Austin, Texas is one of the most exciting cities in America. You can float a crystal-clear river in the morning, eat James Beard Award-winning BBQ for lunch, swim in a 68°F natural spring pool in the afternoon, and catch free live music from three different genres before midnight. It's the Live Music Capital of the World, the BBQ capital of Texas, and ground zero for outdoor adventure in Central Texas. Whether you're visiting for a weekend or a week, this is your complete guide to everything worth doing in Austin.
Outdoor Adventures
River Tubing
The quintessential Austin outdoor experience. Float down a spring-fed Texas river on an inner tube for 3–4 hours through the Hill Country — cold beer in hand, cypress trees overhead, and not a care in the world. The San Marcos River is the closest (spring-fed, 72°F year-round), plus the Guadalupe and Comal rivers each offer a different vibe. Most outfitters run from May through September.
Lake Travis
Lake Travis is Austin's playground — a massive Highland Lakes reservoir about 30 minutes west of downtown. Rent a pontoon boat, jet ski, or kayak. Party at one of the lakeside restaurants (The Oasis has a 450-seat deck overlooking the lake). Go cliff jumping at Hippie Hollow (Texas' only clothing-optional public park). Lake Travis is the perfect complement to a river tubing day — float the river on Saturday, hit the lake on Sunday.
Swimming Holes
Central Texas has some of the most beautiful natural swimming holes in the country. Barton Springs Pool is Austin's crown jewel — a 3-acre spring-fed pool that stays 68°F year-round, right inside Zilker Park. Hamilton Pool Preserve (45 min west) is a collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall. Jacob's Well in Wimberley is a 140-foot-deep artesian spring with crystal-clear water. Check our complete swimming holes guide for all seven spots.
Barton Creek Greenbelt
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is Austin's backyard wilderness — 13 miles of hiking and biking trails through limestone canyons, with multiple swimming holes along the way. Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls are the most popular swimming spots. The Greenbelt is free, open year-round, and accessible from multiple trailheads. It's the best free outdoor activity in Austin.
Hiking & Biking
The Lady Bird Lake Hike & Bike Trail is a 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake in the heart of downtown Austin — one of the most scenic urban trails in America. Views of the skyline, the Congress Avenue Bridge, and lush greenery the entire way. Beyond the city, Pedernales Falls State Park (30 miles west) has dramatic river-carved rock formations and swimming holes. Enchanted Rock (90 miles west) is a massive pink granite dome — one of the most iconic hikes in Texas. The Barton Creek Greenbelt trails are also excellent for mountain biking.
Food & Drink
BBQ
Austin is the BBQ capital of the world, and no trip is complete without a tray of slow-smoked brisket. Franklin Barbecue is the most famous (James Beard Award, 3-hour line), but La Barbecue (Michelin-starred) and Terry Black's (Lockhart lineage, 15-min wait) are just as impressive with shorter waits. For the full breakdown of 8 must-visit spots, including which to hit after your float, check our Best BBQ in Austin guide.
Tex-Mex
Austin's Tex-Mex scene is legendary. Matt's El Rancho on South Lamar has been serving Austin since 1986 — the Bob Armstrong dip (queso with guac, beef, sour cream) is an institution. Fonda San Miguel is upscale interior Mexican cuisine with one of the most beautiful dining rooms in Austin. Veracruz All Natural started as a food truck and now has multiple locations — the migas tacos are perfection. For breakfast tacos, you literally can't go wrong in Austin — every taco shop is good.
Food Trucks
Austin is a food truck paradise. Entire lots are dedicated to food trailer parks — South Congress, East Austin, and South Lamar have the densest clusters. You'll find everything from Vietnamese pho to gourmet grilled cheese to Oaxacan mole. Some of Austin's best restaurants started as food trucks (Veracruz All Natural, Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ). Budget tip: food truck meals average $8–15, making them the best value dining in Austin.
Craft Breweries
Austin's craft beer scene is thriving. Jester King Brewery (Dripping Springs) is a farmhouse brewery on a 165-acre ranch — their spontaneously fermented beers are world-renowned, and the pizza is excellent. Austin Beerworks has a huge taproom with 20+ beers on tap. Live Oak Brewing specializes in German-style lagers — their Hefeweizen is one of the best in America. Hops & Grain in East Austin has a chill patio and food-friendly beers.
Nightlife & Entertainment
6th Street
Austin's most famous nightlife strip spans three distinct sections: Dirty 6th (bar crawl central, live music, college crowd), West 6th (upscale cocktail bars, rooftop views), and East 6th (laid-back, local crowd, craft cocktails at Whisler's, live bands at Hotel Vegas). On weekends, Dirty 6th closes to traffic and becomes a pedestrian party zone. Read our complete 6th Street guide for the top bars in each section, safety tips, and how to make the most of a night out.
Rainey Street
Rainey Street is Austin's most unique bar district — a block of converted residential bungalows turned into bars, each with outdoor patios, string lights, and a more relaxed vibe than 6th Street. Highlights include Banger's (200+ beers, giant patio), Half Step (Esquire's best bars), and Emmer & Rye (Michelin Bib Gourmand). Dogs are welcome at most spots. It's the ideal post-float evening destination.
