Travel Guide · Texas
Austin
Live music, legendary barbecue, spring-fed swimming holes, and a creative energy unlike anywhere else in America.
Overview
Keep Austin Weird — and Wonderful
Austin has changed more in the past decade than almost any other American city — a tech boom, a population surge, and a national spotlight that has made it one of the most talked-about destinations in the country. But beneath the new towers and the influx of transplants, the city's essential character remains intact: the live music, the outdoor culture, the independent spirit, and the extraordinary food scene that has made it one of America's great culinary cities.
The best Austin is still the Austin of Barton Springs at dawn, of Franklin Barbecue at 8am, of the Continental Club on a Tuesday night. It's a city that rewards the visitor who slows down, who follows the locals rather than the tourist maps, and who understands that the best experiences here are rarely the most obvious ones.
Suggested Itinerary
4 Days in Austin
South Congress & the Bats
Land at AUS and head straight to South Congress Avenue — Austin's most iconic street, lined with vintage shops, independent restaurants, and the Hotel San José. Walk north toward the Capitol, stopping at Güero's Taco Bar for lunch. Late afternoon, cross the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk to watch the world's largest urban bat colony — 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats — emerge from beneath the bridge. Dinner at Uchi, the Japanese restaurant that put Austin on the national food map.
Barton Springs & the Greenbelt
Austin's outdoor culture is inseparable from the city's identity. Morning swim at Barton Springs Pool — a natural spring-fed pool in Zilker Park, 68°F year-round. Hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt, a 12-mile trail system through limestone canyons and swimming holes. Lunch at Odd Duck, the farm-to-table restaurant on South Lamar. Evening on Rainey Street — Austin's bungalow bar district — for cocktails and live music.
The University of Texas & East Austin
Spend the morning on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin — one of the great American public universities, with the stunning UT Tower, the Blanton Museum of Art, and the Harry Ransom Center, whose collection includes a Gutenberg Bible and the world's first photograph. Walk the South Mall and grab coffee at one of the campus-area cafés. Afternoon in East Austin — the city's most dynamic neighbourhood, dense with galleries, restaurants, and bars. Lunch at Launderette. Evening on 6th Street for live music — Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, and the claim is entirely justified.
Hill Country & the Salt Lick
Rent a car and head west into the Texas Hill Country — the rolling limestone landscape of vineyards, wildflowers, and small towns that surrounds Austin. The destination: the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, one of the most legendary barbecue institutions in Texas. Open since 1967, the Salt Lick serves brisket, ribs, and sausage from a massive open pit in a setting that feels like a Texas ranch — BYOB, cash only, and worth every mile of the drive. Continue through Wimberley and Dripping Springs. Return via Lake Travis for a sunset boat cruise. Dinner at Emmer & Rye in the Rainey Street Historic District.
Where to Stay
The Best Hotels in Austin
Hotel Saint Cecilia
$$$$$The most romantic hotel in Austin — a collection of suites and bungalows set in a lush garden on South Congress, named after the patron saint of music. The pool, the record library, and the extraordinary service make it the city's most coveted address. Adults only.
Best for: Couples & music lovers
Hotel Ella
$$$A beautifully restored 1900 Greek Revival mansion on West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, steps from the UT campus and the Blanton Museum. The columned porch, lush gardens, and 47 individually designed rooms make it the most charming boutique hotel in Austin. The pool courtyard is exceptional, and the location — walkable to campus and a short ride to South Congress — is ideal.
Best for: History lovers, UT visitors & design-conscious travellers
The Proper Hotel Austin
$$$$A sleek, design-forward hotel in the heart of downtown Austin, with interiors by Kelly Wearstler and a rooftop pool and bar that is one of the best in the city. The 238 rooms blend Texas warmth with contemporary sophistication, and the ground-floor restaurant is excellent. The ideal base for exploring downtown, the Sixth Street music scene, and the Convention Center.
Best for: Design lovers & downtown explorers
The LINE Austin
$$$$A converted 1970s motor inn on Lady Bird Lake, with a rooftop pool, three restaurants, and some of the best views of the Austin skyline. The location — steps from the Congress Avenue Bridge and Barton Springs — is ideal.
Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts & groups
Where to Eat
The Austin Table
Uchi
South Lamar
Japanese · $$$$
The restaurant that changed Austin's food scene — chef Tyson Cole's Japanese restaurant on South Lamar has been one of the best in Texas since it opened in 2003. The omakase is exceptional; the sake list is the finest in the city.
Must Order
The omakase tasting menu
Franklin Barbecue
East Austin
Texas Barbecue · $$
The most famous barbecue restaurant in the world — Aaron Franklin's brisket has been called the best in Texas by every major food publication. The line forms at 7am for an 11am opening; arrive early or leave disappointed. Worth every minute of the wait.
Must Order
The brisket — full stop
Emmer & Rye
Rainey Street
Contemporary American · $$$
A grain-focused restaurant in the Rainey Street Historic District, with a menu that changes daily based on what's available from local farms and mills. The dim sum-style service — small plates circulated through the dining room — is unlike anything else in Austin.
Must Order
Whatever grain dish is on the menu that night
Launderette
East Austin
All-Day Dining · $$$
The neighbourhood restaurant that East Austin deserves — a converted laundromat with a beautiful patio, a menu that moves from breakfast through dinner with equal skill, and the best brunch in the city. The roasted chicken is a permanent fixture for good reason.
Must Order
The roasted chicken and the smash burger
Insider Knowledge
What the Guidebooks Miss
SXSW (March) and Austin City Limits (October) are the city's two major festivals. Both are extraordinary — and both make the city extremely crowded and expensive. Book months in advance or avoid entirely.
Barton Springs Pool is free before 8am. Arrive early for the best experience — the pool fills quickly on warm days.
Franklin Barbecue is worth the wait, but if you can't face the line, La Barbecue and Micklethwait Craft Meats are nearly as good with shorter queues.
For the full Hill Country barbecue experience, drive 30 minutes to the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood — open since 1967, BYOB, cash only, and one of the most atmospheric dining experiences in Texas.
The best live music in Austin is not on 6th Street — it's at smaller venues like the Continental Club, Hole in the Wall, and the Saxon Pub. Check listings before you arrive.
Rent a car for at least one day to explore the Hill Country. The drive west on Highway 290 through Dripping Springs and Johnson City is one of the great Texas road trips.
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Who Loves Austin
Music Lovers
The Live Music Capital of the World — hundreds of venues, every genre, every night of the week.
Food Enthusiasts
From Franklin's brisket to Uchi's omakase, Austin has one of the most exciting and diverse food scenes in America.
Outdoor Adventurers
Barton Springs, the Greenbelt, Lake Travis, and the Hill Country make Austin one of the best outdoor cities in the South.
Creative Travellers
East Austin's gallery and design scene, the city's independent retail culture, and the creative energy of the UT campus make it a destination for the culturally curious.