48 Hours in Austin – Travel Guide

Ready to make the most of two unforgettable days in Austin?

Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of America’s Southwest Region, Austin is the capital city of the Lone Star State (Texas). The story of Austin began in 1830 with the arrival of Anglo-Americans to this area. The first permanent settlement was established in 1837 in a small community located on the Colorado River, known as Waterloo. In 1839, Waterloo was renamed Austin and became the capital of the Republic of Texas. Austin honors Stephen F. Austin, often referred to as the Father of Texas, who played a pivotal role in shaping the development of Central Texas. Austin has pleasant weather, with approximately 300 days of sunshine per year and mild temperatures throughout the year.

Situated in South Austin, Cherry Creek offers a quieter environment, bordered by parks and natural areas with plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking/running on hiking trails, playing tennis at nearby courts, or enjoying a game of golf at nearby courses. You can easily get to downtown Austin using I-35. Near Cherry Creek is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which is part of the University of Texas at Austin, where you can enjoy walking through beautiful gardens designed specifically to highlight Central Texas native plants. You can also enjoy convenient shopping and dining in the Cherry Creek area, which includes Whole Foods Market and the Shops at Arbor Trails.

Lady Bird Lake is a 468-acre man-made lake, located in downtown Austin. Kayaks, canoes, rowing shells, and stand-up paddleboards are just some of the vessels that call this lake home. Visitors can rent paddle boats through Zilker Park Boat Rentals or EpicSUP. For those wishing to remain dry, there are approximately 10 miles of shoreline on the Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, winding through many of the beautiful parks.

Austin has a rich cultural connection to Latin America, as seen by exploring the Mexic-Arte Museum. Nearby is La Peña Gallery with a smaller display of similar art styles, and Teatro Vivo offers an excellent way to see theatrical performances that focus on Latino themes. The walking tour stops at local landmarks such as the Holly St. Murals, Parque Zaragoza Park, and the Herrera House.

Zilker Park is located in the Barton Hills neighborhood of South Austin, made up of 358 acres. In addition to hosting major events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October and the annual holiday lights display, the park is used every day by families. At the heart of the park is Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed swimming hole created by the Main Barton Spring, which is one of the largest natural springs in Texas. The water from the spring remains at a consistent temperature of 68 degrees all year long.

The 2nd Street District stretches along the Colorado River just downriver from downtown Austin, offering a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment with numerous upscale retail shops and a wide variety of restaurants and cafés with an international flavor. Artists and musicians have established boutiques, such as musical attire, handmade jewelry, and toys. Restaurants, theatres, and galleries provide additional avenues for evening entertainment, including venues such as the ACL Live theatre, Violet Crown Cinema, and Ballet Austin.

Looking for a vibrant downtown Austin experience? Head to Congress Avenue, lined with beautiful trees and historic buildings. The tree-covered streets lead directly to the Texas State Capitol building, where many governmental offices are located. You’ll find nearby shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes. The Old Bakery and Emporium is one of the most recognizable buildings on Congress Avenue, featuring a wide variety of art and unique gifts.

Space Cowboy has a modern ambiance with upscale design and décor. Dig into the Torched Crispy Rice Trio, which features salmon tataki, seared tuna, and filet layered with bold aiolis and citrus heat. The Seafood Aguachile combines bright lime and serrano, while the Cowboy Sliders consist of juicy premium ribeye with café de Paris butter. The Roasted Octopus has the perfect charred texture accompanied by complex sauces, while the Inked Seafood Risotto creates a creamy depth of flavor full of umami. Dive into the unique drink offerings of Protomolecule (gin, blue curaçao, lime, mint, cucumber), Desert Seer (mezcal, prickly pear, Strega, lime), Venusian Blood (bacon fat-washed mezcal, beet juice, lime), Saturn's Ring (vodka, falernum, passion fruit, orgeat, lemon), Buffalo Bill's Cosmic Mai Tai (bourbon, pistachio orgeat, dry curaçao, lime).

Each March, Austin hosts the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals. The SXSW Conference brings creative people together to explore how technology, climate change, education, energy, travel, startups, and contemporary issues can be addressed. SXSW features three large festivals that highlight film & television, music, and comedy.

Austin's Barton Springs Pool is located in a three-acre spring-fed natural area with clear waters. The pool is fed by four underground springs and has turquoise colors with an average temperature year-round of 68–70 degrees F. There is an entrance fee to swim from Memorial Day through Labor Day. From November 1st through Spring Break, swimming is free. Lifeguards are on duty at the pool from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. Tickets can be purchased online or at various kiosks on-site. Children under 1 year of age and veterans receive free entry into the pool.

