The 10 best things to do in Austin, Texas

Austin has been slowly turning the heads of travelers. It first attracted folks with its quirky slogan of "Keep Austin Weird," and this was followed by music lovers who wanted to experience the live music capital of the world. Today, it draws people who love the city's outdoor offerings, want a Tex-Mex and barbecue foodie experience, or just simply want to have a good time.

No matter your reason for visiting Austin, we want you to experience the best the city has to offer. We cover all the bases – art, music, hiking and festivals. While you may not be able to do them all in one trip, we're sure that Austin would welcome you back time and time again.

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1. Float upon Lady Bird Lake

When the city of Austin turned part of the Colorado River into a reservoir, the intention was to create a cooling pond for a power plant. Little did they know how the reservoir, named Lady Bird Lake, would become such a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.

Lady Bird Lake is just south of downtown Austin, and the 468-acre reservoir is a go-to destination for water sports enthusiasts. Expect to see kayakers, canoers, rowers and paddleboarders on the water every day.  Several watercraft rentals, like Zilker Park Boat Rentals and EpicSUP, are along its shores, making it easy for visitors to get out there.

If canoeing and kayaking aren't your thing, you've still got options. Enjoy the serene views of the reservoir via the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and the many lakeside parks that it meanders through.

Planning tip: Experience Lady Bird Lake with someone else at the reins. Lone Star Riverboats offers sunset and bat-watching cruises, and Capital Cruises is a local go-to for dinner and lunch cruises. Austin Duck Adventures is a fun option that takes you on a land and water tour in a Hydra Terra vehicle, which is basically a vehicle that drives right into the reservoir and turns into a boat.

2. Bar hop through Rainey Street

Rainey Street is a charming little district by Lady Bird Lake and not far from the Austin Convention Center. It is composed of historic bungalows that have been renovated and turned into bars like Half Step and Clive Bar, and restaurants such as Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden and Emmer & Rye. Because of the neighborhood's compact size, it's easy to hop from place to place on foot. The lively district feels cozy thanks to the house-style bars – like you're having a drink in your friend's backyard.

3. Take a dip in the Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs Pool, a three-acre spring-fed pool in the city limits, is a truly natural wonder. Fed by four different springs, the average temperature of the water is 68-70°F (20-21°C), which means you can swim here year-round. The water is clear and has an almost turquoise color, with depths of up to 18ft. It opens at 5am and closes at 10pm, which means you can effectively watch the sun rise and set while floating in the water. While there is a small fee to swim here in the summer, it's completely free from November 1 to spring break.

Planning tip: Lifeguards are on duty between 8am and 6pm – outside those hours, you swim at your own risk. Buy your ticket online or at a kiosk when you arrive. Veterans and children under 1 year old get in free.

4. Have a night out on Sixth Street

Ask any Texan where to party in Austin, and they'll point you to Sixth Street. Lovingly referred to as "Dirty Sixth," this entertainment district is between Congress Avenue and I-35 in downtown Austin. It's often compared to Bourbon Street in New Orleans because it's full of bars with live music, restaurants and clubs that bring out visitors during the day and well into the late hours of the night. And like Bourbon Street, Sixth Street closes to through traffic Thursday through Saturday night.

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Maggie Mae's may be the most iconic bar on Sixth Street with its five bars, two stages and multiple floors, but there is no shortage of incredible establishments on Dirty Sixth. Dive fans will love The Jackalope, while Esther's Follies serves up vaudeville acts, comedy and satirical shows. And don't miss Midnight Cowboy, a reservations-only lounge with a phenomenal cocktail menu.

Detour: Before your night out, take time out of your day to visit the Texas State Capitol on Congress Street.

5. Learn about Austin's Chicano and Latine history

As with many parts of Texas, Austin has been influenced by its Chicano and Latine residents since its founding. You can't visit the city without seeing this influence in the town's food, street names, art and music.

Start at the Mexic-Arte Museum, which showcases Mexican and Latine artists from the US and beyond. La Peña Gallery exhibits similar artists on a smaller scale, while Teatro Vivo is a phenomenal destination for English and Spanish performances that focus on the Latine experience. Round out your trip with a self-guided East Austin Barrio Landmarks historic walking tour via Preservation Austin. This tour honors the Mexican American community of East Austin by taking travelers to important places like the Holly Street Murals, Parque Zaragoza and the Herrera House.

