Top Attractions

Austin's top attractions reflect a city that values creativity, the outdoors, and doing things a little differently from everywhere else in Texas.

South Congress Avenue (SoCo)

South Congress is Austin's most iconic street, stretching south from the Congress Avenue Bridge through a corridor of vintage shops, boot stores, food trailers, and live music venues. Allen's Boots has been selling cowboy boots since 1977. The "I Love You So Much" mural on the side of Jo's Coffee is one of the most photographed walls in the city. On First Thursdays, the avenue hosts a street fair with live music, food, and local vendors.

Barton Springs Pool

This three-acre natural spring-fed pool in Zilker Park maintains a year-round temperature of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Fed by underground springs from the Edwards Aquifer, the crystal-clear water at Barton Springs stretches 1,000 feet long and is up to 18 feet deep. Locals swim here year-round, even in winter. It is the spiritual center of Austin's outdoor culture and a must-visit on any trip to the city.

The Texas State Capitol

Taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the Texas State Capitol building is a stunning piece of Renaissance Revival architecture built from native sunset-red granite. Free guided tours run throughout the day and take you through the rotunda, legislative chambers, and underground extension. The 22-acre grounds feature monuments, live oaks, and excellent views of Congress Avenue stretching south toward the river.

Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony

From March through November, approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost under the Congress Avenue Bridge — the largest urban bat colony in North America. Each evening at dusk, the bats emerge in a swirling black cloud to feed on insects over Lady Bird Lake. Watch from the bridge, the hike-and-bike trail below, or from a bat-watching cruise on the lake.

Food & Dining Scene

Austin's food scene is a wild mix of food trailers, barbecue temples, Tex-Mex institutions, and innovative chef-driven restaurants that have earned the city national recognition.

Must-Try Austin Foods

  • BBQ: Franklin Barbecue on East 11th Street is widely considered the best barbecue in the world — and the three-hour line proves it. The brisket is transcendent. For shorter waits, la Barbecue on East Cesar Chavez and Micklethwait Craft Meats near the Capitol serve outstanding alternatives.
  • Breakfast Tacos: Austin runs on breakfast tacos. Veracruz All Natural food truck serves the famous migas taco — eggs scrambled with tortilla strips, cheese, and salsa. Tacodeli's Otto taco (bacon, refried beans, avocado) has a cult following. Joe's Bakery on East 7th Street is an old-school East Austin institution.
  • Tex-Mex: Matt's El Rancho on South Lamar has been serving Bob Armstrong Dip (queso with guacamole, beef, and sour cream) since 1986. Fonda San Miguel on North Loop is a destination for upscale interior Mexican cuisine in a hacienda-like setting, with a legendary Sunday brunch buffet.
  • Food Trailers: Austin's food trailer scene is the most vibrant in the country. Trailer parks like The Picnic on Barton Springs Road and Meanwhile Brewing gather diverse vendors in communal outdoor settings. Dee Dee is a tiny Thai trailer that earned a James Beard Award nomination.

Neighborhood Food Crawls

East Austin along East 6th Street and East Cesar Chavez is the hottest dining corridor with spots like Suerte (Mexican-inspired), Nixta Taqueria (corn-focused tacos), and Kemuri Tatsu-ya (Texas-Japanese BBQ fusion). Rainey Street, a historic neighborhood of bungalows converted into bars and restaurants, is another prime crawl destination. North Loop features casual eateries and vintage shops.

Outdoor Activities

Austin's warm climate and extensive greenbelt system make outdoor recreation a way of life, not just a hobby.

Lady Bird Lake & the Hike-and-Bike Trail

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake (a dammed section of the Colorado River) in the heart of the city. The Boardwalk section along the south shore provides stunning skyline views. Rent kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards from multiple outfitters along the shore.

Barton Creek Greenbelt

This 12-mile stretch of trails along Barton Creek is Austin's premier hiking and rock climbing destination. Swimming holes like Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls fill up after spring rains and offer a refreshing escape from the Texas heat. The limestone cliff faces attract climbers from across the state.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

About 30 miles west of Austin, Hamilton Pool is a collapsed grotto featuring a 50-foot waterfall cascading into a jade-green swimming hole surrounded by limestone cliffs and ferns. Reservations are required and fill up weeks in advance during summer. It is one of the most beautiful natural swimming spots in the United States.

Nightlife & Entertainment

Austin's identity as the Live Music Capital of the World is backed up by over 250 music venues across the city, with live music on any given night of the week.

Sixth Street

The stretch of East 6th Street between Congress and I-35 is Austin's main nightlife strip — a neon-lit corridor of bars and live music venues that closes to traffic on weekend nights. Dirty Sixth is the rowdy, college-crowd stretch. Further east, East 6th Street offers a more refined bar scene with cocktail lounges and craft breweries.

Live Music Venues

The Continental Club on South Congress is the undisputed king of Austin live music — a tiny roadhouse that has hosted legends since 1955. Stubb's Bar-B-Q on Red River Street has an outdoor amphitheater that draws major touring acts. Antone's Nightclub, the "Home of the Blues," has hosted B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and countless others. The Broken Spoke is a legendary honky-tonk that has been serving chicken-fried steak and two-stepping since 1964.

Rainey Street

This former residential street south of downtown has been converted into a strip of bars housed in renovated bungalows with sprawling patios and backyards. Banger's Sausage House serves 100+ beers on tap with house-made sausages. Container Bar is built from shipping containers. The vibe is uniquely Austin — casual, creative, and unpretentious.

Hidden Gems

The Cathedral of Junk

Hidden in a South Austin backyard, artist Vince Hannemann has spent decades constructing a multi-story structure from over 60 tons of discarded objects — bicycle wheels, circuit boards, hubcaps, and toys stacked and wired into a surreal tower. Visits are by appointment only (text the number posted on the fence), and admission is by donation. It is the most Austin thing in Austin.

Mount Bonnell

A short but steep climb of 102 stone steps leads to the highest point within Austin city limits — 775 feet above sea level. The views of Lake Austin, the Hill Country, and the surrounding mansions are spectacular, especially at sunset. It is one of the most romantic spots in the city and far less crowded than most tourist lookouts.

Graffiti Park at Castle Hills

While the original HOPE Outdoor Gallery closed, the spirit lives on at the Castle Hills location north of the city where artists continually paint and repaint concrete structures. The ever-changing murals, tags, and installations make every visit different. Bring a can of spray paint and leave your own mark — it is one of the few places in the city where graffiti is encouraged.