20-25 minutes outside of Austin is the beautiful Lake Travis, where you'll find a number of great restaurants and places to stay.
Lake Travis is a beautiful place to enjoy the sunset.
But the best part of this area (in our opinion) is Oasis, a massive restaurant located overlooking the lake. It has multiple levels both indoors and outdoors, and features a platform jutting out to get that perfect picture during sunset.
The Oasis has a glass platform and plenty of balconies to enjoy the sunset from.
In addition to watching the sunset we saw a bachata class happening, and heard there are many other fun things to enjoy at Oasis. This is definitely a place we'll have to go back for to join their special events and grab some drinks!
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #5: Go Kayaking at Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake is a reservoir right in the middle of Austin that is popular for recreational activities, one of the most popular ones being kayaking! Here are a few different kayak tours that you can take there and around the area:
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #6: Check Out the Most Instagrammable Spots in Austin
Austin has some really cute corners, and is full of color! So grab your camera and check out these fun spots that we came across:
- The "I Love You" Wall: the most iconic spot for people to take a picture in the city
- Tau Ceti: the corner of a building that is a 3D rainbow mural
- Revival Coffee: an adorable pink cafe
- Cute Nail Studio: a nail place painted in pastel colors (just down the street from Revival Coffee)
- Austin Motel: don't miss out on the peculiar shape of its sign
- "You're my Butter Half" Mural
- "Greetings from Austin" Mural
- "Love from Austin" Mural
Austin is full of cute Instagrammable spots.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #7: Take a Bike Tour
A great way to explore the best that Austin has to offer is by bike, and what better way to do it then in a group! It's a great way to see some of the best spots in the city, meet new friends, and get some exercise in all at the same time.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #8: Rent a Beer Bike
If you are a big group, one of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas is to rent a pedal bar. These are BYOB, and give you a large bar to make your own drinks, while pedaling as a group for your own moving bar. Some of these even include a pub crawl!
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #9: Visit the Texas Capitol
As far as sightseeing goes, you can't miss out on visiting the Texas Capitol. Not only is it free of charge to explore on your own, but they also offer free guided tours as well.
From Monday to Friday tours start at 9:30 am, and the last one is at 12:30 pm. Saturdays and Sundays the first tour goes at 12:30 pm, with the last tour at 3:30 pm. Tours go every 30-45 minutes, and last about a half hour.
The Texas Capitol offers daily free tours.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #10: Mckinney Falls State Park
Located just 25 minutes outside of Austin is another one of the best swimming spots in the area. McKinney Falls State Park has a set of waterfalls and pools to enjoy that are suitable for all ages. Entrance is $6 for anyone 13 and over, and reservations must be made in advance. The park is open from 8 am to 10 pm.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #11: Go Tubing on the River
One of the things we loved most about Texas was all of the great places to go tubing! Just outside Austin you can head to the Comal River next to Gruene, and rent tubes that go all the way down the river like a giant natural lazy river.
You can grab drinks beforehand, and float down to the endpoint for around 4 hours, making it the perfect half day activity to add to your list of fun things to do in Austin, Texas.
Going tubing is one of the best day trips from Austin.
Here are a couple of river tubing tours you can sign up for in advance:
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #12: Explore the Caverns
Did you know that there is an extensive cave system in Texas? Head just 40 minutes outside of Austin an you'll find Inner Space Cavern, which is a well-preserved cave that was found in 1966. but was hidden for 14,000 years before that!
Go an hour and a half outside Austin and you'll then find the biggest cavern in Texas, Longhorn Cavern. This was one of the coolest cave tours we have ever taken, and something we highly recommend checking out if you have time. The cavern was used in the past as a nightclub, restaurant, and concert hall, and now has guided tours to learn all about it.
Longhorn cavern is the biggest cave system in Texas.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #13: Relax at Krause Springs
Krause Springs is another spring located just outside Austin that we really enjoyed. It is such a fun place for anyone to visit, as it has different areas to enjoy. There is the manmade pool down the stairs which has a waterfall, rope swing, and plenty of room to float around and swim.
Upstairs is a manmade pool, which is ideal for families with small children. There are also areas for picnics and barbecues, so groups can bring their own food and drinks. Krause Springs is huge, and includes bathrooms and showers on the premises. The entrance is $10/person, and it is open daily from 9 am to 8 pm.
Something important to note is that the swimming hole is completely natural, so in the off season the waters are super clear, but when there are a lot of people in the summer, the sediment lifts and the water isn't as pristine. Regardless, we highly recommend a visit anytime as it's super fun!
Krause Springs is a great place to spend the entire day with family or friends.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #14: Visit Hamilton Pool
Hamilton pool is one of the most stunning spots just outside Austin. The massive pool is surrounded by a canyon and has a grotto with a waterfall, making you feel as if you just traveled somewhere far and exotic. It also features different trails to enjoy the surrounding nature.
Unfortunately when we were in Austin Hamilton Pool was closed, but it is definitely on the bucket list for next time! Make sure you reserve well in advance for this one, because it tends to be booked out weeks ahead.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #15: Discover Westcave Outdoor Center
Right by Hamilton Pool there is another really cool spot that even my local friends didn't know about!
Westcave is a beautiful cave with waterfalls that you can see on a guided tour. While you can't swim there, it really is a nice place to see. It's open from 9 am to 4 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and from 9 am to 5 pm the other days of the week. Tours are an hour and a half, and are $20/person. Reservations must be made in advance.
You can visit Westcave on a guided tour by reserving in advance.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #16: Hang Out at Pedernales State Park
Pedernales State Park is a great place to spend a half day, or even a full day. We went to see the unique pools which are formed into the stones, and although many of them were dried up, it truly was a unique place.
The park is huge, but we went to two of the top spots. One is an area at the top where you can walk around the rocks and pools, and the other is a bathing area. Around the park there are also various trails, as well as plenty of areas where we saw people picnicking and barbecuing.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #17: Check Out Jacob's Well
Jacob's Well is a perennial karstic spring which is located just northwest of the town of Wimberley. It's actually the second biggest fully-submerged cave in Texas, and goes 140 feet deep.
When we visited Jacob's Well it was closed for swimming, but there are times that you can actually swim or even dive inside. It is just a short 10-15 minute walk to reach there from the parking lot, and in addition to the spring, there is a butterfly farm.
Jacob's well has a deep swimming hole, and a Butterly farm as well.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #18: Explore San Marcos & Stoke's Park
San Marcos is home to a river that is fed from a bunch of springs, making it 72 degrees year-round! At the San Marcos River you can go tubing, fishing, or kayaking, and inside the park you can also swim, hike, and picnic with your family or friends.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #19: Sail Through Palmetto State Park
Palmetto State Park is the perfect camping getaway from Austin. It offers hiking and biking trails, as well as a river where you can swim, tube, fish, and canoe. There is also a big swamp area that gives the area an eerie but magical feel to it.
The entrance to the park is just $3/person, and free for kids 12 and under. You can either park your RV, camp, or you can rent a fully-equipped cabin for $65 a night.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #20: Dip in the Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is another great place to swim outside of Austin, featuring beautiful turquoise waters, rope swings, trails, and a basketball court. Swimming is available daily from May 1st to September 4th, as well as on the weekends in September, from 9 am to 6 pm.
There are two time slots at the Blue Hole to choose from, which are from 9 am to 1 pm, or from 2 pm to 6 pm, this is because from 1-2 pm it is closed for private sessions. Tickets cost $12 for ages 13-59, and $6 for children 12 and under, seniors 60 and over, and for Wimberley residents. Children 3 and under are free of charge to enter.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #20: Visit a Winery in a Castle
This was a hidden gem we stumbled across during our drive from Fredricksburg to Austin, just off the side of the highway. 290 Wine Castle is a small castle that doubles as a winery! It's open from noon to 5 Monday-Thursday, 11:30-6 on Fridays and Sundays, and from 11 am to 7 pm on Saturdays.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #21: Go Glamping
Want to escape the busyness of the city? Well, there is a pretty epic Glamping experience just an hour outside of Austin to experience for a little getaway. The Retreat on the Hill sits on the tallest hill in the area and offers domes, A-frames, and more unique Glamping options to choose from.
Located on Lake Travis you have Camposanto's two different Glamping spots- the Peacock Yurt, and the Macaw Yurt which are two adorable tents that include hot tubs, bathrobes, and a garden.
Udoscape is another beautiful Glamping spot located on Lake Vista which has domes including hot tubs, spa baths, and fireplaces.
