A liberal city in a historically conservative state, the city’s residents fight to “Keep Austin Weird.” The capital city of Texas is beloved for its influential festivals, nightlife, BBQ joints, and access to the great outdoors. Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake attract those trying to cool off and beat Austin’s notorious heat. Visit between March and November, and you might catch a glimpse of the famous bats flying around the South Congress Bridge. To get a sense of some of the typical home styles in Austin, stay in a Spanish Colonial/Mexican, Texas Country, or Tudor house, or find a hidden Art Deco gem to use as your home base.

Getting there

If you’re flying into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), you have options. Public transportation, taxis, and rideshare are available. For the bus, follow public transportation signs after landing. You’ll head in via the 20—Manor/East Riverside bus. Alternatively, you can hail a cab or order a rideshare service. It takes about 15 minutes from the airport to downtown.

Weather

Austin has brief, breezy winters with temperatures that rarely dip below the 40s (Fahrenheit). The summers are long and hot—temperatures often rise to triple digits. The city is a reliable choice for year-round travel, although the months between late spring and early fall are best if you’re planning a lot of outdoor activities.

Annual events

South by Southwest · March

Known as SXSW for short, Austin’s biggest festival of the year covers interactive technology, music, and film.

Austin Pride · August

More than 400,000 people gather to celebrate Austin’s LGBTQ community with a festival and parade.

Austin Film Festival · October

Movie buffs flock to the Austin Film Festival for eight days of solid programming giving particular love to independent screenwriters.

Austin City Limits · October

The city’s preeminent music festival attracts an international lineup of artists to perform across eight stages over two consecutive three-day weekends.

Austin Trail of Lights · December

A city tradition of holiday light displays, food, and music for 55 years and counting, Austin Trail of Lights draws 400,000 people over 14 nights at Zilker Park.