Austin is the ideal place to enjoy a long weekend. If you're wondering how to spend three days here, you'll find tons to see and do, from shopping on trendy South Congress Avenue to stand-up paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake and seeing live music in one of the many clubs around town. Get ready for three days packed with fun!
Butler Hike & Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake. Credit David Aguilar.
Day 1
Morning
Stop by the new location of the Austin Visitor Center to pick up free maps and guides for exploring Downtown Austin. Stash your luggage here, then pop into the on-site 5th & Brew coffee shop to fuel up for the day. Go on a self-guided tour of historic and iconic destinations with our guide to Historic Austin, or learn from the pros with a guided tour from Austin Detours. For the ultimate Austin music tour, visit ACL Live at The Moody Theater and get a behind-the-scenes look at the venue where the famed Austin City Limits television show is taped.
Afternoon
Grab a quick lunch at Home Slice Pizza on South Congress. While the New York-style pies are the big draw, diners can’t go wrong by ordering the Italian or meatball subs, Greek salad or a calzone. Wash down your meal with a Maine Root soda that’s crafted right here in Austin. Save room for a sweet Texas treat from Amy’s Ice Creams on SoCo. Try one of their eight classic flavors, including Mexican Vanilla, or opt for a sorbet, root beer float or banana split.
Next, take a shopping stroll along South Congress Avenue, known for its funky stores and chic boutiques. Check out the kicks at Allens Boots, shop one-of-a-kind jewelry and clothing by local artisans at Paper Work, try penny candies at Big Top Candy Shop and uncover your next vintage find at Feathers Boutique.
Jo's. Credit Arts+Labor.
Keep caffeinated with an iced Turbo from Jo's Coffee and snap a souvenir selfie with the I love you so much mural painted on the coffee bar’s wall. Other weird and wonderful murals that make great photo ops include the iconic Greetings From Austin mural in the South Austin neighborhood and the silly You’re My Butter Half in East Austin.
Evening
Or head to the West Sixth Street area for happy hour. Toast the man in black at the divey Mean Eyed Cat, a Johnny Cash-themed bar that has a happy hour Monday through Friday. Or, try the original Ranch Water at Southwestern spot Ranch 616.
For dinner, on South Congress, you'll love the homemade Mexican dishes (with made-from-scratch tortillas and mole) and frosty hand-shaken margaritas at Güero’s Taco Bar. Its Oak Garden features live music Thursday through Sunday nights.
Capital Cruises. Credit to Robyn-Kolk.
Just before the sun sets, line up on the Congress Avenue Bridge to witness a staggering 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats fly into the night sky from beneath the bridge from April through October. Grab a spot among the crowds on the bridge’s sidewalk or take to the water with Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises, which will put you right in the middle of the action on Lady Bird Lake for an unbeatable view of Austin’s unofficial mascots. When the bats are away in the winter, book a sunset cruise to watch pink and orange hues bounce off the city skyline.
Prefer to stay indoors? Catch a few laughs at a comedy show. Check out the night’s lineups at either Esther’s Follies on Sixth Street or The Creek and The Cave on Seventh Street.
Day 2
Morning
Start your day with morning fare on East Cesar Chavez Street. Order a cup of joe and a pastry at Strangelove Coffee & Wine’s charming bungalow, or opt for coffee and baked goods at Rockman. For an eclectic weekend brunch, head to Holly Street and nab a patio seat at the chic Launderette, with a menu featuring everything from salmon gravlax to potato latkes and a shawarma cauliflower bowl. Don’t miss the delish pastry of the day.
Austin Capitol Building. Credit David Aguilar.
Explore the Texas State Capitol Complex and the Texas Capitol Visitors Center. Housed in the renovated 1857 General Land Office Building that was originally used to store state land records, the center features fascinating exhibits on Texas history.
While you're in the Capitol area, explore nearby museums like The Contemporary Austin Jones Center (which also offers free same-day admission to the Laguna Gloria sculpture garden with your ticket), Mexic-Arte Museum, the Bullock Texas State History Museum or head east to tour the storied Six Square Black Cultural District.
Afternoon
For lunch, relish contemporary Indian cuisine at Clay Pit in the historic Bertram Building. Or opt for beer, brats and picnic table seating at Scholz Garten.
Franklin Barbecue. Credit Wyatt McSpadden.
