Spending a weekend in Austin on a fast getaway is a good way to get to know the Texas capital. Get able to rock within the metropolis that’s often called the Dwell Music Capital of the World and considered one of one of the best cities within the US!
Two days in Austin is simply sufficient to take a look at among the sights and benefit from the nice open air by day. Come dusk, it’s time to dive into the town’s well-known culinary and dwell music scenes.
It’s undoubtedly considered one of my favourite cities I’ve visited within the US and I’ve been in every single place! A metropolis with a love for dwell music, tacos, and craft beer is principally my dream come true.
The Excellent 2 Day Itinerary for a Weekend in Austin
Whereas Austin is the state capital, it’s really solely the 4th greatest metropolis in Texas. The truth that it’s not an enormous metropolis makes it straightforward to cowl plenty of floor with only a weekend in Austin.
In line with the town’s unofficial slogan “Hold Austin Bizarre,” I additionally encourage you to improvise a bit with this Austin 2-day itinerary.
Hear some funky music from a bar? Pop in to test the band out. Scent one thing scrumptious? Wander over to that meals truck. Meet some cool locals? See the place they like to hang around.
Learn on for a have a look at one of the best locations to remain and a jam-packed itinerary stuffed with suggestions for the way to spend 2 days in Austin.
Day 1 in Austin
With solely two days in Austin, there’s no time to waste! On the primary day, I’ll give attention to the historical past and tradition of the town in the course of the day earlier than indulging within the culinary and nightlife sights of Austin.
Morning
I can’t consider any higher strategy to kick off a weekend in Austin than with breakfast tacos. It is a metropolis obsessive about breakfast tacos, and why wouldn’t they be?
Tex-Mex is king right here, with a typical breakfast taco consisting of a flour tortilla full of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, melted cheese, and seasoned potatoes. In fact, every place has its personal specialty tacos as properly.
There are 1,000,000 and one locations to eat breakfast tacos in Austin, however among the prime selections embody Cisco’s, Joe’s Bakery, and Rosita’s Al Pastor. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is a little bit of a hike however is price it, as they’re usually ranked the greatest within the metropolis.
For a enjoyable and informative introduction to the town, I like to recommend leaping on a free strolling tour. One widespread choice is the downtown strolling tour by Tipster. These run every day at 10 AM and final about two hours, starting on the State Capitol.
As with all free strolling excursions, it’s customary to depart a tip if you happen to benefit from the tour. You may simply present up if you need, or click on right here to allow them to know you’re coming and what number of are in your group.
An alternative choice is to only head to the State Capitol and be a part of considered one of their free excursions. These start each 30-45 minutes from 9:30-3:30 on Monday-Friday and 12:30-3:30 on Saturday and Sunday.
Even if you happen to don’t really feel like taking any sort of tour, it’s best to nonetheless try the Capitol. It’s true that every thing’s larger in Texas — the State Capitol is greater than the nationwide one in DC!
Whilst you’re over there, you may as properly try the Governor’s Mansion as properly. You’ll should e-book your spot at the least every week prematurely to take one of many free excursions right here, so click on right here to enroll.
Need to simply cowl all the above with a pleasant and knowledgable information, travelling by air-conditioned transportation and having fun with a meals truck snack?! This tour is just 2 hours lengthy and $40, that means you continue to have a great deal of time left to spend exploring all of the enjoyable issues to do in Austin.
Afternoon
After exploring the Capitol grounds, a handy lunch spot is Texas Chili Parlor. Not surprisingly, they’re recognized for his or her chili right here. Strive the XXX if you happen to dare! In addition they have numerous tasty Tex-Mex choices like tamales and enchiladas.
As I discussed earlier, there’s undoubtedly some room for improvisation when exploring Austin in 2 days. The way you select to spend the afternoon fully is dependent upon your pursuits, so let me provide you with a couple of choices.
