Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Austin?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Austin?
Most visitors spend two to three days in Austin when visiting. The eccentric city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the food, the nightlife, the live music scene, and the museums and landmarks.
Austin is the capital city of Texas, and while it is home to the iconic Texas Capital Building, most people think about the live music scene first. The city has had a long running influence over many types of music, including country, blues, rock 'n' roll, and more. There are also many parks and natural areas where you can walk, run, or swim.
Do you have one or two days to visit Austin? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Austin?
One day is generally not enough time to experience everything in Austin even though it's not huge. A shorter schedule may leave you feeling like you didn't fully get to taste delicious cuisine, grab some drinks at a bar, enjoy the live music scene, and browse through museums. To genuinely appreciate the best areas of the eccentric city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for two to three days here. After all, As a smaller city, Austin offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Austin
Don't miss the Texas Capital during your trip to Austin, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The culinary scene in Austin is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. It is credited with being the original food truck city and you'll find many diverse food truck options around town. There is also amazing Mexican food, world renowned Texas barbecue, and many modern restaurants that reflect the city's culinary influence.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The Brunch Bus: Food Tour with a Live Band on Board the Bus! ($125)
- Austin Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours ($99)
- Famous Texas BBQ & Food Tour in Austin ($89)
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Austin?
To do everything that Austin has to offer, you'll need more than a weekend, but two or three days does allow you a bit more time to explore. You'll have a chance to experience at least some of the highlights. In addition to the great food and fun nightlife, visitors can enjoy the museums and landmarks, shopping, and local culture. By staying a night or two, you'll be able to take advantage of the most interesting activities found here, and we have some suggestions below.
Austin, Texas
How to spend 2 days in Austin
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Austin, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Austin, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. Austin has a number of great museums and sights including the Blanton Museum of Art, the Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. There's also a huge supply of local art galleries. Perhaps the most notable landmark in town is the beautiful Texas Capital Building
A few tour suggestions include:
- Museum of Ice Cream Austin ($42)
- Night at the Museum in Downtown Austin ($32)
- Brewery 5K Fun Run, BBQ, and Texas History Museum in Austin ($175)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. It's nightlife is centered around its thriving live music scene. Head for Sixth Street for some of the most popular bars and clubs. There are also many music festivals and outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months. Popular bars and clubs around town include the White Horse, the Rose Room, and Antone's Nightclub.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Downtown Austin Live Music Pub Crawl ($35)
- Austin Haunted Pub Crawl Walking Tour ($30)
- Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl ($12)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Austin, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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