The best things to do in Austin on a weekend trip

With an enviable restaurant scene, lots of things to do and scores of live music venues, Austin makes for a fun weekend getaway almost any time of year.

The city’s exponential economic growth has attracted transplants from both coasts and everywhere in between, bringing big names in design, fashion, dining and the arts. Nevertheless, the city stays true to its Keep Austin Weird mantra.

We’ve curated the best ways to experience the Texas capital's authentic swagger and evolving aesthetic in this guide to the ultimate weekend in Austin.

A neon sign glows at night; it reads "The Continental Club." — The Continental Club. Harmon Li for Lonely Planet

Friday

After dark

Austin has its share of delectable cocktails, but the Chef’s Negroni at Juniper is the smoothest way to slide into the weekend. The restaurant’s elevated Italian menu comes with a Texas accent, and its design is a feast for the eyes as well.

After dinner, head to The Continental Club, an Austin staple since 1955, presenting roots, rock, country, swing and blues music every night of the week. There's often a long line of patrons waiting beneath its landmark neon sign. No time to queue? Head to the Elephant Room, a jazz bar in an underground speakeasy environment on Congress Ave. Keep the groove going at late-night venues along E Sixth St like Hotel Vegas and The White Horse.

A white building with nine mulitcolored squares above a double wooden door. — **Left:** Blanton Museum of Art. Linsphotogrxphy/Shutterstock **Right:** Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

A person running on a boardwalk over a blue waterway with a city skyline in the distance. — **Left:** Blanton Museum of Art. Linsphotogrxphy/Shutterstock **Right:** Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Trong Nguyen/Shutterstock

Saturday

Morning

Alongside Austin’s restaurant boom, the city’s coffee scene has blossomed too. Started in 2010, Houndstooth now has eight coffee shops across Texas, five of them in Austin. The East Side location on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd blends excellent coffee with incredible design, and the Frost location is convenient to SXSW and downtown events.

How to spend the day

Located on the University of Texas at Austin campus, the Blanton Museum of Art is home to a wide range of ancient to medieval and contemporary art. In the atrium, the Stacked Waters installation by Teresita Fernández is a highlight, and don’t miss Ellsworth Kelly’s final commission, Austin, outside the museum. The Blanton is just one of many museums on campus, so leave time to check out exhibits at the nearby Harry Ransom Center or simply explore the grounds on foot.

Experience Austin's great outdoors on a bike ride or run around Lady Bird Lake, a Colorado River reservoir that weaves through downtown. The 10-mile loop of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail connects visitors with nature in the heart of the city and has great views of Austin’s skyline. The best panorama is from the outdoor terrace of the Long Center – seek out the statue of local music legend Stevie Ray Vaughan.

People on a dancefloor. — Broken Spoke. Harmon Li for Lonely Planet

Dinner

Head to one of Austin’s award-winning eateries in South Lamar. At the forefront of the farm-to-table movement, Odd Duck is committed to supporting Texas farmers, serving a rotating seasonal menu of innovative small plates from locally sourced ingredients. It also has delicious cocktails and unforgettable desserts.

After dark

Enjoy the intimate atmosphere of the Saxon Pub, another landmark and the gatekeeper of Austin culture since 1990. For a true taste of Texas, grab your boots and a beer at the Broken Spoke, which has offered live music, dancing and chicken fried steak for over 50 years. To belt one out yourself, the Highball at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has private (and themed!) karaoke rooms.

People walking on a sidewalk past shops with colorfully decorated facades. — **Left:** South Congress Ave. Pgiam/Getty Images **Right:** A performer at Allen's Boots. Kris Davidson/Lonely Planet

A street performer in front of a building with a sign reading "Allen's Boots." — **Left:** South Congress Ave. Pgiam/Getty Images **Right:** A performer at Allen's Boots. Kris Davidson/Lonely Planet

Sunday

Morning

With three restaurants, a rooftop pool, a bar, a cafe, and its own shops, the South Congress Hotel is the perfect hub for exploring one of Austin’s favorite neighborhoods. Refuel with a golden milk latte at Ma ñana and brunch at Café No Sé before browsing boutiques and stores along South Congress Ave.

How to spend the day

Bookworms will love browsing used volumes at South Congress Books, and the luscious smell of leather at Allen’s Boots is a scent you won’t soon forget. Local brands abound in Austin, ranging from menswear at Stag Provisions to the delicate designs at Limbo Jewelry. Along the way, stop for selfies at some of Austin’s favorite murals.

A strip of stores and music clubs at night have glowing colorful lights. — The Sixth St district. James Kirkikis/Shutterstock

Where to stay

Located in the center of downtown, The Driskill is steps from both the State Capitol building and Austin’s historic Sixth Street district. Built in 1886 by a wealthy cattle baron, the hotel was restored in 2013 and now has 189 rooms in the heart of the city. Wander through the marble lobby and upstairs to the historic bar for a cocktail and daily live music.

For a boutique experience, several swanky hotels on South Congress are in close proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment venues. Austin Motel, Hotel San José, Hotel St Cecilia and the South Congress Hotel are all great options.