You’ll find plenty to do in Austin during the wintertime, both indoors and out, thanks to the city's temperate weather. Here you can hike along forest trails, sip seasonal cocktails in a cozy lounge, explore a world-class museum and dine outdoors on a heated patio. Add these ideas to your Austin winter bucket list and go!
1. Sip seasonal cocktails
Enjoy a boozy winter warmer on the patio at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden, relax with a margarita in the cozy Native Bar & Cafe at Native Hostel, slide into a velvet booth at The Roosevelt Room (reservations suggested) and order a high-octane libation or try a mixed drink made with fortified wine at The Meteor. Visiting during the holidays? Check out one (or all!) of the holiday pop-up bars around the city.
2. Explore a museum
The University of Texas at Austin is home to an impressive collection of museums. The Blanton Museum of Art features the permanent exhibition Ellsworth Kelly: Austin, a stone building with brilliant colored glass windows and a wood totem sculpture. And the LBJ Presidential Library features inspiring exhibits on President Lyndon Baines Johnson and his beloved wife, Lady Bird Johnson (temporarily closed). Prefer to explore outside? Don't miss the Zilker Botanical Garden, a 28-acre oasis in the heart of Austin, with plenty of accessible winding pathways through themed gardens (tickets must be reserved online advance; masks required).
3. Run the Austin Marathon
Join the runners (or cheer from the sidelines) for the annual Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K held on February 19, 2023. Marathoners take over the streets of Austin, running past iconic landmarks like the UT Tower and Lady Bird Lake, ending at a festive finish line featuring a rocking band and beer garden.
4. Visit a local distillery, winery or brewery
If you’re a whiskey lover, check out Still Austin Whiskey Co., a true grain-to-glass distillery where everything from mashing to barreling and bottling is done in-house. Treaty Oak Distillery in Dripping Springs offers panoramic Texas Hill Country views and tastings of their multiple whiskeys, gins and beers. Stop by The Brewtorium, a friendly neighborhood brewpub featuring award-winning handcrafted beer and modern pub grub designed to complement the house brews. Manifest summer with a glass of Texas High Plains Rosé, featuring a hint of fresh strawberries, sipped outside at The Austin Winery.
5. Dine on a heated patio
Austin is all about alfresco dining, and wintertime is no different. Dig into classic American fare on the heated patio at Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill. Soak in the tropical vibe at Grizzelda’s, where you can post up on the heated patio with Mexican food and mezcal cocktails. Or cozy up on the spacious patio at Hotel Vegas with live music, DJs, trivia and a full menu of comfort food and boozy beverages. Or head to the sprawling Armadillo Den, featuring indoor and outdoor stages with nightly live music, yard games, axe throwing, food trucks, craft beer and cocktails, and fire pits and outdoor heaters to keep things toasty.
6. Go ice skating
In Downtown Austin, head over to the Whole Foods Market flagship store for Ice Skating on the Plaza (dates to be announced). Afterwards, stop in to the store to do some holiday shopping for your foodie friends and family, or enjoy a glass of wine (or cocoa!) from the bar and food court. Or, check out some of the other ways you can get on the ice, in the middle of Texas!
7. Explore urban hiking trails
The Barton Creek Greenbelt boasts almost 13 miles of trails, and is one of the top-rated hiking spots in Texas. Barton Creek passes both Sculpture and Twin Falls (with steep cliffs that are great for climbing) and snakes through a dense forest. Or hike the leafy 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, which skirts along shimmering waters and has picturesque views of Austin’s skyline. Experience a lush hidden escape within the city limits at the quiet St. Edward's Park or the 227-acre Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, where you can hike through forested greenbelt trails (reservations required on weekends and holidays).
8. Get cozy with wintry comfort food
Dive into a steaming bowl of ramen at Ramen Tatsu-Ya or a healthy, homemade soup at The Soup Peddler. Dig into late-night steak frites in your own private cabana at Justine’s Brasserie (reservations required), nosh on Southern-style bites like crab cakes on the patio at Hillside Farmacy, and sample seasonally inspired cuisine at the award-winning Emmer & Rye, which offers nightly dim sum-style specials (reservations suggested).
9. Support local music during Free Week
Shake off those post-holiday blues at Red River Cultural District’s Free Week, typically held in early January. The week-long celebration of local music annually features around 180 local bands playing free shows at venues around the city.
10. Warm up with a coffee
Come for the fantastic joe and craft cocktails at Better Half Coffee & Cocktails, but stay for the all-day cafe fare, including breakfast sandwiches and chicken-fried steak enjoyed on the patio. Pop by Jo's Coffee on South Congress as you work through your holiday shopping list in the neighborhood. Or, try the Japanese coffee drinks and toasts loaded with eggs, bacon and sausage at Sa-Tén Coffee & Eats. Find even more coffee shops here.
11. Motor over to a drive-in
Take your loved one on a movie date at an Austin-area drive in. Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in showcases double features of indie films, cult classics and childhood favorites on the big screen. Also see a drive-in performance hosted by the Austin Opera during the Sarah & Ernest Butler Performance Series at the Blue Starlite Drive-In. Just south of the city limits, Doc's Drive In Theatre presents films under the Texas sky with a bar and expansive menu of food and concessions, including house-made brisket. Experience a holiday light show from the comfort of your vehicle at the Austin Trail of Lights (December 8-23, 2022) or Peppermint Parkway, hosted by Circuit of The Americas from November 25-December 30, 2022.
12. Attend a film festival
From November 25-27, 2022, the Animalis Fabula Film Festival will showcase animal-centric stories by filmmakers of every skill level. Watch some of the top international sci-fi flicks during Other Worlds Austin, held December 1-4, 2022. The region's only science fiction film festival screens a range of genres, including horror, drama and comedy.
13. Go climbing or bouldering
There are no worries about the weather when you take your climbing indoors. Get a serious workout at the Austin Bouldering Project, the world’s largest bouldering gym, featuring 250 rotating configurations across 50,000 square feet. Or head over to Crux Climbing Center, where everyone from newbies to experienced climbers find a challenge with bouldering and rope climbing activities. New to the scene is Mesa Rim Austin, a full-service climbing and fitness center featuring thoughtful climbing routes and yoga classes. Or, opt outside at spots in Reimers Ranch Park and the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
14. See a comedy show
See a show at Esther's Follies, which has been amusing locals for more than 40 years and specializes in political satire, comedy sketches, Vegas-style magic and hilarious musical numbers. Fallout Theater is 100% comedian owned and operated, and presents sketch, stand-up and improv comedy shows by new and seasoned comedians, in addition to comedy festivals. Or catch a big-name comedian on stage at the Paramount Theatre, a century-old performance venue and movie theater located in the heart of Downtown Austin (proof of COVID vaccination or negative COVID test required to attend shows; masks required).
15. Indulge in a spa day
Treat yourself to some quality time at a local spa, where you can rejuvenate and get away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Start fresh with a facial from Milk + Honey Spa (masks required) in the 2ND Street District, lounge in the comfy armchairs during a pedicure at Lacquer luxury nail studio (by appointment only), book an award-winning spa package at Viva Day Spa, or treat yourself to a weekend stay at one of our nearby resorts.
Looking for even more festive and cold-weather events and things to do? Explore our events calendar!