Few cities bring together creativity, counterculture, and comfort food like Austin. Founded as the Texas capital in 1839, it evolved from a frontier town to a tech-and-music powerhouse where breakfast tacos and guitars rule the day. Locals joke “Keep Austin Weird,” but what you’ll remember is how welcoming it feels to visitors.

Across one week, you’ll walk tree-shaded neighborhoods, dip into Barton Springs, browse indie shops on South Congress, kayak beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge bats, and eat your way through smoky BBQ and inventive Tex-Mex. Live music spills from storied clubs every night; murals pop from nearly every block in East Austin.

Practical notes: summers are hot—start outdoor activities early and hydrate. Bat season generally runs March–November at dusk. Downtown is walkable; rideshares, BCycle bikes, and scooters fill the gaps. A car isn’t essential, but useful for side trips.

Austin

Austin is equal parts college town (UT), capital city, and open-air amphitheater. Skyline views reflect off Lady Bird Lake; paddleboards slide by as runners circle the boardwalk. Food trucks park under pecans, and a night can end quietly on a hotel terrace or loudly on Red River Street.

• Top sights: Texas State Capitol, South Congress (SoCo), Zilker Park & Barton Springs, Blanton Museum of Art, Bullock Texas State History Museum, East Austin murals, Mount Bonnell lookout, Lady Bird Lake boardwalk.
• Live music & nightlife: The Continental Club (SoCo), Mohawk and Cheer Up Charlies (Red River), Geraldine’s and Banger’s on Rainey Street, speakeasy-style cocktails at Garage or Small Victory.
• Food to chase: Central Texas BBQ, breakfast tacos, farm-to-table plates, and craft beer gardens.

Where to stay: Browse great locations near downtown and SoCo via Hotels.com or spacious rentals on VRBO. Standout picks: The Driskill - in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt (Gilded landmark with a storied bar), Hyatt Regency Austin (riverfront views and easy trail access), budget-friendly La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Austin Capitol / Downtown, and social Firehouse Hostel in a historic station.

Getting to Austin (AUS): Nonstops reach AUS from most major U.S. hubs. Typical flight times: 1–1.5 hours from Dallas/Houston, ~3 hours from Denver/Phoenix, ~3–3.5 hours from LAX/SFO, ~4 hours from Chicago, ~3.5 hours from Miami, ~4 hours from NYC. Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Rideshares to downtown take ~20–25 minutes; budgeting $25–40 is reasonable depending on traffic and time.

Day 1: Downtown Arrival, Skyline Stroll, and a Taste of Texas

Morning: Travel day. Pack swimwear and activewear—you’ll want them for Barton Springs and the lake.

Afternoon: Arrive, check in, and get your bearings with a gentle walk along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Pause at the boardwalk’s skyline overlooks for photos.

Evening: Dive into Austin barbecue at Terry Black’s (counter-service brisket, beef ribs, and creamed corn) or Lamberts (smoked meats with an upscale twist). For a post-dinner scene, head to Red River: Mohawk’s rooftop for indie shows, or Cheer Up Charlies for outdoor vibes and local bands. Nightcap at Garage (a cocktail bar literally tucked into a parking garage) for a smooth clarified milk punch.

Day 2: Zilker Park, Barton Springs, and the Best-of-Austin Tour

Morning: Coffee at Merit Coffee (nutty Texas roasts) or Houndstooth on North Lamar. Walk Zilker Park and, if temps allow, take a dip at Barton Springs Pool—68°F year-round, beloved by locals since the 1920s. Early lunch from The Picnic food truck park: try The Mighty Cone or a poke bowl, then a scoop at Amy’s Ice Creams.

Afternoon: Get oriented with a fast, fun city overview on this small-group driving tour, which mixes landmarks with local gems and a sweet treat:

Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide

Evening: Rainey Street’s bungalow bars make for a lively night. Start at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden (house-made links, 200+ beers), then hop to Lustre Pearl (the original Rainey vibe) and Geraldine’s at Hotel Van Zandt for live music and a polished cocktail. Late-night bite: Via 313’s thick Detroit-style slice.

Day 3: South Congress (SoCo) Shopping, Murals, and a Local Food Tour

Morning: Breakfast tacos at Jo’s Coffee (famous “I love you so much” mural) or Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Blvd (all-day pancakes and migas). Browse SoCo boutiques—Allen’s Boots for rows of leather, Tecovas for modern western, and South Congress Books for rare finds.

