7 Best Things to Do in Austin

They say that everything’s bigger in Texas, and when it comes to the Texas State Capitol building, they’re not wrong. Including its iconic golden dome, this structure is an incredible 92 m tall and built in the late 1880s in a beautiful Italian Renaissance Revival style. 

In a striking contrast, the imposing building is in the middle of a lovely 22-acre park, which also contains several statues and monuments. You can take a 30-minute guided tour of the building for free, which details the history of Texas and the state’s legislature. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop for the perfect Austin souvenir.

The stunning, 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park is packed with fun things to do. Choose from 3 comfortable picnic sites to sit and take in the lush surroundings. Then, accompany the kids to the playgrounds, get your blood pumping on their volleyball courts, or catch a jazz concert at the outdoor theater. If you have a spare minute, visit the nature center and the gorgeous botanical gardens.

The star attraction, however, is the Barton Springs Pool. Formed by natural springs and spanning 3 acres, the water is at a constant temperature of about 68°F throughout the year, making it a popular place to relax and cool off in summer. Zilker Park is south of the Colorado River from downtown Austin.

The Bullock Texas State History Museum was designed to tell “the Story of Texas” and exquisitely does so across 3 floors of interactive exhibits. Each floor has a different theme, all covering the Texan land and identity. Whether you’d like to discover creatures of the ocean, experience the historic story of Texas, or view art by Austin locals, you can do it here.

One star attraction is the 400-seat IMAX theater, which shows both new and classic movies alongside educational documentaries in cutting-edge HD. Be sure to check out the original NASA Mission Control consoles and oil field drill bits on the 3rd floor, then head to the Star Café for local comfort food and snacks.

The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering that makes for some wonderful photos during your stay in Austin. The true highlight, however, is the approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that roost under the bridge, making it among the largest urban bat colonies in the world.

Come to the bridge at dusk to see them flock to the sky and cross Lady Bird Lake to feed. You can watch from on the bridge or the nearby riverbanks, and there are even boat tours that provide a unique perspective. It’s quite a dramatic sight and a real must-see for Austin.

Once mostly a Latino area of Austin, Holly has become one of the trendier parts of the city that attracts visitors from all over the world. It’s a fun, alternate nightlife destination and contains several chic coffee shops, food trucks, and restaurants. It’s not too urbanized either, with designated “Grow Zones” to keep some spaces wild and green. 

The northern part of Holly, along East 7th Street, has an industrial and commercial feel to it, with a couple of small shopping malls. Possibly the area’s star attraction is Juan in a Million, a restaurant on East Cesar Chavez Street. The breakfast tacos are legendary, with the Don Juan El Taco Grande a particular favorite with residents and visitors.

Austin is known as the live music capital of the world, and it can be said that The Continental Club is the live music capital of Austin. The iconic venue on South Congress Avenue opened its doors in 1955 and has since welcomed legends like Robert Plant and Wanda Jackson and regularly boasts sell out shows.

It’s quite a modest place with a small stage, but its reputation is massive and it still hosts great roots, rock, country, swing, blues, and rockabilly acts every night of the week. You can even treat yourself to souvenir merch, from classic tees and caps to pin badges and patches.

Locally known as Dirty Sixth, Sixth Street between Congress and Interstate 35 is lined with bars and clubs renowned for epic nights out. If you’re a partygoer or just want to experience an edgier take on Austin’s nightlife, then Dirty Sixth is one of those things that you've just got to try.

The Coyote Ugly Saloon is particularly popular with the local students, thanks to its happy hour drinks, bar dancing, and wild parties. For something more sophisticated, Midnight Cowboy is a reservation-only lounge with an old-school cocktail menu. Alternatively, go to modern-day vaudeville theater Esther’s Follies for exciting musical comedy revues featuring magic and circus acts.