Detour: Austin's Black history is equally as enthralling. Javier Wallace is the founder of Black Austin Tours.  Wallace's tours recount how people of African descent have shaped ATX, and he even takes travelers onto the Colorado River to show how the waterway was used in race-based enslavement and as an important gathering spot in Austin's Black community.

6. Surround yourself with culture at SXSW

Every March, thousands from around the globe descend upon Austin for South by Southwest (SXSW). Founded in 1987, SXSW is a combination of a conference and festivals; people come together for big discussions on tech, climate change, education, energy, travel, cannabis, the workplace, startups and more. Three festivals coincide with the conference – a film and TV festival, a music festival and a comedy festival.

Detour: Austin doesn't shut down just because SXSW is going on. Take a break from your packed SXSW itinerary and celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the St. Patrick's Day Austin Festival.

7. Hike to waterfalls and swimming holes without leaving the city

Most US cities don't have hiking destinations within the city limits, but Austin does. Southwest of Downtown Austin is a 7.25-mile green space called the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Barton Creek runs through this public land area, creating a fantastic geological destination full of 12 miles of hiking and biking trails, forests, waterfalls, swimming holes and cliffsides for climbing.

For this reason, Barton Creek Greenbelt is incredibly popular – especially on weekends and in the summer. Steep ascents make for strenuous hikes while swimming holes bring folks together to swim and relax. Twin Falls, Sculpture Falls, Gus Fruh and Campbell's Hole are some of the most popular destinations within the park, but they're just a few of the beautiful and magical aspects of this truly magnificent outdoor destination.

8. Listen to amazing bands at Austin City Limits Music Festival

The "live music capital of the world" offers tunes at a wide range of bars every day, but die-hard music fans should consider attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

In 1974, KLRU-TV created Austin City Limits, a televised concert series on PBS that's been going strong ever since. In 2002, Austin City Limits launched a music festival and has since featured over 100 artists at Zilker Park. The festival brings out 225,000 patrons every year for a two-weekend event with world-famous and Texas-based musicians at nine different stages.

Planning tip: There is no parking at Zilker Park during the festival (except for a limited amount of accessible parking spaces), so you'll have to consider other transportation options. The most sustainable transportation method is to rent a CapMetro bike and dock it at the park. A free shuttle runs between downtown and the festival, meaning you can walk to the pick-up spot from your downtown Austin hotel or a parking garage and it'll take you to one of the entrances. CapMetro has some public bus routes that stop near Zilker Park, but you'll have to walk the rest of the way. The festival usually partners with Uber and has specific areas where you can be dropped off and picked up by your rideshare.

9. Cheer on the Longhorns at a UT football game

We know that attending a football game in Texas is a bit on the nose – "football is king in Texas" and all. But even so, cheering on the University of Texas Longhorns is a pretty cool experience. The Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium is a massive space full of students and fans in orange and white cheering on their beloved team. The chants, the food and the atmosphere will knock your socks off in the way that only Texas football can.

Planning tip: Dive into the UT football game well before kickoff with some tailgating fun. Bevo Blvd is the ultimate pre-game street party, located on San Jacinto Blvd from 20^th Street to the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. Not only is there a street parade, but you get to greet the players as they enter the stadium and maybe even get their autographs, order food and drink from food trucks and watch other football games on two giant screens. The best part? You don't need a ticket to visit Bevo Blvd. All are welcome, even those not attending the game.

10. Shop along South Congress Avenue or the other amazing independent shops in Austin

Austin isn't without malls, but the most "Austin-y" experience you can have is shopping on South Congress Avenue. Nicknamed "SoCo," it is the ultimate shopping destination for hipster boutiques, funky shops and western wear.

When you buy a beautifully made outfit at Cove Boutique, you're supporting an Austin woman-owned shop. Go full cowboy and get your hat at Maufrais and your boots at Heritage Boot Co. or Tecovas. And if thrift store or vintage shopping is for you, Prototype Vintage is a must-visit. 

We also love these suggestions from writer James Wong with all the best independent shops in Austin. If you're trying to decide the best one to go to, Nina Berenato Jewelry is a fave with Beyoncé, so....

Detour: South Congress is home to one of Austin's oldest and most famous attractions: Peter Pan Mini Golf. Since 1946, this local treasure has been serving up kitschy mini golf over two 18-hole courses. Don't think this is just a destination for families – the BYOB policy makes it a fun option for adults, too.