Austin surprised us. We flew in expecting good barbecue and live music, and we left already planning the next trip, because this city stacks free swimming holes, a million plus bats, and some of the best food in Texas into one very walkable, very friendly package. We based ourselves downtown, spent our days bouncing between the lake and the food, and put together this list of the ten things we think every first timer should do. Prices and details below are current as of 2026, and where something costs money we say exactly how much.
Related: Staying at Austin Marriott Downtown and Dining at Corrine in Downtown Austin.
1. Watch the Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Every evening from spring through fall, the largest urban bat colony in North America pours out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge, and watching it costs nothing. Roughly 1.5 million Mexican free tailed bats stream over Lady Bird Lake in long smoky ribbons, usually around sunset, and the whole city seems to pause for it. The season runs March through October, with late July through September the peak, when the summer pups join the flight. Grab a spot on the bridge railing or the hike and bike trail on the southeast bank an hour before sunset, or paddle under the bridge in a kayak for the full surround sound version. It is free, it is wild, and it is the single most Austin thing you can do.
2. Swim at Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs is a three acre (1.2 hectare) spring fed pool in the middle of Zilker Park where the water holds 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (20 to 21 Celsius) every single day of the year. Summer or winter, it is the city’s reset button. Admission for out of town adults runs $9, residents pay $5, and kids come in for a few dollars. The pool opens early and closes late, with a Thursday cleaning closure during the day, so check hours before you build your morning around it. Go early: the light is soft, the crowd is thin, and a cold plunge before breakfast tacos is a routine we adopted immediately.
3. Tour the Texas State Capitol
The Texas State Capitol is taller than the U.S. Capitol, unmistakably pink granite, and completely free to visit, with free guided tours that run daily. The grounds are shaded and walkable, the rotunda is worth craning your neck for, and the whole stop takes about an hour. It sits at the top of Congress Avenue, an easy walk from downtown hotels, and pairs naturally with lunch on the way back.
4. Paddle Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake is the calm stretch of the Colorado River that curls through downtown, and getting on the water changes how you see the city. Kayak and paddleboard rentals along the shore run about $18 to $20 per hour, and the skyline view from mid lake is the best free postcard in town. If you would rather stay dry, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail loops the lake for 10 miles (16 km) of shaded, flat walking and running with skyline views most of the way.
5. Eat Real Texas Barbecue
You cannot leave without brisket, and Austin gives you two very different paths. The famous line is Franklin Barbecue, where people queue mid morning for brisket that sells out; treat the wait as part of the experience and make friends in line. The move we recommend to first timers with limited time is Interstellar BBQ in the northwest part of town, where the peach tea glazed pork belly and the scratch sides earn every mile of the drive. Either way, order the brisket moist, add a sausage link, and do not skip the banana pudding if it is on the board.
6. Walk South Congress
South Congress Avenue, SoCo to everyone local, is the postcard strip: vintage shops, boot stores where you can lose an hour easily, murals for the camera roll, and food at every price. Walk it north to south in the late afternoon, catch the Capitol view looking back down the avenue, then stay for dinner and a show at the Continental Club, a live music institution that has been going since 1955. Window shopping is free, and people watching is better than most paid attractions.
7. Catch Live Music on Sixth Street and Rainey Street
Austin calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, and it backs the claim nightly. Historic Sixth Street packs dozens of venues into a few blocks downtown, while Rainey Street trades neon for bungalows turned bars with porches and food trucks. Cover charges at most spots are modest or free, so you can wander until a doorway sounds right. Our approach: start on Rainey while the sun is up, then drift toward Sixth as the night builds.
8. Climb Mount Bonnell
Mount Bonnell is the classic Austin overlook: 775 feet (236 m) above the Colorado River, reached by a short stone staircase of about a hundred steps, with sweeping views over Lake Austin and the hills to the west. It is free, parking is free, and sunset is the popular hour for a reason. Bring water in summer, because Texas heat does not respect short hikes.
9. Spend a Slow Morning in Zilker Park
Zilker Metropolitan Park is Austin’s 350 acre (142 hectare) backyard, and entrance is free, with parking around $3 to $5 on weekends. It connects to Barton Springs, the botanical garden, and the lake trail, so it works as the hub of an entire outdoor day. Pack a blanket, grab breakfast tacos on the way, and let the kids run the great lawn while the skyline sits on the horizon like a screensaver.
10. Go Full Sugar at The Domain and the Museum of Ice Cream
When the afternoon heat peaks, head north to The Domain, Austin’s open air shopping district, where the pink soaked Museum of Ice Cream serves unlimited scoops across a dozen playful installations, including the famous sprinkle pool. Tickets run roughly $29 to $40 depending on the day, kids two and under are free, and it is closed early in the week, so check the calendar before you drive up. It is unapologetically silly, and with keiki in tow it lands as one of the easiest wins of the trip.
Where We Stayed and Ate Downtown
We made the Austin Marriott Downtown our base, and the location earned it: walking distance to Rainey Street, the lake trail, and the bridge bats. Dinner at Corrine around the corner was one of the best meals of the trip. Both get their own full reviews if you want the details before you book.
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