16 Best Sights in Austin, Texas

Don't miss visiting the Austin Public Library's flagship branch, a striking architectural wonder reflecting the natural beauty of the Hill Country and affording beautiful views of Lady Bird Lake from the landscaped rooftop terrace. Wander through the six-floor structure, free of charge, filled to the brim with modern accoutrements that turn reading into a stimulating experience. There are art galleries, amphitheater seating for concerts and community events, kids' play areas, gaming and computer stations, and hundreds of cozy nooks and crannies to hide away with a book. On-site garage parking is easy to validate inside, and the first-floor gift shop is packed with lovely literary and Austin-centric keepsakes.

No visit to Austin is complete without a ceremonial dip in the sacred waters of Barton Springs. A hallowed oasis within the Zilker Park area, this historic spring-fed pool maintains a constant 68°F temperature year-round, and the chilly waters attract hordes of people from all walks of life. (Admission is free from October 31 through spring break to help incentivize you during the cooler months.) The grassy slopes surrounding the pool are an idyllic place to post up for some of the best people-watching in town; unique experiences, like the free nightly and full-moon swims, are unforgettable; and the annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day attracts thousands. The pool is closed Thursdays for cleaning the delicate, protected natural habitat, and weather can affect operating hours throughout the season, so be sure to check their website in advance.

Austin is home to the largest urban bat population in the world, with as many as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats taking up residence in the capital city every year. Every night starting in late March and continuing through fall, locals and visitors congregate all along (and underneath) Congress Avenue to watch the bats take flight from under the Congress Avenue Bridge for their nightly feeding ritual. On hot nights (with no rain), right around sundown, don't miss the incredible opportunity (for photographers, families, and nature lovers alike) to witness this natural phenomenon set against the backdrop of the downtown skyline.

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.

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.

Most people don't realize there is a sprawling state park just 10 miles south of downtown Austin, but McKinney Falls showcases two free-flowing waterfalls and natural limestone pools in a wildly beautiful setting. It's an ideal day trip for visitors who want to quickly escape the downtown's noise. Hike or bike a network of nature and riverside trails, swim in Onion Creek, picnic under the bald cypress trees surrounding the park's signature waterfalls, or stay overnight at a scenic campsite. Check their online calendar for scheduled events like park ranger coffee chats, stargazing parties, and guided wildlife walks.

A former Native American gathering place and later a site of Franciscan missions in the 1700s, present-day Zilker Park is Austin's biggest public green space. Locals consider the 351-acre park complex their own backyard, albeit a massive one that stretches along the shores of Lady Bird Lake and includes adjacent sites like Barton Springs, botanical gardens, and various lakeside trails. Parking is increasingly difficult in recent years, so take the free Zilker Shuttle that runs May through September to avoid the congestion. In spring, the park hosts a beloved annual kite festival plus a long-running concert series at the Zilker Hillside Theater, a natural outdoor amphitheater shaded by century-old pecan trees; musicals and plays take over in the summer. The annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, along with hundreds of thousands of attendees, descend on the park for two weeks in October.

Tucked away in the western edges of Zilker Park, this nature preserve boasts an 80-acre trail full of public art (including a human sundial installation), pollinator gardens, and boardwalks through pond systems. Indoor exhibits teach about the ecology of the Austin area and feature a range of interactive displays focusing on subjects such as bees, birds of prey, and other native wildlife. Parking is available under the Mopac Bridge.

Established in 2001 just a few blocks north of the Capitol, this fascinating museum (with a massive star statue out front) documents the history of the Lone Star State with excellent interactive exhibits and programming fit for all ages. Nearly 500,000 visitors from around the world tour the 34,000-square-foot museum every year, learning about "The Story of Texas" through permanent and traveling collections that cover prehistoric to modern times. The on-site Star Cafe serves coffee, snacks, and basic lunch fare. Check the events calendar in advance for showtimes at the on-site IMAX theater.

The oldest swimming pool in Texas (established 1915), this man-made, spring-fed swimming hole just off Lake Austin Boulevard was the centerpiece of an early-20th-century resort and was restored by the Works Progress Administration in the mid-1930s. In recent years, Friends of Deep Eddy, a volunteer community group, led a successful effort to fully restore the long-closed 1936 bathhouse and it remains a beloved local institution for all ages and walks of life. The water is chilly (68°–70°), so just a smidge warmer than Barton Springs, but the brisk water is more accessible for kids thanks to the wade-in entry in the shallow end. Seasonal and weather conditions can affect operating hours and admission prices.

The historic home and studio of sculptor Elisabet Ney is a lovely gem in the Hyde Park neighborhood that showcases Ney's life and work, with more than 70 sculptures on display. Ney's studio, where she produced sculptures of historic figures, like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, is set up as she would have had it, with sculpting tools, hat, teacup, and other items all in their proper places. The castle-like home is surrounded by native prairie grasses and more outdoor sculptures. Check their online events calendar for well-attended community events, family-friendly art classes, nature walks, and seasonal festivals.

This Mesozoic-era karst cavern 24 miles north of Austin was discovered in 1963 and opened to the public three years later. Visitors enter from a 1¼-mile hiking path. Tours vary in length from just a little more than an hour to nearly four hours, the latter not suitable for kids under 13. The temperature is a year-round 72°. Sometimes there are $1 coupons on the website.

This 284-acre site of beautiful botanical gardens and nature trails, located 10 miles south of downtown, was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes, and is the legacy of the former First Lady's commitment to the natural beauty of Central Texas. The gardens boast extensive plantings of native Texas wildflowers that bloom year-round; although spring is an especially magical time. The grounds include a visitor center, network of trails, observation tower, elaborate stone terraces, flower-filled meadows, and rotating outdoor art installations and exhibits. Seasonal calendars include various family-friendly and educational events, from yoga and meditation retreats to gardening workshops.

This 40,000-square-foot children's museum offers a mesmerizing variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits that blend education and play for "learners" of all ages. Explore the STEAM-based programs and themed rooms, like the Light Lab, where you can play architect with fascinating light structures, and an Innovators' Workshop that puts curious minds to work on creative problem-solving. There's a superb playground in the backyard, with climbing structures and water features.

Contrasting views of the Hill Country and the downtown skyline make it worth the winding country road trip to this gorgeous nature preserve just west of town. Wander among the 227 acres on a network of walking trails or take a guided tour offered on weekends (by reservation only). The cool folks at the on-site research center (partnered with local St. Edward's University) offer numerous outdoor-oriented classes, nighttime stargazing sessions, and even live concerts by local and touring musicians. Reservations to hike the basin trails are not required on weekdays but highly recommended on weekends. Staff closes the gates whenever the parking area is full.

Across from Zilker Park, this botanical garden has more than 28 acres of horticultural delights, including butterfly trails, bonsai and Japanese gardens, koi-filled ponds, riparian stream beds, and cultivated rose gardens. The enchanting gardens are open year-round (attracting 150,000 annual visitors), but it's best enjoyed outside of the peak Texas summer months. There are also various family-friendly programs and hands-on learning opportunities here, as well as a lively seasonal calendar of special events and festivals.