Where to stay in Austin: plan your trip like a pro

Austin blends live music, leafy trails, great food and smart city amenities into a relaxing break that suits both weekenders and travellers booking extended stays. 

To help you choose where to stay in Austin, this guide maps the city’s key neighbourhoods and highlights standout hotels in each. Use it to choose a base that fits how you like to explore, whether you’re looking for art and culture, outdoor activities or a chance to sample local flavours.

Most of Downtown and its neighbouring blocks are great for walkability as many sights are reachable on foot. The Texas State Capitol is roughly in the centre of Downtown, making it a good place to start exploring. Free tours run several times a day, leading you through the chambers, the soaring rotunda and the leafy grounds of the pink granite landmark. 

At the Blanton Museum of Art, you can wander the world-class collections and step into the Ellsworth Kelly ‘Austin Chapel’. Then switch up the pace and rent a canoe to paddle around the calm waters of Lady Bird Lake. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail forms an approximate 16 kilometre-loop around the lake itself, with boardwalks, bridges and skyline views along the way.

Accommodation picks

• The Driskill: step into an 1886 grande dame on Sixth and Brazos Streets, where a storied lobby bar and some classic Texan decor set the tone for this iconic hotel.
• JW Marriott Austin: towering over Congress Avenue, this polished high-rise pairs a rooftop pool and spa with convenient access to Downtown.
• Fairmont Austin: connected to the Convention Centre by skybridge, this 37-storey stay delivers a rooftop pool and sweeping skyline views.

South Congress Avenue sets a relaxed pace for the day: browse indie boutiques, get fitted for handmade boots at Allens Boots, snag sweets at Big Top Candy Shop then wander through Music Lane’s courtyards between coffee stops and people-watching. 

Make sure to also stop by Jo’s Coffee, where the often-photographed ‘I love you so much’ mural sets an easy-going tone for the day. 

As twilight settles, head to the Congress Avenue Bridge and hop in a kayak to watch the seasonal bat flight take to the sky. In the evening, explore The Continental Club, a 1955 landmark that helped shape Austin’s music scene and continues to feature live music acts almost every night of the week. 

Accommodation picks

• South Congress Hotel: situated right on Congress Avenue, this design-led hotel anchors SoCo with a year-round pool and three restaurants.
• Hotel Magdalena: tucked into Music Lane, this leafy stay blends modern timber design with a relaxed courtyard pool and a music-first vibe.
• Austin Motel: retro to its core, this neon-signed original motel has Mid-Century rooms and a photogenic pool.

Swapping skylines for street art, East Austin’s vibe is artistic and wonderfully walkable. Pocket-size galleries and music spots keep the East's nights lively. On the Tejano Walking Trail, you can follow markers through East César Chávez to discover public art and stories that connect the neighbourhood to its Tejano roots. 

Shift gears with a private pedicab mural tour along East Sixth and César Chávez Streets, pausing for photos while your guide adds the backstory. Finish at the George Washington Carver Museum, a free community space where exhibitions trace Black history and local art.

For food, why not try Franklin Barbecue? Put brisket at the top of your tray, then add spare ribs or some smoked turkey. Backed by national accolades, this iconic spot nails that oak-smoked, salt-and-pepper Central Texas flavour. 

Accommodation picks

• East Austin Hotel: right on East Sixth Street, this boutique hotel has an outdoor pool and terrace. It’s walking distance from Plaza Saltillo, bars and murals.
• ARRIVE Austin: set amid the East Sixth action, this design-forward stay mixes modern rooms with on-site dining and a lively patio bar scene.
• Heywood Hotel: tucked away on a leafy side street, this seven-room boutique hotel leans into craft design with complimentary bikes and a laid-back courtyard vibe.

The Domain and neighbouring Domain Northside are modern open-air districts in North Austin featuring big-name stores, local boutiques and plenty of patios for drinks and bites. Rock Rose is the lively, bar-lined block within Domain Northside where Austin’s nightlife comes alive.

In search of an active getaway? In North Austin, you can practice your golf swing at Topgolf Austin with their tech-assisted drives. There’s also time to suit up at K1 Speed for electric go-karts on a sweeping indoor track, then, if you have any energy left, visit Pinballz Lake Creek for a variety of classic pinball and arcade games. 

Are you a football fan? Well, you can take a ride on the CapMetro’s Red Line to McKalla Station for an Austin FC home game at Q2 Stadium. Trains and rapid buses link North Austin to Downtown, so you can shop, cheer under the lights and be at the riverfront by morning.

Accommodation picks

• Archer Hotel Austin: located in Domain Northside, this hotel pairs warm Texas touches with a seasonal pool.
• The Westin Austin at The Domain: set amid various shops, this contemporary base adds a well-equipped fitness studio and an on-site restaurant.
• Aloft Austin at The Domain: steps from Rock Rose, this upbeat accommodation brings a lively lobby bar, playful design and simple links to Q2 Stadium transport.

This area offers plenty of outdoor spaces and museums to enjoy. Stretch out on Zilker’s grass with leafy skyline views and slip into Barton Springs Pool, a year-round 20–21°C natural spring. 

Find rotating exhibits at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum and head to the Austin Nature & Science Center for hands-on displays and resident wildlife. If you’re timing your trip for a big Texas moment, don’t forget that the Austin City Limits Music Festival lands here each October. 

Accommodation picks

• The Carpenter Hotel: set inside a repurposed 1948 carpenters’ union hall, the hotel's rooms all open to a private terrace and the courtyard centres around Carpenters Hall – the onsite restaurant.
• The Loren Hotel Austin: here, you can take the glass lift to Nido, the hotel's rooftop restaurant. You can also choose to unwind at the on-site spa or rooftop pool.
• Hyatt Regency Austin: facing Lady Bird Lake, this 17-storey hotel has a newly refreshed outdoor pool and on-site rooftop restaurant. This stay is also great for a front-row look at the Congress Avenue Bridge, more commonly known as the Bat Bridge.

Rainey is a neighbourhood that’s both walkable and close to the water. Here, historic houses have been converted into bars and food trucks line the street. 

Drop into the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center for exhibitions and community events that ground Rainey’s creative roots. As evening falls, hop between the area’s bars with a stop at Banger’s Sausage House for bratwursts, over 200 beers and live music. A leisurely wander along the water rounds off the day.

Accommodation picks

• Hotel Van Zandt: the hotel’s on-site venue-restaurant, bars, live music calendar and pool deck make this stay unforgettable.
• The LINE Austin: with an all-day food lineup under one roof, you can start with Alfred Coffee in the lobby, grab tacos from Veracruz All Natural, book dinner at Arlo Grey and toast the sunset at the rooftop lounge – P6.
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown: consider this apartment-style stay. Its suites come with a complimentary hot breakfast, plus access to a rooftop pool.

Austin is easy to like, but even easier to love when you match your base to your pace. Our guide trims all your guesswork and points you toward the best neighbourhoods in Austin. So go ahead, set your dates and book your flights. It’s time to explore the city that rewards curiosity.