59 Best Sights in Austin, Texas

The historic home and studio of sculptor Elisabet Ney is a lovely gem in the Hyde Park neighborhood that showcases Ney's life and work, with more than 70 sculptures on display. Ney's studio, where she produced sculptures of historic figures, like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, is set up as she would have had it, with sculpting tools, hat, teacup, and other items all in their proper places. The castle-like home is surrounded by native prairie grasses and more outdoor sculptures. Check their online events calendar for well-attended community events, family-friendly art classes, nature walks, and seasonal festivals.

Opened in 2023 with great fanfare, this historic post office–turned–new-neighborhood-bookstore and café has quickly become an always-happening Hyde Park institution. Early birds show up at the walk-up window and charming front patio seating for coffee and select baked goods starting at 9 am. The cozy, brightly colored interiors stay filled throughout the day, with small groups browsing the curated shelves of books, periodicals, and children's literature, and remote workers perched at a small smattering of tables and counter space. The shop stays open until 9 pm, and it's next door to a wonderful Tiny Grocer location and the Bureau de Poste restaurant. Check their events calendar in advance for free community events like author talks, book signings, and live outdoor music.

Abner Cook, a leading architect of his day, designed this mansion, one of Austin's most elegant dwellings. Since 1865, this building has been the home of every Texas governor since the state's fifth, Elisha Marshall Pease. Constructed of bricks made in Austin and wood from nearby forests, the two-story National Historic Landmark bears the marks of those who have lived here, including James Hogg, the governor who, to keep his children from sliding down the banister on their rears, hammered tacks into the railing (the tack holes are still visible). Many fine furnishings, paintings, and antiques are on display, including Sam Houston's bed and Stephen F. Austin's desk. Free 20-minute tours are available if you reserve in advance.

If you're in need of an Instagram-able memento of your trip to the capital city, head to the Greetings from Austin mural on South 1st Street. The welcoming phrase is depicted in the form of a colorful 1940s-inspired postcard that draws crowds of snapshot-happy visitors for a quick photo op. On any given day, you'll see tour bus groups, costumed bachelorette parties, high-end fashion shoots, and even locals taking their annual Christmas card photo with an on-site Santa Claus, at this popular public artwork. The mural is on the side of Roadhouse Relics, a small art studio and gallery showcasing the incredible work of local neon artist Todd Sanders.

Located on the UT campus, this oft-overlooked Austin institution is one of the world's greatest arts archives and humanities research centers. Among its fantastic riches are original self-portraits by Frida Kahlo, Einstein's notebook calculations on general relativity, Robert De Niro's archive of film costumes, and a complete copy of an original Gutenberg Bible. Tour the permanent and rotating exhibits, access millions of rare literary documents, photos, scripts, and artistic artifacts in the Reading Room, or check the monthly events calendar for special poetry readings, film screenings, and various artist-led discussions. Certain research materials can only be seen with advance notice, so call ahead if you have a specific item in mind.

This simple mural, featuring the phrase "i love you" scrawled in red spray paint on the side of Jo's Coffee on South Congress, has become an unlikely art installation and permanent photo op for locals and visitors alike. On any given day, you could see a couple getting their engagement photos snapped or families taking their Christmas card portraits in front of the cheekily scrawled love letter. Lines for a quick photo in front of the now-famous green wall can stretch around the block, especially on weekends, but it doesn't seem to matter to most folks who use the same line to queue up for one of Jo's signature lattes and turbo cold brews.

This Mesozoic-era karst cavern 24 miles north of Austin was discovered in 1963 and opened to the public three years later. Visitors enter from a 1¼-mile hiking path. Tours vary in length from just a little more than an hour to nearly four hours, the latter not suitable for kids under 13. The temperature is a year-round 72°. Sometimes there are $1 coupons on the website.

This 284-acre site of beautiful botanical gardens and nature trails, located 10 miles south of downtown, was founded in 1982 by Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes, and is the legacy of the former First Lady's commitment to the natural beauty of Central Texas. The gardens boast extensive plantings of native Texas wildflowers that bloom year-round; although spring is an especially magical time. The grounds include a visitor center, network of trails, observation tower, elaborate stone terraces, flower-filled meadows, and rotating outdoor art installations and exhibits. Seasonal calendars include various family-friendly and educational events, from yoga and meditation retreats to gardening workshops.

This locally owned gallery is a one-of-a-kind in the Austin art community, attracting both emerging and established international artists with a modern aesthetic. It features original drawings, sculptures, film, photography, and paintings in its main gallery space. Additionally, the "Project Room" showcases up to six installations annually.

Decidedly un-artsy in its former incarnation as an auto-body shop, this space now hosts an exciting, artist-managed gallery that has launched many a contemporary artist onto the scene. In addition to the 1,500 square feet of gallery space, there are several project studios where local and national artists create new works in a variety of media, making for a singularly unique gallery experience for visitors. Check their online events calendar to see their current programming of seasonal film screenings, musical performances, artist talks, and community outreach activities.

