Top Austin How to Get Around

Getting out on Lake Austin doesn’t require booking a private boat. This shared BYOB cruise offers a more budget-friendly way to enjoy the water, with a captain to handle the navigation. Glide through the Texas Hill Country, passing waterfront homes and green shoreline, while you relax onboard, take in the views, and enjoy the convenience of the onboard coolers.

Avoid traffic and swap busy city sightseeing tours for something a bit more peaceful—a relaxing sunset cruise on Lake Austin. This tour showcases views of Mount Bonnell, Mr “Alright, Alright, Alright’s” Lake House, and a place nicknamed “Little Venice” with luxurious mansions. Ride in a comfortable pontoon boat equipped with a cooler and ice, so you can BYOB and enjoy a laid-back ride on the lake.

Austin is filled with stories of the past, which is what makes it a great city. Instead of exploring the city with your nose in a guidebook, book this engaging historical walking tour. Discover Downtown Austin's rich history and its transformation into a vibrant city. Hear intriguing stories of bold Austinites who shaped Texas' capital, while exploring historic sites and architectural treasures.

Hear the historical tales of murder and mayhem that helped make Austin weird on this haunted history tour of Texas's capital city. Join an acclaimed storyteller guide for a group walking tour through Austin's supernatural nooks and creepy crannies, including a tour of the famous Driskill Hotel. The short tour takes place in the evening so you can easily fit it into busy schedules.

This is our star tour, showing the very best speakeasy bars Austin has to offer—each with its own unique theme. We begin right at sunset at a hidden speakeasy disguised as a travel agency just outside downtown. This tiki-themed venue features vibrant, exotic décor, theatrical drinks, and unmatched creativity. From there, we head to a hidden luxury speakeasy tucked inside a casual Mexican restaurant, where the atmosphere and décor are breathtaking and the aesthetic alone is enough to consider this location one of Austin's best speakeasies! We then journey through the heart of downtown, sharing Austin’s rich history while passing landmarks such as the Texas State Capitol and the famously haunted Driskill Hotel. Then we slip into an exclusive speakeasy—accessible only by invitation—hidden in a back alley behind the Driskill. Intimate and luxurious, it serves some of the most unforgettable cocktails you’ll ever taste. This isn’t just a tour—it’s Austin’s ultimate speakeasy experience.

If you’re looking for the flexibility to take a tour through Austin whenever your group wants to and is ready to go, book this Austin Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour. This audio tour gives you hours of stories about history and Texas culture as you ride around to different areas of Austin, including downtown, in the comfort of your own private vehicle. Plus, the easy-to-use app means you can play this audio tour any day at any time.

Ideal for foodies and hungry visitors, this Austin food tour lets you explore the city’s culinary scene without hours of research. Join a guide and small group to sample numerous foods—from barbecue brisket to Austin-style breakfast tacos and even an Italian cannoli. Choose from two areas: downtown or South Congress, and discover some of the city’s popular sights and attractions as you stroll the streets.

Save on costs without sacrificing quality on this small-group Lake Austin boat tour. Enjoy a social atmosphere as your captain shares insightful commentary and enhances your experience on the water. Cruise past top landmarks such as the Austin Country Club, Emma Long Metropolitan Park, and Tom Miller Dam while you relax and take in the beautiful lakeside scenery.

Discover the beauty of Lake Austin with ease, thanks to this scenic boat adventure. Instead of encountering expensive bar tabs, you can benefit from the flexibility of a BYOB experience, so you can bring your favorite drinks with you. On board, enjoy plenty of amenities, including an ice cooler, bottled water, and a speaker to play your favorite tunes.

If you want to see the hordes of bats that fly through Austin each night but don’t want to do so from the Congress Avenue Bridge, book this Downtown Austin Sunset and Bats Kayak Tour that lets you view the bats and the beautiful sunset from the water. A guide leads you and others out in your kayaks and knows the best areas to stop for viewing. Plus, all necessary equipment is provided for you.

Many of the bat tours that set out on Lady Bird Lake in Austin are filled with so many people, it can be hard to see where your guide is leading you, but not with this Austin Bats Sunset Small-Group Kayak Tour. This tour sets out at sunset with just 12 for a more intimate experience. Take in views from your kayak of the Mexican free-tailed bats as they fly above Congress Avenue Bridge.

