15 Best Things to Do in Austin, TX

Zilker Park is one of Austin’s most beloved metropolitan parks, spanning an impressive 351 acres.

Get a taste of Austin’s outdoors at Zilker Park by taking a leisurely stroll through its many vast green spaces or venturing out onto the waters of Lady Bird Lake. Along with walking paths, Zilker Park also features swimming areas, picnic facilities, bike and canoe rentals, disc golf, and playgrounds. Additionally, Zilker Park has a miniature train for kids and families to enjoy.

This park also serves as the venue for Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Austin Kite Festival.

Zilker Park is open daily. The park is free to enter, though you may need to pay a parking fee depending on which day you visit.

Speaking of Zilker Park, check out Barton Springs Pool the next time you need a refreshing swim.

Barton Springs Pool is a natural spring fed swimming pool that averages temperatures of 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The crystal clear water and the lush surrounding area make Barton Springs Pool one of Austin’s most iconic outdoor attractions and swimming areas.

Each year, thousands of people make the trek to this spring-fed pool, with record-setting crowds in recent years near close to 800,000 total visitors. The natural pool is managed by Austin Parks & Recreation and is listed as one of the department’s Regional Aquatic Facilities.

To access Barton Springs Pool, a daily entry fee is required. Prices for daily passes can vary, so make sure to check out the Austin Parks & Recreation website for the latest information and entry rates.

As the state capital of Texas, Austin is home to the historic Texas Capitol building.

First constructed in the 1880s, this massive architectural marvel covers approximately 360,000 square feet of space and is an emblem of Texas pride and history. Visitors of the Texas Capitol can take guided or self-guided tours of the building for free, with guided tours lasting roughly 30 to 45 minutes.

Texas Capitol is a functioning government building home to the Senate, Governor’s Office, House of Representatives, and Supreme Court. Additionally, the Texas Capitol features many great works of art and well-kept grounds. Atop the dome of the Texas Capitol, you can spot the Goddess of Liberty statue designed by Elijah E. Myers, the architect behind the design of the building as well.

Immerse yourself in nature and art at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum, where you can find one of Austin’s most beautifully landscaped public gardens adorned with sculptures made by Charles Umlauf and other renowned artists.

The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum offers many educational and cultural experiences for visitors to learn about nature, sculpture, and the arts. UMLAUF’s vision is to be the “epicenter of Austin’s cultural arts scene,” and aims to honor Charles Umlauf, who served as an art professor at the nearby University of Texas for 40 years.

Admission prices to UMLAUF vary, with members of UMLAUF enjoying free admission (including members of the Texas Association of Museums and the North American Reciprocal Museum Association). The garden and museum facilities are open Tuesday through Friday and Saturday through Sunday. UMLAUF is closed on Mondays.

Experience the vibrant cultural journey of the Blanton Museum of Art. This museum is located on the University of Texas at Austin campus and is home to an incredible and vast collection of world-class artwork from all different periods of historical and modern Austin.

The Blanton Museum of Art houses more than 21,000 pieces of artwork within its impressive collection, including everything from Greek pottery to abstract work. It is located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue, situated adjacent to the heart of downtown Austin.

At the Blanton Museum of Art, you can find enjoy a wide variety of exhibitions and events, including both permanent and rotating exhibitions. Past rotating exhibitions have included Latin American colonial fashion, 16th to 18th-century prints, and many different artist spotlights.

This museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Witness one of Austin’s most extraordinary natural spectacles at the Congress Avenue Bridge, home to North America’s largest urban bat colony. The colony is made up of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats who make the underside of the Congress Avenue Bridge their home from late March through early fall.

Many visitors of Austin flock to the viewing points beneath the bridge to catch a glimpse of the bats around sunset, as they awaken to make their nighttime flights and explorations. If you time your visit right, you can see more than 100,000 bats emerging from beneath the bridge.

There are several viewing locations to choose from to observe the bats, including an observation deck on the northeast side of the river. However, the first emergence of the bats is typically best seen from along the river edge at the southeast end of the river.

Observing the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony is a free activity — just make sure to be mindful and respectful of the wildlife during your visit.

Check out the Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching Guide for more details.

Located near Zilker Park is the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, a 10-mile trail that winds around the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The Hike-and-Bike trail draws in more than 2.6 million visitors every year and is easily one of Austin’s most recognizable and popular recreational venues.

Named after one of Austin’s former mayors and his wife, the trail is designed to promote recreational adventure and physical activity within Austin’s vibrant and diverse community.

Visiting the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a free activity that you can enjoy all year round. Stop by the Austin Parks & Recreation website for more information and to download a free map of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.

Austin is home to many different cultural events and festivals, with one of the most well-known being the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Hosted in Zilker Park, this music festival takes place over two weekends and features a variety of musical performances from globally-known artists.

Along with several stages for musical performances, Austin City Limits also features the ACL Eats Food Court complete with foods, drinks, and sweets from many of Austin’s best restaurants and food trucks.

Plus, Austin City Limits includes merch booths, giveaways, kids’ activities, and more, making this event one that the whole family can enjoy together.

Though not a mountainous region, Austin is home to Mount Bonnell, a famous landmark where you can take in panoramic views of the Austin skyline and the surrounding Colorado River.

As the highest point in the city, Mount Bonnell is made from limestone and stands at a height of 775 feet above sea level. This destination is one of Austin’s most popular sightseeing locations and is an excellent activity near other recreational destinations like Zilker Park.

Mount Bonnell does feature a long set of stairs that is not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs. Additionally, the climb to the top of Mount Bonnell can be strenuous, so make sure to bring adequate water and protective clothing to shield you from the sun.

You can visit Mount Bonnell for free daily. Dogs are welcome to join you on your adventure to Austin’s highest peak.

The Hamilton Pool Preserve is located just outside of Austin in Dripping Springs, Texas, and is a historic swimming hole that has been a designated preserve since 1990.

The natural and picturesque wonder of Hamilton Pool includes a stunning collapsed grotto, limestone cliffs, and a cascading waterfall. You can also find scenic trails to hike on around Hamilton Pool, as well as swimming spots — however, although Hamilton Pool is known for its stunning emerald-green waters, swimming rules depend on the current conditions of the water.

Water access is sometimes restricted due to bacteria levels and other water conditions, so make sure to check the Hamilton Pool Preserve website ahead of your visit. Reservations are required to visit and admission fees are cash-only.

Celebrate the joy of reading at the Texas Book Festival, hosted in and around the State Capitol.

At the Texas Book Festival, more than 275 nationally-recognized authors come to share their writing and insights, as well as engage with fans and readers through panel discussions, book signings, book readings, and other great events. The Texas Book Festival is a non-profit that works to support literacy programs and public libraries in Texas.

Each year, this festival attracts roughly 50,000 attendees.

If you are a fan of flowers, gardens, or just the outdoors in general, then you don’t want to miss out on visiting the stunning Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.

This botanical garden was founded in 1983 by Lady Bird Johnson and Helen Hayes, and is now managed and maintained by the University of Texas at Austin. In this garden, you can find a beautiful array of native plants, wildflowers, and sustainable landscaping as you stroll along the center’s meandering trails.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is set on 284 acres and divided into a mix of cultivated gardens, managed natural areas, and wildlands. The center also features an arboretum.

Hours vary according to the season, as do admission rates. Visit their website for the latest information on admission rates and daily hours.