Everyone knows Austin has incredible food and a legendary bar scene. However, Austin offers so much more than tacos and two-stepping. This city rewards the curious. It has world-class outdoor adventures, genuinely bizarre attractions, stunning natural swimming holes, beloved museums, and experiences you simply cannot find anywhere else in the country. This is the complete guide to the best things to do in Austin besides eat and drink.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin Besides Eat and Drink
The best things to do in Austin beyond the food and bar scene include ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, swimming at Barton Springs Pool and Barton Creek Greenbelt, watching the bat colony at Congress Avenue Bridge, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, visiting the Cathedral of Junk and Esther’s Follies, exploring the Texas State Capitol, hiking at Zilker Park and Mount Bonnell, and taking a pottery class at Pot Daddy Studio. Austin has more genuinely unique non-food experiences than almost any other city in Texas.
Why Austin Is More Than Food and Nightlife
Most visitors come to Austin for the tacos, the brisket, and the honky-tonks. Those are all excellent reasons. However, Austin’s identity runs much deeper than its restaurants and bars. The city has a fierce outdoor culture built around spring-fed swimming holes, lake adventures, and miles of trails. It also has a commitment to the weird and creative that produces experiences unlike anything else in the country. Furthermore, Austin has world-class museums, beloved live performance venues, and outdoor spaces that make spending an entire day outside feel effortless. Here is everything worth doing when you step away from the table.
#1 Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — The Best Non-Food Experience in Austin
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single most unique non-food, non-bar experience in Austin. Nothing else in the city creates a shared memory quite like this one. It works for solo travelers, couples, families, and groups of every size.
Here is how it works. You board a boat that takes your group across Lake Travis to Zip Island. This private island is accessible only by water. It sits near Beachside Billy’s and The Oasis on the north shore, about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Once on the island, your group spends three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country. The highlight is the Double Barrel Shotgun, two side-by-side lines stretching over 2,800 feet at speeds up to 65 mph, 22 stories above Lake Travis. The views from up there are genuinely jaw-dropping.
After the tour, your ticket includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Everyone can jump off the boat dock into Lake Travis, relax in hammocks, and enjoy one of the most beautiful spots in all of Texas. Furthermore, the guides are consistently praised for their energy and ability to encourage even the most nervous first-timers.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day lakefront property access
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
- Location: Near Beachside Billy’s and The Oasis on Lake Travis, about 25 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin
- Best For: Everyone, all experience levels, groups of any size
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Spring and fall slots fill up weeks in advance. Book early at laketraviszipline.com to lock in your spot.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures before slots sell out.
#2 Barton Springs Pool — Austin’s Most Beloved Swimming Hole
Barton Springs Pool is a naturally spring-fed pool inside Zilker Park. It stays at a constant 68 degrees year round. It spans three acres and has been a gathering place for Austin families, locals, and visitors for generations. Swimming here on a warm Texas day is one of the most purely joyful experiences the city has to offer. Moreover, it costs less than $10 to get in, and it is free before 8 AM.
The Details
- Address: 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin TX 78746
- Cost: $9 for non-resident adults, free from 5 to 8 AM
- Best For: Everyone, all ages, hot days, morning swims, family outings
- Website: austintexas.gov
#3 Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony — Free and Spectacular
Every evening from March through October, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk. The nightly emergence is the largest urban bat colony in North America. It is completely free to watch. Furthermore, it only takes about 20 minutes and consistently ranks as one of the most memorable experiences visitors have in Austin.
You can watch from the bridge, from the hike and bike trail below, or rent a kayak and watch from the water. The squeaking echolocation fills the air as the bats form fluid dark clouds against the Texas sunset sky.
The Details
- Location: Congress Avenue Bridge, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best Time: Sunset, March through October
- Best For: All ages, first-time visitors, nature lovers
Pro Tip: Grab a breakfast taco from a nearby truck and eat dinner on the bridge while you wait. It turns the experience into a proper Austin evening without needing to spend much money.
#4 Barton Creek Greenbelt — Best Urban Hiking in Austin
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is one of the best urban hiking destinations in the country. Nearly 13 miles of trails wind through limestone canyon walls, swimming holes, and shaded creek beds right inside Austin city limits. The Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls areas are the most popular swimming spots. Rock climbers also love the limestone faces along the trail.