Initially, you may try a couple of museums, the campus of UT, and the LBJ (Lyndon Baines Johnson) Presidential Library. Only a few blocks north of the Capitol is the Bullock Texas State Historical past Museum.
With interactive reveals, movies, and an superior IMAX theater, it is a good place to study all in regards to the Lone Star State. Tickets for the museum price $13 and it can save you time if you happen to click on right here to e-book your tickets on-line.
Proper throughout the road, you’ll discover the Blanton Museum of Artwork. It’s well-known for Austin – a stone constructing with coloured home windows designed by famend artist Ellsworth Kelly.
Seeing that alone is well worth the $15 value of admission (though it’s free on Tuesday), and there are 20,000 different artworks you may try as properly.
Maybe you’re probably not into museums and would slightly spend extra time exterior. In that case, head straight to the College of Texas campus. It’s a good looking place to discover, stuffed with artwork and historic landmarks.
One factor you gained’t need to miss is The Coloration Inside. This Skyspace from artist James Turrell is greatest considered at sundown and is sort of widespread, so make sure to e-book your spot properly prematurely.
Different choices on campus embody heading to the highest of the UT Tower to absorb the views of this traditional American campus. It prices $6 and solely takes about 45 minutes to go to.
In the event you’re actually into historical past, then a go to to the LBJ Presidential Library is a must-do in your weekend in Austin. Native Texan Lyndon Baines Johnson was the thirty sixth President of the United States after the assassination of JFK.
There’s sufficient to see and do right here to maintain you busy for hours, together with listening to precise cellphone calls LBJ had as president. It’s open every day from 9-5 and tickets are simply $13. Click on right here to purchase them on-line prematurely.
For a full checklist of some distinctive tradition, historical past and art-filled issues to do, click on right here to study in regards to the widespread Viator excursions on supply, and click on right here to seek out cool excursions on GetYourGuide.
Night
After an enormous day of sightseeing, it’s time to transition into Austin’s well-known nightlife. On this metropolis stuffed with school college students and musicians, there’s no scarcity of locations to moist your whistle.
There are bars of all shapes, sizes, and types within the Texas capital!
I like to recommend simply heading to sixth Road for a stroll to see what catches your eye. You gained’t discover many joyful hours on a weekend in Austin, however you may catch dwell music nearly all over the place.
One place that’s undoubtedly price testing is the Firehouse Lounge. It’s positioned simply off sixth Road in an previous fireplace station. Discover the key entrance to this cool speakeasy and luxuriate in Prohibition-era cocktails with dwell jazz and blues.
When spending two days in Austin, one merely should eat barbecue. This culinary artwork kind is a vital a part of the tradition right here, and locals are pleased with their legendary barbecue.
I haven’t spent sufficient time in Austin to try to proclaim what one of the best BBQ on the town is. What I can say is that I totally loved our meal on the well-known Stubb’s. They often have dwell music right here as properly, so it’s a one-stop-shop for a enjoyable night in Austin.
Different widespread locations to get your BBQ repair downtown embody Cooper’s Previous-Time Pit Barbecue, Iron Works, and Gebby’s. If you wish to strive the legendary beef brisket at Franklin Barbecue, you’ll should rise up early and wait in an extended line. Nevertheless it’s price it!
Irrespective of if you go to for a weekend in Austin, there’s positive to be tons of dwell music occurring. Whether or not you’re into rock, funk, jazz, bluegrass, hip hop, digital, or simply about every other type of music, there’s a spot for you in Austin.
I like to recommend testing this calendar of occasions within the metropolis to raised enable you to plan the place you need to spend your money and time. The very last thing you need to do is wait in line and pay a canopy cost solely to finish up in a spot the place you hate the music!
Day 2 in Austin
Now that you simply’ve checked off most of the large sights, it’s time for some additional exploration exterior of Austin’s downtown space. I’ll provide you with some stable choices for the tip of this weekend in Austin.
However first, brunch.
Morning
You may be feeling a little bit tough across the edges after an enormous night time out in Austin. That’s why we’re beginning day two out with a leisurely brunch.
