10 Must to Visit Tourist Attractions in Austin [Best Places to Visit]

Austin also known as the ‘live music capital of the world’ is a city in the state of Texas. It the capital of the state of Texas and also the home for Formula 1’s Circuit of the Americas raceway and center for the film. It is the 11th most populous city in United States and 4th most populous in Texas.

The city has a population of 8,85,400 with an area of 704 sq. km. The city was named after Stephen F. Austin and the residents of the city are called as the Austinites. In this article, we have provided you the list of the top 10 must to visit tourist attractions in Austin.

10 Must to Visit Tourist Attractions in Austin

1. Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird lake is a reservoir located at the downtown in the city of Austin, Texas. It is a 189 hectares lake in the Colorado River flowing through the city of Austin. The lake was created in the year 1960 and it is owned and operated by the city of Austin within the cooperation of Colorado River Authority. It is a major recreational attraction in the city Austin with the system of hike and biking on the shoreline of the lake.

The trail is the oldest urban path for hike and biking and also the longest trail designed only for biking without motors. It is maintained by the Trail Foundation as a non-profit.

2. Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs Pool is a public swimming pool located in the city of Austin. The timing of the pool is 5:00 am to 10:00 pm from Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, 5:00 am to 9:00 am and 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Thursday.

The pool is a popular venue for swimming year around due to good temperature in summer and winter. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Austin.

3. Zilker Park

Zilker Park is a recreational park located in the city of Austin. The park operates from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. It was named after Andrew Jackson Zilker who has donated land for the park. It was designed by the architects Page, Charles H., Dale, Fred A. in the modern architectural style. It was opened in the year 1971 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The park is a home venue for the events such as Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Austin.

4. Lake Austin

Lake Austin, formally knows as the Lake McDonald is a reservoir in the city of Austin. The lake was built in the year 1939 and it is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority. Lake Austin is a water reservoir also used for flood control, electrical power generation, and recreation.

The lake is also home for the Pennybacker Bridge which was built on the lake. The lake is considered as having a good stock of largemouth bass and also a popular destination for boating and fishing. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Austin.

5. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, also known as the LBJ Presidential Library is located in the city of Austin. The library operates daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. It was opened on 22nd May, 1971 and it is administrated by National Archives and Records Administration.

The library was designed by the architects Gordon Bunshaft, R. Max Brooks in modern architecture, and monolithic architecture styles. The library houses the collection of 45 million pages of historical documents and the museum was named after the president Lyndon B. Johnson.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Austin

6. Zilker Botanical Garden

Zilker Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in the city of Austin. The timing of the garden is 7:00 am to 7:00 pm daily. It is located on the bank of Colorado River at Barton Springs Road, near downtown Austin. The Garden was established in the year 1955 with an area of 31 acres of land.

The Garden has a varied topography and features several independently maintained garden like Mabel Davis Rose Garden, City of Austin’s Green Garden, Herb and Fragrance Garden and Hartman Prehistoric Garden. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Austin.

7. The Paramount Theatre

The Paramount Theatre is a movie theatre in the city of Austin. It was built in the year 1915 and having a capacity of 320 viewers at a time. It is located in the downtown of the city Austin. The building was designed in classical revival style by the architect John Eberson.

The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places and it is managed by the Paramount Theater & State Theater Company Board of Directors. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Austin for the entertainment.

8. Elisabet Ney Museum

The Elisabet Ney Museum is a museum located in the city of Austin. The museum remains closed on Monday and Tuesday and operates 12:00 to 5:00 pm from Wednesday to Sunday. It was opened in the year 1892 with 1 hectare of land.

The museum is owned by the City of Austin and managed by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. It houses the collection of the sculptor Elisabet Ney and displays her history, life and works. The museum has portrait busts and personal memorabilia of Elisebet Ney on display.

9. St. Mary’s Cathedral, Austin

St. Mary’s Cathedral is a cathedral for Catholic Diocese of the city Austin, Texas. The cathedral was opened in the year 1884 with an area of 2428 sq. meters. The building was designed by architect Nicholas J. Clayton in the Gothic Revival Style. The Cathedral is a popular tourist attraction in the city of Austin and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

10. Emma Long Metropolitan Park

Emma Long Metropolitan Park is a municipal park in the city of Austin. The Park operates from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. It is located on the City Park Rd, Austin. The Park was created in the year 1939 with an area of 1142 acres. It was originally called as the City Park and operated by the City of Austin Park Department. It is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Austin.