Furthermore, the Greenbelt connects to multiple trailheads across South and West Austin. Whether you want a short 30-minute walk or a full-day hike, this trail system delivers.
The Details
- Location: Multiple access points throughout South and West Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Hikers, swimmers, rock climbers, trail runners, families
- Best Time: Morning, especially in summer
#5 Kayaking and Paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake
Lady Bird Lake sits in the heart of downtown Austin. Kayaking or paddleboarding on the lake gives you a completely different perspective on the city. The skyline view from the water is one of the best in Austin. Multiple rental companies operate along the shore and offer group packages. Additionally, the 10-mile hike and bike trail that circles the lake is completely free and one of the most scenic walks in any American city.
The Details
- Location: Multiple access points along Lady Bird Lake, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free for trail access, rentals from $15 per hour per person
- Best For: Couples, families, morning exercisers, groups
#6 The Cathedral of Junk — Austin’s Most Gloriously Weird Attraction
The Cathedral of Junk at 4422 Lareina Drive in South Austin is one of the most genuinely unique attractions in the entire country. Artist Vince Hannemann has spent decades building a towering, three-story structure entirely from discarded objects. Car bumpers, road signs, guitar necks, shopping carts, CDs, toilets, toys, and thousands of other donated items are carefully constructed into tunnels, towers, rooms, and sculptures in his own backyard. The result is a 60-ton cathedral that looks like nothing else on earth.
Visits are by appointment only and on a donation basis. Call 512-299-7413 to schedule. Wear closed-toe shoes because the terrain is uneven and sometimes sharp. Moreover, Hannemann often greets guests personally and his stories add an entirely different dimension to the experience.
The Details
- Address: 4422 Lareina Dr, Austin TX 78745
- Cost: Donation-based
- How to Visit: Call 512-299-7413 to schedule an appointment
- Best For: Art lovers, photographers, curious minds, anyone who wants to see something truly unique
#7 Esther’s Follies — Austin’s Most Beloved Live Show
Esther’s Follies on Sixth Street is one of the most uniquely Austin experiences you can have indoors. Running since 1977, it is a wildly entertaining cabaret-style show combining stand-up comedy, improv, magic acts, satire, and music. The show pokes fun at Texas politics, current events, and Austin culture in a way that only a nearly 50-year-old institution can pull off. Furthermore, the stage has a glass wall at the back that looks directly onto Sixth Street, which means passersby regularly become unwitting participants in the show.
The Details
- Address: 525 E 6th St, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: Tickets from $30 to $45 per person
- Shows: Thursday through Saturday evenings, check website for current schedule
- Website: esthersfollies.com
#8 Texas State Capitol — Free and Genuinely Impressive
The Texas State Capitol is one of the most impressive public buildings in the country. It stands 14 feet taller than the United States Capitol in Washington DC. Free guided tours run throughout the week and cover everything from the star-crested rotunda and terrazzo floors to the history of Texas independence. The building is still actively in use, which gives tours a weight that purely historical attractions rarely achieve.
The Details
- Address: 1100 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: Free
- Tours: Free guided tours available daily
- Best For: History lovers, first-time visitors, families, architecture enthusiasts
#9 Pot Daddy Studio — Pottery in a Glass Dome
Pot Daddy Studio is one of the most genuinely unique experiences in Austin and one that most visitors never find. This donation-based pottery studio sits inside a stunning glass dome surrounded by trees in West Austin. Two-hour classes are beginner-friendly and led by passionate, knowledgeable instructors. Additionally, the studio has an intimate, peaceful atmosphere that makes it feel completely removed from the energy of the rest of the city. It is a perfect date activity, a creative outlet, or simply a way to spend two hours doing something genuinely memorable.
The Details
- Address: 100 Lake Hills Dr S, Austin TX 78733
- Cost: Suggested donation $50 to $100 per person
- Website: potdaddystudio.com
- Best For: Couples, creatives, date nights, small groups, anyone who wants something truly different
#10 Retro Boats ATX — Vintage Boats on Lady Bird Lake
Retro Boats ATX rents fully restored 1958 vintage fiberglass boats on Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin. You captain the boat yourself. The boats have names like Gidget, Lola, Trixie, and Edith, and the experience of cruising past the Austin skyline in a 1958 boat is genuinely unlike anything else the city offers. It is a perfect late afternoon activity before sunset.
