Austin

Live music, lakes and local flavor

Austin stands out as a city where music fills the air and food trucks line busy streets. Known for its live performances, the area hosts many venues that showcase local talent alongside national acts. Outdoor spaces like Zilker Park provide room for picnics and bike rides under wide-open skies. The downtown scene mixes historic buildings with modern architecture, creating a visual contrast seen in cafes and galleries alike. Street art covers walls throughout neighborhoods, reflecting creative energy found around every corner.

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City in United States

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 7.3

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	8

Read details

5/5

English is universally spoken in Austin, and Spanish is also common. Tourists will have no trouble communicating, and most signage, menus, and services are in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Austin Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
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Read how our scores work

Great for live music and food culture. Enjoy concerts and festivals, try famous barbecue and food trucks and relax in city parks.

Place score

7.6

Best at:

Music

Local cuisine

Nightlife

Large cities

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

💻 8

Digital Nomads

United States – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 The U.S. is highly cashless, with credit and debit cards accepted almost everywhere. Mobile payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary and expected in the U.S. In restaurants, 15-20% is standard. Taxi drivers, hotel staff, and tour guides also expect tips, usually around 10-20% depending on the service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking laws vary by state, but it is generally prohibited in public spaces without a permit.
Public smoking:	Smoking is restricted in most indoor public spaces and some outdoor areas. Local laws vary.
Etiquette:	Greet with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, respect personal space, and avoid discussing politics or income unless invited to share opinions. Politeness and friendliness are appreciated.

Thanksgiving (November)	A major holiday with closures and domestic travel surges.
Independence Day (July)	Expect parades, fireworks, and celebrations nationwide.
Christmas (December)	Markets, festive events, and crowded tourist spots.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Lyft, Bolt
Helpful links:	Wikipedia Visa regulations Customs & border control Travel with medicine
Other:	The U.S. is known for its diverse landscapes, cultural experiences, and regional cuisines. Public transport is efficient in cities but less so in rural areas. Renting a car is recommended for exploring national parks.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Austin, United States

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	March - April, Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	Feb., May - June, Sep., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

South by Southwest runs mid March, Austin City Limits Festival first two weekends of October: hotels book out and prices spike

Formula 1 US Grand Prix in October, held at Circuit of the Americas, brings very high crowds and prices

Bat flights under Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk roughly March to October, best August to September

Don't miss

🎸 Listen to live music on Sixth Street
💦 Cool off with a swim in Barton Springs Pool
🦇 Watch the bats emerge from Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset
🏛️ Explore the State Capitol and its surrounding park
🍖 Enjoy Texas barbecue at Franklin Barbecue
🌇 Take in city views from Mount Bonnell

You've been here?

Why travel to Austin?

Austin is famous for its vibrant music scene – there are more than 250 venues and festivals like SXSW that draw artists from around the globe. But it’s not just about the music: the city’s parks, lakes and hiking trails are perfect for outdoor lovers and the food scene is legendary, from BBQ joints to inventive food trucks. The city’s quirky spirit is on display in its street art, vintage shops and friendly locals. Just be ready for hot summers (sometimes extremely hot) and know that prices can spike during big events. But if you’re after a city with soul, Austin is hard to beat.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Texas State History Museum
2 Blanton Museum of Art
3 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
4 French Legation Museum
5 Texas State Capitol
6 Zilker Botanical Garden
7 Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
8 Sixth Street

🎡Places for activities

1 Circuit of The Americas
2 Trail Drinking Fountain 2
3 Austin Zoo
4 Texas Toy Museum and Arcade
5 Austin Convention Center
6 Austin Nature & Science Center

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Mount Bonnell
2 Zilker Park
3 Barton Springs Pool
4 McKinney Falls State Park
5 Lady Bird Lake
6 Colorado River
7 Mayfield Park
8 Emma Long Metropolitan Park
9 Shoal Creek Greenbelt
10 Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

🛍️Shopping

1 Book People
2 Barton Creek Square
3 The Domain
4 Whole Foods Market
5 Uncommon Objects
6 West 2nd Street
7 South Congress Avenue

🎈Events

South by Southwest (SXSW)
Austin City Limits Music Festival
Texas Book Festival
Austin Film Festival
Pecan Street Festival
Bat Fest
Austin Food + Wine Festival
Moontower Comedy Festival
Blues on the Green
Trail of Lights

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Knowledge before you go

Plan around heat; afternoons can be intense most months.
Reserve popular BBQ early and arrive off-peak; lines get long, especially weekends and festivals.
Get around with rideshares, bikes or scooters; downtown parking is limited and expensive.
Watch the Congress Avenue Bridge bats at dusk (seasonal), then walk South Congress for nightlife.

How to travel to Austin

Fly into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), which has direct flights across the US and some international destinations. The airport is about 20 minutes from downtown by car, taxi or rideshare. Intercity buses and trains connect Austin to other Texas cities and it’s a 1.5-hour drive from San Antonio or 2.5 hours from Houston.

Access summary

From Austin–Bergstrom (AUS): City bus Route 20 or rideshare, about 20–35 minutes.
From Dallas: I‑35 drive or intercity bus, usually around 3–4 hours.
From Houston: Drive west on US‑290 or I‑10, roughly 2.5–3.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Austin

Austin has everything from boutique hotels downtown to quirky motels, high-end chains and budget hostels. Book early for big events like SXSW or ACL. Staying central gives you easy access to nightlife, music and top attractions.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

AT&T Hotel & Conference Center

9.5

The LINE Hotel Austin

8.7

Hotel Viata

9.1

Super 8 By Wyndham Austin North/University Area

8.3

The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel

9.2

Holiday Inn Austin -Town Lake By IHG

Drury Inn & Suites Austin North

9.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Austin

Austin’s downtown is walkable, but the city is spread out. Capital Metro buses and MetroRail cover major areas and bike/scooter rentals are everywhere. Rideshares and taxis are easy to find, but traffic can be heavy, especially during festivals. Parking downtown can be tricky – consider public transit or walking when possible.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-0 %

Daily expenses in Austin are around 0% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£63	£144	£372
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£65	£130
🍝 Food per day	£31	£72	£214
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£7	£28

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£26
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£14
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10.50
☕ Cappuccino	£4.20
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£5.50

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.50
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£17
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.55

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£110
🤧 Cold medication	£5
💇 Basic haircut	£19

Safety information overview

General safety

Austin is generally safe, with a lively downtown and friendly vibe. Petty theft can occur in crowded areas and nightlife districts — keep an eye on your belongings, especially late at night or during big events.

Health & Medical

Austin has excellent medical facilities and pharmacies. Heat exhaustion is a risk in summer, so drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade. Emergency services are reliable and widely available.

Accessibility

Most major attractions, hotels and public transport are accessible. Some older buildings and hilly areas may pose challenges, but the city is generally accommodating to visitors with mobility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, clean and widely available. Public water fountains are found in parks and along trails, but bring a bottle to stay hydrated — especially in the heat.