48 Hours in Austin

Situated on the cusp of Hill Country in Central Texas, Austin is well established as the land of tacos, cowboy boots, live music and Longhorns fever. But it’s also restless and reinventing itself. You’ll find cranes dotting the downtown skyline constructing more than a dozen skyscrapers, including the commanding Waterline, which will be Texas’ tallest building at 1,022 feet.

The dynamic landscape of the Lone Star State’s capital serves as a calling card, flooding the city with creative types and thought leaders, major companies and vibrant start-ups. While the iconic presence of SXSW, Austin City Limits and Formula 1 are core to the brand, the city’s nuanced character offers diverse appeal. Use this guide to experience a taste of one of America’s most spirited urban centers in just 48 hours.

To make the most out of your visit, choose The Driskill—well-positioned to explore major landmarks—as your home away from home. The elegant 1886 hotel, Austin’s oldest operating hotel, features original chandeliers, stained glass, marble floors and sweeping staircases. The AAA Four Diamond property has hosted many VIPs, most notably serving as the city-base for President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, who stayed in suite 434, known today as the Lyndon B. Johnson Suite.

Day one

From the Driskill, walk less than 15 minutes to the 2nd Street District, joining locals on the patio at Jo’s Coffee noshing on breakfast tacos paired with the signature Iced Turbo coffee. Embark on a downtown walkabout, stopping in boutique shops like Atown and Austin Rocks, which offer stuffed armadillos, cowboy hats and T-shirts declaring “Keep Austin Weird.” Check out Love, Tito’s, an eclectic storefront that showcases products and merch from the world-famous Austin-based vodka brand. 

Pause for photos of the venue that’s hosted PBS’  live telecast Austin City Limits since Willie Nelson opened the inaugural performance in 1974. Meander north on Congress Avenue, Austin’s main thoroughfare, to the commanding Texas Capitol—America’s largest state house—for a free guided tour.

Next, drive to The University of Texas at Austin, home of the Texas Longhorns, to visit the Blanton Museum of Art, which features a diverse 21,000-piece collection of Latin American, American and European art. Especially noteworthy is the masterpiece Austin by celebrated modernist Ellsworth Kelly. The museum recently unveiled a $35 million redesign aimed at better unifying its two buildings with the addition of new paths, gardens and a canopy of 12 petal-shaped shade structures. 

For lunch, head back downtown to Hold Out Brewing for a burger or their healthy version of the Texas classic Frito pie, made with chickpea curry and coconut yogurt instead of chili and cheese. It retains the Fritos, natch. Less than a half-mile away is Mellow Johnny’s, a bike shop launched by Lance Armstrong. Here you’ll rent wheels for a relaxing ride along Lady Bird Lake, a downtown reservoir approximately 5 miles long created by damming the Colorado River. The bike shop is conveniently adjacent to the lakefront trail.

Switch gears for happy hour at The Loren’s hotel rooftop venue Nido, known for its excellent city views. Since barbecue is the only rational option on your first night, walk the half-mile to Terry Black’s Barbecue. It’s cafeteria-style, and you’ll tell servers how many pounds of meat you want and choose your sides, such as pinto beans and potato salad.

Afterward, Austin’s signature live music beckons back near The Driskill at blues venue Antone’s, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Or, attend a performance of comedy or music at the historic Paramount Theatre.

Day two

With a swimsuit stashed in your daypack and wearing walking shoes, drive 3.7 miles to start your second day at Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin. Pull yourself away from the breezy patio setting for the 10-minute drive to Mount Bonnell, Austin’s scenic overlook. The 102-step climb will reward you with panoramic views of the lake and Hill Country.

Continue enjoying the outdoors at the 800-acre Barton Creek Greenbelt with its web of trails. (Park at Zilker Park for access to the trailhead.) This greenspace—popular with outdoorsy Austinites—affords biking, rock-climbing and swimming holes.

Discover the lively hub on South Congress Avenue (SoCo) with shops, bars and clubs. But first, devour tamales and jalapeño margaritas at Güero’s Taco Bar. Happily sated, mingle with crowds on the bustling drag, channeling your inner Austinite by shopping for cowboy boots at Allens Boots, where western-wear pros stand ready to assist. Browse Yellow Rose, the lifestyle store of Kendra Scott, an Austin-based company, before turning around and walking along the avenue back toward downtown and the river. You’ll pass popup sidewalk vendors, boutique shops, designer retail stores and the Instagrammable “I love you so much” mural.

Snag your spot on Congress Avenue Bridge, aka the “Bat Bridge” from which about 1.5 million migratory Mexican free-tailed bats emerge around sundown each night in warmer months—a spectacle to behold. The bats have been roosting under the bridge since the early 1980s, when the bridge was renovated. Today they make up the world’s largest urban bat colony.

Depending on when sunset occurs, head to Rainey Street Historic District for dinner either before or after the bats take flight. This is Austin’s reimagined residential and entertainment district, exploding with energy and stunning skyscrapers. Find an outdoor picnic table at Banger’s for beers on tap (a couple hundred choices, in fact) and homemade sausage.

You can’t let your final night end without some honky-tonk. The nearest dancehall from Rainey Street is The White Horse, showcasing several different bands every night of the week. Pay a cover charge of $5 to $10 to join regulars doing the Texas Two-Step. Shimmying the night away, you’ll work off all the sausage, brisket and tacos you’ve consumed since arriving in Austin.