Winter Date Night Ideas in Austin, TX
Best winter date nights in Austin, TX include ACL Live at The Moody Theater ($30-100), Alamo Drafthouse Cinema ($12-18), Austin Public Library Central Branch (Free), Blanton Museum of Art ($15), and Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail (Free). Add ice skating or a holiday lights walk for the full seasonal experience.
Free Tue 3-7pm and Sun 3-5pm — outdoor water play area will soak them
1830 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723 · Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Monday · Ages 0–11
Shallow wading end for toddlers, diving board for big kids — 68-70 degrees year-round
2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746 · Daily 5am-10pm (closed Thu 9am-7pm for cleaning)
$6 train ride through Zilker Park — under 2 rides free on your lap
2100 Andrew Zilker Rd, Austin, TX 78746 · Fri-Tue 10am-6pm (closed 1:30-2:30pm daily), closed Wed-Thu
Free everything — storytimes, rooftop garden, underground parking
710 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm
Open since 1946 — BYOB after sunset (cans only)
1207 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704 · Mon-Thu 9am-10pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-10pm
Free splash pad that'll burn two hours minimum — pack a towel
1100 Kingsbury St, Austin, TX 78703 · Daily 8am-10pm (May 1 - Oct 31)
Free first Sundays — the 4D theater is worth the extra cost with kids
1800 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Daily 10am-5pm
Free Tuesdays — the Kelly chapel light show mesmerizes kids
200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78712 · Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Oldest pool in Texas — spring-fed, wading area for toddlers, less crowded than Barton Springs
401 Deep Eddy Ave, Austin, TX 78703 · Daily 8am-8pm (summer), reduced winter hours · Ages 0+
Free garden built for kids — whimsical paths, planting areas, and exploration
900 Lydia St, Austin, TX 78702 · Daily dawn to dusk · Ages 0+
12 miles of free trails with swimming holes and limestone cliffs
3755-B Capital of TX Hwy S, Austin, TX 78704 · Daily 5am-10pm · Ages 3+
Go-karts, mini golf, laser tag, and bumper boats — all in one spot
16231 N I-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660 · Mon-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-9pm · Ages 0+
Top-tier playground, splash pad, and lake loop — Thinkery right across the street
4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723 · Daily 5am-10pm · Ages 0+
Free Sunday concerts on the lawn overlooking Lady Bird Lake
701 W Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704 · Sundays, check Long Center schedule for times · Ages 0+
22,000 sq ft free skate park with a beginner area — helmets required under 18
8500 FM 969, Austin, TX 78724 · Daily 5am-10pm · Ages 3+
$5 to swim in a 68-degree spring-fed pool. Go early on weekends or don't go at all.
2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746 · Daily 5am-10pm, closed Thu 9am-7pm for cleaning
The oldest pool in Texas. Spring-fed, no chlorine smell, $5. Lap swimmers take the morning, everyone else gets the afternoon.
401 Deep Eddy Ave, Austin, TX 78703 · Lap swim 8am-12pm, Rec swim 12pm-8pm daily
10-mile loop around the lake, totally free, open 24 hours. The boardwalk section is worth doing even if you skip the rest.
Along Lady Bird Lake, Austin, TX 78701 · Open 24 hours
The swimming holes are incredible when the creek is running. Check water levels first — they're dry half the year and nobody tells you that.
2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746 · Daily 5am-10pm
Austin's backyard. 351 acres, free to enter, connects to basically every trail in central Austin. Bring a frisbee.
2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704 · Daily 5am-10pm
No ropes, no harness, just climb. The East Austin location has a patio, sauna, and cold plunge. More like a clubhouse than a gym.
979 Springdale Rd #150, Austin, TX 78702 · Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm
$5, no membership, 8 lighted courts. Reserve two days out or just show up and wait for an open court.
2312 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78705 · Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm
Free outdoor courts with lights, plus a full indoor gym. Summer evenings are the real scene — East Austin pickup basketball at its best.
3811 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78721 · Outdoor courts: daily dawn to dusk. Rec center hours vary.
Full gym, sand volleyball, totally free. No membership, no fees, just walk in. North Austin's best-kept secret.
2913 Northland Dr, Austin, TX 78757 · Mon-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-2pm
Quick 9-hole course, good for beginners or a lunch break round. Free, plus the park has tennis, basketball, and a pool.
5201 Berkman Dr, Austin, TX 78723 · Daily 5am-10pm
BBQ + 2,100-cap amphitheater + Sunday Gospel Brunch
801 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701 · Restaurant: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm; show times vary
1915 vaudeville house on Congress Ave — the interior alone is worth it
713 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Box office Mon-Fri noon-5:30pm; show times vary
40+ years of political satire and magic on Sixth Street — 90-minute shows
525 E Sixth St, Austin, TX 78701 · Show times typically 7pm and 9pm, check schedule
The original Alamo Drafthouse — they will kick you out for talking
1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 · Daily, showtimes from late morning to late night
Live music every night since 1955 — 200-person room on South Congress
1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 · Nightly, shows typically start 9-10pm
Where Austin City Limits tapes for PBS — 100+ concerts a year
310 W Willie Nelson Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 · Show nights, check schedule
Ellsworth Kelly's colored glass chapel is the draw — free Tuesdays
200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78712 · Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mon
Free first Sundays — IMAX and 4D theater cost extra but worth it
1800 N Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Daily 10am-5pm
Multiple stages running simultaneously — catch bands before they blow up
1502 E Sixth St, Austin, TX 78702 · Nightly, shows typically start 8-9pm
68-70 degree spring-fed pool year-round — three acres, where Austin goes to cool off
2201 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746 · Daily 5am-10pm (closed Thu 9am-7pm for cleaning)
Basement jazz club on Congress Ave — live jazz seven nights a week since 1991
315 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Fri 5pm-2am, Sat 8pm-2am, Sun 7pm-1am
Free Broadway-style musical under the stars — Austin tradition since 1959
2206 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX 78746 · Thu-Sun 8:15pm, mid-Jul through mid-Aug
Independent shops, street music, iconic murals — free to stroll, First Thursdays are best
South Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 · Shops generally 10am-8pm; restaurants and bars later
Texas's oldest beer garden — open since 1866, 160 years of cold beer and communal tables
1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701 · Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 11am-10pm
1.5 million bats emerge at sunset — largest urban bat colony in North America, free to watch
100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 · Nightly at sunset, Mar-Oct
Free in-store performances by major artists — Austin's legendary record store since 1982
600A N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703 · Mon-Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
LGBTQ+-owned venue with a huge patio — eclectic bookings and free/low-cover most nights
900 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701 · Daily 4pm-2am
Locals say best beef ribs in Austin — skip the brisket line and go straight for the ribs.
1003 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704 · Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9:30pm
The migas taco here is the best breakfast taco in Austin — fight me.
1704 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 · Daily 7am-3pm
Farm-to-table with a rotating menu — whatever's in season, they're cooking it.
1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 · Tue-Sat 5:30-10pm, brunch Sat-Sun 10:30am-2pm
Best pizza in Austin per locals — Detroit-style with thick, crispy cheese edges.
1111 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 · Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm