A Weekend In Austin: Itinerary For 3 Days

 

Texas’ capital city is quirky and unlike not only the rest of its state but unlike anywhere you’ve been before. The motto isn’t “Keep Austin Weird” for nothing. There is a lot to see but with a 3-day weekend in Austin, you can cover a lot of ground. The world’s largest bat colony, street art, a cathedral made of junk, live music, swimming in a spring-fed pool, and art galleries… this Austin itinerary has it all.

3-Day Weekend In Austin

Austin Itinerary: Day 1

In Texas, everything is better in a tortilla, and breakfast is no exception. Breakfast tacos are a way of life, so start your Austin itinerary with a breakfast of champions in East Austin at Juan in a Million. A tiny hole in the wall with a pun for a name, you can’t beat it or its traditional breakfast tacos. On weekends there can be a line but I promise that it’s worth the wait.

Nearby Tamale House East is a delicious alternative and has live music on the weekends. I recommend a pork tamale and an agua fresca to accompany your breakfast taco.

After breakfast, make your way to the Capitol Building for a guided tour. Tours depart roughly every thirty minutes and are free of charge. My favorite detail in the building is the door hinges, proving Texans will emblazon just about anything with our state pride.

When you leave the tour, gaze up to the top of the dome. This is the tallest capitol building in the United States, even taller than the nation’s capitol building in Washington D.C. In true Texas fashion, everything must be bigger and the statue on top ensures our Capitol always will be.

Is it time for lunch? Like a true local politician, go to the Texas Chili Parlor at 1409 Lavaca Street. Order up a bowl of piping hot chili and, if you dare, a Mad Dog Margarita. This honky-tonk hole in the wall is the stuff of Texas legend. A band of Texas luminaries led by writer Gary Cartwright made up of writers, politicians, musicians, and general riff-raff would gather here with big plans that rarely came to fruition. Low on cash, they ordered a margarita with cheap mezcal. This hard-to-swallow cocktail is now the Mad Dog Margarita, made famous by Gary P. Nunn’s Dublin Blues.

Continuing your Austin itinerary, stumble back into the daylight, carry on with the Texas history theme with a tour of the Governor’s Mansion on the corner of 11th Street and Lavaca. Tours are in the afternoon on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays and require a reservation. I recommend organizing this before leaving, to make sure you can get a spot. Tours are only 30 minutes and are free of charge.

Leave the mansion and the history portion of this 3-day Austin itinerary behind you, and make your way back to Congress Avenue. 

There are two more important and entertaining museums in the area: the Mexic-Arte Museum and the Austin Museum of the Weird. Tour one or both to experience a more quirky side to Austin compared to the history of the state’s founding you started the day with.

The Mexic-Arte Museum is a fine arts museum featuring Mexican, Latino, and Latino art and culture. Pro-tip: Don’t miss the murals on the 5th Street wall. 

The Museum of the Weird is just that, a museum filled with weird oddities like shrunken heads and proof of Bigfoot.

Also: Free Things To Do In Dallas TX

End the day with a happy hour and dinner at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden on Rainey Street. The leafy beer garden is the perfect way to enjoy a warm Austin evening. Keep the night going with drinks at the Container Bar, made out of recycled shipping containers, just a couple blocks down the road.

3-Day Austin Itinerary: Day 2

Roll out of bed and get in line for brunch at Magnolia Café on South Congress, which couldn’t be out of your Austin itinerary. The omelets here are incredible. My favorite is doused in queso but there’s a tri-color one bathed in the holy trinity of Texas salsas that comes in a close second place. This is a casual Austin staple, so come as you are and come hungry.

After breakfast, it’s time for a classic piece of weird Austin, the Cathedral of Junk. Drive or take a taxi to 4422 Lareina Drive. This is a private residence in a cul-de-sac, so don’t worry, you’re in the right place.

More than 60 tons of recycled junk has been repurposed to build this multi-level shelter in a backyard. Entrance is free but there’s a donation box -use it generously. 

After conquering the tower of junk, hop back in your car and drive to Zilker Park to enjoy a warm day in the Texas sun. Go for a swim in the eternally 72-degree cool waters of Barton Springs or simply lounge on the grassy hill with the rest of the sun worshippers. For more action, rent a canoe or stand-up paddleboard at Zilker Park Boat Rentals and paddle down Barton Creek and out onto Lady Bird Lake to see the Austin skyline from below.

