48 Hours in Austin, Texas

Last Updated on January 23, 2024

During my first Austin trip, I didn’t really know what to expect. My plan was to spend a month in the capital of Texas, hoping this would give me a good amount of time to explore the city whose slogan is ‘Keep Austin Weird’. Even though this slogan had me suspect that I’d love the city, I had no idea just how much I’d fall for Austin.

With dozens of live music venues, excellent craft beer, countless food trucks, plenty of outdoors activities, especially along the river, and an overall laid-back attitude, the city won me over during my month there.

Because I had the advantage of being able to spend four full weeks there, I took my time to explore every nook and cranny of the city, but I know that most people spend only a weekend in Austin. And while I’ve already shared 33 Things I Love About Austin, I wanted to give you a more structured overview of how to spend 48 hours in Austin. And while this article outlines a weekend in Austin, the itinerary also works on weekdays.

Tip: If you’re planning to visit Austin for the weekend from Dallas, the bus from Dallas to Austin is only $16.99!

My Weekend In Austin Itinerary

Here is my perfect weekend in Austin for you – including places to eat and drink, what to do and what to see on a first-time Austin trip:

Friday, 2pm: Welcome to Austin

Luckily, nearly all Austin hotels are conveniently located downtown, which makes it easy to explore the city on foot. If you’re not hugely into walking, I recommend you take advantage of Austin’s easy-to-use bike sharing system. The shared bikes, called B-Cycle, have a great ‘Weekender Pass’, which gives you three full days access to the bikes for only $19.49 and includes an unlimited number of free rides up to 60 minutes (a 24-hour pass is $12). The best way to use the B-cycles is to download the free app – that way you have an overview of all available stations around town.

There are also several electric scooter companies in Austin, if you prefer those over a bicycle. You can rent them from Bird, Lyft, Lime or Spin. The cost is usually $1 to unlock and then around 15 cents a minute (prices may vary slightly). I recommend downloading several apps so that you have options.

Start with a ride around Downtown to get your bearings: 6^th Avenue is the main drag, especially at night, lined with cool (and some cheesy) bars and restaurants. Congress Avenue runs from the State Capitol all the way down to the Colorado River. Once you get to the river, follow the bike path alongside it.

If you turn left, you can ride all the way to Ladybird Lake and beyond (go either until Frontage Road Bridge or Pleasant Valley Road Bridge, cross the bridge and circle back to Congress Avenue Bridge). If you turn right, you will get to Zilker Park and get superb views over the Downtown skyline. Stop at Doug Sahm Hill in Butler Park (on the other side of the river) for the best skyline views.

If you don’t want to rent a bike or take an electric scooter, you can easily walk the same route, it will just take you a little longer. A good walk would be across the Congress Avenue Bridge, turning left on Roy and Ann Butler Hike & Bike Trail, walking through Butler Park, crossing the river via the Lamar Street Pedestrian Bridge, and walking back to where you started on the north side of the river.

Food trucks in Austin

Reward yourself for your walk or cycle tour with your first taste of Austin’s famous food truck scene. I recommend Valentina’s TexMex BBQ (11500 Manchaca Road), Tommy Want Wingy, and Chi’lantro (Asian-fusion comfort food; 823 Congress Ave).

If you have a B-cycle or a car, venture a little further and try one of the tasty food trucks on Austin’s East Side, for example East Side King Thai Kun (1816 E 6th St), Micklethwait Craft Meats (BBQ meats; 1309 Rosewood Av), or The Peached Tortilla (banh mi tacos & other Asian-fusion fare; 5520 Burnet Rd #100).

Alternatively, head to the food truck park on S 1^st Street and W Live Oak Street, where you find Venezuelan, Indian, Baja Mexican & Japanese Fusion, and desserts. Vegans will love Arlo’s (900 Red River Street).

5pm: A Stroll along South Congress

It is almost time to go out and explore Austin’s nightlife – start with a stroll over S Congress Ave Bridge, which connects Downtown with SoCo, short for South Congress, where you will find a number of independent shops, restaurants and bars, and some fantastic old-fashioned neon signs.

SoCo is the neighborhood to find some of Austin’s most eclectic shops, like Uncommon Objects, Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Allens Boots (with over 4,000 boots, definitely peek inside!), Monkey See Monkey Do, and the Yard Dog gallery. If you have a sweet tooth, treat yourself to a cupcake at the Hey Cupcake food truck, to some ice cream at the famous Amy’s Ice Cream shop or stock up on candy at the epic Big Top Candy Shop.

There are some great murals down here as well – look out for the Willie Nelson mural and the I Love You So Much graffiti. Güero’s Taco Bar is a good place for a sundowner margarita, and June’s is a wine bar with a nice patio.

Make sure to walk back towards Congress Bridge in time for sunset, because that’s when – between March and October – Austin’s most unique and free show begins: the flight of the bats.