The Details
- Location: Lady Bird Lake, downtown Austin
- Website: retroboatsatx.com
- Best For: Couples, small groups, date nights, unique Austin experiences
#11 Blanton Museum of Art — World-Class Free Art
The Blanton Museum of Art on the UT Austin campus is one of the finest university art museums in the country. The permanent collection spans 18,000 works across American, European, and Latin American art. However, the real must-see is the Ellsworth Kelly Austin building, a freestanding chapel-like structure featuring stained glass, stone panels, and a totem that makes it one of the most remarkable pieces of public art in Texas. Admission is free every Tuesday.
The Details
- Address: 200 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin TX 78712
- Cost: $12 for adults, free on Tuesdays
- Website: blantonmuseum.org
- Best For: Art lovers, culture seekers, free Tuesday outings
#12 Zilker Park — Austin’s Outdoor Living Room
Zilker Park is the heart of outdoor Austin. The 350-acre park sits on Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake in South Austin. It contains Barton Springs Pool, the Austin Nature and Science Center, the Zilker Botanical Garden, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden, and miles of open lawn. On any given weekend morning the park is full of Austinites exercising, picnicking, playing frisbee, and doing exactly what Austin does best — enjoying the outdoors without any plan at all.
The Details
- Address: 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin TX 78746
- Cost: Free to enter
- Best For: Everyone, especially on weekend mornings
#13 Chicken Sh*t Bingo at Little Longhorn Saloon
Every Sunday at Little Longhorn Saloon, Austin hosts one of its most beloved and baffling traditions. A giant bingo card is laid out inside the bar. Players pay $2 for a number. A chicken is placed on the card. When nature calls, whoever holds the matching number wins the pot. It is completely free to watch, completely ridiculous, and completely Austin. Crowds gather early, live music plays throughout the afternoon, and the whole thing is one of those only-in-Austin experiences that makes no sense until you are standing in the middle of it smiling.
The Details
- Address: 5434 Burnet Rd, Austin TX 78756
- Cost: $2 to play per round, free to watch
- When: Every Sunday afternoon
- Website: thelittlelonghornaloon.com
#14 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in southwest Austin is 279 acres of native Texas landscapes, botanical gardens, and wildflower meadows dedicated to the former First Lady who helped define the Texas Hill Country experience. In spring, the gardens are simply stunning. The stone architecture, native plantings, and sweeping Savanna Meadow views make it one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in Austin.
The Details
- Address: 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin TX 78739
- Cost: $12 for adults, $6 for youth ages 5 to 17
- Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily
- Website: wildflower.org
- Best For: Nature lovers, photographers, families, garden enthusiasts
#15 Haunted ATX Hearse Tour
Haunted ATX offers one of the more memorable tours in Austin. Your group rides through the city in a converted hearse limousine while guides share the genuinely dark and fascinating history behind Austin’s most iconic buildings. The tour blends ghost stories, local history, and theatrical storytelling in a way that makes even a familiar stretch of downtown feel completely new. Tours run three hours and start at $49 per person.
The Details
- Cost: From $49 per person
- Duration: 3 hours
- Website: hauntedatx.com
- Best For: History lovers, couples, groups, evening activities
#16 Mount Bonnell — Best Short Hike with a View
Mount Bonnell is the highest point inside Austin city limits. A short steep climb up stone steps rewards you with panoramic views of Lake Austin, the surrounding Hill Country, and the Austin skyline. It is completely free, takes about 15 minutes to reach the summit, and delivers the best view in the city for the least effort of any outdoor activity in Austin.
The Details
- Address: 3800 Mt Bonnell Rd, Austin TX 78731
- Cost: Free
- Best Time: Sunrise or sunset
- Best For: Couples, photographers, quick outdoor adventures
#17 Museum of the Weird — Six Street’s Strangest Attraction
The Museum of the Weird on Sixth Street is housed inside the Lucky Lizard Curios and Gifts shop. Inside you will find mummies, shrunken heads, the Minnesota Ice Man, the Fiji mermaid, life-size wax figures of movie monsters, and three floors of the genuinely bizarre. It is Austin’s answer to a P.T. Barnum dime museum and it is exactly as strange and wonderful as it sounds.