My advice goes to the world simply south of the river often called SoCo (South Congress). Inside a couple of blocks, you’ll discover among the metropolis’s greatest brunch spots.
Some wonderful choices within the space embody Cafe No Se, June’s All Day, and Magnolia Cafe. Wherever you eat, prepare for a little bit stroll across the space seeking avenue artwork and boutique retailers.
Head as much as Jo’s Espresso, the place you may snap a pic with the “I Love You So A lot” wall. Stroll a block south to take a look at considered one of my private favorites, the “Willie For President” mural.
You too can seize some chalk and scribble a message on the close by Earlier than I Die Wall. Write one thing that’s in your bucket-list then get to work checking it off!
Whilst you’re within the space, make certain to see the Greetings From Austin mural. Go forward and get your essential shot for the ‘gram with this iconic mural. Present everybody simply how a lot enjoyable you’re having along with your 2 days in Austin!
Down in SoCo you’ll additionally discover loads of good cafes, galleries, and boutiques.
It’s undoubtedly an space you may linger for some time. We’ve nonetheless acquired plenty of floor to cowl on this Austin itinerary, although, so let’s hold it shifting.
Word: In the event you’re actually into avenue artwork, there are some unbelievable items to see in East Austin. Discover on foot for a few hours to offtrack areas that you simply gained’t discover in your guidebook. Click on right here to study extra about this highly-rated expertise — it’s one you gained’t’ need to miss!
Afternoon
Having fun with the nice open air is a should when touring to Austin. Fortunately you don’t should go very far to take action! Listed below are a couple of completely different choices for spending a day exterior.
Zilker Metropolitan Park – This enormous metropolis park is the proper place to go on a good looking day in Austin. Right here you may go for a stroll alongside one of many trails or simply take a dip within the Barton Springs Pool.
The park can also be house to a very nice botanical backyard. Close by is the Umlauf Sculpture Backyard and Museum, which at $7 is a complete steal for all of the superb sculptures you get to see.
Enjoyable within the Water – You too can take within the sights from the water in a rented kayak, canoe, or SUP (stand-up paddleboard). Click on right here to study extra in regards to the tremendous enjoyable kayak skyline tour, and click on right here for an SUP small-group tour.
Woman Chicken Lake – There’s a scenic 10-mile lengthy hike-and-bike path right here that makes for a terrific outing. Simply click on right here to obtain a map of the path.
There’s additionally a mile-long boardwalk if you happen to’re on the lookout for one thing a bit extra enjoyable. You should definitely try the attention-grabbing Belting It Out artwork set up right here, which options belts engraved with lyrics from Texas musicians.
No matter choice you select, you gained’t should go far to discover a good lunch spot. In the event you go to the lake, you gained’t be too removed from the legendary Rosita’s Al Pastor.
Over close to the park, there are many eating places on Barton Springs Street. There’s additionally the Picnic — a meals truck park with a number of selections. Right here you could find Italian, Thai, New Orleans type po’ boys and gumbo, and extra.
Night
In case your weekend in Austin occurs between March and November, you need to see the bats in your final night on the town.
About half an hour earlier than sundown, over 1,000,000 bats fly out from crevices within the bridge!
Yow will discover a spot on the hill beneath the bridge to absorb the spectacle or join a tour to see them from a kayak or SUP. Austin even has an annual Bat Fest in August. I instructed you their slogan was “Hold Austin Bizarre!”
Study extra in regards to the excursions with bats flying above — on a kayak, bike tour, or segway tour.
An alternative choice on your last night in Austin is taking a river cruise.
Capital Cruises has a couple of completely different cruises, together with a bat watching and sundown tour for $14 per particular person. They’ll additionally set you up with a personal dinner cruise. Head to their web site to take a look at all of the choices.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a one-stop-shop for eating and nightlife to wrap up your weekend in Austin, head on over to Rainey Road. It’s well-known for the various bars set in historic, bungalow-style houses.
