About Austin

Every night in Austin there are more bands on stage than any other place on Earth - they don’t call it the Live Music Capital for nothing!

Combined with a thriving film and art scene plus a food truck on nearly every corner and you get a city living up to its motto “Keep Austin Weird.”

The city is also home to our famous family of bats under the Congress Avenue bridge and hosts the only Formula 1 race in the United States.

Central Texas is the place to be based on all the latest rankings!

• Austin is one of the 15 Happiest Cities in America

• Austin is America’s Best College Town

• Austin, Texas, is the No. 1 Best Place to Live (for the 3rd year in a row)

• Austin has the Hottest Labor Market in the U.S.

• Austin is No. 2 on ranking of the Hottest Startup Cities in America

• Austin is the best city in the U.S. for overall real estate prospects in 2020

 

Named for Stephen F. Austin, the so-called "Father of Texas," Austin is the center of the Lone Star State and is the gateway to the Texas Hill Country and the Highland Lakes.

As the state capital and home to the University of Texas, the city supports a politically charged and culturally rich environment. Austin is hip and high-tech and boasts a huge creative population of musicians, artists, and filmmakers.

Austin Chronicle Daily Calendar of Events

DOWNTOWN

Visit the Capitol, 6th Street, the Warehouse District, the 2nd Street Design District, the Convention Center, the Long Center for Performing Arts, Whole Foods Headquarters Flagship Store, and the Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike trail and river for kayaking and to watch millions of bats.

UT CAMPUS

The UT campus features the Harry Ransom Center, the Bass Performing Arts Center, the Blanton Museum of Art, the LBJ Library and Museum, and the Erwin Center.

SOUTH AUSTIN

South Austin sites include the South Congress SOCO District, Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool, Barton Springs Restaurant Row, and St. Edward's University.

LIVE MUSIC

Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, so come join us for South By Southwest (SXSW), the Austin City Limits Festival, or for concerts at any of our numerous live-music venues in the 6th Street district.

SHOPPING

Enjoy shopping at the new Mueller development, Whole Foods Market, the Central Market organic grocery store, Triangle Park, and the Farmer's Market. The Domain in North Austin offers fine shopping Dallas-style and IKEA fulfills your Swedish modern dreams.

NATURE

Get out in nature at one of the numerous Texas State Parks within a one-hour drive of Austin.  Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or the Botanical Gardens at Zilker Park.  Enjoy sailing and waterskiing at nearby Lake Travis and Lake Austin.

AUSTIN FILM

The Cottage is located 5 minutes from Austin Studios.  Austin is home to Friday Night Lights filming.

Austin Film Society
AGLIFF Film Festival
Austin Film Festival