A Perfect Weekend in Austin: A Route You Can Follow

A weekend in Austin works best as three zones: Downtown and Sixth Street on Friday night, the Texas State Capitol and South Congress on Saturday, and Barton Springs Pool and Zilker on Sunday. The route below follows that order so you never double back across the river more than once. It has 14 stops, each checked against its own official site.

The stops are in sequence. Pick the ones that fit and drop the rest, because the geography is what holds it together, not the count.

How we chose

Every stop is inside the city of Austin, has an official page showing it operating, and sits close to the stop before it. We leaned on places known for what they do (a landmark capitol, a bat bridge, a spring-fed pool, a famous brisket line) instead of general nearby options. Hours below are typical and come from each official site, so check before you go. Opinions, such as what to order, are ours.

Save this: the weekend route

1. Friday, around sunset: Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, Downtown.
2. Friday, early evening: a cocktail at The Driskill Bar, Sixth Street.
3. Friday, dinner: Emmer & Rye, Rainey Street (reserve ahead).
4. Friday, late: a show at Stubb's Bar-B-Q, Red River.
5. Saturday, 9am: free guided tour of the Texas State Capitol, Downtown.
6. Saturday, mid-morning: Bullock Texas State History Museum, just north of the Capitol.
7. Saturday, late morning: brisket at Franklin Barbecue, East Austin.
8. Saturday, afternoon: coffee at Jo's Coffee, South Congress.
9. Saturday, afternoon: boots at Allens Boots, South Congress.
10. Saturday, dinner: tacos at Güero's Taco Bar, South Congress.
11. Saturday, night: a set at the Continental Club, South Congress.
12. Sunday, morning: a swim at Barton Springs Pool, Zilker.
13. Sunday, late morning: Zilker Botanical Garden.
14. Sunday, lunch: Matt's El Rancho, South Lamar.

Friday night: what to do in Downtown and Sixth Street

Friday is Downtown on foot: the bridge, a hotel bar, dinner on Rainey Street and a music venue, all within about a mile. Read more about the area on the Downtown page.

1. Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge (Downtown)

The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Downtown Austin holds a colony of about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Free viewing is at the Austin American-Statesman Bat Observation Area on the southeast side of Congress Avenue, which is open year-round. The bats emerge at sunset, and Texas Parks and Wildlife lists boat viewing seven nights a week from March through October, the warm-month stretch when the flight is most reliable. The colony is seasonal, so outside those months you may get the bridge and the skyline without the bats. In season, arrive well before dusk.

2. The Driskill Bar (Sixth Street)

The Driskill Bar is inside The Driskill hotel at 604 Brazos Street, on the Sixth Street edge of Downtown, in a building established in 1886. The official page lists typical hours of 11:30am to 11pm Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11:30am to 1am Friday and Saturday. Order a crafted cocktail and take the room in. Then walk a block to see Sixth Street light up for the night.

3. Emmer & Rye (Rainey Street)

Emmer & Rye is a restaurant on Rainey Street in Austin that mills heirloom grains on site for its pasta, bread and desserts. The menu is seasonal and built on Texas-grown ingredients, and the restaurant holds a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainability and a Bib Gourmand. Reserve through the link on its official site, or call (512) 366-5530 to check times. The surrounding Rainey Street is a short walk from Congress Avenue.

4. Stubb's Bar-B-Q (Red River)

Stubb's Bar-B-Q at 801 Red River Street is a barbecue restaurant with an outdoor amphitheater, in the Red River Cultural District. The official site lists ticketed shows by date, and the menu includes Angus beef brisket, pork spare ribs and house sausage. Check the calendar and buy a ticket if a show appeals; otherwise end the night on Sixth Street.

Saturday: the Capitol, brisket and South Congress

Saturday starts at the Capitol and ends on South Congress, with brisket in between. Use a rideshare or CapMetro bus for the East Austin leg, and check CapMetro for routes.

5. Texas State Capitol (Downtown)

The Texas State Capitol at 1100 Congress Avenue is open Monday through Friday 7am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 8pm, with the grounds open daily 7am to 8pm, per the Texas State Preservation Board. Free guided tours typically start at 9am Monday through Saturday (noon on Sunday), leave from the South Foyer every 15 to 30 minutes and last about 40 minutes; the Tour Guides Office is at 512-463-0063. The Capitol stands 302.64 feet to the tip of the Goddess of Liberty's star, which makes it 14.64 feet taller than the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.

6. Bullock Texas State History Museum (Downtown)

The Bullock Texas State History Museum at 1800 N. Congress Avenue is typically open daily 10am to 5pm. Galleries cost $22 for adults and $16 for youth ages 6 to 17, and children 5 and under are free. Garage parking is $15 for a full day, per the official site. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month through the museum's H-E-B Free First Sunday program.

