Austin Travel Information

The capital of Texas, Austin is a growing college city that is famous for its varied and eccentric culture, offering its visitors plenty of opportunities for shopping and nightlife as well as cultural attractions such as museums, theatres and ballet. Called the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin also hosts a great number of concerts and festivals to enjoy. Outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and rock climbing are also available in the extensive park areas of Austin.

Texas capital located along the Colorado River in the Hill Country region of Central Texas, USA, Austin is a rapidly growing city of over 740,000 inhabitants and a center of an urban area of some 1.6 million people. Originally settled in the 1830s, Austin became the capital of independent Texas in 1839, and later the capital of the US State of Texas. The city has now grown into a major technology and business center and an important university town. Known also as a center of alternative culture, Austin houses a multicultural population and offers a great deal of interesting activities, attracting plenty of visitors from all over the USA.
Sights and activities in Austin: Shopping & theatres, nightlife, festivals & concerts

Historical buildings and skyscrapers in Austin

Austin is a lively youthful city with great possibilities for nightlife and cultural activities. Shopping in Austin is also very good in the many specialty stores and malls throughout the city. Austin is also home to the Texas State Capitol, a major landmark of the city. The South Congress cultural district is where you will find a large variety of small shops, cultural activities and festivals, while the Arboretum area in Northwest Austin hosts many large malls and good restaurants. As a leading cultural center, Austin is home to a great number of theaters and theater groups. You can enjoy good theater in Austin for example in The State, ColdTowne and Paramount Theaters or the Off Center. Austin also hosts the fourth largest ballet academy in the US. Sightseeing tours in Austin are available for more insight of the history and culture of this Texan city.

Austin by night

Cultural & outdoor activities. There are several nice golf courses in Austin to enjoy. In addition, Austin boasts a great number of museums from Texas Memorial Museum to several art museums and galleries. The downtown Sixth Street hosts many concert venues with a great selection of concerts in Austin. Many popular festivals in Austin are held in the South Congress district or in the outdoor park called the Enchanted Forest. Biking in Austin is easy and popular, and other outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and rock climbing can be done in many park areas close to Austin. You can also visit the Austin Zoo in Oak Hill district, see the massive bat colony that lives under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, or climb to the summit of Mount Bonnell to admire the view over the city. Austin is also home to over 50 public swimming pools.

Texas State Capitol in Austin

Austin travel information and practical tips

Austin has a warm and humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild and dry winters. Spring and autumn are the wettest times of the year with frequent thunderstorms especially during springtime, while the weather in Austin is at its best in the summer. During the winter, snowfall is rare but ice storms may occur.

Traveling to Austin is easy by air, road or rail. The city has an international airport with flights to Austin from many cities throughout North America. As Austin is located on several major freeways such as the Interstate 35 and US 290, the city is easy to reach by car. Buses and trains to Austin are also available. Public transportation in Austin is offered by buses. A commuter rail system has also been built, and taxis are readily available. Car rental in Austin is a good way to explore the city and see more of Texas.

Austin skyline from Lady Bird Lake

Visitor services. There is no shortage of hotels in Austin, from budget inns and motels to large international hotels with luxury suites. Note that they often sell out during the popular festivals. The many restaurants in Austin feature both excellent gourmet restaurants for fine dining, and affordable Tex-Mex restaurants and international fast food places. The nightlife in Austin is very lively in several downtown areas.

Safety. Austin is one of the safest big cities in the US and there is a large police presence in the popular nightlife areas. However, as in any other big city, it is advisable to take good care of your belongings. Flooding is common in Austin during periods of heavy rain, and flash floods can be dangerous.Austin Travel Information