7 – 8pm: The Flight of the Bats

Since 1980, Mexican free-tailed bats have made their homes in the concrete crevasses of the bridge, and over 1 million bats fly out of there at sunset every night. It’s a rare spectacle to see, especially considering you’re right in the heart of a big city. In fact, this bat colony is the largest urban bat colony in the world! You can either watch the flight of the bats from the top of the bridge or from a big grassy spot near the river below. Be warned: This space fills up quickly. Witnessing this incredible natural phenomenon was one of the highlights of my Austin trip.

9pm: Bar-hopping along Historic Rainey Street

Just north of Congress Ave Bridge is Rainey Street, a street lined with historic bungalows that are now home to some of Austin’s trendiest bars.

You can either opt for a food truck dinner – there are several on Rainey Street, for example: the tasty Via 313 Pizza Truck behind Craft Pride – or you could do a fancy dinner just around the corner from Rainey Street, at what is one of the hottest tickets in town these days: Geraldine’s, a contemporary gourmet restaurant inside the fabulous Hotel Van Zandt. If you want to treat yourself to a fancy dinner during your 48 hours in Austin, Geraldine’s is the perfect spot. Make sure to reserve in advance.

End your first night in Austin by bar hopping until you can’t keep your eyes open anymore. Places worth stopping at are Banger’s Beer Garden (with over 100 beers on tap), and the Container Bar, which is made out of shipping containers (2024 update: now sadly demolished to make room for a highrise).

Saturday, 9am: Brunch in Austin

There are several excellent brunch spots in Austin, but my favorite is 24 Diner (600 N Lamar) which serves solid portions of all your brunch favorites and special treats like their sweet potato hash, or a waffle sandwich. Mimosas are only $3.95 and brunch cocktails start at $7. If you have to wait in line (which you most likely will, especially if you’re spending a weekend in Austin instead of visiting on a weekday), head to Waterloo Records a couple of doors down to check out some new releases. Waterloo is a great old fashioned vinyl store, which are hard to find these days (but don’t be surprised to see CDs here, too).

If you’re a Whole Foods fanatic, you have to check out the Whole Foods flagship store after breakfast, which is located just across the street from 24 Diner. The 80,000 sq. ft market is more than just your regular Whole Foods – there’s a bar, a wine bar, an eatery, even a makeup counter. Plus a bunch of products that you can only get here.

11am: Street Art Heaven in Downtown Austin

Hope Outdoor Gallery is just a couple of blocks from 24 Diner and is a vast outdoor graffiti park – a must-see for street art lovers! The colorful walls are the remainder of an abandoned building, and street artists are allowed to leave their mark here. It is basically an ever-changing outdoor gallery, and you’ll probably be able to see some artists at work during your visit. If you climb all the way up to the top of the hill (the building ruins sit on the side of a hill) you also get some nice views over Austin. For street art lovers, this is a must-visit spot an Austin trip!

2024: Another site in Austin that was demolished to make room for a fancy new condo building. I am keeping HOPE in this article to commemorate this amazing graffiti project.

If you’re not into street art, head to the small, yet beautiful Umlauf Sculpture Park ($7 admission) near Zilker Park instead.

1pm: Food Truck Lunch in Austin

After your filling brunch, you probably won’t be all that hungry yet, but there’s always room for a small snack from a food truck or for a couple of Torchy’s Tacos. I’ve already given you some food truck recommendations, but for more ideas check out 20 Essential Austin Food Trucks and 25 Can’t Miss Food Trucks In Austin.

3pm: Time for Culture in Austin!

Austin has a number of places to get your culture nerd on: there are several top-notch museums (Blanton Museum Of Art, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, The Contemporary Austin, Mexic-Arte Museum) – pick the one that best fits your personal interests. The Guardian has a great overview of the 10 best museums in Austin, my personal favorites were the art museums. If you’re not spending the weekend in Austin, but visiting the city during the week, make sure to look up opening times.

And then there’s also the Texas State Capitol, an imposing red granite building that is only second in total size to the National Capitol in DC (it is even 15 feet taller than the one in DC!), which can be visited in a free half-hour guided tour (note that the last tours on Saturdays start at 3.30pm).

6pm: BBQ Dinner in Austin

Austin is famous for its BBQ scene and you have to try at least one barbecue joint on a Austin trip. Franklin’s (900 E 11th St) is the most famous one, but the notoriously long lines there can make it difficult to fit it into a short visit, so here are some alternatives: La Barbecue (1906 E Cesar Chavez St), Terry Black’s BBQ (1003 Barton Springs Rd); Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew (6610 N Lamar Blvd) and Lamberts Barbeque (6610 North Lamar Boulevard).