The Drag, a vibrant part of Guadalupe St. that hugs the University of Texas campus, is located between 29th St. and Martin Luther King Blvd. Iconic record stores have been replaced with a mix of unique vintage shops, international restaurants, and culturally rooted establishments. Thrift store shoppers have access to curated collections at shops such as Buffalo Exchange and Monkies Vintage, while comfort food lovers can find satisfaction at Kerbey Lane Café, Madam Mam’s, and Teji’s. The Hole in the Wall is still a popular dive bar with a long-standing reputation for live music. The open-air Austin Renaissance Market, located next door, features handmade items by local artisans.

South Congress Avenue runs south from downtown Austin and crosses the historic Congress Avenue Bridge in what is referred to as the "SoCo area." South Congress Avenue has a variety of vintage boutiques, unique gift shops, and independently owned cafés. There are many retailers selling cowboy boots, including Allens Boots and Tecovas, which manufacture high-quality western-style items typically made in Texas. In addition, unique costume stores, vintage furniture stores, and nostalgic candy stores can be found along with rare bookshops here.

A home game for the University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium captures the immense spirit associated with football. More than 100,000 fans wearing burnt orange and white create an electric energy in the stadium before and during an NCAA football game. The festivities begin long before kickoff and take place primarily along Bevo Blvd. Fans also have the opportunity to watch the Longhorns arrive on a float down the street before the game, as well as to buy food from lots of food trucks and to watch other NCAA football games on giant screens.

Austin has earned its title of “the Live Music Capital of the World” by hosting thousands of concerts each year, but the best musical experience is reserved for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Each year, an estimated 225,000 people attend the ACL Music Festival over two weekends to see hundreds of world-renowned musicians perform on nine stages. Due to the large number of people attending, parking at Zilker Park is very limited. However, there are many alternative methods of transportation available for festivalgoers. Some use Cap Metro bikes, which are available at several locations surrounding Zilker Park; others take advantage of the free Cap Metro shuttle bus service from downtown to Zilker Park, followed by a short walk or rideshare drop-off/pick-up zones created in collaboration with Uber.

Sixth Street District, also known as “Dirty Sixth,” is the place to be for anyone looking for nightlife in downtown Austin. The Sixth Street District is also home to a variety of events throughout the year, including film festivals and motorcycle rallies. The Museum of the Weird is also located here, with its many unusual and paranormal exhibits. There are a large number of restaurants, entertainment venues, and quick access to I-35 here.

Cypress Grill has a full bar featuring a fun and vibrant atmosphere. The drink menu has many New Orleans-inspired cocktails, including The Hurricane, The Sazerac, the Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned, the Ranch Water, and the Infused Bloody Mary. Its Mexican Martini has been voted one of Austin's greatest.
Terry Black's BBQ is where they cook their Central Texas-style food using large custom-made ovens (pits). The brisket is cut fresh, beef ribs are large, seasoned with black pepper, house-made sausage has a crunch and a vibrant taste of spice, turkey is moist, while pork ribs have a more salty flavor than sweet. Creamy macaroni & cheese, spicy coleslaw, and green chili corn pudding will bless your taste buds. Drinks are available at the full-service bar and include great options like the classic margarita, Texas bourbon, local IPAs, refreshing ranch water, and house-made iced tea.

This area near Lady Bird Lake, plus the Austin Convention Center, is known as Rainey Street. Rainey Street has many old-style buildings (bungalows) that have been converted into unique bar/restaurants. Half Step, Clive Bar, Banger’s, and Emmer & Rye are just a few of these converted spaces. Because Rainey Street is so small, people can walk from one bar to another and experience an intimate setting at all three bars.
The Continental Club has an intimate setting for up to 200 people and has hosted many notable musicians, including Double Trouble, Paul Ray and the Cobras, Joe Ely, Robert Plant, and Wanda Jackson, in the 1970s through the 1980s, and again in the last 20 years.

Walking along the 15-mile River Walk is an excellent way to spend a day, and this walking path runs through places such as the downtown area and the Pearl District, where there is a farmers market, boutique shops, and a food hall with various types of restaurants. Experience San Antonio's rich Spanish Colonial history and modern-day Mexican culture while visiting the city. The National Historic Park features five historical missions connected by a beautiful bike path. The legendary Alamo is one of these five missions. If you want to learn about how locals live, El Mercado features a traditional Mexican market where you can find beautiful pieces of art, handmade items, many delicious food vendors, and live performances. Foodies will love dining at places like Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen, where there are many swing-type seats and unique décor outside, or Magnolia Pancake Haus (which serves famous buttermilk pancakes). Traveling from Austin to San Antonio is easiest by car via I-35, but you can also travel via bus (Greyhound or Megabus) or train (Amtrak's Texas Eagle, which will take about three and a half hours).

Reserve your stay at Village Motor Inn Austin and enjoy easy access to Austin’s vibrant dining, parks, and entertainment scene.