Top 25 Unique Things To Do In Austin Texas Your First Time

Wondering what to do in Austin Texas your first time visiting?

These are the top unique things to do in Austin, from downtown must-sees to what to do around the city. Plus, I’ve even included the top things to do in Austin at night!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Top Things To Do In Downtown Austin

Downtown Austin is separated into a few districts. Popular districts include 6th Street district, Congress Avenue, Rainy Street and 2nd Street District. Don’t worry, I’ll take you to all the top districts!

Downtown Austin is VERY walkable. So all these things to do in downtown Austin can be reached without a car.

1. Go On A Walking Tour Of Downtown Austin

I always love a good walking tour in any new city. Walking tours gives me my bearings and show me all the important places go around town. Austin is no exception.

We couldn’t find any free walking tours of the city, so we booked this one through Viator. You can also opt for a biking tour (like this one) or even a Segway tour (like this one) of Austin.

Or if you’re interested in more unique things to do in Austin, book a ghost tour (like this one on Viator!).

You also don’t even have to book a tour at all. The state of Texas actually has information plaques set up on every historical building.

2. Walk Along Congress Avenue 

Walking along Congress Avenue is one of the top things to do in downtown Austin. It’s the main street through downtown Austin, after all.

It’s probably one of the widest downtown streets you’ll see in any downtown area. That’s because they used to take cattle here on their way from the South to North of Texas.

You won’t see any cattle walking through today, Congress Avenue is filled with restaurants and shops instead.

You’ll also find some historical buildings along the street, like the Paramount Theater, which hasn’t closed once it’s opening in 1915. There are also the Scarborough and Littlefield Buildings to keep an eye out for!

Make sure to stop for a photo with Angelina Eberly – who helped make sure Austin remained the capital of Texas.

3. Tour The Texas State Capitol

At the end of Congress Avenue is the Texas State Capitol, which is what you’ve been walking towards this whole time!

You know they say everything is bigger in Texas? Well in this case, everything is actually taller in Texas! The State Capitol couldn’t be bigger than the White House in Washington, so they did the only logical thing they could… they made it taller!

Yes, the Texas State Capitol is 6 feet taller than the White House. This is all thanks to the statue (which is actually quite scary!) on top of the capital.

You can go inside for free to admire the architecture, and walk all the way up to the top. There are even free tours offered throughout the day!

4. Tour Austin City Limits (& Maybe See A Show)

In case you didn’t know, Austin is the live music capital of the world. That title is mostly thanks to Willie Nelson and Austin City Limits.

Austin City Limits (ACL) is the longest running music series in American television. It started in 1974 at the Texas State University, with a performance from Willie Nelson. Since then, Willie has been a huge sponsor of the series, and has performed many more time for the show!

In 2011, ACL Live moved to the Moody Theatre in downtown Austin. And you can actually go on a backstage tour! This was hands down one of my favourite things to do in downtown Austin.

You can even try to get tickets to a show if there’s one on while you’re in town. Book tickets, and find out more here.

P.S.Don’t Forget To Take A Photo With Willie!

Just in front of the Moody Theater (where ACL Live is filmed) there’s a Willie Nelson statue.

Willie Nelson is from Abott, Texas, a small town just outside Waco. But, as I said, he had a huge influence on ACL and the music scene in Austin.

So, needless to say, a stop for a photo op with Willie is on the list of Austin things to do.

5. Souvenir Shop Along 2nd Street

Second Street is a part of the 2nd Street district in downtown Austin. 2nd Street is all about shopping in downtown Austin.

This is the perfect spot to buy some new things for your wardrobe or go souvenir shopping. Don’t know what Texas souvenirs to buy? Check out my post here.

P.S. 2nd Street is also named Willie Nelson Blvd!

6. Admire & Have A Drink At The Historical Driskill Hotel

The Driskill is a historical hotel in downtown Austin that dates back to 1886. There’s quite a unique history here, and a neat hotel to stay in (although not cheap… see room rates & availability here!).

But, you don’t have to stay here to enjoy the best of the hotel. It’s free to walk in and admire the lobby. You can also enjoy either a drink at The Driskill Bar or a coffee at the 1886 Cafe & Bakery in the hotel.

7. See The View From Congress Bridge (& The Bats At Sunset)

Congress Bridge is one of the top things to do in downtown Austin, but it gets a bit more exciting around sunset.

Congress Bridge separates Congress Avenue from South Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. Come here to get a stellar view of Congress Avenue and the Texas State Capitol.

But, if you’re visiting Austin between March and October, plan to be there around sunset. As it turns out, Congress Bridge is home to the largest bat colony in North America. And every day around sunset during this time of year, they wake up to forage for food.

If you’re interested in seeing the Congress Bridge bats, read this guide, or book an organized tour through Viator.

This is probably one of the most unique things to do in Austin!

8. Learn About Texas History At The Bullock State Museum

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and apparently, even their history museum got the memo!

