“Keep Austin Weird.” What’s not to love about a city that has that for a slogan? Spend one weekend in Austin, Texas and you will understand its charm. There is an undeniable liveliness to the city that will make you fall in love. This city has it all including a thriving music scene, quirky shops, and delectable food.
Austin is a huge city and it would take months to cover everything. I have been there multiple times and I even stayed for a month once. if you are going to explore for a weekend, then I have you covered. Read below for the best weekend itinerary and if you make sure to go to Austin City Limits one time!
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Table of Contents
Austin, Texas Weekend Itinerary
Day 1 in Austin
Wait in Line at Franklin’s BBQ
If you are a only going to have one weekend in Austin, you have to go to Franklin’s BBQ. The brisket melts in your mouth and the ribs fall off the bones. Franklin’s is often said to be the best barbecue spot in Austin and I definitely agree. The only catch to going to Franklin’s is that you are going to have to wait a while in order to be satisfied.
People wait hours for the best barbecue, but that’s also half of the fun. Locals will bring chairs, beers, and cards to camp out in their spot and wait for their chance to eat barbecue. We got there at 9 am to get in line and wait for the opening at noon. The servers came out and gave us a little brisket roll while we waited and they sold us cold drinks. We had a great time in line and once we finally got our meal we were so happy that we had stuck it out. If you don’t have time to wait then another great spot is LA Barbecue.
Drink at Breweries
Like many of the other great US Cities, Austin has a thriving Brewery scene. Spending time drinking at one is a wonderful way to spend a nice day. You can find a mix of breweries with different specialties, live music, and fun outdoor games.
Best Breweries:
- Austin Beerworks – This is one of the most well known spots in the city
- Blue Owl- Find a wonderful selection of tasty sours at this brewery
- Jester King- Visit one of the very best breweries ever here!
- Zilker Brewing Co- Drink at another classic spot in the city at this spot
Tour the Capitol
The Texas Capitol building bears resemblance to the US Capitol in Washington, DC, but it’s also taller than the one there. You can see this beautiful building from far away, but you will love it even more if you go close. My cousin and I decided to learn a bit about the history and took a free 30 minute tour of the capitol building.
If you prefer going on your own, they have pamphlets to guide you through the building. You can meander through the halls and walk upstairs to get a great view of the lobby below. Exploring the Capitol is a great activity for any history buff!
Go Out on 6th Street
Often called the “Dirty Sixth,” you’ll definitely have a great night out on 6th Street. This famous street is known for the live music and the packed bars on the street. Rowdy crowds takeover the streets as they shut down car traffic at night.
While some bars here are gross (hence the name “Dirty 6th”), you can find plenty of gems. Visit some of the more respectable establishments like Parside, Iron Cactus, The Driskill, and Casino El Camino. Hop from bar to bar until you find one that you love. Spending a night on 6th is an unforgettable experience.
Day 2
Eat Breakfast Tacos
You can’t leave Austin without grabbing some delectable breakfast tacos. Breakfast tacos are the quintessential Texan breakfast and a great way to fuel up for the day ahead. There are so many options all over the city, so your hardest decision will be where to go. We spent a day eating as many tacos as we could and I had 14!
Best Tacos in Austin:
- Torchy’s Tacos – a chain with tons of locations and great options
- Valentina’s– They serve a delectable combination of BBQ and tacos
- Vaquero Taquero– You can get these great tacos at two different places
- Veracruz– Known for their fresh tortillas and natural ingredients
Walk Through Zilker Park
Once you’ve had your fill of breakfast tacos, it’s time to walk it off. Austin has plenty of parks throughout the city and miles of walking trails. One of the most iconic locations in all of Austin in Zilker Park! People love to go to the park when it’s nice out to play games and have picnics in the park.
You can do one of the best hikes in the trail, Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail. We started mid-way through the trail, walked along the creek, saw nice views of Austin, and ended up at Barton Springs. Other popular hikes include the River Place Nature Trail, Turkey Creek Trail, and Slaughter Creek Trail.
Swim in Barton Springs
After a long walk through the Texan heat, it’s time to cool off! Luckily for you the trail ended at Barton Springs Pool. Barton Springs Pool is a beautiful public swimming spot full of water from nearby natural springs.
In the summer, the springs are crowded with Austinites swimming laps in the pool or grabbing some sun on the grassy hill next to the pool. Dipping in the springs is refreshing and a must do on your Austin trip. Admission is $9 for nonresidents of Austin, and it’s definitely worth this small price.
Grab a Delicious Meal
Austin has an insane food scene from mouth watering BBQ joints to savory ramen spots and everything in between. I have been to Austin many different times and on each occasion I find a new great restaurant!
Best restaurants in Austin:
- Lucky Robot– Great sushi restaurant with a unique design
- Seoulju Korean Kitchen– Amazing Korean food!
- The Peached Tortilla– Delicious tacos and other comfort food delights
- Nixta Taqueria– Gourmet tacos with unique flavor profiles
- Kemuri Tatsu-Ya– You’ll have to wait, but this ramen is worth it
Day 3
Brunch on Rainey Street
Spend your last morning of your one weekend in Austin sipping mimosas or delicious cocktails at one of the cute spots on Rainey Street. Rainey Street is a historic street that features adorable bungalow style buildings. Some of these buildings were converted into bars or in the case of Container Bar old shipyard containers.
Bars & Restaurants on Rainey Street:
- Parlor Room
- Bungalow
- Anthem
- Geraldines
- Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
- Emmer & Rye
Shop on South Congress
You can’t go to Austin without visiting the iconic South Congress Avenue. Here you will understand how Austin got the slogan “Keep Austin weird.” As you walk down this street you will see quirky thrift shops, glamorous hotels, vibrant street performances, and tourists taking pictures in front of the famous “I love you so much” mural.
Final Thoughts
I can’t wait to get back to Austin and try all of the very best breakfast taco joints. Luckily two of my very best friends live here so there’s always an excuse to visit. I know you’ll have an amazing time in this fun city!
Are you going to spend a weekend in Austin, Texas? Let me know if this helped in the comments!
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