In Austin, the summers are hot and oppressive; the winters are short, cold, and windy; and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 43°F to 97°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 102°F.
According to this method, Austin has a median household income of $55,216 but only $53,225 is required to live comfortably, according to the 50-30-20 rule. By that formula, if you're an Austin resident making more than $55,000, you'll have a little over $1,000 left to spend at the end of every year.
17 Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In Austin
- Vigilante Gastropub & Games.
- Blazer Tag Adventure Center.
- Dart Bowl.
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Ritz.
- Punch Bowl Social Austin.
- iFLY Austin.
- Austin Bouldering Project.
- Maze Rooms Austin.
- Cook up a storm. A cold winter's night is the perfect time to cook up something warm, like a carrot-coconut soup or a beef stew.
- Play truth or dare.
- Host a beer tasting for two.
- Have a game night!
- Find a fireplace.
- Make it a weekend.
- Plan a trip.
- Cuddle up for a movie night.
Winters range from warm to cool, with the average daily high temperatures mostly above 61°F (16.1°C). Nights rarely drop below freezing and mostly remain over 40°F (4.4°C) even in the cold season. The spring and autumn seasons tend to be pleasant with comfortable weather conditions.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN AUSTIN FOR THE HOLIDAYS
- See the magical gingerbread village at the Four Seasons.
- Go ice skating on the roof of Whole Foods.
- Join in the Holiday Singalong and Downtown Stroll.
- See Santa on the Terrace at the Long Center.
- Ride the North Pole Flyer.
- Build a gingerbread house at the Thinkery.
- Run in the annual Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run!
Austin, Texas crime rates are considerably lower than the national average. Compared to similarly-sized metro areas, Austin is actually one of the safest big cities in the country. According to a 2019 safety report compiled using FBI crime statistics, Austin is the eighth safest city in the country.
Best time of year to visit TexasThat's why periods March to May and September to November are the best time to visit Texas. The reason is mostly mild and comfortable weather. Winter in Texas is a good time for budget travel but you can't go wrong if you bring a warm jacket with you.
10 of the Most Beautiful Cities in Texas
- Fredericksburg. Credit: tpwd.texas.gov.
- Jefferson. The Lone Star Carriage Company Of Jefferson Texas.
- Wimberley. nan palmero via Flickr.
- Canyon. tpwd.texas.gov.
- Port Isabel. Credit: tpwd.texas.gov.
- Rockport. rockport-fulton.org.
- Salado. Salado Chamber of Commerce.
- Marble Falls.
The most dangerous areas in Austin is based on data from the local law enforcement agency and when not available, also includes estimates based on demographic data.
- Mlk. Population 4,121.
- Riverside. Population 12,906.
- Saint Johns. Population 9,414.
- Rosewood.
- Bouldin.
- Georgian Acres.
- Pecan Springs Springdale.
- Heritage Hills.
15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Austin
- Austin Duck Adventure. Source: austinducks.com.
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats. Source: Kushal Bose / shutterstock.
- Upstairs Circus. Source: facebook.com.
- Austin Fire Museum. Source: Daderot / Wikimedia.
- Double Decker Austin.
- Congress Avenue Kayaks.
- Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ.
- Bullock Texas State History Museum.
You should plan to spend around $114 per day on your vacation in Austin, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Also, the average hotel price in Austin for a couple is $90. So, a trip to Austin for two people for one week costs on average $1,589.
The best times to visit Austin are September to November or March to May, when 70s and 80s are the anticipated daytime temperatures. As temperatures climb into the mid- to high 90s with high humidity, the Texan summer (June through August) is barely tolerable for unaccustomed visitors.
The bats do continue to fly out every single night, but some nights they are very difficult to see. By the first week of November, the bats have begun to migrate, for it is starting to get cold and there is low visibility. Every morning, the bats return to the bridge about 30 minutes before sunrise.
A Walking Tour of Austin, Texas
- Start at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
- Linger by Littlefield Fountain.
- Visit Blanton Museum of Art.
- Stop by the Texas Capitol building.
- Stroll along historic Congress Avenue.
- Eat and drink on Sixth Street.
