50 Fun Things to Do in Austin, TX | Visit Austin, Texas (2024)

1. Try Austin’s favorite food: tacos! Some of the best are served up by Veracruz All Natural, Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon and Torchy’s Tacos.

2. Sample a variety of food trucks in one location at The Picnic, where you’ll find homemadepasta fromCannone Cucina Italianaand authentic Thai cuisine atCoat & Thai.

Micklethwait Craft Meats. Credit Nicolai McCrary.

3. You’re not doing Austin right if you don’t try some of our world-famous barbecue. Get in line for the ultra-tender brisket crafted by James Beard Award-winning pitmaster Aaron Franklin at Franklin Barbecue. Try the Brisket Frito Pie topped with chili and cheddar cheese at Micklethwait Craft Meats. Or sample Texas-style (and sized) dino beef ribs at Stiles Switch.

4. Dine alfresco (even in winter!) on the heated patios at Grizzelda’s (Tex-Mex cuisine) and (American fare), or sip on craft co*cktails and slurp oysters on the oak-tree shaded patio at Perla's (seafood).

5. Taste your way along the scenic Texas Hill Country wine trail, home to more than 50 wineries. Or sample the brews from local microbreweries on the Austin Craft Beer Trail.

Fareground. Credit Dillon Burke, @FOHNYC.

6. Dine at Fareground, Austin’s very first food hall, featuring outposts of some of the city’s favorite eateries, including a variety of bite-size sammies at Jewboy Sliders.

7. Enjoy brunch with a side of music at Stubb’s Bar-B-Q, serving up lip-smacking barbecue during its rousing Sunday Gospel Brunch. Or meet the locals at, where 200+ craft beers are served, and 30 varieties of sausage are grilled during the Sunday Big Band Brunch.​

8. Don’t leave Austin without sampling some of our town’s best Tex-Mex cuisine, including barbecue breakfast tacos from Cisco's, Bob Armstrong queso at Matt’s El Rancho and sizzling fajitas from Maudie’s.

9. Make your first stop at the Austin Visitor Center and get insider tips on the best Austin has to offer, hop on a tour and shop locally made items.You can also check out the online Gift Shop for Austin-themed goodies.

Allen's Boot Shopping. Credit Carolina de Mauro.

10. ShopSouth Congress Avenue, known for its funky stores and chic boutiques. Check out the kicks atAllens Boots, one-of-a-kind jewelry and clothing by local artisans atPaper Workand vintage treats at Big Top Candy Shop.

11. Flip through the extensive selection of vinyl at Waterloo Records and catch a free in-store performance by an emerging local musician.

12. Spend some time at the original flagship Whole Foods Market, where you’ll find restaurants, a beer and wine bar, a food truck, and free rooftop live music and events.

13. Shop ‘til you drop in the 2ND Street District, teeming with Austin-owned boutiques that offer everything from music-inspired apparel at Austin Rocks to gorgeous jewelry from Eliza Page and tailored menswear from League of Rebels.

14. Start your day with farm-fresh produce, artisan goods, colorful flowers and live music at theSFC Farmers’ Market Downtown, held Saturdays in Republic Square.

15. Search for retro treasures in the North Loop neighborhood,whereRoom Service VintageandBlue Velvetare good bets for affordable clothing and home decor finds.

16. Listen to Texas singers, songwriters and musicians perform in the Oak Garden atGüero’s Taco Baron Wednesdays as part of theTexas Radio Liveseries presented by Sun Radio.Limited seating available.

17. Get a taste of Austin’s co*cktail culture at Whisler's, known for creative concoctions with unique ingredients, and the reservations-only Midnight Cowboy, serving classic libations in a sultry speakeasy.

White Horse. Credit Arts + Labor.

18. Slip into a real honky-tonk and go two-stepping at Broken Spoke, known for its chicken-fried steak and free dinner show; do some boot-scootin' atThe White Horse, with live country jams; or drop in at Little Longhorn Saloonduring its six-days-a-week happy hour, with $2.50 Lone Star beers.

19. Watch a band at the legendary Continental Club on South Congress Avenue, which has been hosting live music ranging from rock to country for 60 years, and is often the site of surprise celebrity performances.

20. Hit some of Austin’s best LGBTQ+ bars on Fourth Street in theDowntown Warehouse District, with dancing and drag queens at hot spots that include Rain on 4th, Highland Lounge and Oilcan Harry’s.

21. Toast the latest Texas Longhorn victory atScholz Garten, Austin’s oldest drinking establishment and theplace to celebrate University of Texas football wins since 1893.

22. Fall brings exciting events to Austin. Tune in for this year's hybrid edition of the annual Texas Book Festival, held November 11-12; explore galleries, museums and artist workshops around Austin at the Austin Studio Tour, November 4-19; and get a jump on your holiday shopping at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, running from November 17through Christmas Eve.

23. View a stunning collection of modern art atThe Contemporary Austinat the Jones Center and get free same-day entry toThe Contemporary Austin–Laguna Gloria, a Mediterranean-style villa with an outdoor sculpture park on Lake Austin. Advance tickets are required.

Austin Capitol Building. Credit David Aguilar.

24. Stop in at the historic Texas Capitol Visitors Centerand get a Lone Star State history lesson during a free guided tour of the handsome pink granite Texas State Capitol.