A unbelievable dinner alternative right here is Emmer & Rye. Along with their revolutionary menu of seasonal specialties, additionally they have a dim sum cart rolling round.
In the event you’re into beers and sausages, you may head to close by Banger’s Sausage Home & Beer Backyard. With 30 completely different selfmade sausages and over 200 beers on faucet, the probabilities are infinite right here!
With the rest of your last night time on the town, simply stroll round Rainey Road and pop into no matter place appears and sounds good. On any given weekend in Austin, there are at all times tons of selections for dwell music and good occasions!
Insider’s Suggestions for a Weekend in Austin
There you might have it. I’ve set you up properly for an superior 2 days in Austin. Earlier than we wrap issues up, listed below are a couple of suggestions to make sure you get pleasure from your weekend to the fullest:
Skip the automotive – Whereas some individuals wish to hire a automotive for his or her go to to Austin, I don’t discover this essential. Initially, having to be answerable for a car limits your enjoyment of a weekend in Austin. You’ll have to fret about parking and gained’t be capable of indulge within the metropolis’s well-known breweries and bars.
It’s straightforward sufficient to get round Austin by catching the bus, calling an occasional Uber, and possibly renting a motorbike for a couple of hours. Let different individuals fear about driving and have your self some enjoyable!
Guide a desk – Austin is a fairly bumping place on the weekend. It’s a preferred vacationer vacation spot and locals love going out right here as properly. Keep away from disappointment by reserving a desk the place attainable at among the locations listed on this information.
Examine the calendar – As I discussed, there’s at all times one thing occurring right here. Austin has festivals all all year long and there’s dwell music each night time. You should definitely test and see what’s enjoying so you may make a recreation plan and purchase tickets if essential.
Tempo your self – It’s straightforward to enter a meals coma or get a bit tipsy in Austin. You’ll want to eat and drink all of the issues right here, nevertheless it’s key to tempo your self when doing so! Don’t overlook that water is your good friend and it’s OK to eat a vegetable or two in between all of the BBQ and tacos.
Attending to Austin
Many guests arrive at Austin–Bergstrom Worldwide Airport (AUS), which is 5 miles southeast of downtown. There are fairly a couple of choices for attending to your lodging from the airport.
By Bus
You understand this metropolis rocks if you stroll out of the airport and see a large neon guitar for a bus cease. That is the place you may hop on the Capital Metro bus to succeed in downtown, the College of Texas campus, and northeast Austin.
The bus runs 7 days every week and leaves each quarter-hour.
It’s solely $1.25 for a one-way ticket, or you may seize a day go for $2.50 that’s good on all different routes. If it’s worthwhile to switch to a different route to succeed in your lodge, make sure to seize the day go.
Taxi/Rideshare
Different choices embody taking a shared shuttle, getting a taxi, or utilizing rideshare apps. A cab journey downtown from the airport prices round $30-35 as of late.
It’s often a bit cheaper to make use of Uber or Lyft you probably have an account and a working cellphone.
Hire a Automobile
With only a weekend in Austin, it’s actually not a nasty thought to only hire a automotive. This provides you the liberty to maneuver across the metropolis as you please and extra simply attain locations exterior of the middle.
That being stated, the town has stable choices for public transportation. It’s additionally a terrific place for biking and there are a number of retailers renting bikes out in addition to a bike-share program.
Arriving to Austin By Practice or Inter-city Bus
In the event you’re already touring within the US, you even have the choice of arriving in Austin by prepare or bus. The Texas Eagle Amtrak line stops in Austin and continues so far as each Los Angeles and Chicago.
A number of completely different bus corporations have routes that undergo Austin, together with Greyhound and Megabus. In the event you e-book
Megabus tickets early sufficient they’re tremendous low-cost. I feel we went from New Orleans to Houston to Austin for about $10 every!
Greatest Locations to Keep for a Weekend in Austin
There are a couple of stable selections relating to areas to remain for a weekend in Austin.