The Details
- Address: 412 E 6th St, Austin TX 78701
- Cost: From $13 per person
- Website: museumoftheweird.com
- Best For: Curious minds, fans of the strange, anyone who wants to keep Austin weird
#18 UMLAUF Sculpture Garden — Free and Beautiful
The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum in Zilker Park features over 200 bronze sculptures displayed through a lushly landscaped outdoor garden. Winding paths connect the sculptures through native plantings, shaded groves, and serene open spaces. It is peaceful, beautiful, and free to visit with a suggested donation. Moreover, the garden hosts regular family days with hands-on art activities for all ages.
The Details
- Address: 605 Azie Morton Rd, Austin TX 78704
- Cost: Suggested donation
- Website: umlaufsculpture.org
- Best For: Art lovers, couples, peaceful outdoor experiences
#19 The Barton Creek Greenbelt Swimming Holes
Beyond the main hiking trail, the Barton Creek Greenbelt has a series of natural limestone swimming holes that fill after rain events. Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls are the most spectacular. After a good rain the water is clear and cold, and the limestone canyon setting is strikingly beautiful. They are completely free. However, they can be dry during periods of drought, so check water levels before heading out.
The Details
- Location: Multiple access points along Barton Creek, South Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best For: Hikers, swimmers, nature lovers
- Note: Check water levels before visiting as they vary seasonally
#20 Retro Boats ATX or Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee
For an evening activity that has nothing to do with a bar, two of Austin’s most beloved lakeside experiences deliver. Retro Boats ATX lets you captain a 1958 vintage boat on Lady Bird Lake at sunset. Meanwhile, Movies on the Lake at Mozart’s Coffee runs every Thursday evening on Lake Austin, where you can watch classic films from a paddleboard, donut boat, or lounge chair floating on the water. Both are genuinely romantic, genuinely Austin, and genuinely unlike anything you can do in most other cities.
The Perfect Non-Food Austin Day
Here is how to build the ultimate Austin day without a single restaurant as the main event.
Morning: Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Start with the biggest outdoor adventure in Austin. Book at laketraviszipline.com.
Midday: Cool off at Barton Springs Pool inside Zilker Park after returning from Lake Travis.
Afternoon: Walk through the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden or explore the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Then stop by the Cathedral of Junk by appointment.
Evening: Watch the bat colony emerge at the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset. Then catch a show at Esther’s Follies on Sixth Street for a perfectly Austin ending to the day.
Frequently Asked Questions — Things to Do in Austin Besides Eat and Drink
What are the best things to do in Austin besides bars and restaurants?
The best things to do in Austin beyond bars and restaurants include ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, swimming at Barton Springs Pool and Barton Creek Greenbelt, watching the Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset, kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, visiting the Cathedral of Junk, seeing a show at Esther’s Follies, exploring the Texas State Capitol, taking a pottery class at Pot Daddy Studio, hiking at Zilker Park and Mount Bonnell, and visiting the Blanton Museum of Art.
What is the most unique thing to do in Austin TX?
The most unique thing to do in Austin TX is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. You board a boat to a private island in the middle of Lake Travis and spend three hours on five world-class ziplines, including the Double Barrel Shotgun, the longest zipline in Texas. After the tour you get full-day access to the private lakefront property. Nothing else in Austin combines outdoor adventure and scenic beauty quite like this. Tickets start at $88 per person. Book at laketraviszipline.com.
What free things can you do in Austin besides eat and drink?
The best free things to do in Austin beyond food and bars include watching the Congress Avenue Bridge bats at sunset, hiking and swimming at the Barton Creek Greenbelt, walking the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail, visiting Zilker Park, climbing Mount Bonnell for panoramic city views, exploring the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden, and visiting the Texas State Capitol on a free guided tour. The Blanton Museum of Art is also free every Tuesday.
What is the most famous outdoor activity in Austin TX?
The most famous outdoor activity in Austin TX is swimming at Barton Springs Pool, a naturally spring-fed three-acre pool inside Zilker Park that stays at 68 degrees year round. However, the most thrilling outdoor activity in Austin is ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures, where you fly over Lake Travis at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above the lake. Reservations are required at laketraviszipline.com.
Austin Is More Than You Think
Austin’s food and drink scene is genuinely world-class. However, the city does not stop there. From 60-ton junk cathedrals and bat colonies to spring-fed swimming holes and Hill Country ziplines, Austin rewards every type of traveler who looks past the obvious.
Start your Austin adventure with the best experience the city has to offer. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures at laketraviszipline.com before your slot sells out. Then fill the rest of your Austin trip with everything else on this list.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, Most Unique Things to Do in Austin TX, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.