Founded in 1984, this museum in the heart of downtown is a beguiling, moderately-sized showroom devoted to traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latin American art. The permanent collection includes 5,000 works of art, notably historic lithographs, colorful modern prints, silkscreens, etchings, and traditional ritual masks. If you visit during the local Day of the Dead celebrations, don't miss the Viva la Vida Fest hosted here in late October. Admission is free on Sunday.

This sleek, modern-day art gallery in the Canopy Austin studio complex celebrates live music in the form of brilliant rock-and-roll photography. Founder and photographer Steve Walker created this fine art exhibit space in 2014, with whitewashed halls featuring never-before-seen images of the likes of Miles Davis, David Bowie, Paul Simon, and Austin's own son, Stevie Ray Vaughan. It's an incredible spot to snag a bona fide piece of musical history as an Austin souvenir. Check their online events calendar to see an updated list of in-store album releases, special rotating exhibits, and lots of programming during SXSW.

Short story writer William Sydney Porter, better known to the world as O. Henry, rented this modest frame house in Austin from 1893 to 1895. Moved a few blocks from its original location and now nestled among today's downtown high-rises, the quaint museum, filled with O. Henry memorabilia, artifacts, and original drawings, reopened in 2023 after significant but mostly invisible updates to preserve the historic structure and its surrounding Brushy Square Park. The park hosts free community events, including the museum's wildly popular O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships, held every May since 1977.

In 1876, Swedish baker Charles Lundberg built this charming building just south of the Texas Capitol and operated it as a bakery for 60 years. Rescued from demolition after years of neglect, the bakery is now a registered National Historic Landmark owned by the city and remains a beautiful mainstay of Congress Avenue. The Old Bakery & Emporium no longer serves baked goods, but it's still a welcoming space that houses historical collections from Austin's pioneer days. It also features a unique gift shop and an art gallery showcasing handmade artisanal crafts created by citizens aged 50 and over. Every June, they host a Midsummer Festival to honor Swedish American heritage in Texas.

The home of the Austin Football Club, the city's first major professional sports team, is a state-of-the-art soccer stadium located just north of downtown off Burnet Road. There are clear-bag restrictions at the gate, and staff is helpful and informative when it comes to navigating the facility. You'll find an amazing selection of local food stalls, including Black's BBQ, Bao'd Up, and Taco Flats, just to name a few. Check the Austin FC schedule to catch a home game. You'll see fans decked out in green throughout the city as they make their way to the stadium. A bevy of local restaurants, bars, and breweries are nearby for pre- or post-game celebrations.

As war stories go, the most defining for Texas is, of course, the Alamo. While Davy Crockett and James Bowie are the famous names you’ll hear linked with that infamous 1836 battle, it was Susanna Dickinson who, as the brave survivor, carried the news of its fall to Sam Houston. The historic frontier woman became a renowned Texas figure and was dubbed the “Messenger of the Alamo.” Today, her "rubble rock" home, located on the historic Brushy Square Plaza, is open to the public. It showcases her personal belongings and artifacts in a permanent exhibit, with occasional traveling exhibits related to the Alamo and the Republic of Texas era.

Located on the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds, this regal 1890s edifice is the only surviving government building from Austin's first 30 years. Its Gothic style is attributed to its German architect, Conrad Stremme. This 2½-story structure, made of stuccoed stone and brick, opened in 1858 as the first home of the Texas General Land Office. The writer O. Henry worked here as a draftsman and used it as the setting for some of his short stories. Today, the visitor center and gift shop serve as a great first stop when touring the Capitol. The helpful staff can provide maps and brochures for self-guided walking tours of the grounds.

Here you’ll find exhibits dedicated to preserving and honoring the history of the military in Texas, from the inception of the Lone Star State's first militias to the modern war on terror. Heavy artillery, helicopters, uniforms, and tanks are on permanent display in the 45,000-square-foot museum that encourages a hands-on approach. Outdoor exhibits are on display throughout the Camp Mabry grounds and they host living history events, including exciting battle and World War II reenactments, on certain weekends throughout the year. Remember to bring your valid photo ID—you'll need it to get on the Camp Mabry grounds.

Formerly known as the Texas Memorial Museum (a name still etched in the historic building's limestone facade), this UT campus museum had a major revamp in 2023 that included a name change that reflects its true mission—to serve as the only science and natural history museum in the Austin area. Visitors can explore the natural world of Texas, from prehistoric to modern times, with fossils from millions of years ago, life-sized dinosaur models (including a 40-foot-long pterosaur), and dioramas of Texas wildlife, from buffalo and roadrunners to cougars and flying squirrels. Excellent permanent and rotating exhibits are now on view throughout the four-story space, and a partnership with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center plans to provide for native pollinator gardens around the museum exterior.