Live Music
With 250+ venues and live music 365 nights a year, Austin truly earns its title as the Live Music Capital of the World. From the Continental Club's legendary roots music to Broken Spoke's honky-tonk two-stepping to Mohawk's indie rock shows, there's something for every taste — and most of it's free. Check our Austin Live Music Guide for venue recommendations, festival info, and how to build a music night into your float trip weekend.
Best Bars
Beyond 6th and Rainey, Austin's bar scene spans every neighborhood. South Congress has moody courtyard bars. East Austin has craft cocktail dens. The Warehouse District has dance clubs.
Attractions & Culture
Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol is taller than the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. (by 14 feet, because Texas). Built from distinctive pink granite in 1888, it sits on a 22-acre campus in the heart of downtown Austin. Free guided tours are available daily through the Texas State Preservation Board, and the grounds are beautiful for walking. It's one of the most impressive state capitols in the country.
South Congress Avenue
"SoCo" is Austin's most walkable and Instagram-worthy strip. Vintage shops, local boutiques, restaurants (Perla's, Home Slice Pizza), and some of Austin's most famous murals — including the iconic "I Love You So Much" wall at Jo's Coffee. Walk from the Congress Avenue Bridge to the Broken Spoke for a mile-long Austin sampler. Best on weekends when the street is buzzing.
Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) is a reservoir on the Colorado River in the center of Austin, surrounded by 10+ miles of hike-and-bike trails. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from one of several lakeside outfitters. Important: swimming is not allowed in Lady Bird Lake due to safety concerns. But the paddling is excellent and the views of the Austin skyline are iconic.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Every evening from March through October, approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from underneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset, creating a massive cloud that darkens the sky. It's one of the largest urban bat colonies in the world, monitored and studied by Bat Conservation International (headquartered in Austin). Free to watch. Just line the bridge or the south shore of Lady Bird Lake around sunset.
Zilker Park
Austin's 350-acre crown jewel park, home to Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, the Zilker Zephyr miniature train, and vast open fields perfect for frisbee, soccer, or just lounging. It's also the site of the ACL Music Festival each October. Zilker connects to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and Lady Bird Lake trails, making it the hub of Austin's outdoor life.
Museums & Art
The Bullock Texas State History Museum on Congress Avenue covers Texas history from prehistoric times to the Space Age — three floors of exhibits plus an IMAX theater. The Contemporary Austin has two locations: the downtown Jones Center gallery and the Laguna Gloria outdoor sculpture park on Lake Austin, set on a 14-acre estate with trails and lake views. For street art, East Austin and South Congress are open-air galleries.
Day Trips from Austin
Wimberley
45 minutes south of Austin, Wimberley is a charming Hill Country town known for swimming holes (Jacob's Well, Blue Hole), art galleries, and a quaint town square. Pair a visit with a Blanco River tubing trip for the ultimate Wimberley day. The Wimberley Market Days (first Saturday of each month, March–December) draws hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors.
New Braunfels
1 hour south of Austin, New Braunfels is the home of Comal River tubing — the shortest, gentlest river and a favorite for families. The town also features the Guadalupe River horseshoe, Schlitterbahn Waterpark (consistently rated America's best), and the Gruene Historic District. Gruene Hall, built in 1878, is the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas — and still hosts live music every weekend.
Lockhart
30 minutes south of Austin, Lockhart is the official BBQ Capital of Texas (designated by the state legislature). Three legendary joints anchor the town: Kreuz Market (no forks, no sauce — just perfect smoked meat), Smitty's Market (walk through the smoke room to order), and Black's Barbecue (operating since 1932). A Lockhart BBQ crawl is a pilgrimage every meat lover should make.
Enchanted Rock
90 minutes west of Austin, Enchanted Rock is a massive pink granite dome rising 425 feet above the surrounding Hill Country. The summit hike is about a mile and rewards you with 360-degree views. It's one of the most popular hikes in Texas. Day-use reservations through Texas Parks & Wildlife are required on weekends and holidays. Plan for a half-day trip.
Fredericksburg
90 minutes west of Austin, Fredericksburg is the heart of Texas wine country. Over 50 wineries and tasting rooms line Highway 290 between Austin and Fredericksburg. The town itself has German heritage (founded in 1846 by German settlers), a charming Main Street with shops and restaurants, and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Wine tasting + Hill Country scenery = a perfect day trip.
Dripping Springs
30 minutes west of Austin, Dripping Springs is known as the "Wedding Capital of Texas" and is home to a growing cluster of distilleries and breweries. Deep Eddy Vodka (yes, named after the pool) has a tasting room here. Jester King Brewery is a farmhouse brewery on a 165-acre ranch — one of the most unique brewery experiences in America. Treaty Oak Distilling has a full restaurant and bar on a scenic Hill Country property.
No matter how many days you have in Austin, start with the river. Check out our San Marcos River guide and build the rest of your Austin adventure around it.