- Catch some tunes in the Red River Street Cultural District.
- Admire the views and bats off South Congress Bridge.
There are 10 miles of trails and boardwalks around the lake and tons of green space, making it the go-to running, dog walking, picnicking, and cycling spot for Austin locals. And it doesn't hurt that the views of downtown are amazing! Our favorite way to explore Lady Bird Lake is to get on the water and go kayaking!
Here's our 2 day weekend in Austin, Texas itinerary!
- Epoch Coffee.
- Franklin Barbecue.
- Texas State Capitol Building.
- Lick's Honest Ice Creams.
- Beautiful Murals of Austin.
- Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail.
- Bats Under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
- Rainey Street Historical District.
It really depends on your plans. Austin is a sprawled out city with lots to do in the burbs, but you can set it up where you never need more than a walk or bike. It sounds like you'll probably be hanging out within one or two neighborhoods (near 6th I'd imagine), which means you wouldn't need a car.
The 7 Foods You Absolutely Must Eat in Austin
- Micklethwait Craft Meats | Micklethwait Craft Meats.
- Taco Joint | Anastia Uriegas.
- Lucy's Fried Chicken | John Davidson.
- Via 313 | Anastacia Uriegas.
- La Condesa | Courtesy of La Condesa.
- Tamale House East | Thomas Allison/Thrillist.
- Austin Kolache & Koffee.
50 Cheap & Free Things to Do in Austin, TX
- Go on a Historic Tour. Get out there and be a part of Austin's history.
- Rent a Bike.
- Visit Zilker Park.
- Take the Games Outside.
- Explore the Hill Country.
- Experience A Summer Music Series.
- See the Cathedral of Junk.
- Visit the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden.
10 Things to Do in Downtown Austin
- The Boardwalk. Park, Hiking Trail.
- SFC Farmers' Market Downtown, Austin. Farmers' Market, Street Food.
- Bob Bullock Museum. Building, Museum, Store, Theater, University.
- Esther's Follies. Bar, American, $$$
- State Capitol Building.
- Kayak Town Lake.
- The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center.
- Swing Dance at The Fed.
7 Cool Things To Do in Austin at Night
- Park at the Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in.
- Grab a club at Peter Pan Mini Golf.
- Watch movies at Deep Eddy Pool.
- Channel your inner wolf at Barton Springs Pool.
- Sneak around the Firehouse Hostel.
- Explore the wild and wacky at the Museum of the Weird.
- Share a laugh at Esther's Follies.
19 Must-Visit Attractions and Things To Do in Austin
- Franklin Barbecue. Bakery, Diner, Market, Restaurant, BBQ, $$$
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. Building, Forest, Museum, Park, University.
- Texas Capitol.
- Blanton Museum of Art.
- Broken Spoke.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
- The Continental Club.
- Barton Springs Pool.
Austin is known for a lot of things, but its walkability isn't one of them—in fact, it's a middling 33rd most walkable in the country, by at least one metric, which gives it a walk score of 40 out of 100.
Best places to take visitors in Austin, TX
- The Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake. 4.6 mi. 87 reviews.
- Mount Bonnell. 1.4 mi. 406 reviews.
- Greetings From Austin Postcard Mural. 4.0 mi.
- South Congress “SoCo” 4.0 mi.
- The Color Inside: A Skyspace by James Turrell. 1.9 mi.
- 360 Scenic Overlook. 3.8 mi.
- Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata. 3.1 mi.
- Mayfield Park. 1.0 mi.
9 Awesome Things To Do in Austin's Outdoors with the Whole Family
- Going Underground.
- Spending a Day on Lady Bird Lake.
- Cooling Off at Barton Springs Pool.
- Taking a Hike Through a Tropical Forest.
- Camping and Stargazing at Pedernales Falls State Park.
- Ziplining through the Treetops.
- Canoeing the Lower Colorado.
The best areas to stay in Austin, Texas
- Best area: 6th Street District. Austin's 6th Street District is techinally a part of Downtown Austin, but has a unique character that makes it have its own entry on this list.
- Downtown Austin.
- East Austin.
- Around the University of Texas campus.
- South Congress Avenue.
