Austin Insider Blog

This blog, written and curated by Visit Austin staff, shares the things that visitors love and locals can't get enough of.

20 Iconic Austin Music Venues

Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World®, and boy does it deliver. With hundreds of live music venues, you’re guaranteed to catch outstanding live performances every night of the week. Whether your tastes lie with country-western or veer toward punk rock, you’re sure to find a music…

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Hot Summer Nights 2024

Hot Summer Nights is bringing four packed days of music to Austin's own Red River Cultural District. Originally created to bring awareness to local businesses and artists during the slower summer months, Hot Summer Nights has grown to be a marquee event for locals and visitors alike. Along with the…

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Guide to Austin's North Loop Neighborhood

Austin’s North Loop neighborhood is a unique part of town located just northeast of the University of Texas. North Loop’s proximity to the university and mix of eclectic restaurants and shops makes it a popular local hangout among students and campus staff. Courtesy of Home Slice Pizza. NORTH LOOP…

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Day Trip Destination: Lake Travis

Any day you’re on the lake is a good day and Lake Travis is a perfect getaway for those looking to get out on the water. The businesses that have sprung up around the lake in far west Austin, Lakeway and other nearby towns are seemingly all designed to get you to relax, have fun, and indulge in a…

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Austin's Secret Speakeasies

What makes a good speakeasy? A feeling of discovery? A strong sense of place? Great drinks? Yes, yes, and yes. Inside a great speakeasy, the outside world seems to stop. Windowless and timeless, there’s just you and the few people with whom you get to share the experience. Get in on the secret at…

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Guide to Austin's Dance Bars & Night Clubs

Looking to get your dancin’ shoes on? Austin’s unique nightlife experience has a unique flavor of fun. Since the ‘80s when Austin’s new wave and punk scene lit up the dirt floors of former venue Liberty Bell, which led to the scene developing a taste for more electronic styles of dance music, the…

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Queer Austin: 2 Day Itinerary

Austin is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the country, with a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index. But you won’t find just one “gayborhood” here. The community is integrated throughout this inclusive town, which means that LGBTQ visitors will find a…

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Visiting Austin's ColdTowne Theatre

Austin is hilarious. Whether a visitor or a local, you don't have to be a comedic genius to get a kick out of the funny stuff going on around town. In addition to festivals such as the Moontower Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, Austin boasts many locations where you can catch comedy year-round. A…

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Live Music Venues in Downtown Austin

There’s only one official way to experience Downtown Austin, and that’s to see some live music at one (or a few) of the many established music venues. Here are five of the top venues we think you should hit while you're exploring Austin's vibrant downtown. The Suffers at Antone's. Courtesy of Hot…

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Top Things to Do and See on East Sixth Street

Looking for an authentic, music-filled nightlife scene? Explore East Sixth Street, where live music can be heard nightly from the bars and venues lining the street. The neighborhood is filled with great bars and restaurants, vibrant storefronts, local breweries and plenty of murals. From grabbing a…

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