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Austin is the capital of Texas and one of the best cities in the United States for live music and nightlife. Not only is it packed with bustling entertainment venues, bars, and eateries, but it also offers fascinating historical and cultural attractions and beautiful green spaces. Here are 16 of the very best Austin attractions to check out on your next visit.
1. Texas State Capitol
- Website: tspb.texas.gov/prop/tc/tc/capitol.html
- Address: 1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 7 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday / 9 am – 6 pm Saturday & Sunday (Visitors Centre: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday
Texas State Capitol is one of Austin’s most iconic historic landmarks and has been home to the State Governor and the Chambers of the Texas Legislature since 1888. Not only is the 308-foot building an impressive sight, but its surrounding grounds are just as stately. Stroll down the tree-lined Great Walk to take in its monuments, then tour the building itself to learn about the history of the Lone Star State.
2. Lady Bird Lake
Photo Credit: Skylar Dawn
- Website: austintexas.gov/page/lady-bird-lake
- Address: East Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 12 am daily
Lady Bird Lake is a section of the Colorado River that is named after President Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife.
It’s a popular recreation area thanks to its riverside pedestrian paths and scenic bike trails — follow the Ann and Roy Butler trail to admire popular landmarks such as Congress Avenue Bridge and the Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue.
If you want to go out on the water, you can also rent kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and paddleboats.
3. Zilker Park
- Address: 2313 Red River St, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily
Zilker Metropolitan Park is a huge grassy expanse that lies alongside Lady Bird Lake. Enjoy a picnic with waterside views, explore walking trails by the river, play a game of volleyball in the dedicated courts, or try your hand at disc golf. You should also check out these must-see attractions that lie within Zilker Park’s grounds:
Zilker Botanical Garden
- Website: zilkergarden.org
- Address: 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
This 26-acre haven is home to a huge variety of native and exotic plant species. It is divided into themed gardens, with each focusing on a particular type of plant or environment, such as roses, cacti succulents, and herbs.
Highlights include the serene Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden and the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, which features fossilized dinosaur footprints.
Barton Springs Pool
- Address: 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily
Barton Springs Pool is one of Austin’s most popular swimming holes. It is surrounded by lush grass and trees, and the spring-fed water maintains an average temperature of 70 degrees all year round, perfect for a refreshing dip during Austin’s hot summers.
Austin Nature and Science Center
- Website: austintexas.gov/ansc
- Address: 2389 Stratford Dr, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Saturday / 12 pm – 5 pm Sunday
ANSC is a popular free attraction that educates and entertains kids and adults of all ages. Many of its exhibits are interactive to aid learning, such as the Dino Pit, which lets kids try their hand at archaeology and dig for casts of real dinosaur bones.
Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin City Limits Music Festival, often referred to as ACL, is an annual event that takes over Zilker Park for two weekends every October. Not only can you watch world-class musicians hit the stage, but you can also enjoy food and drinks from some of the city’s best food trucks, breweries, ice cream stalls, and taco stands.
4. Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum
- Website: lbjlibrary.org
- Address: 2313 Red River St, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Wednesday to Monday
The LBJ Library and Museum is home to more than 45 million pages of historical papers that relate to the lengthy career of President Lyndon B. Johnson. You’ll learn about Johnson’s time in office when the civil rights movement was on the rise, and be sure to keep an eye out for temporary exhibits that take place throughout the year.
5. Bat Watching at Congress Avenue Bridge
- Website: austinbats.org
- Address: South Congress Avenue, off West Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 24/7
A 1.5 million-strong colony of Mexican free-tailed bats roost under Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge, and it’s an impressive site when the critters take to the sky at dusk to hunt for insects. Watch between March and November from one of the many vantage points near the bridge or from a boat on Lady Bird Lake.
6. University of Texas at Austin
Photo Credit: f11photo
- Website: utexas.edu
- Address: 2515 Speedway, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily
The Austin campus, which lies in Central Austin, was established in 1883 as the very first in the University of Texas System. It’s home to some attractive heritage buildings as well as modern structures. Tour the 307-foot UT Tower, also known as the Main Building, to enjoy panoramic city views. Don’t forget to check out these popular tourist attractions on the university grounds:
The Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art
- Website: blantonmuseum.org
- Address: 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Friday & Sunday / 10 am – 8 pm Saturday
There are 17,000 artworks on display at the Blanton Museum, including works from America, Latin America, and Europe. The museum also regularly hosts temporary exhibits in addition to its permanent collection.
