Itinerary · Austin · United States
One day in Austin
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Austin, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Leaflet, Public domain
Quick answer
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. Day 1: Texas State Capitol and Sixth Street and Red River. Base yourself in Downtown.
Key facts
- Days
- 1
- Sights covered
- 5
- Day trips
- None
- Best base
- Downtown
- Book ahead
- Nothing essential
Day by day
Day 1: Texas State Capitol and Sixth Street and Red River
Texas State Capitol, Sixth Street and Red River, Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail and Barton Springs Pool, then Congress Avenue Bridge bats in the evening.
Morning
Texas State Capitol
Stand in the centre of the rotunda and look up at the star in the dome, then walk the grounds' monuments. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
Late morning
Sixth Street and Red River
For original bands rather than covers and shots, head to the clubs on Red River Street. Allow An evening.
Lunch
Lunch: Central Texas brisket
Franklin Barbecue in East Austin and other well-known pits; queues form for hours before the most famous ones open, and Lockhart is an hour away.
Afternoon
Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail
Rent a kayak or paddleboard from one of the rental docks and paddle towards the downtown skyline at sunset. Allow 1–3 hours.
Late afternoon
Barton Springs Pool
Swim early in the morning on a summer weekday before the crowds and the heat. Allow 2–3 hours.
Evening
Congress Avenue Bridge bats
Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset; August, when the young join the flight, is usually the biggest show. Bat-watching boat tours give a close view from the water.
If it rains
- Swap in Bullock Texas State History Museum (Hyde Park and the University): It is a few minutes' walk from the Capitol and the Blanton, so pair the three.
- Swap in Blanton Museum of Art (Hyde Park and the University): Visit 'Austin' in the morning when sunlight casts coloured patterns across the floor.
- Swap in LBJ Presidential Library (Hyde Park and the University): Allow time for the civil-rights galleries, which are the museum's strongest section.
Where to stay for this itinerary
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and luxury
Downtown
High-rise hotels, the Capitol, Sixth Street bars and the lakefront
Pace and daylight
The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–12 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.2 hours in December to 14.1 hours in June.
Getting between stops: Bus. CapMetro buses, including frequent MetroRapid lines along Congress Avenue, Lamar Boulevard and Guadalupe Street, connect downtown with South Congress, the university and the airport.
More or fewer days
Questions travellers ask
+Is one day enough in Austin?
One day is a taster: the plan below covers the essentials, but most visitors want 4. How many days Austin needs.