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas #22: Take a Day Trip
While there are a ton of fun things to do in Austin, Texas itself, there are also a ton of great towns and cities to see around it! Here are a few of our favorite towns for day trips from Austin.
There are a ton of great day trips from Austin!
Waco: a cute down featuring Texas's first beer spa!
Wimberly: an adorable town home to riverside dining, cute shops, and the Blue Hole
Gruene: a town that will bring you back in time. Don't miss out on the incredible restaurant Gristmill River Restaurant!
Seguin: a town home of the world's largest pecan and a nutcracker museum
San Antonio: one of the most beautiful cities in Texas with a ton of history, art, and nightlife
San Antonio is just an hour and a half from Austin!
Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas: Nightlife
Like we said, one of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas is to experience the nightlife! There are so many great places to go, but we're going to break it down for you.
There are 4 main areas in Austin to check out when it comes to the bar scene:
- Dirty 6th: This area is particularly popular for college students, and is a place where people bar hop. From Thursday to Saturday the streets are closed and it is full of students and young adults going from one dive bar the next
- West 6th: This area has a bit of an older crowd than Dirty 6th with nicer bars. Beaufords/Astoria has a big outdoor patio and an upstairs area. If you're looking for a bit of a wilder spot you can check out Greenlight Social which has Capri Suns with Everclear. Cats Pajamas and Concrete Cowboy are options that are bit more "clubby".
- East 6th: This area is for those that prefer a more relaxed vibe with some breweries. This is great Friday happy hour area. Two of the top recommendations are Zilker Being Company and Lazarus Brewing Company. A few other good options include Shangri La, Hotel Vegas, & Whistler's.
- Rainey St: This area is really unique! It's full of old houses that were converted to bars, and is a fun place to day drink on Saturdays and Sundays. Two particular recommendations for this area are Unbarlievable and Electric Shuttle, but you really can't go wrong with any of the bars!
Here are also a few other bar recommendations:
- Codependent: stylish lounge with cocktails, coffee, & charcuterie boards
- Seven Grand: a great cocktail/whiskey bar
- Garage: cool cocktail bar in a parking garage
- Zanzibar: amazing rooftop with an outdoor pool
- Devil May Care: speakeasy style bar with Mediterranean cuisine and live jazz
- Bouldin Acres: a fun bar with pickeball courts
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Fun Things to Do in Austin, Texas: Local Food & Drink
One of our favorite parts of Austin is the food! There is such a variety of restaurants and bars, making it easy for anyone to fall in love with the food scene in this city.
What Type of Food Does Austin, Texas Have?
Like many cities in Texas, Austin has a heavy influence on barbecue, as well as Mexican. Expect both Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican, delicious meats, heavy comfort foods, and some really cool fusion spots.
Austin has a cool cafe culture, from fun brunch spots to pretty cafes. There are also a bunch of quirky bars, food trucks, and anything else you can think of when it comes to a fun food & drink scene.
Texas has a great mix of barbecue, Mexican, and fusion foods.
Want to experience the best flavors of Austin? There are some really awesome food tours that you can sign up for!
Our Favorite Restaurants in Austin, Texas
Even after 4 days in Austin we didn't put a dent in the list of places we were recommended! Luckily, one of our friends lives there, and also helped us gather a list of some of the best restaurants and bars in Austin. Here are a few of them:
- Franklin Barbecue: the most famous bbq in town- people actually camp there to get a spot!
- KG BBQ: another incredible BBQ spot in town
- Terry Blacks: another local favorite for bbq
- Loro: a twist on Texan barbecue with an Asian fusion
- Uchi: incredible sushi with an award winning chef
- 1618: another cool spot with asian fusion
- Mattie's: a chic restaurant known for its brunch
- Moonshine Grill: the best restaurant with southern cooking
- Nocco's Napoletana: the best pizza Napoletana in town! They offer catering and have a food truck located at Victory Lap
- Taco Joint: some of the best breakfast tacos in town
- Torchy's Tacos: another spot for amazing breakfast tacos with a few different locations
- Hillside Pharmacy: chic restaurant in a historic building with locally-sourced ingredients
- Revival Coffee: adorable pink cafe
- Try Hard: a hip cafe featuring a DJ and 2 outdoor areas
- Rocheli Patisserie: beautiful award-winning French-inspired bakery
- Oasis: a massive venue known for its platform for sunset views dance classes, and several levels of waterside dining
Try Hard is a hip cafe that has a DJ.