There’s a giant lone star right out front and the building is just magnificent. The inside doesn’t disappoint either!

They have a wonderful permanent history exhibit about the history of Texas. If you had any questions, you’ll be sure to find answers here.

I recommend at least an hour and a half for the museum – it’s big! If you’re crunched for time, I’d also suggest focusing on the second floor. I found they had the best information and exhibits here. The first floor was very text heavy, but it’s still worth a quick skim through.

9. Walk On Sixth Street (& Party All Night Long!)

One of the popular things to do in Austin at night is to go to 6th Street and party all night long! Although it’s well worth venturing here at night, I’d also recommend coming during the day.

I thought it was beautiful! There’s such a stark contrast between this historical district with the more modern downtown Austin.

I love the view from Neches street. You can see the high rise blue buildings towering above the shorter, yellow brick buildings on 6th Street.

If you’ve never had a chance to try Voodoo Doughnuts, nows the time. These might just be the best doughnuts I’ve ever had! Shoutout to the Old Dirty Bastard (featuring peanut butter, chocolate, and Oreos!).

10. Enjoy Texas BBQ At Terry Blacks (But If You Have Time Go To Franklins)

Let’s be real, you can’t come to Austin and not try Texas barbecue. Thankfully, there are a few options for you to choose from in Austin. The easiest one to get to in downtown Austin is Coopers.

But! If you’re willing to go a bit outside the city centre, you’ll have MUCH better barbecue. I would recommend either going to Terry Black’s BBQ or Franklin Barbecue.

Terry Black’s is a near Butler Metro Park and is a good option if you’re looking for a barbecue place for dinner. Plus, they offer free pit tours, where they’ll talk about the process and history of smoking bbq in Texas.

If you want the best of the best though, wake up early and go to Franklin Barbecue. It’s become an attraction on its own and really one of the top Austin things to do!

Franklin Barbecue just on the other side of the highway in Downtown Austin – but still very walkable. And let me tell you, it’s worth the wait – read more about barbecue in Texas here.

Unique Things To Do In Austin Texas

Keep Austin weird as they say!

Here are some lesser known, and more unique things to do in Austin that make Austin, well, Austin!

Not all of these Austin things to do are accessible by walking, so you’ll either need a car, bike, or you can scooter to them!

11. Tour The O. Henry House

The O. Henry House is not at all related to the chocolate bar… and yes, we asked (so you don’t have to!).

Instead of chocolate bars, this O. Henry was a famous short story writer. He would write controversial stories that the people loved but critics hated.

You might have heard of his stories, but even if you haven’t, it’s still worth a stop at this historical home. First, it’s free to tour, and it’s not very big.

It’s also very interesting to see a house from the 1890s in Texas! And yes, they still have some original artefacts from O. Henry, like his beautiful piano.

12. Tour Joseph And Susanna Dickinson Hannig Museum

Right next to the O. Henry House is the Susanna Dickinson Museum. It’s also free to tour and find out about Susanna Dickinson.

She was one of the messengers from the Alamo.

13. Kayak On Lady Bird Lake – Austin Things To Do!

Lady Bird Lake runs through Austin, and you’ll see a lot of locals kayaking or paddle boarding on it. It’s so unusual to have a river running through the city that’s actually used for leisure activities!

Although it might look like a river, it’s actually a dammed up part of the Colorado River. So it’s more like a reservoir, but it’s known as a lake instead.

Although technically safe for humans to swim in the lake, it’s not recommended. It was banned in 1964 because of possible insecticide contamination. It isn’t safe for your pets either because there is an algae in the water that is toxic to dogs.

So, that’s why people turn to different water sports on the lake like Kayaking and paddle boarding!

14. Bike Along The Boardwalk With A View

If water sports aren’t your thing (join the club!), you can still enjoy Lady Bird Lake. Across the lake, there’s a lovely boardwalk set up over the water.

If it’s a nice day in Austin, there’s really nothing better to do than to walk or bike the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk! I recommend renting bikes so you can cover more ground this way.

You can start along the Tejano trail and then cross bridge when you reach the Monarch highway above you. You can then take the boardwalk all the way back to Congress Bridge. You’ll get the best views while biking back towards the city.

15. OG Jo’s Coffee (& Photo With I love You So Much Mural)

It’s always fun to find local coffee shops, but for the full Austin experience you have to go Jo’s Coffee.

This is an Austin-only coffee shop that opened up in 1999. The original location is on South Congress Av. (where you’ll also find the famous Austin I love you so much mural).

But, if yo don’t want to go that far, you can also go to their downtown location on 2nd Street.

They have breakfast burritos to order with your morning coffee. But their specialty drink is the Iced Turbo that you have to try!

16. Go For Gaiwan Tea Experience At West China Tea Co.

One of the most unique things to do in Austin is to go for a tea experience at the West China Tea House. Even if you aren’t a huge tea fan, I think everyone can enjoy this experience.

