The 10 best things to do in Austin, Texas

Congress Avenue Bridge

Nightly crowds assemble on the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk to witness the urban bat colony of Austin take flight from their residence situated on the underside of the bridge across Lady Bird Lake.

The Continental Club

The solid black facade and crimson front doors establish a weathered, slightly gritty tone for this well-loved concert hall.

Blanton Museum of Art

The University of Texas museum features a small but very well-curated collection that spans many genres.

Firehouse Lounge

Tucked away in Austin's oldest fire station (built in 1885), Firehouse Lounge evokes history with Singer sewing machines as tables, an old oxygen tank on the spirits shelf, and rich red damask wallpaper lit by tiny candles.

Barton Springs Municipal Pool

One of the most coveted outdoor spaces in Austin is this enormous public swimming pool, which is supplied by a natural spring.

Firehouse Lounge

Franklin is a prominent figure in Austin's heavyweight barbecue culture, known for its legendary brisket and equally epic lines.

Franklin Barbecue

Rainey Street appears to be a calm residential avenue with picket fences and wooden verandas at first glance, but at night it comes alive.

Rainey Street

"It targets every muscle of the lower body in a way that can simultaneously improve the range of motion of each major joint, like the hips, knees and ankles."

Allens Boots

The aroma of leather fills the air as soon as you enter this South Congress Avenue institution in Austin.

Austin Central Library

With expansive views of Lady Bird Lake and Shoal Creek, the award-winning LEED-certified library is lit up by brilliant bright windows that showcase over 500,000 books.