Austin
THE AMERICAS · CITY · LIVE MUSIC
Austin calls itself the live music capital of the world and has the venue count to argue it. It's a state capital and a university town that turned into a tech city, with swimming holes in the middle of it, barbecue worth queuing three hours for, and a bat colony under a downtown bridge. Hot as anything from June to September — plan around water.
The plan
Barton Springs Pool
A spring-fed pool in the middle of the city that holds 20°C all year. The heart of Austin, honestly.
A night on Sixth Street and Rainey
Sixth is loud and young; Rainey Street is bungalows turned into bars; the Continental Club on South Congress is where the real music is.
Franklin Barbecue
Queue from 8am or use the online pre-order. If the wait defeats you, la Barbecue and Terry Black's are genuinely close.
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats pour out at dusk from March to October. Free, and strange, and lovely.
Hamilton Pool and the Hill Country
A collapsed grotto with a waterfall, 45 minutes west, reservation required. Then wineries along 290.
Book before you fly
Franklin Barbecue
Online pre-orders open days ahead; otherwise the queue starts before 8am.
Hamilton Pool
Reservation-only, capped, and swimming is banned after heavy rain.
SXSW & ACL
March and October. Badges and wristbands sell out and hotel rates triple.
Getting there
Fly Austin-Bergstrom (AUS)
Twenty minutes from downtown and now served nonstop from Europe as well as every US hub. The 20 bus runs downtown for a couple of dollars.
Fly San Antonio (SAT) or Dallas (DFW)
San Antonio is 90 minutes by road and often cheaper; Dallas is three hours but has everything.
Getting around
Downtown, Rainey and South Congress are walkable; beyond that you'll want rideshare. The MetroRail is limited.
When to go
Best time to go
March to May and October to November — 25°C, patios open, everything outdoors is pleasant.
Cheapest months
January and February, and August, when the heat empties the city and hotels discount hard.
Priciest & busiest
SXSW in March and ACL weekends in October, when rates triple and the city stops functioning.
If you've got one day
Morning
Barton Springs Pool
Late morning
Franklin Barbecue
Lunch
Veracruz All Natural
Afternoon
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
Evening
Dinner at Uchi, then A night on Sixth Street and Rainey
If you've got a week
Day 1
Arrive, settle in around Hotel Saint Cecilia, and take it slowly — Veracruz All Natural for dinner.
Day 2
Barton Springs Pool.
Day 3
A night on Sixth Street and Rainey. Dinner at Franklin Barbecue.
Day 4
Day trip — San Antonio →.
Day 5
Franklin Barbecue. Uchi at some point.
Day 6
Congress Avenue Bridge bats.
Day 7
Hamilton Pool and the Hill Country. Finish with Terry Black's Barbecue.
Staying longer?
Nearby & day trips
Ninety minutes south for the River Walk and the Alamo.
Fredericksburg
Ninety minutes west into Hill Country wine country and German bakeries.
Lockhart
Forty minutes southeast, the official barbecue capital of Texas. Kreuz, Smitty's and Black's in one afternoon.
The full episode drops on our socials — follow along: