Top Attractions for…
No matter your scene, Austin promises to hit all the right notes. These top attractions will let you drink up the city’s flavor whether your squad is all about culture, nightlife, outdoor adventures, or a well-balanced blend.
Arts and Culture Buffs
Don’t overlook the rich arts and culture scene bubbling amid Austin’s quirky counterculture. The Blanton Museum of Art on the University of Texas campus boasts one of the largest public collections in the country, ranging from Renaissance masterpieces to modern American works. Meanwhile, the Mexic-Arte Museum and Gaucho Arts immerse you in traditional and contemporary Mexican art and folk artistry. And any fan of the weird and wonderful needs to experience the Cathedral of Junk, a towering backyard sculpture of transcendent, well, junk. Rain or shine, Austin offers plenty to fill your artistic cup.
Live Music Junkies
As the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin pulses with a phenomenally diverse music scene. Iconic venues like Continental Club, Saxon Pub, Antone’s Nightclub, and Elephant Room are where you’ll discover your new favorite blues, rock, and jazz acts. Dive bars and honky-tonks line 6th Street, with bands spilling out nightly with everything from roots-rock to country and Tejano music. Of course, the biggest music events in town include Austin City Limits, SXSW, and other incredible festivals throughout the year. Arrive early, stay late, and let Austin’s soundtrack move you.
Outdoor Adventurers
Austin’s balmy climate and gorgeous natural landscape create an ideal playground for outdoor enthusiasts. A morning hike through the Barton Creek Greenbelt or around the breezy trails circling Lady Bird Lake will instantly relax and reinvigorate. Stop and smell the roses – literally – in Zilker Botanical Garden and marvel at this lush, peaceful oasis. For a classic Austin experience, pack a picnic blanket and cooler for free concerts at Zilker Park. Up for a bigger expedition? Travel just outside the city for a refreshing excursion swimming in the crisp waters of Barton Creek or Jacob’s Well.
Culinary Connoisseurs
From juicy brisket and sizzling fajitas to gourmet food truck feasts, Austin’s dining scene sings. Follow your nose (and the smoke wafts) to institutions like Franklin Barbecue, la Barbecue, and Stiles Switch BBQ for Texas ‘cue worth the inevitable lines. Looking to savor local flavor? Sample Tex-Mex staples at El Naranjo or relish inspired takes on time-honored recipes at Suerte. Those craving plant-based plates find bliss at a slew of vegan hotspots like The Beer Plant and Arlo’s Curbside. Then there are the food trucks – from classic tacos and burgers to globally-inspired fusions, wheeling and dealing all over town.
Craft Beer Fans
With its wealth of craft breweries, Austin ensures your pint glass never runs dry. Titans like Austin Beerworks, Jester King, and Live Oak Brewing have made national splashes while countless other taprooms thrive across town, providing endless trailheads for your beer quest. Head to St. Elmo Brewing to pair crisp brews with scenic views, or hit the beer garden hotspot Easy Tiger for phenomenal food-and-beer pairings. Keep an eye out as well for popular brewery tours where you can meet the masterminds behind your favorite sips.
Night Owls
More than just a hub for scrumptious fare and stellar live music, Austin thrums with endless late-night revelry. The city’s official entertainment districts – Rainey Street, East 6th, West 6th, Red River, and the Warehouse District – each pulsate with their own distinctive club scenes. From thumping EDM and hip-hop parties to intimate cocktail lounges, dancefloors beckon night owls of every feather. Unwind with games and craft brews at Pinballz or Cidercade, or sip handcrafted cocktails at showstopper spots like The Roosevelt Room and Midnight Cowboy – consistently ranked among the world’s best bars. The night is yours to indulge in Austin’s excesses.
How to Get Around Austin
While Austin has earnestly improved public transportation in recent years, with expanding bus routes and commuter rail lines, getting around this sprawling city can still be hit-or-miss depending on your starting point. Renting a car is one option but hardly ideal with traffic congestion and daunting parking expenses downtown. Rideshares are more convenient but can drain your wallet quickly during busy hours and major events. For stress-free transportation suited for groups of any size, look no further than renting a sleek charter bus from Party Buses Austin. We’ll handle all the logistics while you and your crew revel in air-conditioned comfort. No more squeezing into rideshares or risking separation – glide around Austin’s top bars, eateries, and attractions together like stars on your own private tour bus.
Public Transportation
Austin’s public transportation network includes buses, commuter rail, and paratransit services under the CapMetro umbrella. Depending on your group’s size, you may find the bus system adequate for getting around central hotspots like Downtown, East 6th Street, South Congress, and the University of Texas campus areas. The MetroRail Red Line runs from Leander through Downtown to Austin’s Westside, which might be useful for groups visiting from outside the city center. However, routes have limited evening hours, making public transit unreliable for nights out on the town. For day trips and special events, CapMetro offers special services like shuttles to Circuit of the Americas for major concerts and races. Reliably getting around the entire city with flexibility would require constant bus transfers – not ideal for bigger groups wanting to experience the best of Austin together.
Taxis and Rideshares
For smaller groups, taxis and rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft can provide easy point-to-point service around Austin’s main drags. However, as with any major city, you’ll face price surging during peak times like Friday and Saturday nights, special events like Austin City Limits or SXSW, and major holidays. On an average evening, a 20-minute ride across town costs $15+ per vehicle. Do that a few times over a night out, multiply by the number of separate cars needed for your whole crew, and expenses add up quickly – especially with pesky surge pricing. Coordinating separate rides also leads to disjointed arrival times, making it easy to get split up throughout the night. For larger groups wanting to stick together while keeping transportation headache-free (and within budget), rideshares simply won’t cut it.
Charter Buses
When you’ve got a posse worth flaunting around town, travel like a celebrity entourage and rent your very own private party bus from Party Buses Austin! Beyond just getting you from Point A to Point B together, our decked-out buses keep the good times rolling with nightclub-style lighting, premium sound systems, coolers full of frosty refreshments, and sleek leather lounge seating. Forget hopping in and out of Ubers, circling endlessly for parking at crowded venues, or risking a night-ending citation. For unmatched convenience tailored to your crew’s most epic Austin adventure, Party Buses Austin has you covered!
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you’re mapping out an Austin itinerary for your buddies’ yearly getaway, bachelor/ette shenanigans, a family reunion fiesta, or even a VIP employee outing, you’ll find no shortage of things to experience in this exhilarating city. And with Party Buses Austin at the wheel, nothing can put the brakes on your good times! Our luxury transportation services go the extra mile to ensure every minute of your Austin trip gets soaked in exciting memories. Call us today at 512-375-4204 and let’s get the party started! From eccentric street art to phenomenal live music, succulent Tex-Mex to thirst-crushing craft brews, the weird, wonderful soul of Austin awaits.