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What is the Best Way to Get Around Austin, Texas?
Austin isn't a huge city, but depending on what interests you will depend on what is the best way to get around.
Is Austin a Walkable City?
Austin is fairly walkable, and if you're visiting mostly to party and chill, then you can definitely walk around main areas, and get Ubers for anything that is a bit of a longer distance.
Can You Do Austin Without a Car?
If you are looking to explore the nature around the city, and do a lot of things on our list of fun things to do in Austin, then you'll definitely want to have a car. If you are flying into Austin, you can rent a car straight from the airport. We suggest booking in advance, as it's much more expensive and there are less options if you wait!
Here is a site we often book our rentals on while in the US:
If you don't want to rent a car but do want to explore the outskirts, you can take Ubers or CabMetro, which is the local transportation system. If you'd like to experience some of the places we mentioned a bit further outside Austin, then you can book an organized excursion so that your transportation is included.
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What is the Best Area to Stay in Austin?
If you want to be well located to access the best restaurants and bars in the city, we recommend staying in the east of the city. Here you'll be able to easily access a lot of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas, and have nice options for accommodation.
Want to look for the different hotel options? Just use the interactive map below to see them:
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Is Austin a Safe City?
While Austin has a bit of a higher crime rate than the average in the US, it's overall considered to be a safe city. Known for its hipster vibe, you can seriously find all types of people in Austin, which really adds to its quirky charm. With such a variety of people, it truly is one of the most welcoming cities in the US, and what makes it so fun and carefree.
We're not going to lie- there are a ton of "weird" looking people in Austin, which may make some worried about the safety. But this is something to embrace, not to be afraid of. You'll certainly see some characters out there, but everyone is completely harmless and just living their best life.
We always felt very safe in Austin, but like any popular city, you do need to keep an eye out just in case! Cities can attract petty crime, so just watch your belongings when in crowded places.
Is Austin Safe to Walk at Night?
If you're in the downtown area, or in any touristy spot, you'll have no problem walking around at night at all. The atmosphere is super fun, and locals and tourists tend to be very friendly in Austin.
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Other Things to Know About Visiting Austin, Texas
Now that you know all of the fun things to do in Austin, Texas (and around it), let's go over a few final details.
Weather in Austin
Austin is actually one of the hottest cities in the entire US! This city has a humid-sub-tropical climate, with long and hot summers, and short, mild winters. Summer temperatures can be very extreme, hovering around 100 degrees. The coldest it ever gets in Austin is in January, but temperatures only rarely go as low as the forties, and can even be in the 70's in the winter time.
What Month is Best in Austin?
Some of the most fun things to do in Austin, Texas are around swimming and being in the water! We would definitely suggest visiting Austin in either the fall or spring, as it'll still be hot enough for those activities, but walking around will also be more enjoyable.
Int he spring and fall it's still hot enough to enjoy the water in Austin.
Packing For a Trip to Austin, Texas
Here are some things you'll want to pack for your trip to Austin, Texas:
- Sunscreen
- Light and colorful clothing
- Comfortable shoes for exploring
- Bathing suit for the different water activities
- Flip flops for the pools springs (we personally always get Havaiana flip flops, as they are comfy and long lasting)
- Reusable Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it holds the temperature)
- Power Bank (we use Anker power banks, as they are super long lasting and sturdy)
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How Many Days Do You Need in Austin Texas?
In order to experience a bit of the restaurant and bar scene, you could easily spend an awesome weekend in Austin.
However, there are a ton of fun things to do in Austin, Texas that could keep you busy for a week! We would suggest at least 3-4 days if you want to do the center and some of the things that are surrounding the city itself.
Travel Planning Tools
Here are some useful tools that you can use for planning your upcoming trip!
There are so many fun things to do in Austin, Texas! Whether you are a group of friends, a couple, or a family, there is something for everyone to do is this vibrant city. Want to add anything to this list? Simply comment below!
Plan on visiting other cities in Texas? We have a Dallas travel guide and a San Antonio guide, as well as a couple of more coming soon! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the latest info, and to receive exclusive content and discounts on all Scratch Your Mapa products and services. Want to visit other cool cities around the US? We also have quite a few other US travel guides for you to check out.
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