A Budget Traveler’s Guide to Austin
Traveling doesn’t have to mean spending more money than you can afford. From the great outdoors to some beloved local murals, here are some budget-friendly places to consider checking out when you’re spending time in Austin.
What to see and do
1. Mount Bonnell
Park, Natural Feature
2. The Texas Capitol Building
Building
3. Greetings From Austin
Building
4. Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk
Bridge
Where to eat and drink
5. South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery
Park
6. East Side Pies
Pizzeria, Restaurant, Italian, American
Where to stay
7. Firehouse Hostel and Lounge
Hostel
Despite the high cost of living, Austin offers visitors a number of hotels and hostels for the budget-conscious traveler. Just off 6th Street – Austin’s liveliest stretch for nightlife – is the very affordable Firehouse Hostel. Built in 1885, it now serves as an updated hostel and lounge. They provide free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and various room options. Depending on how much you’re looking to pay, they offer rooms with shared or private bathrooms, deluxe dorm style and economy dorms.
8. HI Austin Hostel
Hostel
Right off the serene shores of Lady Bird Lake sits HI Austin. This hostel gives you the feeling of being out in the country but it’s still in very close proximity to downtown and all of Austin’s fun activities. Lodging prices range from about $30 per person for shared rooms and around $70 per person for private rooms. You can’t beat the location, free breakfast and Wi-Fi included in your rate.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.