# What is the best thing to do in Austin, Texas?

> From spring-fed swimming holes and Hill Country overlooks to smoky barbecue joints, honky-tonk dance floors and landmark museums, the Live Music Capital packs wildly different ways to spend a day. Which one wins your vote?

*By YPB Team · Published July 4, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-best-thing-to-do-in-austin-texas*

---

## Current results (3 votes)

1. **Barton Springs Pool** — 66.67% (2 votes · score 1000/1000)
   A spring-fed natural swimming pool in Zilker Park kept at a refreshing 68-70 degrees year-round.
2. **South Congress Avenue** — 33.33% (1 votes · score 744/1000)
   The eclectic SoCo district packed with vintage shops, food trucks, live music, and the iconic downtown view.
3. **Barton Creek Greenbelt** — 0% (0 votes · score 546/1000)
   A miles-long stretch of trails, swimming holes, and limestone cliffs winding through the heart of the city.
4. **Franklin Barbecue** — 0% (0 votes · score 546/1000)
   A world-famous smoked brisket joint known for hours-long lines and legendary Central Texas barbecue.
5. **Zilker Park** — 0% (0 votes · score 546/1000)
   Austin's beloved 350-acre metropolitan park hosting festivals, gardens, and green space along Lady Bird Lake.
6. **Blanton Museum of Art** — 0% (0 votes · score 546/1000)
   The University of Texas art museum housing a major collection and Ellsworth Kelly's Austin installation.
7. **Congress Avenue Bridge Bats** — 0% (0 votes · score 473/1000)
   Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, whose nightly summer emergence draws crowds.
8. **Mount Bonnell** — 0% (0 votes · score 473/1000)
   A scenic overlook rising above the Colorado River offering panoramic views of the city and hills.
9. **LBJ Presidential Library** — 0% (0 votes · score 473/1000)
   The presidential library and museum on the UT campus chronicling Lyndon B. Johnson's administration.
10. **Umlauf Sculpture Garden** — 0% (0 votes · score 387/1000)
   A wooded garden and museum showcasing the bronze and stone works of sculptor Charles Umlauf.
11. **McKinney Falls State Park** — 0% (0 votes · score 387/1000)
   A state park with waterfalls, swimming holes, and trails along Onion Creek just outside downtown.
12. **University of Texas Tower** — 0% (0 votes · score 387/1000)
   The landmark clock tower of the University of Texas at Austin, lit burnt orange for victories.
13. **Texas State Capitol** — 0% (0 votes · score 284/1000)
   The pink granite seat of Texas government, taller than the U.S. Capitol and topped by a Goddess of Liberty statue.
14. **The Broken Spoke** — 0% (0 votes · score 284/1000)
   A classic Texas dance hall and honky-tonk offering two-stepping and live country music since 1964.
15. **Hamilton Pool Preserve** — 0% (0 votes · score 284/1000)
   A stunning natural grotto and jade-green pool formed by a collapsed underground river dome.
16. **Bullock Texas State History Museum** — 0% (0 votes · score 158/1000)
   A state history museum with three floors of Texas exhibits and a giant bronze star out front.
17. **Lady Bird Lake** — 0% (0 votes · score 158/1000)
   A reservoir on the Colorado River lined by a hike-and-bike trail popular for kayaking and paddleboarding.
18. **Rainey Street** — 0% (0 votes · score 158/1000)
   A historic street of bungalow homes converted into buzzing bars, patios, and food trucks.

Tags: usa, travel, austin, texas, attractions