48 hours in Austin
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If you haven’t made it to Austin, definitely add it to your bucket list. It’s an amazing city; there’s SO MUCH to see and do, it can be hard to fit it all in. Luckily for you we’ve curated this list of “must-see’s and do’s” for the next time you find yourself in the Lone Star State. Follow our 2-day itinerary and don’t waste any time hitting up all the hottest spots in Austin!
Day 1
Morning
Start your day off right with breakfast tacos at Lupe Tortilla, OR grab some coffee and walk around Town Lake, and end with a breakfast picnic in Zilker Park.
Local tip: Town Lake has several different “loops”, so you can choose whether you want to walk 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 miles.
Burn off your breakfast by walking through the stunning Zilker Botanical Garden and/or the Wildflower Center, and follow that up with a tour of the state capital. Capital tours are usually pretty quick, but definitely worth doing.
Afternoon
Tex Mex is an Austin staple and there are a ton of good choices available, but we suggest you head to Guero’s Taco Bar for some lunch, and then take a tour of one of the many local museums. We highly recommend the Blanton Museum of Art.
Afterwards spend the afternoon wandering through the shops on South Congress, aka the SoCo Shopping District. The avenue is full of interesting, unique Austin shops that have a distinctly retro, bohemian vibe. And on the first Thursday of every month, the shops stay open late and you can listen to live music and sample food from all the local restaurants that come out for the event.
Evening
Head to Rainey Street for an Austin-inspired happy hour. We love: Lustre Pearl, Icenhaurs, and Lucille’s.
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Enjoy a great dinner at any of the many restaurants located on Rainey Street, or if you’re looking for something a little more low-key hit up the food truck park also located on Rainey. (The Burro Cheese Kitchen is SO GOOD!)
Day 2
Morning
Start off day 2 in Austin with Breakfast at Elizabeth Street Cafe - The breakfast banh mi is AMAZING. Or if you happen to find yourself in Austin on a weekend, the East Side Tavern offers bottomless mimosas with their breakfast/brunch menu.
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If you didn’t make it to the Wildflower Center the day before, definitely check it out today. And if you still can’t get enough plants, visit East Austin Succulents - it’s a super cool spot and the owners are always bringing in new things so it’s different every time you go.
If you’re not a plant person, you might enjoy the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. It’s both a sculpture garden and a museum, and it’s full of interesting art pieces. They also host events like “yoga in the garden” and “Umlauf after dark”.
Afternoon
After you get your fill of plants, check out a brewery on the east side; The Zilker Brewing Company, Lazarus Brewing Company, and Hops and Grain are all good spots.
You can’t go to Austin and not have BBQ, so make a lunch stop at any of the following places:
Evening
Wind down at the end of the day with cocktails on the east side of Austin. Lustre Pearl East is a great spot if you didn’t hit up on the one on Rainey the day before (or even if you did!) The White Horse, Stay Gold, Craftsman, and Whisler’s are also all really fun places to grab a cold beverage.
We recommend dinner at Matt’s El Rancho- you HAVE to order the Bob Armstrong dip. You’ll thank me later.
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End (or start!) the night with drinks at the Driskill Hotel - It’s right on 6th street, so if you’re not ready to head home afterwards you can visit the infamous “dirty 6th”. OR head west to the West 6th area, or back up to Rainey Street. No matter where you choose to go, the alcohol will be flowing and the nightlife will be hoppin’.
Most likely after 48 hours in Austin you’ll leave and be longing to come back...I know I crave Lupe’s breakfast tacos if I go too long without treating myself. But there’s always something new to do and see, so don’t be a stranger to this city. Stay weird, Austin.