Continuing the series of guest posts about North American cities, Taiss and Rob of Together To Wherever have written this post about how to visit Austin on a budget by enjoying all of these free things to do in Austin Texas.
Austin is one of those cities that never falls short of giving visitors awesome things to do and places to see. Since the city has so much to offer there is a good variety of activities with a wide range of costs, making it a great place for any travel budget. If you want to save some money during your time here, you can add some of these free things to do in Austin to your itinerary, which won’t cost you anything to enjoy!
How to Make the Best of Austin on a Budget
I love finding free things to do wherever I travel, and you can have an amazing time with a very limited budget. However, some things might be worth paying for if you have the budget to do them. Perhaps by compromising and saving money on some things, you can afford to splurge a little on something you really want to do.
For example, you could save money by staying in cheap accommodation and doing lots of free activities in Austin, and then treat yourself to some paid activities or Austin tours to learn more about something you’re interested in.
If you have the budget to treat yourself a little bit, these are some of the most popular tours and activities in Austin that you might be interested in:
The Best Free Things to do in Austin
Before we dive into all the fun, free things to do in Austin, consider these activities if you have room in your budget:
- Downtown Austin Walking Tasting Tour
- Haunted Pub Crawl
- Congress Ave Bat Bridge Kayak Tour
- Brunch Bus Food Tour + Live Music
You can browse more tours and attractions in Austin here. Most of the tours and activities in Austin are available throughout the year.
See Peacocks At Mayfield Park
Get up close and personal with some beautiful peacocks at this stunning nature preserve and park. A free and relaxing place to go in Austin where you can roam around and watch these colorful creatures display their amazing feathers to attract the females.
This park features loads of flowers and plants surrounding ponds which give it a magical vibe that feels like an enchanted garden out of a storybook!
The best time of year to see the birds’ full tails is in February when they are looking for mates, so it is a great time to visit Austin and make the most of one of the most romantic places in Texas for Valentine’s Day! However, you can still see them any time of year and still be impressed with their beauty.
Hike For Spectacular Views
Mt. Bonnell & 360 Bridge Viewpoints are two very iconic spots to visit in Austin without having to pay a dime! Get that perfect photo on your visit simply by going on a short hike.
The drive to get to each of these locations alone is gorgeous, but you’ll be blown away once you arrive as well. The hike up to each viewpoint is not very strenuous, though, if I had to pick one that was “easier” I would say that Mount Bonnell has less of an incline.
Atop Mount Bonnell, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the Colorado River lined with magnificent homes on it’s banks. On a clear day, you will also be able to spot the Pennybacker Bridge in the distance, so in a way, you can get a “two for one” if you just visit Mount Bonnell!
The Pennybacker (360) Bridge overlook is slightly harder to hike but doesn’t take more than 15 minutes. You’ll get views of the bridge along with the city in the distance that are just unforgettable, and certainly one of the best free things to do in Austin!
You don’t have to worry about finding or having to pay for parking as there is plenty of room for your car without a fee. If you plan on going on a hot day, just make sure you bring some water with you and maybe a hat!
Free Things to do in Austin: Movies in the Park
Summertime in Austin is perfect for outdoor movies at night! The Austin Parks Foundation puts on movies in different neighborhood parks around Austin all summer long for free with the help of Alamo Draft House and it is an enjoyable time to be had if you are around for one of the showings.
While summer days can be extremely hot, getting out at night is the thing to do so why not take advantage of seeing a free movie?!
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If you are looking for a tour of Austin, check out these options on GetYourGuide:
Hike/Bike Trail Lady Bird Lake
This one is another great free option for nature lovers and those who like to get a little outdoor workout. The 10 mile loop around Ladybird Lake, officially named the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a wonderful path offering a mix of urban and nature views.
A portion of it is a boardwalk that takes you over the water’s edge, most of it is a dirt path that is great for biking or walking on. You are treated to lush landscapes and even a skyscraper backdrop. While you don’t have to do the entire ten miles, you can pick a portion to stroll on or find a bench in your favorite spot and just take it all in.
Visit Zilker Park
Zilker park is home to the Botanical Gardens and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden which both require an admission fee. However, the park itself is free for everyone to enjoy. Have a picnic, play frisbee, do a workout, fly a kite or just hang out! You’ll enjoy this amazing park with a magical view of Downtown Austin in the background!
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See The Bats
If you do decide to walk along the HIke Bike Trail, you may run into the area where the famous Austin bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Each year over a million and a half bats migrate here and make it their temporary home for a few months.
Between March and October, you can see swarms of bats making their way down to the Gulf for some dinner starting at sunset. Pick a spot either on the Congress Avenue Bridge or just under it and watch them take flight. It is truly a spectacle to see! You could also take a kayak tour on the water for a unique perspective!
Visit The Capitol Building
Right in the heart of Downtown Austin is the seat of the state’s government and the Capitol Building. You can visit the building and grounds during their operating hours without a fee. They even offer free tours of the State Capitol.
After going through security at the entrance, you are able to go to different floors and check out several of the chambers where all the action takes place.