Texas Science & Natural History Museum
- Website: sciencemuseum.utexas.edu
- Address: 2400 Trinity St, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday / 1 pm – 5 pm Sunday
The Science & Natural History Museum is packed with artifacts that showcase the state’s history from as far back as when dinosaurs were roaming the land. There are also exhibits that center around geology, astronomy, and wildlife.
7. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Website: austintexas.org/listings/lady-bird-johnson-wildflower-center/1593/
- Address: 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily
The Wildflower Center is the official botanic garden and arboretum of ATX. It celebrates the native plants and wildflowers that thrive in this region of the US. Plus, it educates visitors about the importance of sustainable landscapes.
8. Mount Bonnell
Photo Credit: Philip Arno Photography
- Website: mountbonnell.info
- Address: Mount Bonnell at Covert Park, 3800 Mount Bonnell Rd, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily
There are many hiking trails to enjoy all over Austin, but the route up Mount Bonnell is one of the most popular. At its 775-foot peak, Mount Bonnell is the city’s highest point, and it offers amazing views of Downtown and the Colorado River.
The climb is fairly eas,y but there are 102 steps up to the lookout pavilion at the top. Once you get there, you can enjoy a picnic or BBQ while you admire the view.
9. Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country is a beautiful 31,000-square-mile stretch of rolling landscape northwest of Austin. The area is renowned for its wineries, distilleries, and eateries, which make use of high-quality produce grown on the fertile land.
Take a day trip to the region to explore charming small towns such as Marble Falls, Wimberly, Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and Dripping Springs.
10. South Congress Avenue (SoCo)
- Address: S Congress Avenue, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 24/7
SoCo is a vibrant neighborhood that lies south of Lady Bird Lake. It’s renowned for its eclectic boutiques, trendy coffee shops, diverse cuisine, and fun live music venues. Spend an afternoon or evening there to appreciate its charming spirit.
11. Mayfield Park
- Address: 3505 W. 35th St., Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily
Mayfield Park is a stunning historic green space with an incredible cottage dating back to the 1870s. Peacocks roam around the landscaped gardens, koi swim in the pretty lily ponds, and birds thrive in the lush trees.
12. Barton Creek Greenbelt
Photo Credit: Photo Spirit
- Address: 3755 S Capital of Texas Hwy B, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily
Barton Creek Greenbelt is a relatively unspoiled stretch of nature that centers around a wildlife-packed creek. There are copious swimming holes and lots of hiking and biking trails that showcase rugged limestone cliffs. Look out for endangered species like the Austin Blind Salamander, the Barton Springs Salamander, and the Golden Cheeked Warbler.
13. Lake Travis
- Address: 3755 S Capital of Texas Hwy B, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 5 am – 10 pm daily
Lake Travis lies in west Austin, and it’s a great place to go on a day trip if you want to escape the busy city for a day. You can get out onto the water by renting a boat or joining a cruise. Alternatively, you can swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in the cool waters, hike or bike around the lake, or lounge around and relax in the many lakeside parks.
14. Sixth Street
Photo Credit: MACH Photos
- Website: 6street.com
- Address: 6th Street, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 24/7
The city has multiple entertainment districts to choose from, but Sixth Street in Downtown Austin is one of the most famous as a party zone. It is pedestrianized in the evenings between Thursday and Sunday so that revelers can safely enjoy the bars, clubs, and music venues that line the street.
While it’s not the most sophisticated neighborhood that the city has to offer, if you want to visit Austin to experience its nightlife, you can’t miss out on the fun of Sixth Street.
15. The Moody Theater
- Website: acllive.com
- Address: 310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: Various
Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World due to its huge variety of music venues, but The Moody Theatre is one of its most famous. It hosts the recording of the renowned Austin City Limits Live,, which first aired on television in 1976 and continues to run today. Buy tickets to a show or take a tour to experience this beloved venue.
16. McKinney Falls State Park
- Website: tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls
- Address: 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX
- Opening Hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily
McKinney Falls State Park is home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Texas. There are gorgeous waterfalls, charming woodlands, and opportunities to swim or fish in Onion and Williamson creeks. Don’t miss the impressive views from the Upper Falls observation deck.
Which Austin Attractions Top Your List?
There’s so much to do in Austin that you might have a hard time fitting everything into your trip. Which of these popular sights do you plan to see when you visit the lively Texas capital?