7. Franklin Barbecue (East Austin)

Franklin Barbecue at 900 E. 11th Street in East Austin serves USDA Prime brisket from 11am Tuesday through Sunday until the meat sells out, typically around 2 to 3pm, and it is closed Monday. Order the brisket. You can preorder through the official site to skip the line; otherwise go early. For more places to eat, see where to eat in Austin.

8. Jo's Coffee (South Congress)

Jo's Coffee at 1300 South Congress Avenue is open daily 7am to 7pm, according to its official site. Get a coffee and people-watch on South Congress before the afternoon crowd arrives.

9. Allens Boots (South Congress)

Allens Boots at 1522 South Congress Avenue is the flagship store of the boot retailer, typically open 9am to 8pm Monday through Saturday and 11am to 6pm Sunday. Give yourself time to try on a few pairs. The South Congress strip is best walked, so leave the car parked.

10. Güero's Taco Bar (South Congress)

Güero's Taco Bar at 1412 South Congress Avenue is typically open 11am to 10pm Wednesday through Saturday and 11am to 9pm Sunday through Tuesday. Güero's has been on South Congress since 1986. Order the tacos al pastor and a margarita made with fresh-squeezed lime juice.

11. Continental Club (South Congress)

The Continental Club at 1315 South Congress Avenue is a live-music club with its upcoming shows posted on its official site. Doors are typically around 9pm, and day-of-show cover is cash only, so bring bills. It is a short walk from dinner.

Sunday: Barton Springs and Zilker

Sunday is the quiet leg. The water is the point, and nothing needs rushing. Read more on the Zilker area page.

12. Barton Springs Pool (Zilker)

Barton Springs Pool at 2201 William Barton Drive is spring-fed and stays between 68 and 70 degrees, so it is swimmable year-round. It is typically open 5am to 10pm with lifeguards from 8am, except Thursday, when it closes 9am to 7pm for cleaning and is guarded 7pm to 10pm. Entry is free in parts of the year; when the City of Austin is charging, the posted adult rate is $5 for residents and $9 for non-residents, so check the official page before you go. Parking is free Monday through Friday, and weekends and holidays from March 1 through Labor Day cost $3 an hour per vehicle.

13. Zilker Botanical Garden (Zilker)

Zilker Botanical Garden at 2220 Barton Springs Road is typically open daily 9am to 5pm in fall and winter, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. Adult admission is $6 for Austin residents and $8 for non-residents. Walk to the Hartman Prehistoric Garden, planted with species from the Cretaceous period.

14. Matt's El Rancho (South Lamar)

Matt's El Rancho at 2613 S. Lamar Boulevard is a Tex-Mex restaurant typically open 11am to 9pm on Sunday, so it suits a weekend send-off. Order the Bob Armstrong Dip or the sizzling fajitas. It is a short drive from Zilker and a good last meal before the airport.

Where to park and how to get around

Most of the weekend works without a car. Downtown and Sixth Street are walkable, South Congress is best walked once you arrive, and CapMetro Route 20 connects Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Downtown in about 35 minutes, from the stop outside baggage claim on the lower level. For the Capitol and Bullock Museum, the museum garage is $15 for a full day, per its official site. Check CapMetro for current service.

More ideas

If the weekend runs long, the best things to do in Austin and the guide to free things to do in Austin have more.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What should you do in Austin for a weekend?

A weekend in Austin fits Downtown and Sixth Street on Friday night, the Texas State Capitol and South Congress on Saturday, and Barton Springs Pool and Zilker Botanical Garden on Sunday. The route above links 14 stops in geographic order.

Is Barton Springs Pool open year-round?

Yes. Barton Springs Pool in Austin is spring-fed, stays 68 to 70 degrees and is typically open 5am to 10pm, except Thursdays, when it closes 9am to 7pm for cleaning. Check the City of Austin page for fees and closures.

When can you see the Congress Avenue Bridge bats?

The bats at the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin emerge at sunset, and the warm months are the reliable season: Texas Parks and Wildlife lists boat viewing March through October. The free Statesman Bat Observation Area is open year-round.

Are Texas State Capitol tours free?

Yes. Guided tours of the Texas State Capitol in Austin are free, typically starting at 9am Monday through Saturday and at noon on Sunday, and last about 40 minutes. Confirm times with the Tour Guides Office at 512-463-0063.

Do you need a car for a weekend in Austin?

Not for most of it. Downtown, Sixth Street and South Congress are walkable, and CapMetro runs Route 20 from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Downtown. A rideshare helps for East Austin and Zilker.