This 40,000-square-foot children's museum offers a mesmerizing variety of interactive, hands-on exhibits that blend education and play for "learners" of all ages. Explore the STEAM-based programs and themed rooms, like the Light Lab, where you can play architect with fascinating light structures, and an Innovators' Workshop that puts curious minds to work on creative problem-solving. There's a superb playground in the backyard, with climbing structures and water features.

Many local legends attach themselves to Austin's most famous tree. At least 500 years old, this historic live oak (between 5th and 6th Streets) is the last survivor of a sacred group of trees known as the Council Oaks, used in ceremonies and meetings by Native American tribes. The tree's name derives from a legend that Stephen F. Austin negotiated the first boundary agreement between local tribes and settlers underneath its branches. In 1989, a disturbed individual attempted to poison the tree with a powerful herbicide and was later apprehended. Intensive efforts to save the tree were successful, although nearly two-thirds of the Treaty Oak died and it is now a shadow of its former self. Still, it's well worth a visit to pay your respects to this venerable survivor.

This shady enclave adjacent to Zilker Park is where famed sculptor Charles Umlauf lived and worked. Umlauf, who taught at the University of Texas' art department from 1941 to 1981, created an incredibly diverse body of work that ranged in style from realistic to abstract, using such materials as marble, bronze, wood, and terra-cotta. His subjects were equally wide-ranging, from religious figures and nudes to whimsical animals and families. Visitors can admire his works installed throughout the verdant beauty of the house's surrounding gardens, which also hosts special events and community happenings, like food festivals, live music, outdoor yoga classes, and free family days, in addition to a coveted register of weddings.

The centerpiece "skyscraper" of the University of Texas campus is a living piece of Austin history. Still functioning as a university administration office, the 27-floor tower, which shines with bright-white and burnt-orange lights on special occasions and game days, houses rich regional and national experience from the 1930s on. Self-guided tours—complete with 360-degree views of the campus and city from the tower's observation deck—are currently paused due to a historic renovation and restoration initiative scheduled to complete in late 2026.

Winding a little more than 3 miles through the Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park, this paved asphalt loop track is reserved exclusively for bicyclists and rollerbladers. Riders always travel in a one-way, clockwise direction, with designated slow and fast lanes. It's a bit off-the-beaten path, located over 10 miles from downtown, but not far from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The loop track is open every day, from dawn to dusk, and there are no on-site facilities. No dogs or walkers are allowed.

With a collection more akin to a first-class art museum than a commercial gallery, WCC has a long-standing reputation as the go-to place in Austin for serious art collectors. The permanent collection has more than 100 original works, some dating back to the 1600s, including pieces by Rembrandt, Picasso, Matisse, and more displayed year-round. Contemporary artists are also a main attraction here, with work from the likes of Cody Hooper, Michael Kessler, and Yayoi Kusama. Check their website for special events and rotating exhibits hosted throughout the year, and don't miss out on their incredible on-site gift shop.

Contrasting views of the Hill Country and the downtown skyline make it worth the winding country road trip to this gorgeous nature preserve just west of town. Wander among the 227 acres on a network of walking trails or take a guided tour offered on weekends (by reservation only). The cool folks at the on-site research center (partnered with local St. Edward's University) offer numerous outdoor-oriented classes, nighttime stargazing sessions, and even live concerts by local and touring musicians. Reservations to hike the basin trails are not required on weekdays but highly recommended on weekends. Staff closes the gates whenever the parking area is full.

Back in the 1970s, when the mainstream country music scene was based in Nashville, Willie Nelson kept his feet firmly planted in Texas. Playing around Austin at old haunts like the Armadillo World Headquarters, Nelson developed a name for himself strumming his beloved tunes, like the classic "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and his own "On the Road Again." Today, he's a living legend here in town, and in 2012 on, when else, 4/20, he was immortalized with his very own 8-foot-tall bronze statue, complete with his signature braids and his famed guitar Trigger, standing proudly right in front of ACL Live at the Moody Theater.

After nearly 25 years on South Congress Avenue, this contemporary folk art, fine art, and pop art gallery moved its wares to the Canopy artist studios. Founded in 1995, the local gallery features works by artists from the great American South, in addition to Canada and Europe. The modest space is open afternoons (Thursday–Saturday) as well as by appointment.

Across from Zilker Park, this botanical garden has more than 28 acres of horticultural delights, including butterfly trails, bonsai and Japanese gardens, koi-filled ponds, riparian stream beds, and cultivated rose gardens. The enchanting gardens are open year-round (attracting 150,000 annual visitors), but it's best enjoyed outside of the peak Texas summer months. There are also various family-friendly programs and hands-on learning opportunities here, as well as a lively seasonal calendar of special events and festivals.