Visit Austin

Stages open every night on Red River and Sixth Street, queues for brisket smoked overnight, a natural pool at 20 °C in the middle of a park and bats pouring out from under a bridge at dusk: Austin fills four days nicely, ideally in spring or autumn.

Why visit Austin?

Austin, the capital of Texas, has billed itself as the Live Music Capital of the World since 1991 and hosts SXSW every March and the Austin City Limits festival every October. It combines a very dense music scene, the Texas barbecue tradition and quick access to the springs and hills of the Hill Country.

Austin's must-sees

Between music, swimming and barbecue, the places that define the city.

Texas State Capitol

Completed in 1888 in pink granite, it stands taller than the Capitol in Washington. Free guided tours of the rotunda and legislative chambers, every day.

Barton Springs Pool

A natural pool of about three acres fed by a spring at nearly 20 °C all year round, in Zilker Park. Closed one day a week for cleaning.

Bat flight

Every evening from March to October, hundreds of thousands of bats leave the underside of the Congress Avenue bridge. A free show from the bank or by boat.

Bullock Museum

The Texas State History Museum over three floors, from Indigenous peoples to space exploration, a few blocks north of the Capitol.

LBJ Library

Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential library on the University of Texas campus, focused on civil rights and the Vietnam War.

Blanton Museum of Art

A university art museum covering Europe and the Americas, known for Austin, the light-filled chapel designed by Ellsworth Kelly and opened in 2018 in its grounds.

Mount Bonnell

About a hundred steps lead to this lookout above Lake Austin. Views over the lakeside mansions and the hills, very busy at sunset.

Continental Club

A legendary South Congress venue open since the 1950s, booking country, rockabilly and blues almost every night in a setting that has kept its period look.

Circuit of the Americas

A racetrack south-east of the city that hosts the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix every autumn. Tours and concerts are held outside race weekends.

What to see in Austin, neighbourhood by neighbourhood?

Downtown, the Capitol and Congress Avenue

The centre is laid out along Congress Avenue, which runs straight from the Capitol down to Lady Bird Lake. Allow half a day for the Capitol, with a free guided tour, then the Bullock history museum ten minutes' walk north. Sixth Street, right next door, lines up bars and venues over several blocks: noisy and very student-heavy at weekends, it is more pleasant early in the evening. The area is the most convenient base for a first visit to this corner of Texas and the United States, but hotels here are the priciest in town.

South Congress and Zilker

South of the Congress Avenue bridge, SoCo strings together vintage shops, boot makers, food trucks and renovated motels over about two kilometres. It also offers the best view back to the Capitol. To the west, Zilker Park brings together Barton Springs, the botanical garden and the great lawn where Austin City Limits takes place over two October weekends. Plan a day to combine SoCo in the morning, a swim in the afternoon and sunset from the bridge. Rents have soared here: accommodation is rarely cheap.

East Austin and Red River

East of Interstate 35, the former working-class Hispanic and African American district has become the area for breweries, taquerias, murals and celebrated barbecue joints. Franklin Barbecue draws queues from 8 am for an opening around 11 am, and closes when the meat runs out. The Red River Cultural District, on the edge of downtown, concentrates the independent venues where local bands play, often for a few dollars. Rainey Street, to the south, turns old bungalows into bars with patios. Allow at least two evenings to cover it all.

Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail

Dammed downtown, the Colorado River forms Lady Bird Lake, where motorboats are banned. The Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail loops around it for about 16 km, with bridges to shorten the circuit. Kayaks and paddleboards are rented by the hour on both banks. From March to October, the Congress Avenue bridge shelters the largest urban bat colony in North America: about 1.5 million animals emerge at dusk, peaking in August. Arrive half an hour before sunset.

Festivals and seasons

March and April are the most pleasant months, with Hill Country wildflowers, but SXSW in mid-March sends room prices soaring for about ten days. From June to September, temperatures regularly top 35 °C: activities shift to the morning and into the water. October brings mild weather, Austin City Limits and the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, two events that fill the hotels. Book three to six months ahead if your dates overlap with them.

The Hill Country and day trips

To the west, the limestone hills of the Hill Country hide rivers and springs. Hamilton Pool Preserve, about an hour away, can only be visited with an online reservation. Fredericksburg, a town founded by German settlers in the 19th century, lies about 1 hour 30 away with its vineyards. To the south, Lockhart, 45 minutes away, claims the title of barbecue capital of Texas. The region is prone to flash floods: those of July 2025 on the Guadalupe River claimed many lives. Check weather alerts before any river swim.

Frequently asked questions about Austin

Is the queue at Franklin Barbecue really worth it?
Expect up to three hours of waiting at weekends, less on weekdays. Arrive around 8 am with a folding chair and coffee. Online pre-orders for takeaway exist for large quantities. Otherwise, other well-known places such as La Barbecue or the Lockhart joints require less patience.
What time do the Congress Avenue Bridge bats come out?
They usually emerge around sunset, sometimes later, from March to October. Stand on the east bank below the bridge or on the bridge itself thirty minutes beforehand. August brings the biggest clouds, when pups born in early summer join the flights.
Can you swim at Barton Springs all year?
Yes, the spring keeps the water around 20 °C in every season, which feels cold in summer and mild in winter. The pool closes one day a week for maintenance and during storms. Entry is charged for non-residents and free early in the morning at certain times.
Where to stay during SXSW without paying top dollar?
Book during the previous autumn, or stay in Round Rock, San Marcos or near the airport, 30 to 45 minutes from the centre. Visitors without a badge also enjoy many free concerts and open showcases: the week remains worthwhile without official accreditation.
Sixth Street or Red River: where to hear live music?
Sixth Street is mainly a party bar strip, with cover bands and a stag-night atmosphere at weekends. For original bands, head to Red River, the Continental Club on South Congress or the music cafés of East Austin, where line-ups are posted every day.
Do you need a car to visit Austin?
Not for Downtown, SoCo and East Austin, linked by buses, bike share and ride-hailing. A car becomes essential for Hamilton Pool, Fredericksburg or Lockhart, as no public transport reaches them. Rent one only for excursion days: downtown parking is paid and limited.
How many days to split between Austin and San Antonio?
San Antonio is about 1 hour 30 south by road, depending on traffic on I-35. A day trip lets you see the Alamo and the River Walk, but two nights there leave time to explore the Spanish missions listed by UNESCO.
Is Hamilton Pool open for swimming?
Swimming depends on water quality and the stability of the cliff, and can be banned for several days in a row. Online reservation is mandatory to access the site. Check the Travis County page the day before making the drive.

Plan your trip to Austin

Build your day-by-day itinerary and manage budget, bookings and packing in PlanTripNow.
Aperçu de l'application PlanTripNow