Thinking of visiting the Lone Star State's capital and the Live Music Capital of the World? Here are 17 great reasons to visit Austin, Texas.

Texas

Austin

17 Reasons Why You Should Visit Austin

Only have a day to spend in Austin? We've got your 24 hours mapped out, including breakfast tacos, live music, and a unique wildlife experience.

How to Spend 24 Hours in Austin, Texas

Visiting Austin? Don’t forget to check out the 11 things you should expect when visiting the capital city of Texas.

11 Things To Expect When Visiting Austin, Texas

If you’re looking for a day trip, or even a weekend getaway, from the charming city of Austin, we have the lowdown on the must-visit places nearby.

The Best Day Trips From Austin, Texas

Austin is a popular city-break destination in the US. For fans of retro Texas, here’s our pick of the best places to stay – bookable with Culture Trip.

Retro Places to Book in Austin, Texas

Featured Articles

The motto "Keep Austin Weird" sums up the home of live music, Tex-Mex and 1.5 million bats

With its fun-loving vibe, incredible live music venues and family-friendly ethos, it's no surprise that in 2019, for the third year running, the state capital of Texas was voted America's best place to live. Our local insiders take you underneath the skin of this unique American metropolis. 

The Insider Guide to Austin

If you're a fan of the outdoors, Austin's abundance of beautiful parks, trails and water features are probably already on your radar, and – if you're keen to spend at least part of your trip hiking, biking or birding – we suggest you start with McKinney Falls State Park. It's only 15 minutes by car from central Austin, but there are more than 80 campsites, so you'll easily find a spot to spend the night. 
If you're after something a little less strenuous, hike the 102 steps to the summit of Mount Bonnell, a 10-minute drive from the centre, for fantastic views of the city, or head for Twin Falls, an idyllic swimming hole reached by an easy hike. For the watersports aficionado, Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin – both reservoirs on the Colorado River – offer everything from paddleboarding and kayaking to canoeing and fishing.
If that all sounds a little on the wild side, spend a peaceful day at Barton Springs in Zilker Park. The Springs are a popular swimming hangout when the mercury climbs, and it's an added bonus if you can time your visit to coincide with one of Zilker Park's festivals or events.
Austin only gets around 80 days of rain a year, but the Austin Aquarium makes a great indoor option should you need one – particularly as its 8,000 animals are guaranteed to keep energetic little ones rapt for hours. But if the sun shines, there's only one place to finish your trip: Circuit of the Americas, the city's iconic motor-racing track. 
Now you've hit off all the major players, it's time to get off the beaten track. Read on for our local insider tips.

Let’s go! The Main Attractions

Oran

Setif

Algeria

Luanda

Angola

Cotonou

Porto-novo

Benin

Botswana

Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Tonga

Yaounde

Bamenda

Cameroon

Cape Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Kinshasa

Lubumbashi

Congo

Abidjan

Cote Divoire

Florentin

Dijibouti

Djibouti

Cairo

Alexandria

Sharm El-sheikh

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Asmara

Eritrea

Addis Ababa

Lalibela

Ethiopia

Gambia

Accra

Kumasi

Cape Coast

Ghana

Guinea-bissau

Nairobi

Mombasa

Malindi

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Antananarivo

Antsirabe

Madagascar

Blantyre

Malawi

Bamako

Timbuktu

Mali

Mauritania

Port Louis

Mauritius

Casablanca

Marrakech

Sale

Morocco

Maputo

Mozambique

Swakopmund

Windhoek

Namibia

Lagos

Abuja

Ibadan

Nigeria

Pointe-noire

Republic Of The Congo

Kigali

Musanze

Butare

Rwanda

Dakar

Touba

Senegal

Seychelles

Freetown

Sierra Leone

Cape Town

Durban

Johannesburg

South Africa

South Sudan

Khartoum

Sudan

Mbabane

Manzini

Swaziland

Zanzibar

Arusha

Dar Es Salaam

Tanzania

Tunis

Hammamet

Tozeur

Tunisia

Kampala

Gombe

Uganda

Western Sahara

Lusaka

Zambia

Harare

Bulawayo

Zimbabwe

Africa

Antarctica

Kabul

Afghanistan

Dhaka

Bangladesh

Thimphu

Bhutan

Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei Darussalam

Siem Reap

Phnom Penh

Sihanoukville

Cambodia

Shanghai

Beijing

Guangzhou

China

East Timor

Wan Chai

Hong Kong

Mumbai

Delhi

India

Bali

Penang

Jakarta

Indonesia

Israel

Tokyo

Kyoto

Osaka

Japan

Almaty

Astana

Kazakhstan

Pyongyang

Korea

Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan

Luang Prabang

Vientiane

Pakse

Laos

Macau

Kuala Lumpur

Ipoh

Malaysia

Maldives

Mongolia

Yangon

Mandalay

Nay Pyi Taw

Myanmar

Kathmandu

Darchula

Nepal

Hyderabad

Islamabad

Lahore

Pakistan

Manila

Boracay

Baguio

Philippines

Riyadh

Jeddah

Mecca

Saudi Arabia

Asia

Events and Activities in Austin, Texas | Culture Trip

Off the Beaten Path

Find the hidden gems and experience the city like a local

Art

A Look Into Austin's Ever Changing Outdoor Gallery

History

The History of the Cathedral of Junk in 1 Minute

See & Do

A Visual Tour of Austin's Weirdest Homes

History

A Brief History Of The Museum Of Natural And Artificial Ephemerata

Outdoor Activities

Escape the city - the best outdoor places to visit

Guides & Tips

The Best Swimming Holes in Austin

Guides & Tips

The 5 Best Day Trips From Austin

See & Do

The Best Places To Enjoy The Colorado River In Austin, Texas

See & Do

Scenic Hikes To Take Just Outside of Austin, Texas

Sports

Spectacular Places To Cycle in Austin, Texas

History

A Brief History of Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, Austin

Guides & Tips

The Best Bodies of Water Right in the Middle of Austin

See & Do

Finding Secret Beach In Austin, Texas

Cheap Things To Do

See & Do

10 Things to Do in Downtown Austin

See & Do

7 Cool Things To Do in Austin at Night

See & Do

The 11 Most Unique Experiences in Austin

Guides & Tips

A Budget Traveler’s Guide to Austin

See & Do

10 Beautiful Gardens Of Austin, Texas

Music

Blues on the Green: A Guide to Austin's Largest Free Concert Series

See & Do

The Top 10 Sights In Austin, Texas' Zilker

Sports

Where To Play Disc Golf In Austin, Texas

Guides & Tips

A Solo Traveler's Guide To Austin

Attractions

Fun things to do that are worth your time

See & Do

19 Must-Visit Attractions and Things to Do in Austin

See & Do

Top 10 Things to Do in South Congress, Austin

Guides & Tips

A 7-Day Itinerary for Austin

Guides & Tips

A Walking Tour of Austin, Texas

History

How a 19th-Century Serial Killer Led to Austin’s Moonlight Towers

Guides & Tips

10 Traditions That Keep Austin Weird

Guides & Tips

The Ultimate Weekend Road Trip: Austin to Fredericksburg

Places to Stay

The Best Boutique Hotels in Austin, Texas

Places to Stay

The Best Hotels to Book in Austin, Texas

Shopping

Books

The Best Bookstores In Austin, TX

Guides & Tips

The Best Places To Buy A Unique Souvenir In Austin, Texas

Design

The Best Home & Interior Design Stores

Fashion

The Top 10 Fashion Boutiques in Austin

Wellness

Health & Wellness

The Best Outdoor Fitness Groups in Austin

Health & Wellness