Austin Tourist Attractions

There are many tourist spots in Austin, Texas for visitors to enjoy. Home to about 1 million people, the city offers a large variety of family-friendly attractions for any occasion.

Austin Zoo

Address: 10808 Rawhide Tr., Austin, TX 78736

The Austin Zoo was established in 1994 in southwestern Austin. It is accredited by the Zoological Association of America.

Austin Zoo assists animals in need through rescue, conservation, and education. It has different species, including lions, tigers, monkeys, black bears, ring-tailed lemurs, and porcupines.

Its aviary facilities house African grey parrot, Amazon parrot, sulfur-crested cockatoo, white umbrella cockatoo, military macaw, blue and gold macaw, and rainbow lorikeet, among others.

Also exhibited at the zoo are cougars, bobcats, zebras, ostriches, axis deer, and llama, alligators, among others. The farm animal area allows visitors to feed the goats, pigs, and sheep.

Austin Zoo is home to over 300 animals from over 100 different species. In 2017, it received more than 230,000 visitors. The facility also has a train depot that provides rides to the east of the park.

Admissions to the zoo are $ 9.00 for adults, $ 8.00 for students, military and senior citizens, and $ 6.00 for children 12 years old and below.

Texas State Capitol

Address: 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701, United States

The Texas State Capitol is 92-meters tall, making it one of the tallest state capitol buildings in the US. It is the seat of government of the state of Texas in downtown Austin. It houses the offices and chambers of the Texas Legislature and the Governor of Texas.

The building was designed in 1881 and constructed from 1882 to 1888. An underground extension to the building was completed in 1993.

The capitol building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Visitors are welcome at the state capitol on a guided hour-long tour for around $15.

Boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake

Address: 1820 S Lakeshore Blvd, Austin, TX 78741, United States

The hike and bike trails at Lady Bird Lake are ideally located in the urban path along the edge of the lake and pass by skyscrapers, neighborhoods, ball fields, and cultural attractions in Austin.

The lake provides the best location for outdoor recreation in the city of Austin. The scenic, natural environment and diversity attract visitors from different parts of the world annually.

The Boardwalk portion was completed in June 2014 and now serves as a transportation route for the growing urban population.

Named after the former mayor of Austin and his wife, Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, the lake is visited by more than 2.5 million visitors a year. Its 10-mile trail is Austin’s most recognized and popular recreational area.

McKinney Falls State Park

Address: 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744, United States

McKinney Falls State Park was opened in 1976. The park is about 10 miles southeast of Austin. It is administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The park is part of the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.

Visitors come here to cool off during hot months. The park has hiking and biking trails and several overnight facilities for campers.

It is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park office welcomes visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The entrance fee is $6 daily. Children below 12 years can get in for free.

The campsites at the park cost approximately $20 a night, excluding the daily fee.

Zilker Hillside Theatre

Address: 2201 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78701

Dedicated to the preservation of the Broadway musical, the venue provides musicals at this outdoor amphitheater attended by more than 60,000 patrons annually.

The Zilker Hillside Theatre is an outdoor concert amphitheater in the Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The audience sits on one side of the stage, while the stage sits on the other side. The Hillside Theater is operated by the City of Austin.

Zilker Hillside Theatre also presents an annual music and arts festival. This beautiful theatre is available for private events, weddings, and corporate events. It is perfect for celebrations, ceremonies, or anything you could imagine.

All performances and cultural events at the venue are free and open to the public.

Bob Bullock Museum

Address: 1800 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas

Opened in 2001, the Bullock Texas State History Museum was named after Texas governor Bob Bullock. It is located a few blocks north of the Texas State Capitol at 1800 North Congress Avenue in Austin.

Operated by the Texas State Preservation Board, the institution provides the best educational experiences to local and foreign visitors.

The Texas History Gallery on the ground floor explores more than 16,000 years of Texas history. The exhibition examined the early American Indian civilizations before the arrival of European settlers.

The third-floor houses culture and technology, including the history of ranching, oil, civil rights, science, and space exploration.

Entrance to the Bob Bullock Museum costs $9.00 - $13.00.

Zilker Metropolitan Park

Address: 2207 Lou Neff Rd, Austin, TX 78746, USA

The Zilker Metropolitan Park is a public recreational area in the city of Austin next to Lady Bird Lake. Founded in 1917, the area was further developed into a park during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

It serves today as a hub for many recreational activities such as hiking and biking along Lady Bird Lake and into the park.

This 361-acre park is nestled in the heart of downtown, right off Lady Bird Lake. The park has picnic facilities, bike, and canoe rentals, a disc golf course, a large playground for children, and many more.

It also hosts large-scale events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival.

The park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.