6 Best Sights in Austin, Texas

Home to the city's largest and most important collections of art, the Blanton underwent major renovations in 2023 that expanded the 200,000-square-foot institution into a more fully developed museum campus. Visitors arrive through a new check-in building and cross to the main gallery via a stunning outdoor pavilion, shaded by three-story, flower petal-like structures, with an adjacent “sound gallery” park space and chapel installation by Ellsworth Kelly. Monthly Second Saturdays ($20) are a great time to enjoy live music and themed pop-up entertainment, in addition to after-hours tours of the collections. The museum café is closed temporarily, but the local Justine's Brasserie team is set to reopen a casual French concept on-site in spring 2025. Museum admission is free every Tuesday. There is garage parking, but the museum doesn't validate, so regular rates apply.

Originally known as the Austin Museum of Art, the Contemporary Austin's Jones Center is a striking downtown presence featuring a diverse roster of contemporary artists and exhibits. It also hosts various special events open to the public, including "rooftop sessions" with outdoor film screenings and live musical and artistic performances. While advanced reservations are recommended, walk-ups are welcome, and admission is always free on Thursdays. Your ticket also includes free admission to the Contemporary's must-see sister site, Laguna Gloria, in nearby west Austin.

Set on a lush peninsula jutting into Lake Austin, these grounds are home to the 1916 Mediterranean-style villa that was once home to Clara Driscoll, the famed Texas philanthropist who led the fight to save the Alamo from demolition in the early 20th century. The stunning villa is surrounded by gorgeously landscaped gardens and lakeside walking trails that lead visitors throughout an impressive collection of outdoor sculptures and large-scale art installations by world-renowned artists. A popular art school operates on-site, and a lovely gift shop and café, Spread & Co., serving tasty cheese boards and other gourmet picnic fare, help elongate a leisurely afternoon visit at this scenic spot. Admission is free on Thursday.

This stunning architectural site and museum, tucked just off Rainey Street overlooking Lady Bird Lake, was closed for two years for a multimillion-dollar renovation that expanded its physical space and scope of programming. Dedicated to celebrating Latino artists and empowering a new generation of Mexican-Americans, the museum boasts a phenomenal education department and offers popular youth and family programs. Live performances and community events are available throughout the year, ranging from flamenco recitals and hillside music concerts to Día de los Muertos celebrations.

Founded in 1984, this museum in the heart of downtown is a beguiling, moderately-sized showroom devoted to traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latin American art. The permanent collection includes 5,000 works of art, notably historic lithographs, colorful modern prints, silkscreens, etchings, and traditional ritual masks. If you visit during the local Day of the Dead celebrations, don't miss the Viva la Vida Fest hosted here in late October. Admission is free on Sunday.

This shady enclave adjacent to Zilker Park is where famed sculptor Charles Umlauf lived and worked. Umlauf, who taught at the University of Texas' art department from 1941 to 1981, created an incredibly diverse body of work that ranged in style from realistic to abstract, using such materials as marble, bronze, wood, and terra-cotta. His subjects were equally wide-ranging, from religious figures and nudes to whimsical animals and families. Visitors can admire his works installed throughout the verdant beauty of the house's surrounding gardens, which also hosts special events and community happenings, like food festivals, live music, outdoor yoga classes, and free family days, in addition to a coveted register of weddings.