Afternoon: Eat your way through SoCo on a guided tasting stroll—expect tacos, sweets, and neighborhood history:

Austin South Congress Food Tour with 6 Tastings, Tacos & Sweets

Evening: Sunset at Mount Bonnell for Hill Country views. Dinner back on SoCo at Perla’s (oysters, oak-shaded patio) or Home Slice (NY-style pies, classic red-sauce energy). Catch a show at The Continental Club, an Austin institution since 1955—blues, rockabilly, and twangy guitars in an intimate room.

Day 4: Texas Hill Country Wine and Salt Lick BBQ

Venture into the Hill Country for a day of vineyards and legendary pit smoke without the hassle of driving:

From Austin: Hill Country BBQ & Wine Shuttle

You’ll stop at The Salt Lick in Driftwood for family-style barbecue, then taste your way through two Hill Country wineries with rolling vineyard views. It’s a relaxed, social way to see Austin’s backyard. Back in town, keep dinner light: a few shared plates at Eberly’s handsome dining room or the bar at Uchi for pristine nigiri and inventive hot bites.

Day 5: Capitol, UT Campus, and East Austin Art

Morning: Start with Veracruz All Natural (award-winning migas tacos) or Paperboy’s rooftop brunch (Texas toast and cold brew). Tour the pink-granite Texas State Capitol—free, beautiful rotunda, and statues telling the state’s story. Walk or rideshare to the Bullock Texas State History Museum to trace Texas through immersive exhibits; art lovers can add the Blanton Museum’s sleek new grounds and Latin American collection.

Afternoon: Explore East Austin’s murals and maker shops. Grab a macchiato at Fleet Coffee, then hunt for street art along East Cesar Chavez and E. 6th. If you crave a brewery break, ABGB (pizza and medals) or Meanwhile Brewing (sprawling lawn and food trucks) are excellent.

Evening: Dinner at Suerte (masa-driven Mexican; don’t miss the suadero tacos) or Nixta Taqueria (heirloom corn and boundary-pushing toppings). For cocktails, reserve a seat at Midnight Cowboy on Dirty Sixth or slide into Small Victory for a classic martini and perfect ice.

Day 6: Trails, Paddle Time, and Bat-Watching by Kayak

Morning: Walk the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk for mirrored skyline shots and a breeze off the water. Brunch at Paperboy if you didn’t earlier, or try Hillside Farmacy (oysters, kale caesar, and an old-drugstore interior).

Afternoon: Rent a kayak or SUP at Rowing Dock or kayak from Zilker Park for an easy paddle. Keep it mellow—you’ll be back on the water tonight.

Evening: Experience Austin’s most magical dusk ritual by water:

Downtown Austin Sunset Kayak Tour with 1.5 Million Bats

As the sun drops, the Congress Avenue Bridge colony erupts into the sky. After, celebrate with wood-fired fare at Loro (smoked brisket meets Southeast Asian spice) or book Red Ash for hand-cut pastas and live-fire steaks. End at The Roosevelt Room—thoughtful classics and seasonal signatures in a sleek setting.

Day 7: Coffee on the Lake, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Coffee and pastries at Mozart’s on Lake Austin—quiet water views and a sprawling patio. If it’s a Saturday, the SFC Farmers’ Market downtown is great for local cheeses, hot sauces, and last-minute souvenirs; on Sundays, the Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller buzzes with vendors and food trucks.

Afternoon: Farewell tacos at Tacodeli (purple corn tortillas, salsa roja) or crispy, Mexico City–style bites at Cuantos Tacos. Depart for the airport with extra time—security moves quickly, but AUS has a single main concourse and can get busy.

How to book your logistics: Compare flights and times on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For stays, check rates on Hotels.com or browse homes on VRBO. Prefer named stays? Consider The Driskill - in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hyatt Regency Austin, La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Austin Capitol / Downtown, or Firehouse Hostel.

Insider tips: For Franklin Barbecue, preorder pickup online (limited, releases weekly) or go early to join the line—bring a lawn chair and an iced coffee. In peak heat (June–September), plan water activities and indoor museums midday, and outdoor walks early or late.

In one week you’ll sample the city’s essential flavors, groove to live music, and float beneath a sky thick with bats—an only-in-Austin spectacle. The Hill Country adds wine and big-sky landscapes, while neighborhoods from SoCo to Eastside reveal the city’s creative soul. You’ll leave with smoky fingers, a camera roll of mural pics, and a list of songs to remember it by.