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.

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…

Continue Reading

Historic Austin: Hyde Park

The National Register of Historic Places lists more than 3,000 sites in Austin and 17 National Register historic districts. Located in Central Austin, just north of the University of Texas campus, the Hyde Park Historic District is Austin's oldest suburb and was once home to the State Fair of Texas…

Continue Reading

Music Venues in Central Austin

Central Austin is the one area of town that is arguably still as iconically Slacker- esque as it was in the ‘90s. Since the filming of this essential Richard Linklater capstone, this area of Austin has reached new heights in the world of food, music and entertainment. Here are some live music spots…

Continue Reading

Must-See Austin Historic Sites

Listen up, history lovers! We’ve counted down the iconic Austin sites you can’t miss while visiting the Capital City. Delve into the backstory of our fascinating town, where you can explore everything from art and history museums to lush parks, still kickin’ honky-tonks and restaurants that have…

Continue Reading

Historic Hotels in Austin

Some of Austin’s oldest hotels give a peek into the city’s fascinating history. Stay at a luxe Waller Creek estate, a Greek Revival-style boutique hotel or a South Congress motor court turned modernist oasis that all have intriguing stories to tell. Austin Motel. Credit Nick Simonite. Austin Motel…

Continue Reading

Top 10 Sporting Events in Austin

Sports fans will find lots to love in Austin. Whether you want to catch the action of a Major League Soccer match, watch some of the top NASCAR racers in the country speed around the COTA track or get in the game yourself and run a marathon through the city, you’ll find it all here. We’ve listed…

Continue Reading

Explore Austin's Moody Center

The newest jewel in Austin’s live music crown is the Moody Center. Opened in April 2022, the ambitious arena is located on the University of Texas campus and plays host to music and sporting events. Complete with outdoor space, several bars, and state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, it is an…

Continue Reading

Guide to Austin's Hyde Park Neighborhood

Located just north of downtown and the University of Texas campus, the quaint Hyde Park neighborhood is packed with historic charm and walkable sites. Although this part of town is mostly residential, the shops and restaurants in Hyde Park are worth a visit. Hyde Park in the 1890s, PICA 02628…

Continue Reading

Boutique Hotels in Austin

Travelers looking for a stay as unique as Austin may want to opt into a boutique hotel. We’ve gathered up the quirky, funky, swank and one-of-a-kind smaller format places to stay that will satisfy your need for the weird and the wonderful. Lay your head on custom linens, luxuriate in the best bath…

Continue Reading

Austin’s Black Arts Scene

Austin has a long and storied history. And, as Javier Wallace of Black Austin Tours says, the city’s history often excluded Black people from its spaces and narratives. But the Austin Black community has very much built the city into the cultural hub that it is. From sculpture and theatre to music…

Continue Reading