For the afternoon, freshen up and find your way to South Congress, because there is more good food for your weekend in Austin. There are a lot of options here for a late lunch. Get fresh seafood at Perla’s, pizza at Home Slice, or a burger at Hopdoddy. However, my recommendation is Guero’s Taco Bar. Order a margarita and a few tacos al pastor at the outdoor bar and grab a picnic table on the patio to enjoy the live music.

While away the rest of the afternoon here on South Congress. Channel your inner cowboy in Allen’s Boots, check out the insanely huge costume collection in Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds and shop for colorful imported wares in Tesoros Trading Company.

Take a picture in front of the iconic I Love You So Much wall on Jo’s Coffee and the Willie Nelson for President mural on Elizabeth Street (right by Home Slice Pizza).

Whether you’ve spent the entire afternoon enjoying Guero’s patio or shopping ‘til you drop, make sure you’re on the Congress Avenue Bridge for sunset. Thousands of bats call this bridge home from mid-Spring through early-Fall and at sunset they all depart the cave en masse. Trust me, this cloud of bats is a sight to see! Go early to claim a prime spot on the bridge or go on a boat or kayak tour to watch from the water below.

After sundown, head to the Driskill Hotel for dinner and drinks. Their Batini cocktail is the official cocktail of Austin and the only thing you should be drinking after watching the bats fly off into the night sky.

Keep the night going on 6th Street or head to White Horse in East Austin. This honky-tonk is one of the few remaining original Austin bars in the rapidly gentrifying East Austin. 

3 Days In Austin: Last Day

Yes, time flies and you already got to the last day of your weekend in Austin! For your final day, I recommend exploring the surrounding Hill Country. The rolling hills around Austin are truly one of the most beautiful places to visit in Texas and shouldn’t be missed! You can drive there or go on a small group tour.

Start your day bright and early with a short hike uphill to the Pennybacker Bridge Overlook. The walk is very short, just a few minutes, but can be steep so wear sneakers. Sit for a while and enjoy the view of the Colorado River and the bridge below.

Afterward, hop in the car and take off for your choice of the two best day trips from Austin:

1. Swim in Hamilton Pool – If you’re visiting in summer, taking a dip in the famed Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs is a no-brainer. Important: this swimming hole has gotten extremely popular in recent years so prior reservations are required. After your swim, tour one of the many distilleries in Dripping Springs like Deep Eddy Vodka, Dripping Springs Distillery, or Treaty Oak.
2. BBQ & Wine in Driftwood – You can’t leave Austin without trying BBQ, and while Franklin’s is delicious you can’t beat the atmosphere of the original Salt Lick in the middle of the countryside in Driftwood. There are wineries nearby to round out the afternoon. If you are not driving, there are also tours available.

If you’ll be staying in Austin for another night, have dinner at the Oasis on Lake Travis on your way back into town. The sunset views from this cliffside restaurant are the best in the state. There is no better way to close out your three days in Austin than by watching the rainbow sky change colors overhead with a cool margarita in hand.

Three Days in Austin: The Goodbye

Your weekend in Austin doesn’t end until your plane takes off. Austin’s airport keeps the fun going (as much as an airport can).

As you say goodbye to the Lone Star State, watch live music from the airport’s live music stage just past security. Find your favorite Austin local favorite like The Salt Lick or Taco Deli for one last taste.

After take-off, watch the hills roll by below as you plan your next weekend in Austin, because you’re going to want to come back!

Arriving For Your Weekend In Austin

Fly into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and either rent a car or call your rideshare app of choice. Along with the usual contenders like Uber and Lyft, Ride Austin is a local nonprofit alternative.

Do you need to rent a car in Austin? If you’ll be staying in the city, you can easily get around with Uber, Lyft and the sort. If you want to take a day trip into the Hill Country or have more freedom to move in the city then it’s a good idea to rent a car.

Where To Stay In Austin

I recommend renting an Airbnb in Travis Heights in the South Congress area. There are a lot of stylishly remodeled homes here and you’ll be within walking distance from the best shops, bars and restaurants in Austin, and shops.

If you’d prefer a hotel, stay at The Driskill for some downtown historical elegance (it was built by a former cattle baron!) or at the Austin Motel on South Congress for retro perfection.

About The Author: Erin is the Texan traveler and writer behind the successful Argentina travel blog, solsalute.com. She has spent her entire adult life living abroad in Spain, the Caribbean, and finally Argentina, where she’s spent over ten years building a life. Through her blog, she offers practical guides to Buenos Aires, Texas, and everywhere in between.