In the event you’re on the town for a bachelor or bachelorette get together (that are enormous right here), then the Rainey Road Historic District is a superb choice. This space is understood for its many bars in reworked bungalows.
One other widespread space to remain in for two days in Austin is South Congress.
Positioned simply throughout the river from downtown, the world referred to as SoCo is stuffed with superb avenue artwork and performers. Your Instagram feed might be on level if you happen to base your self right here for the weekend!
Only a few blocks west is the Zilker neighborhood. Residence to the town’s huge Zilker Metropolitan Park, that is the place to be if you happen to’re hoping to spend most of your time open air.
Whereas all of those are high quality selections, my advice for a weekend in Austin goes to staying downtown. Extra particularly, the few blocks often called the Crimson River Tradition District will get my vote.
This small however tight-knit neighborhood is the epicenter of Austin’s dwell music scene.
There are a number of unbelievable eating places, bars, and golf equipment right here, that means you may bounce round to completely different locations and have a brief stroll house on the finish of the night time.
Throughout the day, you’re only a few blocks away from the Texas Capitol and a brief stroll right down to the river. In brief, it’s the proper house base for an Austin weekend journey.
I understand that being surrounded by dwell music bars isn’t for everybody. By no means concern — there are many locations to remain downtown if you happen to want a quieter night.
Listed below are among the greatest choices for lodging in downtown Austin — a funds, mid-range, and luxurious option to fulfill all budgets:
In fact, one other nice choice is to e-book an condominium and have the place to your self or hire a room. Examine Reserving.com’s Austin Residences Web page for listings of the present top-rated residences within the metropolis.
The Greatest Time to Go to Austin
In the event you love dwell music, then completely one of the best time to go to Austin is within the fall in the course of the Austin Metropolis Limits Music Pageant. However if you happen to can’t come then, there’s nearly at all times good dwell music taking place in Austin.
One other nice occasion in Austin is South by Southwest (SXSW) in March. It has music, movie, comedy, exhibitions, and a lot extra.
However, if you happen to’re extra into avoiding crowds and better costs, then undoubtedly don’t come to Austin throughout these two large occasions!
Austin will get very popular in the summertime and a little bit cool within the winter. Due to the climate, my favourite time to go to Austin is in the course of the spring or fall, when the climate is gentle and nice.
FAQs About What to Do on a Weekend in Austin
Nonetheless have some questions on the way to spend a few days in Austin? Try these FAQs.
I feel so. Whilst you might simply spend longer, two days in Austin gives you sufficient time to see the principle sights, have some BBQ, and go to a park or museum.
Saturdays in Austin are a little bit busier than throughout weekdays, however you may nonetheless have a breakfast taco, go to a museum, and head to a park for a while open air or on the water.
Sure, Austin is a really walkable metropolis. You may discover lots by strolling round downtown throughout a few days in Austin.
Completely! It’s considered one of my favourite cities within the US, and I’ve traveled to numerous them. Austin has cool neighborhoods, nice meals, wonderful dwell music, and world-class occasions like Austin Metropolis Limits and SXSW.
No, you don’t want a automotive in Austin, and I like to recommend you don’t convey one. You may see loads on foot with a few days in Austin, and also you gained’t have to fret about parking.
Now You’re Prepared for two Days in Austin
As you may see, you’re in for a deal with if you spend a weekend in Austin.
There’s at all times one thing occurring on this metropolis, which is house to a beautiful mix of scholars, musicians, artists, techies, and entrepreneurs.
From huge festivals like Austin Metropolis Limits to the annual Bat Fest, there are an eclectic mixture of occasions right here. Whether or not you journey there throughout a competition or not, you’re certain to have time in Austin.
In the event you’ve been to Austin and have some suggestions on what to do, the place to eat, and the place to get together, depart a remark and allow us to hear about it!
Photos on this article are courtesy of Shutterstock.com.
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