Austin, live music capital
A stage on every block, brisket smoked for hours and a spring-fed pool right in town: the Texas capital moves to its own beat.
Find a hotel for your Austin getaway
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Austin hotels this weekend
Options for 3 nights and 2 adults with rates that refresh automatically.
Neighborhoods and plans that define Austin
SoCo boutiques, murals, lines for the best brisket and patios with live music: here's how the city breaks down.
- Mar–MayBest weather (also Oct–Nov)
- MarchSXSW: music, film and tech
- OctoberACL Fest and Formula 1 at COTA
- ≈68 °FBarton Springs water, year-round
Austin in pictures
From the smoker to the lake, from SoCo's most photographed mural to the rivers of the Hill Country.
- Texas barbecue
- Afternoons at Barton Springs
- Congress Avenue Bridge
- Evenings by the lake
- Mexican flavors in Austin
- Staying downtown
- A South Congress classic
- Pedernales River, Hill Country
Austin FAQ
Seasons, festivals, where to sleep and how to get around the Texas capital.
When is the best time to visit Austin?
Spring (March to May) and fall (October and November) bring the nicest weather and the busiest calendar. Summer is very hot, often topping 95 °F, but it's prime time for the bats and for swimming at Barton Springs. Winter is mostly mild, with the odd cold front.
When are Austin's big events?
SXSW takes place in March; Austin City Limits Music Festival fills two October weekends in Zilker Park, and the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix runs in October at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). Hotels spike in price and sell out around those dates, so book months ahead.
Which airport do I use, and how far is downtown?
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is about 8 miles southeast of downtown, usually a 15 to 20 minute drive. COTA sits on the same side of town. San Antonio is roughly an hour and a half away by road.
Which neighborhood should I stay in?
Downtown is the most practical for concerts, Sixth Street and Rainey Street. South Congress has hotels with more character plus shops and restaurants on foot. East Austin is great for food and nightlife, and if you're headed to COTA or the Moody Center, pick a hotel based on the venue to cut down on transfers.
What's the Congress Avenue Bridge bat show?
The bridge shelters one of the largest urban bat colonies in North America, about a million and a half Mexican free-tailed bats. From spring through fall they stream out at sunset in a cloud you can watch from the bridge, the banks of Lady Bird Lake or a boat tour.
What should I eat in Austin?
Smoked brisket and ribs at the East Austin barbecue joints, where lines start early; breakfast tacos, a local staple; and queso, the Tex-Mex melted cheese dip. Food trucks are all over town.
Do I need a car in Austin?
Downtown, SoCo and Rainey Street are easy on foot, by bike share or with ride-hailing apps. For the Hill Country, wineries or COTA, a car helps. Festival days bring street closures and special shuttles, so plan your transfers ahead.
What documents do I need if I'm traveling from Mexico?
A valid passport and a US visa. If you drive in, you'll also need an I-94 permit, since Austin lies beyond the border zone; you can apply online before crossing.
Is Austin good for a trip with kids?
Yes. Zilker Park, Barton Springs, kayaking or paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake, the Texas Capitol and the Thinkery children's museum all work for families. For concerts and festivals, check each event's age policy.
Keep your hotel, flights and tickets for your Austin weekend on your phone with the Ticketón app.
