Austin event weekends: what to do between sessions
Live music capital of the world: barbecue, swimming holes, bats under the bridge, SXSW, ACL and the Circuit of the Americas.
Events we cover in Austin
19 Feb 2027*Austin Marathon
Austin, United StatesMarathon12 Mar 2027*SXSW
Austin, United StatesTrade show23 Apr 2027Grand Prix of the Americas (Austin)
Austin, United StatesMotoGP8 May 2027*UT Austin Commencement
Austin, United StatesGraduation1 Oct 2027*Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin, United StatesFestival22 Oct 2027United States Grand Prix
Austin, United StatesF1
Austin, United StatesMarathon12 Mar 2027*SXSW
Austin, United StatesTrade show23 Apr 2027Grand Prix of the Americas (Austin)
Austin, United StatesMotoGP8 May 2027*UT Austin Commencement
Austin, United StatesGraduation1 Oct 2027*Austin City Limits Music Festival
Austin, United StatesFestival22 Oct 2027United States Grand Prix
Austin, United StatesF1
Arriving
Austin-Bergstrom (AUS) is 15 minutes from downtown and 15 minutes from COTA.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | East Austin and the airport | Rentals and chains. |
| Mid-range | South Congress | Shops, music and food trucks. |
| Splurge | Downtown and Lady Bird Lake | High-rise hotels. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Hampton Inn Austin Airport
- Mid-range: Hotel San José
- Splurge: Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Thinkery children's museum.
- Bullock Texas State History Museum.
Rainy-day backups
- Blanton Museum of Art.
- LBJ Library.
Free things to do
- Barton Springs (small fee).
- Zilker Park.
- Texas State Capitol.
Getting around
- CapMetro buses and rideshare; event weeks have heavy traffic.