Austin is known for its eclectic vibe, friendly locals, good food, a plethora of outdoor activities, and a great music scene that lives up to the hype, making it easily one of the best cities to visit in Texas.
It is no surprise that the capital of Texas is a beloved city by all those who visit!
Whether you are looking for a fun girls’ weekend trip or a romantic getaway, Austin has you covered.
Here is your ultimate three-day itinerary and guide to visiting Austin, Texas!
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Aiden By Best Western @ Austin City Hotel in South Austin. The rooms were nice and spacious with funky wallpaper (keeping true to Austin’s quirky vibe), service was great, parking was free, and the king sized cloud they had for a bed was AMAZING.
I wouldn’t consider the location of this hotel an ideal walking distance to the main attractions in the city, unless you’re prepared to walk very far!
However, it’s right off the main freeway in a very convenient location, making it very easy to get to South Congress and downtown by car. It took us about 10 minutes to get to South Congress, Downtown Austin and Lady Bird Lake.
A few other hotel options:
- Budget: La Quinta Inns & Suites (Various locations around Austin)
- Mid-Range: Hotel Indigo Austin (Downtown)
- Luxury: South Congress Hotel (Boutique hotel on South Congress)
Getting Around Austin
Downtown Austin is very walkable and so is South Congress, but if you want to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, I’d recommend having a car to get around.
Just be prepared for a lot of traffic. Remember the opening traffic scene in the movie “Office Space”? Well, that was in Austin!
Still, if you only have a weekend in Austin, I personally recommend having a car to get around the city. Just keep in mind that parking can sometimes be difficult and some hotels charge crazy overnight parking fees.
If you do decide to walk it, it’s doable and would be very easy to use Uber or Lyft in the area. There is also a bus line, but I think it would take way too long to get to places, even without all the traffic.
Best Time to Visit Austin
Summers in Austin are extremely hot, with temperatures rising toward the triple-digits!
Spring is comfortable with warm temperatures.
Fall temperatures; are nice, in the mid-70s. Winters will still be sunny but with cold mornings and evenings.
Planning to visit in the summer? Before you go, check out my guide on what to pack for a summer weekend trip.
Day 1
After an afternoon check-in at your hotel, drop your bags off and head over to South Congress Ave, known as SoCo, for lunch and exploring!
Tip: For the purpose of this itinerary, park your car in the garage behind the restaurant “Güero’s Taco Bar.”
Grab Lunch
From the parking garage, walk across the street to Home Slice Pizza for lunch. This New York-style pizza joint will not disappoint.
Tip: while you wait for your table to be ready, take pictures of Mr. Rogers and Willie Nelson murals nearby.
Mr. Rogers is on the side of More Home Slice Pizza at 1421 S. Congress Ave.
Willie Nelson’s mural is on the side of STAG Provisions for Men store at 100-130 E Elizabeth St.
Fuel up on Coffee
Hopefully, you saved some room after lunch for some coffee. Once you exit Home Slice Pizza, make a right and walk over to Jo’s Coffee, and fuel up on coffee before making your way through all the quirky shops on SoCo.
A few favorites are the Turbo Iced Coffee and the Honey Lavender Iced Coffee.
Tip: Don’t miss taking a picture with the “I Love You So Much” mural on the side of the building.
Explore South Congress
With coffee in hand, walk over to the Austin Motel for a picture of the Austin Motel sign.
Then, start shopping or window shopping in all the shops in SoCo. You will find funky costume stores, candy stores, antique shops and so much more. Even if you’re only spending a weekend in Austin, you can see a lot in a few hours.
Tip: For another mural photo op, while still on South Congress Ave, make a right on W Annie Street and walk over to “Greetings from Austin” postcard mural on 1720 S 1st St. It’s only about a 6 minute walk from there.
Out for Dinner
After snapping your perfect picture at the mural, you can walk back toward Torchy’s Tacos for dinner if you’re in the mood for Tex-Mex.
In my humble opinion, the tacos were just alright.
But the queso dip (to quote my hubby) “was fire!” It was delicious!