The University of Texas at Austin is home to an impressive collection of museums. The Blanton Museum of Art is one of the country’s leading university art museums, with works by Mark Rothko and Thomas Hart Benton. The Harry Ransom Center houses cultural archives that include the Watergate papers. And the LBJ Presidential Library features inspiring exhibits on President Lyndon Baines Johnson and his beloved wife, Lady Bird Johnson.
Evening
Spring is prime time for patio dining. For dinner, savor the flavors of Mexico with seasonally driven menu items from lauded Suerte on their patio overlooking East Sixth Street. The critically acclaimed Birdie’s takes pride in serving fine food with prix-fixe counter service (vegetarians and pescatarians are always accommodated). Favorite East Austin dinner options include brisket and other meats smoked over seasoned oak at the award-winning la Barbecue. Drinks and food get equal attention at Uptown Sports Club, opened by Franklin Barbecue’s renowned chef-owner Aaron Franklin — we suggest pairing a Downtown Burger with the house espresso martini.
The White Horse. Credit Arts+Labor.
After dinner, get in on the boot-scootin' at The White Horse, Austin’s legendary honky-tonk boasting live country jams and some of the best two-steppers around.
Head to the Red River Cultural District to hear live music at some of Austin's most eclectic bars. Chess Club is a small venue with big sound from punk and rock bands. Or, discover other venues around town like Hotel Vegas, with live music and food truck fare on the outdoor patio; the iconic Antone's Nightclub for blues and rock; and Mohawk, where live bands play on indoor and outdoor stages.
Day 3
Morning
Start the day at the food trucks parked at the popular Radio Coffee & Beer. Veracruz All Natural is famous for its migas stuffed with eggs, tortilla chips, avocado, pico de gallo and Monterey Jack cheese. Try classic diner fare like a sunrise BLT, fried chicken sando or patty melt at Shortwave Diner. Flaky biscuits are the base of mouthwatering sandwich combinations such as brisket or blueberry sausage and jelly, and tomato-egg-and-cheddar at Briscuits.
Take a jog on the leafy, 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, which winds along Lady Bird Lake, with shimmering waters and picturesque views of Austin’s skyline. From the trail, access newly opened The Confluence to explore 13 acres along Waller Creek. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at the Rowing Dock or Zilker Park Boat Rentals to explore Lady Bird Lake, all while getting a body-toning workout.
Barton Springs Pool. Credit Ryan Kyte.
Get a refreshing superfood smoothie at JuiceLand on Barton Springs Road before exploring sprawling Zilker Park. This oasis in the heart of downtown hosts well-known festivals and free performances at Zilker Hillside Theater. Plus, it’s home to the Zilker Botanical Garden, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum and Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed swimming spot with grassy hills for sunbathing.
Afternoon
Before making it a boozy afternoon at local wineries and breweries, have lunch at The Picnic food truck park, where the choices include freshly pressed sandwiches from I Panini and gelato from Cannone.
You’re now ready to try a flight at Wanderlust Wine Co., the world's largest self-pour wine-on-tap winery. Or head to the Texas Hill Country and visit Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood (just a half-hour drive out of Austin). Take a tour and sample wines, including Duchman’s award-winning Vermentino, in a lovely Italianate villa. Also in the Texas Hill Country, stop at Jester King Brewery, an authentic farmhouse beermaker that offers live music on weekends. Whiskey lovers will want to check out Still Austin Whiskey Co., a true grain-to-glass distillery where everything from mashing to barreling and bottling is done in-house. Take a distillery tour to see how Still Austin’s whiskey is made, then enjoy it straight up or in a cocktail best sipped in the outdoor whiskey garden.
Bangers. Credit to Charles Lanzieri.
Evening
Have dinner and drinks on Rainey Street, a charming block of residential bungalows that have been transformed into trendy eateries and bars. Sample small plates on the patio at celebrated Emmer & Rye, which has earned a MICHELIN Green Star and Bib Gourmand recognition. For a more low-key experience, stop in for a European-inspired cocktail and meal at Bar Fino. Be sure to check out Anthem, which bills itself as a Tex-Asian pub (with tiki drinks!). And stop in at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden, which is home to a huge outdoor tap wall, a lively beer garden and a smokehouse equipped for whole hog barbecues.
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