25. Play it smart at the Thinkery, Austin’s hands-on children’s museum that incorporates science and technology into the fun with interactive exhibits and engaging activities. Open Tuesday-Sunday.

26. Visit the free Brush Square Museums that include the limited-entrySusanna Dickinson Museum (the only Anglo adult survivor of the Battle of the Alamo) and the O. Henry Museum, former residence of the famed short story writer.

27. Visit an impressive collection of museums at the University of Texas at Austin, including the Blanton Museum of Art, featuring Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin, a stone building with brilliantly colored glass windows (advance tickets required); the Harry Ransom Center, housing cultural archives that include the first photo; and the LBJ Presidential Library, with inspiring exhibits on President Lyndon Baines Johnson photo.

I Love You So Much Mural. Credit Lauren Romano.

28. Snap a selfie in front of one of Austin’s iconicmurals. The popularI love you so muchmural is painted on the wall ofJo's Coffeeon South Congress Avenue.Hi, How Are Youfeatures a bug-eyed bullfrog named Jeremiah, originally drawn by outsider folk artist Daniel Johnston, near theUniversity of Texas at Austincampus. And the colorfulGreetings from Austinpostcard is a must-shoot inSouth Austin.

29. Celebrate African-American heritage at theGeorge Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Centerthrough exhibits, programs and theatrical productions.

30. See a classic film at theParamount Theatre, a century-old performance venue and movie theater located in the heart of downtown Austin.

31. Get an insider’s look at the history and culture of Texas at theBullock Museum, containing three floors of interactive exhibits, the Texas Spirit Theater, anIMAX Theatreand the Story of Texas Cafe.Limited capacity, with timed-entry tickets.

32. Take a free guided tour (withadvance reservations) of the elegantTexas Governor’s Mansion, built in 1854as the official residence of Texas governors and their families.

33. See a comedy show atEsther's Follies, specializing in political satire and hilarious musical numbers, orFalloutTheater, presenting sketch, stand-up and improv comedy shows by new and seasoned comedians.

34. View Mexican and Latin American artworks at theMexic-Arte Museum, and snap a photo with one of the revolving murals painted on the side of the museum.

35. Catch a limited-seatingconcert at ACL Live at The Moody Theater, named for the long-running Austin City Limits television music series filmed here, which hosts artists of every genre and offers behind-the-scenes tours.

Deliminations. Credit Alexandra Robinson, Courtesy of Women and Their Work.

36. Browse the vibrant galleries that showcase local emerging artists, includingAustin Art Garage(open limited hours),and the(located in an 1870s national landmark on Congress Avenue), which presents juried art shows.

37. See everything from opera to dance and family musicals at the Long Center, one of Austin’s leading performance venues.This state-of-the-art venue offers both indoor and outdoor performances on their three stages.

38. Tour the freeElisabet Ney Museum, housed in what was once the German-born sculptress’ studio, and see portrait sculptures of notable 19^thcentury Texans.

39. Bike or hike along the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, which winds along the shoreline and boasts panoramic views of Austin’s skyline.

40. Hike up the stone steps ofMount Bonnelland get a sweeping view of the city from atop this Lake Austin landmark that has been a popular attraction since the 1850s.

41. Explore Mayfield Park, home to incredible gardens and colorful preening peaco*cks that make the perfect backdrop for your photos.

42. Putt your way through the kitschy Peter Pan Mini Golf, featuring two 18-hole mini golf courses filled with fun obstacles and colorful characters that include a towering T. rex.

Barton Creek Greenbelt. Credit Andrew Chin.

43. Hike or bike along theBarton Creek Greenbeltto find Gus Fruh, a swimming hole known for its famed Urban Assault limestone rock wall that’s a favorite of climbers. Explore further to discover the hidden Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls areas.

44. Join fellow Texas Longhorn fans incheering on the beloved University of Texas at Austin Longhorns.Limited seating available at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadiumfor football games.
45. Harness the cowboy spirit in the Texas Hill Country during a guided horseback trail ride withMaverick Horseback Ridingin Lockhart orTexas Trail Rides, just outside downtown Austin.

46. Take a swing at theHarvey Penick Golf Campus, featuring a PGA Tour-designed nine-hole golf course and Austin’s first-ever, 18-hole Footgolf course, which combines the best elements of soccer and golf for a high-energy game.

47. Make tracks to the freeto explore nature trails, see small wildlife creatures and dig for “dinosaur fossils” in the Dino Pit.

Courtesy of UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum.

48. Wander aroundZilker Park, a 360-acre oasis in the heart of the city that’s home to theZilker Botanical Gardenand leafy trails that lead to outdoor artworks at theUMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum.

49. Hike through a Texas Hill Country landscape of limestone cliffs and stone river beds along the Pedernales River atPedernales Falls State Park. Follow Juniper Ridge Trail, which leads to the park’s rushing Pedernales Falls.

50. For an adrenaline rush coupled with an awesome view,Lake Travis Zipline Adventuresoffers five pulse-pounding ziplines (one being the longest in Texas) to whisk you away on an exciting outdoor adventure.

Discover more things to do in Austin today, this week and this weekend with our online event calendar here.