8pm: Sunset Drinks in Austin

For sunset drinks, head up to one of the rooftops. There are quite a few rooftop bars to choose from, most of them are atop hotels. Worth visiting are:

La Piscina (on the 5th floor of the Proper Hotel, 600 W 2nd Street) – Tex-Mex and margaritas
Azul Rooftop – one of Austin’s best rooftops, on the 20th floor of The Westin hotel. There’s a pool, there are cabanas, there are craft cocktails.
77 Degrees – 3-story rooftop on top of The Rose Room (11500 Rock Rose Ave) with a clubby vibe
Edge Rooftop – fancy rooftop bar with excellent cocktails atop the Marriott Hotel (110 E 2nd Street)
Maggie Mae’s (right in the center of the 6th Street entertainment area at 323 E 6th St) – live music, a bar, courtyard, and buzzing rooftop

9pm: Live Music in Austin

You can’t visit Austin without getting a taste of its wonderful live music scene. Austin has something for everyone – country, rock, jazz or blues – whatever you’re into, pick up a TimeOut and see who is playing where on the weekend you are in town. If you are spending the weekend in Austin, you’ll find live music in all of the following venues, if you’re visiting during the week, check their websites to see if there’s live music on the day(s) you’re visiting.

The Continental Club on South Congress is one of the most popular and oldest venues, Antone’s is best for blues, and The Broken Spoke is great for two-step, The White Horse for country and then there’s the Red River Music District with venues like Stubb’s, Mohawk and Cheer Up Charlie’s.

Note: If you want to take a free Texas two-step dance class at the Broken Spoke, skip the sunset drinks and head to the Broken Spoke around 8pm. Lessons take place Wednesdays to Saturdays from 8pm to 9pm, but you should get there by 7.30pm to sign up.

11pm: Drinks at a Speakeasy

If you aren’t tired yet, hit up one of Austin’s excellent speakeasy bars. The Midnight Cowboy, right on 6^th Street, is probably the most popular one, and getting inside without a reservation is impossible (reserve a table online). A solid and less crowded alternative is Garage which is located in a parking garage and has a large selection of delectable cocktails.

Sunday, 9am: Texas-style Breakfast

Austin is known for its Tex-Mex cuisine and breakfast tacos. The more tacos you can fit in your Austin itinerary, the better! For some of Austin’s best breakfast tacos, head to El Primo (2011 S 1st St); Veracruz All Natural (several locations), Juan in a million (2300 E Cesar Chavez St), Pueblo Viejo (several locations) or Taqueria Mi Trailita (5301 Manor Rd).

If you’re more in the mood for a full-on Tex-Mex breakfast, head to Curra’s Grill (614 E Oltorf St, Austin) for Huevos Curras (eggs over carne asada), chorizo con huevo and other scrumptious Mexican-inspired breakfasts, plus a number of creative Tex-Mex style cocktails. Trudy’s Texas Star (various locations) is another solid option for migas, chilaquiles, huevos motulenos or other Tex-Mex breakfasts. Drinks are only $2.50 until noon and $4.50 after that (until 4pm).

Bouldin Creek Café (1900 S 1st St) is the best vegetarian restaurant for breakfast.

11am: Kayaking on the Colorado River

After your brunch feast, it is time to burn some calories. If you’ve opted for a B-Cycle bike pass, take a bike and head to the river, where you can rent kayaks at Rowing Dock ($20 per hour or $45 for the entire day). It is now time to get out on the river, and an hour kayaking can bring you all the way to Lady Bird Lake (west) or to Zilker Park (east).

If kayaking is not cool enough for you, rent a stand-up paddle board at SUP ATX and paddle around Ladybird Lake ($15 per hour on weekdays, $20 per hour on weekends).

Going out on the river was one of my favorite activities in Austin, and the views over Downtown from the river were wonderful. If you head to Ladybird Lake, moving away from the Downtown buildings, you’ll notice how green Austin really is.

12pm: A Walk in the Park/Pool Time!

Finish your visit with a walk through Zilker Park, which, at 351-acres, is one of the biggest green spaces in Austin. If you are a fan of Botanical Gardens, it is well worth checking out the Zilker Botanical Gardens ($3). If you’re visiting during the summer months, pack your bathing suit and stop for a swim at the gorgeous Barton Springs pool, over three times longer than a football field and fed by the Barton Spring, the fourth largest natural spring in Texas. ($8 for non-residents, $3 for residents). If you visit Austin during the hotter months, you should definitely add Barton Springs to your Austin itinerary.

2pm: Food Truck Time

After your swim or walk in the park, treat yourself to one last food truck meal before heading to the airport. Within walking distance from Zilker Park is the Picnic Food Truck Park (1720 Barton Springs Rd).

48 Hours in Austin: Practical Information

Lyft and Uber used to be banned in Austin, but they’re both back, and the easiest way to get around town.
If you’re on a budget, take advantage of bus No 100 which brings you Downtown from the airport in less than half an hour for only $1.25 (you’ll need exact change). A taxi, in comparison, is around $30.
The best way to get around if you don’t have a car and don’t want to rely on car sharing services is the B-cycle bike sharing program.
Austin’s public transportation system is pretty decent though, and a 24-hour bus pass is only $2.50 (a single ride is $1.25).
GoogleMaps directions worked well to show me bus routes and schedules, but you can also download the CapMetro app for the most accurate public transportation information and to buy tickets via the app.