For couples · Austin · United States
Romantic things to do in Austin
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Romantic Austin combines sunsets over the hills and lake, two-stepping in a dance hall and Hill Country wine country. Couples tend to stay in South Congress (SoCo).
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 2
- Area for couples
- South Congress (SoCo)
- Best months
- November
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset at Mount Bonnell
Climb the steps and watch the sun set over Lake Austin and the hills.
2.Two-step at the Broken Spoke
Take a dance lesson and stay for a classic country band at this long-running honky-tonk on South Lamar.
3.Kayak at sunset
Paddle Lady Bird Lake as the skyline lights up and the bats emerge from the bridge in summer.
4.Hill Country wineries
Spend a day at the wineries around Fredericksburg and Johnson City.
5.Live music on South Congress
Dinner on South Congress followed by a show at the Continental Club.
Sights couples love
Viewpoint · West Austin
Mount Bonnell
Go at sunset, but arrive early as the small parking area fills.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Garden · Zilker and Barton Hills
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
A calm, shaded stop before or after Barton Springs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, shopping and food lovers
South Congress (SoCo)
South of the river, South Congress Avenue is lined with boutiques, vintage and Western-wear shops, restaurants, food trucks and the Continental Club music venue, with a straight view back up to the Capitol dome. Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek on either side are leafy residential streets with small hotels and rentals.
- Good
- Walkable strip of shops and restaurants; Boutique hotels; Short walk or ride to downtown
- Watch out
- Expensive boutique hotels; Busy and hard to park at weekends
- Nearby
- Continental Club, Bouldin Creek, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park
Romantic day trips
- Fredericksburg (About 1.5 hours by car) — A German-founded Hill Country town with a long main street of shops and restaurants, the National Museum of the Pacific War, peach orchards and dozens of wineries along US 290.
- Gruene and New Braunfels (About 1 hour by car) — Gruene Hall, built in 1878, claims to be the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas.
- Hamilton Pool Preserve (About 50 minutes by car) — A natural pool beneath a collapsed limestone grotto, with a waterfall dropping over the overhang.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Central Texas brisket, Tex-Mex enchiladas and Smoked sausage and ribs. Book ahead during SXSW, ACL and Grand Prix weekends, when restaurants fill.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Austin romantic?
Romantic Austin combines sunsets over the hills and lake, two-stepping in a dance hall and Hill Country wine country.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Austin?
Sunset at Mount Bonnell: Climb the steps and watch the sun set over Lake Austin and the hills.
+Where should couples stay in Austin?
South Congress (SoCo): Boutiques, food trucks, neon signs and Capitol views along South Congress Avenue.