Wondering what to do in Austin, Texas? During our trip, we explored some of the city’s best spots—from scenic hikes and unique murals to mouthwatering BBQ and lively nightlife. Here’s my personal take on the top places we visited in Austin and why they’re worth checking out.
🌄 Hikes
Mount Bonnell
A quick uphill hike that gives you options: take the stairs or a slightly rocky trail. The payoff? Gorgeous river views and massive, fancy homes to admire from the top. It’s short but sweet—and totally worth it.
Pennybacker Bridge Overlook
If you’re into scenic views, this one’s a must. The hike is short but a little intense—expect to climb up some large rocks. But the view of the bridge and river, especially at sunrise or sunset, is absolutely stunning.
Bull Creek Park
This spot was honestly one of my favorite places in Austin! The water is crystal clear, there’s plenty of shade to relax in, picnic tables t and even a little natural water slide that makes it extra fun. It’s the perfect place to cool off on a hot Texas day. Just a heads-up—make sure it’s rained recently, because if not, the water levels can get pretty low. Still, it felt like such a peaceful, refreshing escape after a busy day of exploring.
Lady Bird Lake
A great mix of nature and city vibes. The park has multiple trails (3, 4, 5, 7, and even 10-mile options!) and is always buzzing with runners, bikers, walkers, and cute dogs. It’s a lovely spot to move your body or just stroll and enjoy the view.
🎨 Murals & More
Austin Murals
If you love art—or just want some cute Instagram photos—make time for mural-spotting! Austin has murals everywhere, from historical to quirky and funny. No matter your style, there’s a mural here for you.
South Congress
Explore fun shops, mural photo ops, and don’t miss the South Congress Bridge—home to the largest urban bat colony in the world! You can watch the bats emerge at sunset from a kayak, boat tour, or right on the bridge. Pro tip: Arrive about 30 minutes early to grab a good spot. The bats fly out in waves for 30–45 minutes, and it’s such a cool experience!
🍖 Food
BBQ in Austin
You can’t go to Texas without trying some real BBQ! Just a heads up—many BBQ joints are only open certain days and often run out of meat. Plan ahead and build wait time into your itinerary. If you only try one place, let it be…
Leroy and Lewis BBQ
Hands down, the best bang for your buck. Totally worth the wait, especially if you can swing a weekday visit. Everything we had was amazing—perfectly smoked meats, delicious sides made with love, and the frozen sangria? Chef’s kiss. This spot is a must.
Franklin BBQ
Franklin BBQ is a true legend in the BBQ world, and honestly—it lives up to the hype. Food sells out pretty early, so my best tip is to get in line as soon as they open. My husband and I actually went straight from the airport to Franklin, luggage and all, because we didn’t want to miss it. We ended up waiting about an hour and a half, but it gave us time to soak in the experience and chat with other excited BBQ lovers. When we finally got our food, we ordered a little bit of everything. The sides weren’t anything special in my opinion, but let’s be real—you come here for the meat, and it did not disappoint. Juicy, smoky, melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Este
If you’re into authentic Mexican cuisine (not Tex-Mex!), Este is a must. The dishes are meant for sharing, which I was hesitant about at first—but it ended up being such a fun way to try multiple items. The pork tacos were next-level. Also: DO NOT skip dessert! We split a carrot cake with guava glaze and it was literally the best dessert I’ve ever had. Not exaggerating.
🍸 Drinks & Nightlife
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a speakeasy lover’s dream. This reservation-only bar is moody, intimate, and totally unique. The drinks are all original creations by the staff, and they’re unlike anything I’ve tried before. We loved it so much, we went two nights in a row! Themes rotate—while we were there, it was Cowboys vs. Aliens. So fun! The staff and owners take the time to make the drinks for each theme and come up with a menu that also walks you though an on theme story.
Rainey Street
Lined with quirky bars for every vibe—live music, mechanical bulls, dancing—you name it. Heads up: I heard the further east you go, the sketchier it gets. We stuck to the west side and had a blast. Be sure to check out the Driskill Hotel Bar for a fancier experience, or just walk through the hotel and soak in the grandeur.
West 4th Street
Looking to dance? This area has a fun selection of LGBTQ+ bars. Start at Rain and let the night unfold. This area has a variety of bars lined down both sides of the street with live music, dancing, country to jungle themes. It’s hard not to find something for everyone.
🛍️ Souvenirs & Unique Stops
Atown
We collect magnets from all our trips, but in Austin, most shops only had stickers—until we found Atown! This gift shop has everything: magnets, ornaments, socks, funny dish towels, jewelry, pet toys—you name it. It was hard not to buy it all!
Slick Dick’s Wild Ride
Perfect for a bachelorette party—or if you just want to have some hilarious fun like I did (yes, I dragged my husband with me). Inside this cheeky one-room experience, you’ll find sexy games, a stripper pole, and Marvin—the mechanical penis. Yep, you read that right. Hop on for a wild ride!
🍹 Breweries & Brunch
Meanwhile Brewing
If the weather’s nice, don’t miss this gorgeous outdoor brewery. There’s plenty of shade, picnic tables, and good vibes all around. My husband loved the beer selection, and I was thrilled with their cider, wine, and cocktail options—especially the Froze!
One note: it was overrun with kids when we went, so keep that in mind. That said, we still had such a great time, we came back again!
Another Broken Egg Cafe
After watching Princess and the Frog, I’d always wanted to try a beignet—and now I’m officially no longer a beignet virgin! This spot has all the brunchy goodness: mimosas, breakfast classics, and heavenly beignets. If you’re going on a Sunday, remember Austin doesn’t serve alcohol before 10 a.m.—learned that the hard way!