It’s a bit further outside the downtown area, but it’s well worth worth the drive.

This is a small tea shop serving traditional style Chinese tea, I’m talking gong fu cha. This is when you have a small teapot and multiple infusions. I’ve written about the process here.

But you don’t have to know any of that for your visit. If you sit at the tea bar (which which is what I suggest), then you’ll have someone serving you tea.

It’s a great way to meet locals, connect with others, and try a bunch of different teas!

17. See A View Of Austin At Butler Metro Park

If you’re still looking for more views of the Austin city skyline, a popular spot is Butler Metro Park. You can actually bike here from the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk, along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail.

Make sure to go the top of the hill for the full view of Austin!

18. Explore & Swim At Barton Springs

One of the things I love about Austin Texas are the outdoor activities so close to the city centre. If you’re interested a city escape to nature, a very popular spot is Barton Springs Park.

In the summer, there’s a large pool filled with natural spring water that you can swim in. But, if it’s closed when you’re visiting, it’s still worth coming here.

There’s a beautiful walking trail which brings you to yet another glorious view of Downtown Austin – Lou Neff Point.

If you’re still biking, you can also reach the lookout by following the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail.

19. McKinney Falls State Park

For a less of a touristy spot, head to McKinney Falls State Park for a wonderful escape to nature! They have trails, waterfall views, swimming and more!

20. Tour Texas University Campus 

Texas University Austin is the main campus of Texas University. This is where the Texas Longhorns play (you can see the stadium or maybe even go to a game while you’re there!?)

The campus is a nice to drive through or even walk around on a nice day!

I love the Guadalupe street near the campus (just after 24th street). It’s a short block with a few shops and restaurants. We found an amazing cafe here as well for a quick coffee break called Lucky Lab Coffee.

21. Greetings From Austin Mural

No visit to Austin is complete without seeing the Greetings from Austin mural.

However, it’s even further past Jo’s Coffee and there is NOTHING else in the area. So I would only recommend coming here if you have a car and it can be a quick drive by for a photo op!

If you don’t have a car, an easier mural to see in downtown Austin is the Peace Love Austin mural on 2nd Street.

Things To Do In Austin At Night

There’s no denying that Austin is known for it’s night life (like 6th Street!).

Here are some more things to do in Austin at night.

22. Have A Laugh At Esther Follies – Things To Do In Austin At Night

Esther Follies is a one of a kind comedy club in downtown Austin, on none other than 6th Street! It has it all, from comedy, to music, to magic all in one show!

They have shows Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday nights. See what’s performing when you’re in town here.

23. Grab A Bite With Live Music On Rainey Street

As I mentioned, Rainy street is another main district in downtown Austin.

Although it’s really just a few blocks of restaurants rather than an entire district…

It’s not much during the day, so you’ll definitely want to swing by at night. It’s a good place to come for dinner with live music. And, we all know that Austin is all about the live music!

A top spot to visit is Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden for the most choices of German beers on tap in Texas!

24. Go To A Speakeasy In Downtown Austin

The speakeasy scene is real in downtown Austin. Although prohibition ended decades ago, this trend is making a comeback in Austin!

If you want to go to a classic speakeasy, try and find the password for the Floppy Disk Repair store… yup! That’s a bar on the inside! Only problem? They change the password EVERY NIGHT!

If you can’t get in, try one of these other Speakeasies in Austin at night.

25. Enjoy Cider & Arcade Games At Cidercade

One of the most unique things to do in Austin at night is to go to Cidercade – for cider, and arcade games (get it!?). They make their own cider and all the games are set to free play – all you have to do is pay a cover charge to get in.

But I haven’t even told you the best part yet!

First, the food is actually pretty good (I recommend getting a pizza and you have to try the smoked wings!).

Then, go outside for the best view of Austin skyline at night.

Bonus! Go On A Day Trip To San Antonio

If you’ve run out of things to do in downtown Austin, you can also spend the day in San Antonio.

San Antonio is about an hour and a half drive from Austin and is well worth spending the day here. Read my guide for a day trip from Austin to San Antonio.

Austin Hotel Recommendations – Need A Place To Stay?

Hotels in Austin are EXPENSIVE! There are a lot of options and a lot of different areas you can stay in so it can also become very overwhelming to find the right place. 

We ended up at the Fairmont Austin because we found a reasonable deal and we liked the location. Also… rooftop pool… need I even say more!? See room rates and availability here. 

If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option with an apartment style hotel, we were considering Mint House At the Hatchery. But you do sacrifice location a bit to stay here (alternatively, they also have a Mint House on South Congress). They offer reasonably priced, modern and updated style apartments, and a more local experience to your stay. See room rates and availability here.

For a brand name hotel, we were also considering the Homewood Suites in the Rainy Street Historic District. Homewood Suites offers larger rooms with a full kitchen and even has breakfast included! See room rates and availability here.

For more hotels in Austin Texas, click here.

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Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API