Food, Art and Cultural Tours in Austin, Texas

One must-do when in Austin is visiting its food trucks
One must-do when in Austin is visiting its food trucks | © Danita Delimont / Alamy Stock Photo
Culture Trip Travel Team

Texas’s capital is a larger-than-life city. The food is full-on, the art is exaggerated, and the history is diverse. Culture Trip rounds up the best ways of experiencing Austin.

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Make a food truck stop

Food Truck, American

If there’s one thing the Deep South is known for, it’s its deep-fried, calorie-intensive and spicy cuisine. The best place to get a taste for true Austin grub? A food truck. On Barton Springs Road, The Picnic is the city’s premier food trailer park, with highlights being The Mighty Cone for spicy fried meats and Cannone Gelato Italiano for something sweet.

Visit the Cathedral of Junk

Museum

Austins Cathedral of Junk
© Dennis Cox / Alamy Stock Photo
The Cathedral of Junk is, on face value, a mound of second-hand junk. On closer inspection, this part-foliage multi-level installation is a cunningly crafted artwork featuring 60 tons of unusual items such as car parts, building materials, baskets and tires. Call ahead to see this unique structure up close by walking through it and keep an open mind – art is subjective.

Discover Austin’s street-art scene

Art Gallery

All around town in Austin, you’ll come across great big murals. Tipster offers walking tours – with no set fees – that allow you to learn the context behind these works. Wonder how these art pieces came to be? What techniques did they use? This is your chance to find out. Led by an Austin resident, it’s about as authentic as it gets.

Go on a self-guided historical tour

Theater, Theatre

The Paramount Theater, Austin, Texas
© Martin Leitch / Alamy Stock Photo

Austin has a storied past, with the city’s first documented settlers recorded from Germany, Sweden and Mexico in the 1830s. Today, its history lives on in its architecture and monuments, all of which can be discovered on a self-guided walking tour of the city. The free Otocast app offers historical tours, covering African-American Austin, Congress Avenue, East Sixth Street, famous music venues, Old West Austin and the Tejano Walking Trail. Plan to spread out your tours over a few days to enjoy the sites at leisure.

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meet our Local Insider

Hanna

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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

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Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

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.