Things to Do in Downtown

1915 vaudeville house on Congress Ave — the interior alone is worth it

Restored 1915 vaudeville house on Congress Avenue. Now books concerts, comedy, classic films, and touring Broadway. The ornate interior justifies showing up for anything they're running.

713 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Box office Mon-Fri noon-5:30pm; show times vary · (512) 472-5470 · indoor

Where Austin City Limits tapes for PBS — 100+ concerts a year

Home of the PBS Austin City Limits tapings — longest-running music series on American TV. 2,750 capacity, about 100 concerts a year across all genres. Good sightlines from every level. 2nd Street District.

310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 · Show nights, check schedule · indoor

Free first Sundays — IMAX and 4D theater cost extra but worth it

Texas history from dinosaurs to the space age across three floors, plus IMAX and a 4D theater. Free first Sunday of every month (H-E-B sponsors it). Kids 5 and under always free. On Congress Ave near the Capitol.

1800 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Daily 10am-5pm · indoor

Basement jazz club on Congress Ave — live jazz seven nights a week since 1991

Basement jazz club on Congress Avenue, open since 1991. Live jazz seven nights a week. You sit at the bar three feet from the trumpet player.

315 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat 8pm-2am, Sun 7pm-1am · 512-575-2925 · indoor

Austin's blues temple since 1975 — Stevie Ray Vaughan played here

Founded 1975. Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters all played here. The 5th Street location keeps it going with blues, rock, soul, and R&B multiple nights a week.

305 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701 · Show nights, check schedule · indoor

Free 10-mile trail around the lake — 1.5 million bats emerge at sunset (Mar-Oct)

10.1-mile paved loop around Lady Bird Lake. Free to walk, run, or bike. Kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals along the way. At the Congress Avenue Bridge section, 1.5 million bats emerge at sunset March through October.

2 Robert T. Martinez Jr St, Austin, TX 78702 · Open 24 hours; kayak rentals vary · outdoor

1.5 million bats emerge at sunset — largest urban bat colony in North America, free to watch

1.5 million bats emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset, March through October. Free to watch from the bridge or trail below. Peak season is August. Show up 30 minutes early.

100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Nightly at sunset, Mar-Oct · outdoor · March through October

Free in-store performances by major artists — Austin's legendary record store since 1982

Independent record store since 1982. Willie Nelson, Spoon, and St. Vincent have all played free in-store shows here. Big vinyl and CD selection plus local Austin music. Outdoor stage for free shows year-round and during SXSW.

600A N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703 · Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm · (512) 474-2500 · indoor

Austin's specialty coffee benchmark. Rotating single-origins, zero pretension.

Austin's specialty coffee standard-bearer. Rotating single-origin pourovers, dialed-in espresso, minimal aesthetic. The Frost Bank Tower downtown location is the flagship. Baristas actually know what they're doing. Multiple locations but downtown and North Lamar are the strongest.

401 Congress Ave, Unit 100C, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm · indoor

Chef-driven diner open 24 hours Thu-Sat. Chicken and waffles at 3am.

Chef-driven diner food that's actually good at 2am. Chicken and waffles, duck fat fries, proper cocktails. Open 24 hours Thu-Sat, late on Wed. Not a greasy spoon — a real restaurant that happens to be open when you need it most. Full bar. The banana pudding is absurdly good.

600 N Lamar Blvd #200, Austin, TX 78703 · Mon-Tue 7am-11pm, Wed open all night, Thu-Sat 24 hours, Sun closes 11pm · 512-472-5400 · indoor

Free everything — storytimes, rooftop garden, underground parking

The building alone is worth a visit. Dedicated kids' floor with free storytimes, crafts, and STEM activities. Weekly storytimes for ages 0-5 including Spanish sessions. Rooftop garden. Free underground parking.

710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm · 512-974-7400 · indoor

Free first Sundays — the 4D theater is worth the extra cost with kids

Texas history from dinosaurs to the space age, three floors of hands-on exhibits and 500+ artifacts. IMAX and 4D theater cost extra but kids love them. Free first Sunday of every month. Under 3 always free.

1800 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Daily 10am-5pm · indoor

10-mile loop around the lake, totally free, open 24 hours. The boardwalk section is worth doing even if you skip the rest.

10.2-mile paved loop around Lady Bird Lake. Flat, well-maintained, nearly 5 million visitors a year. Multiple access points downtown, from Zilker, and from East Austin. Connects to Barton Creek and Shoal Creek trails. Runners, walkers, cyclists all share the path. The boardwalk section over the water on the south side is the highlight.

Along Lady Bird Lake, Austin, TX 78701 · Open 24 hours · outdoor

The trail nobody mentions to tourists. 3.7 miles through Pease Park, mostly shaded, a fraction of the Lady Bird Lake crowds.

3.7-mile trail from downtown through Pease Park to West 38th Street. Mix of paved and crushed granite. Shaded, scenic, less crowded than the Lady Bird Lake trail. Passes through Pease Park which has an off-leash dog area. Good for running, walking, or a bike commute from Hyde Park to downtown.

707 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701 · Open 24 hours · outdoor

Free public courts between Lady Bird Lake and Zilker. Tennis and pickleball. After-work hours are a fight — go early.

Public courts right on the lake near downtown. Tennis and pickleball available, free when not reserved for school use. First-come first-served. The location is unbeatable — you're between Lady Bird Lake and Zilker. Courts fill up fast after work.

2001 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703 · Daily, dawn to dusk (closed during school use) · outdoor

Off-leash with Lady Bird Lake access and downtown skyline views. Walk from Rainey Street. Check algae alerts before water time.

Designated off-leash section along Lady Bird Lake near downtown. Direct water access, water fountains, benches, and skyline views. Walking distance from Rainey Street and South Congress. The most accessible off-leash park for anyone downtown or in South Austin. Same algae warning as all Lady Bird Lake spots.

800 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704 · 5am-10pm daily · outdoor

Open since 1866 — oldest business in Texas. Your dog sits at the same biergarten tables people have been drinking at for 160 years.

The oldest operating business in Texas (since 1866). Traditional German biergarten with pet-friendly picnic tables on the patio. Pretzels, brats, and beer in a space that's been serving Austin for over 150 years. Dogs at the outdoor tables.

1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm · outdoor

10-mile lake loop through the heart of Austin. Leash required but connects to the Auditorium Shores off-leash area. Go at sunrise or sunset — midday summer heat is no joke.

10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake — the most popular trail in Austin. Paved, flat, and dogs on leash welcome. Passes through downtown, South Austin, and East Austin. Water fountains along the route. Connects to Auditorium Shores off-leash area. Morning and sunset are the best times; midday in summer is brutal.

Along Lady Bird Lake, Austin, TX 78701 · Open 24 hours · outdoor