Cover more ground during this Austin Small-Group E-Bike Tour than if you booked a walking tour of the city. This bike tour provides you with an e-bike and helmet so you can explore Austin’s most popular attractions and sights as you pass by them with a guide leading the way. Plus, your guide tells you about the city and ideas that go far beyond just the normal tourist path.

Hop aboard an open-air pedicab for a relaxing jaunt around Austin with a guide. Find out why this city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” by traveling to venues and sites such as the statues of Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Antone's Home of the Blues, Armadillo World Headquarters, and more.

Experience Austin's live music scene on a tour led by a guide. Visit as many as three iconic clubs and up-and-coming venues and enjoy hearing live music with a group of fun fellow travelers. Don't get caught listening to cover bands, listen to authentic music in one of the world's music capitals.

Hear stories about Austin’s Old West history and spooky unexplained happenings—and discover many of its most atmospheric drinking dens—on this two-in-one Old West ghost tour and pub crawl. Meet your guide in the evening in central Austin and get ready to explore. Visit multiple bars and historical landmarks over the course of the tour, with a dose of storytelling—and chances to buy drinks—at each stop.

See Austin from a unique perspective on this evening tour of the city's sights. Leave the route planning and traffic navigation up to your guide, as you enjoy a narrated driving tour with a stop at the Texas State Capitol. Pass by the Bremond District, and take in scenic views of Lady Bird Lake and Tom Miller Dam. When in season, cap off your evening with a boat cruise to Congress Avenue Bridge. Watch thousands of bats emerge as the sun sets. Travel comfortably in an air-conditioned Mercedes Metris van while avoiding long lines and crowds.

Grab your favorite people, head to Lake Austin, and get ready to soak up the sun with this private party boat adventure just for your guests. Hop aboard your pontoon boat just a stone's-throw from Downtown Austin, and let your captain safely pilot the boat while you spend time enjoying your friends and admiring the views. You can cruise to Lake Austin Party Cove to meet up with fellow partiers, see Mt. Bonell, and of course, enjoy the Texas sunshine.

Escape busy local buses and see Austin in style, with this private highlights tour. Enjoy the thrill of traveling in an open-top Ford Bronco, and check off lots of key landmarks—such as Lady Bird Lake, the grounds of the Texas Capitol, and Mount Bonnell. Also, as it’s a private trip, you can ask questions throughout and get a more personalized service.

Head off the usual tourist trail to uncover Austin’s sinister side on this guided walking tour through the city's most haunted and historic sites, covering about 2 miles (3.2 km) of the downtown area. Begin at The Tavern, once a Prohibition-era hotspot and now home to ghosts, before visiting eerie landmarks like the Texas Capitol, Paramount Theatre, and the Driskill Hotel, famous for its haunted bridal suite and lingering spirits. Along the way, hear chilling accounts of the "Servant Girl Annihilator", the UT Tower shooting, and whispers of the modern-day “Rainey Street Ripper.”

If you want to see more of Austin in less time—without getting jammed into a tour bus—book this e-bike tour perfect for seeing the sights, while enjoying Austin's fantastic weather. Hop on your pedal-assist e-bike, and follow your guide to Austin's famous murals, city landmarks, and University of Texas buildings. Along the way, take in views of the downtown skyline, and visit the Texas State Capitol building.

Get to know Austin on a leisurely morning walk with a nationally acclaimed storyteller as your guide. Learn little-known stories about the city, get inside tips on the best coffee shops, restaurants, and live music venues, and explore the city like a local. This tour helps you avoid tourist traps to make the most of your visit to Austin. Great for kids and adults alike, learn about the city in a fun, low-key way.

Save time looking up bus schedules and opt for this hassle-free Austin sightseeing bus tour instead. Travel on a loop around the city that passes by top landmarks in Austin’s downtown area. Along the way, listen to commentary from a guide, get great photos from the top deck, or sit in the climate-controlled lower deck. Highlights include 6th Street, The Driskill hotel, Texas State Capitol, and the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

Lake Austin is especially scenic at sunset, but organizing a boat rental or navigating the water yourself takes effort. On this small-group cruise, a captain handles the steering while you relax on the water and enjoy sunset views over the Texas Hill Country. With a BYOB setup and plenty of space to relax, you can unwind and take in the scenery without the crowds of larger sightseeing boats.