The architecture of the building is impressive and the rotunda is something worth seeing. There are several significant sculptures outside the building that are interesting to check out and learn from on your visit as well.
Free Things to do in Austin: South Congress Avenue
Outdoor markets, live music, shops, and wall art are just a few of the fun things you can discover by visiting South Congress Avenue. This section of the street that leads down from the Capitol Building is a family-friendly place to stroll and get a vibe for what Austin is all about without having to spend anything.
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Take Photos With All The Murals
If you’ve ever researched things to do in Austin, you have undoubtedly run into someone mentioning the many murals all around this town. There are the usual famous ones like the “Greetings From Austin” or “I love you so much” that have become super popular, but there are so many more to see almost everywhere you go.
Whether you are walking around in Downtown or strolling through one of the hip neighborhoods like SoCo, you’ll certainly run into a couple (if not more) really cool murals that are great to take a photo with. If you’d like a guided tour, check out this street art tour on Airbnb.
Explore The Greenbelt
The Barton Creek Greenbelt located south-southwest of Downtown is an oasis filled with several trails, limestone buffs, swimming holes, and waterfalls. It’s amazing that this place exists just minutes from the heart of the city. Rock climbing, swimming, mountain biking, and hiking are all the activities you can partake in depending on which trail you choose to take.
What do you think? If you have any more tips for how to visit Austin on a Budget I’d love to hear them, and if you have more suggestions for free things to do in Austin please let us know in the comments below.
Where to Stay in Austin
Hostels in Austin
There is one hostel in downtown Austin, and keeping with Austin’s quirky reputation, it is located in the oldest standing fire station in the city. The Firehouse Hostel is around the corner from 6th Street, the historic and action-packed entertainment center of Austin. Dorm rooms start at a reasonable $38 per night and include two pillows per bed, linens, towels, free wifi, lockers, and individual power outlets and reading lights.
The private rooms all sleep up to four people with shared bathroom or ensuite options. Prices for private rooms start at $122 per night for the entire room, so it would be worth planning a trip to Austin with a few of your friends to share the room with! >>>CHECK AVAILABILITY
Cheap Hotels in Austin
Unfortunately, a hotel stay in downtown Austin will eat up most of your travel budget. So, you have to decide whether or not the cost of being downtown is worth it to you. However, Austin has some really interesting and fun neighborhoods, so take advantage and explore them while you stay in a more affordable hotel!
Aiden by Best Western @ Austin City Hotel, in South Austin, is the place to stay for prime access to some iconic Austin landmarks like the I love you so much and Greetings from Austin murals. Plus, out of this world food trucks, restaurants, and funky shops along South Congress and South First Street. >>>CHECK PRICES
If you prefer to stay in an apartment, then Booking also has some amazing vacation apartments in Austin. There are also various options for Airbnbs too, take a look at some of the rental homes available here.
About the Author
Taiss and Rob of Together To Wherever share their experiences of traveling and living abroad. They enjoy slow travel, together as a family, and staying in places long enough to get to know the cultures and peoples of different locations around the world a little better. You can also find them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Austin Texas Travel Tips
Now we’ve shared our favourite free things to do in Austin, check out our top travel tips to help you book your Austin vacation on a budget:
Getting There
- Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to your destination.
- Public buses are the cheapest ways to get to your accommodation from the airport, but a shared shuttle transfer is quicker and cheaper than a taxi - you can pre-book those on GetYourGuide or Viator
- Try Omio for booking trains and Busbud for buses including Greyhound and Flixbus.
Where to Stay
- For hotels, I use Booking.com to check reviews and find the best deals on hotels and apartments wherever I'm travelling to. Hotels.com is another good site.
- If you're on a tight budget, use Hostelworld to find the best hostels all over the world
Hire a Car
- Get a quote for car hire with Discover Cars who compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose which is best for your trip.
Book Tours and Activities
- I use GetYourGuide or Viator to book everything from skip-the-line entry tickets to food tours as I can compare options from several companies and choose the best one for me
- If you're staying in a hostel, check out their tours and activities which are usually free or very cheap - and a great way to meet people!
Get Travel Insurance
- Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. I never leave home without travel insurance, so consider getting insurance for your trip to cover things like adventure sports and activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, stolen items, trip cancellation and more.
- Get a quote for your trip from True Traveller if you're based in the UK, or World Nomads or SafetyWing which both offer travel insurance for backpackers and long-term travellers. Alternatively, use a comparison site like Travel Insurance Master to find the best cover for you.
Check Your Travel Documents
- Don't forget to check the validity of your passport and any other documents for your trip. Use iVisa to check if you need a visa to visit your destination, and get up to date official travel advice from your government, for example on the Department of State website in the US or the UK government website.
Get Cheap Currency
- When travelling abroad, using a travel bank account like Wise means you get great deals on foreign currency - including a fee-free transfer of up to £500 when you use this link to sign up.
Top Money Saving Tip for Backpackers
- Work exchanges are a great way to travel for longer and extend your trip as you can save a ton of money on accommodation. Get an extra $10 discount on Worldpackers here or learn more about work exchanges.
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