Top 10 Free Things to do in Austin
You can still have a good time on a no-budget trip to Austin! You will be surprised at how much Austin free stuff you can find! A city of warm-welcomes and community interaction, Austin sponsors many free community programs. Not to mention the beautiful sightseeing you can do in Austin that doesn’t cost you a penny! Check out these free Austin activities and explore Austin on a dime, or less.
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
- Barton Springs Pool
- Blues on the Green
- Mount Bonnell
- Zilker Hillside Theater
- Stargazing at UT Campus
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden
- Texas Memorial Museum
- Elisabet Ney Museum
- Historic Walking Tours
Every sunset from March to November, Austin is home to a spectacular attraction: 1.5 million bats fly out from their roost under the Congress Bridge. They blanket the sunset-stained sky over Ladybird Lake – on their way to hunt. Hundreds of tourists bring blankets and picnic meals to witness this eerie flight. Park your car and join the many watching from the greens! To see more about the Congress Bridge Bats, one of many free things to do in Austin, see: http://www.austin360.com/search/content/events/special/bats.html.
During the early morning hours of 5am – 9am there is no admission fee at Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park. It is free also between 9pm and 10pm. During the nights of the full moon there is usually live music that you can hear while relaxing in the refreshing 68-degree springs. Caution: there are no lifeguards on duty between 5am and 8am. For more information about Barton Springs Pool hours and fees – and other Austin free stuff – see: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm.
107.1 KGSR sponsors a live concert summer series called “Blues on the Green.” Generally hosted in Zilker Park, the event has moved to Waterloo Park. Previous performers have included: Ruthie Foster, Cyril Neville, Jimmie Vaughan, and Papa Mali. Bring a basket of your favorite munchies and listen to the blues under a blanket of stars! For more information about Blues on the Green, another free thing to do in Austin, see: http://www.kgsr.com/Other/blues/index.html.
Drive your car to the top of Mount Bonnell, which looms over Austin and gives you a great view of the urban skyline and Lake Austin. This is a great place to picnic, or just sightsee. Tip: Synchronize your climb up the hill with the sunset and you will see a gorgeous sight! To see more about Mount Bonnell visit: http://www.austinparks.org/apfweb/park.php?&parkId=287
The live concerts performed at Zilker Hillside Theater are always free – however – there is a $3 parking fee. If you can swing public transportation though, you can lounge on the grass and listen to some great jazz, country, or blues – under the stars! To find out more about Zilker Hillside Theater please visit: https://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/hillside.htm.
The University of Texas sponsors a lot of free stuff in Austin! While school is in session, stargazing from the Painter Hall telescope is free on Friday and Saturday nights. The astronomy department also offers free star parties on the Robert Lee Moore Hall roof on Wednesday nights. This is a great place to take a date if you are low on cash! Tip: You will have to be crafty to avoid parking fees. If all else fails, take the bus! For more information about free stargazing through the Astronomy department at the University of Texas see: http://outreach.as.utexas.edu/public/painter.html. For the public star parties visit: http://outreach.as.utexas.edu/public/parties.html.
This Zilker Park attraction is a great free thing to do in Austin! Created by Charles Umlauf and contemporaries, these bronze and limestone sculptures cohabitate with the beautiful garden environment to create a pleasurable, unique viewing experience. For more information about Charles Umlauf and the Sculpture Garden created in his honor please visit: http://www.umlaufsculpture.org/.
The Texas Memorial Museum is a great, educational option when it comes to doing free stuff in Austin. Focusing on paleontology, geology and conservation, this Austin museum has really unique exhibits that captivate adults and children alike. Check out the Dino pit where you can unearth actual dinosaur fossils! Or the museums’ impressive gem and mineral collection! For more information about the Texas Memorial Museum visit their website at: http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/.
This museum is the preserved studio of 19th-century sculptor Elisabet Ney who – along with her husband – was influential in founding Texas State University and the Texas Fine Arts Association. Her Grecian-inspired studio looks out of place in the bristly hill country of Texas, but inside her work displays some of the forefathers of Texas history including: Steven F. Austin and Sam Houston. Visit the Elisabet Ney Museum and discover a woman who helped forge the art scene in Austin! For more about the Elisabet Ney Museum see: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/elisabetney/.
The Austin Convention and Visitor’s Center offers guided tours of some of Austin’s most historic neighborhoods including: historic 6th Street & Congress Avenue, and Bremond Block. For more information about these free things to do in Austin please visit: http://www.austintexas.org/visitors/plan_your_trip/historic_walking_tours/.