This place is an Austin institution and the locals are always raving about it.
See a Bat Show
If you’re visiting March to September, walk back to pick up your car and head over to Congress Ave Bridge to watch the bats emerge from under the bridge!
The bats are estimated to come out 30-60 minutes before sunset, but try to get there earlier to allow time to find parking and a spot to view the bats.
It seems pretty strange, but it’s totally worth it!
Tip: Bring a blanket or folding chair and arrive early to find a good spot on the grass on the southeast corner of Congress Bridge and Lady Bird Lake.
Day 2
Breakfast Tacos
Start your day super early and go to the Veracruz All Natural food truck for breakfast tacos and agua frescas! This place gets packed fast, so wake up a little earlier today. I promise it will be worth it!
The star of the show here is definitely the “Migas” Taco which contains egg, tortilla chips, tomato, onion, cilantro, Monterey Jack cheese and avocado.
For drinks, try the watermelon agua fresca. You can thank me later! :)
Kayak on Lady Bird Lake
After an incredible breakfast, it’s now time to get on the water for a few hours. Being outdoors is absolutely essential to any weekend in Austin!
Another reason to wake up early is that lines for rentals on the water can be quite long! So the earlier you arrive, the better!
Many companies rent kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. We used the company Rowing Dock and had a lovely time. The staff is very friendly and guides you on where to go.
Tip: Bring your own dry bag to keep your valuables water-free or rent one when you get there.
Just do not leave your valuables in your car!
Lunch
This weekend in Austin itinerary wouldn’t be complete without some Texan barbecue on the agenda! After working up an appetite from all the water activities you did, go to Terry Black’s BBQ nearby for lunch- before heading back to the hotel to shower.
Tip: For drinks, order the black margarita with a red salt rim. And for dessert, order the cornbread.
An Evening Concert
There are many live music venues all over Austin. After all, the city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
Check out what music concerts are happening in the area when you’re there and make plans to catch a show!
Go Bar Hopping on Rainey Street
After a concert, head over to Rainey street to check out the nightlife. It’s a little too wild for me, but you must see it at least once. Walk down the street and go into all the cute bungalow homes turned into bars.
Tip: For delicious cocktails in a laid-back setting, check out Half Step on Rainey Street.
Don’t order from their basic menu, ask the bartender to make you a special creation!
Dinner or Late Night Snack
Take your pick of any of the food trucks parked on Rainey street.
If pizza is what you crave, I recommend the food truck “Via 313” for Detroit-style pizza (96 Rainey St Austin, TX, 78701).
Day 3
Have Brunch
After checking out of the hotel, head over to any of the popular Snooze an A.M. Eatery locations for a delicious brunch and order the pineapple upside-down pancakes!
They play awesome music and sometimes the staff wear pajamas on special occasions; it’s a very fun restaurant!
Pro Tip: to avoid waiting in line for hours, join the wait-list online and arrive at your estimated seating time. You’re welcome.
Tour the State Capitol
You can’t leave Austin without seeing the Texas Capitol and grounds. Tour guides are available during certain hours or you can do a self-guided tour.
Try to visit when the Cinematic Symphony is performing on the ground floor in the Rotunda. You can check The Capitol Events Calendar online before you go.
Tip: The day we visited, we found free parking in the parking garage at 1201 San Jacinto.
Visit UT
Drive around the University of Texas (UT) campus and check out the historic buildings and sculptures throughout the campus.
If it’s game day, you will see a lot of people wearing orange and white. Hook ‘em ‘Horns!
Lunch
For your last meal, head over to Juan in a Million for a traditional Mexican lunch.
Tip: Get there before their 3 pm closing time and order the enchiladas with salsa verde and a horchata drink
Support Keeping Austin Weird!
Before heading back home stop at a local shop to support local businesses, its what keeps Austin weird!
So, there you have it! My ultimate Weekend in Austin itinerary and guide! Is there anything you would add to my Weekend in Austin Itinerary? Leave it in the comments below :)
Leave a Reply