Where to Stay in Austin, TX ✔️ The 5 BEST Areas + Hotels

Austin is a great place for fun-loving travelers like you and me. As the state capital of Texas in the United States, Austin is home to an eclectic live-music scene. Whether you’re into country, blues, or rock you’ll find it here!

The city also has many parks and lakes that are perfect for any adventurous traveler looking for fun outdoor activities, and a bunch of attractions, such as the Texas State Capitol building and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. 

I know you’re probably already ready to visit this lively city and you’re probably looking for hotels and great places to stay in Austin, Texas, luckily you’re in the right place. Booking accommodation can be tricky and usually the most confusing part of planning a trip but don’t worry, I’m here to guide you on how to find the best neighborhoods where to stay in Austin, as well as top hotels for every budget. I’ve gone through hundres of listings and these are the best of the best! 

Let’s go! 

Quick Picks for Your Stay

If you don’t have time to read the whole post, these are the absolute top choices where to stay in Austin, Texas, all located in the best neighborhoods at the heart of the city.

To help you easily visualize the best neighborhoods where to stay in Austin that I will be talking about in this post, here is a hand map of the city:

5 Best Areas to Stay in Austin for Tourists

The best area to stay in Austin is certainly Downtown – you will be centrally located and can walk to all the main attractions in the city such as Texas Capitol. This area offers a variety of accommodations for all budgets and the choice of restaurants and bars around are plentiful.

If you cannot find anything in Downtown worry not, we have 4 other areas perfect for tourists and I have recommendations for fabulous hotels and apartments for each of them below:

1. Downtown Austin – where to stay in Austin for the first time

The heart of Austin city, Austin Downtown is home to many famous tourist spots, such as the Texas State Capitol Building, and historic landmarks such as the Paramount Theatre and the Frost Bank Tower. 

Being a busy district perfect for sightseeing with the convenience of having Austin’s best activities right on your doorstep, Downtown Austin is definitely the best place to stay for first-time visitors to the city. 

As a multifaceted neighborhood, Austin Downtown takes pride in its fine-dining restaurants, a wide array of bars, and art galleries which really does provide something for every interest. It also serves as the home of people from all walks of life. In the morning, busy professionals scurry the streets, a phone in one hand and coffee in the other, but after the sun sets, Downtown Austin comes to life, giving a new vibe for travelers to enjoy under the bright city lights.

Since this is the most popular place to stay in Austin, Texas make sure to book these hotels in advance. As I mentioned earlier, hotels in Austin sell out quickly but in Downtown even more so! 

Here are the best places to stay in Downtown Austin: 

Other accommodation options in Downtown Austin

Things to do In Downtown Austin, Tx

• Learn history at the Texas Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
• Go to the world-famous Texas State Capitol building
• Check out the 6th Street and Rainey Street nightlife scenes
• Dine at the delicious Hestia for live-fire cooking 
• Visit the Austin Downtown Museum of the Weird
• Catch a comedy show at Esther’s Follies
• Enjoy some art at the Mexic-Arte Museum and The Contemporary Austin

2. East Austin – the most trendy neighborhood

East Austin is one of the city’s fastest-growing neighborhoods with its wide range of diversity. Because of its central location right next to Downtown, it’s a great place to stay in Austin as it boasts of a great selection of vintage shops, restaurants, clubs, and live music venues, plus, it is the place to find all the coolest hipster hangouts!

If you’re a food enthusiast then East Austin is also a great place to discover various selections of food from all around the world (think square-shaped pizza – very instagrammable). Artistic and creative people can feast their eyes on the many art galleries, incredible street art, and outdoor displays to see in the area. 

If you’re continuing your trip around the US, make sure to check out these awesome hotels in Houston and Dallas. 

Now that you’re hungry, let’s find you the perfect place to rest your head in East Austin: 

Other accommodation options in East Austin

Things to do In East Austin

• Explore the African-America history and culture exhibits at the George Washington Carver Museum
• Indulge yourself with some cocktails by candlelight in Whisler’s
• Enjoy drinks and cocktails at the Dozen Street
• Take some snaps of the colorful and vibrant street art
• Try a delicious and heartful breakfast at Paperboy
• Take your kids to the Austin Children’s Museum
• Check out the Texas Music Museum
• Have a picnic in the Boggy Creek Greenbelt

3. South Congress – an Instagrammable neighborhood

Just across the Colorado River lies South Congress Avenue, also known as “SoCo”. Along with East Austin, this is one of the top hang-out destinations even among the local residents and a popular place to stay in Austin. Artsy and accommodating, the neighborhood is often a place where you can find people from all over the world, discover different cultures, eat good food, and take pictures of countless graffiti artworks and murals. So don’t forget your camera for this one! 

But South Austin is not all about hipster cafes and urban art. If you want to experience nature in the city, check out the Congress Avenue bridge. Well okay, not the bridge itself but this interesting piece of architecture draws excited visitors and locals hoping to see around 1.5 million bats taking part in a nightly migration! 

If the bats got you feeling a little nocturnal, don’t worry you can easily dance the night away in South Congress. The Continental Club is the best spot to go which hosts live performances in front of their iconic red curtain many nights of the week but also you will be connected to the rest of the city by Congress Avenue which runs directly through the heart of Austin.

Lastly, if you’re a food lover you will find countless international fusion restaurants and boutique eateries in south congress that are more than worthy of an Instagram post! 

Other Accommodation Options in South Congress, Tx

Things to do In South Congress, Austin, Tx

• Snap a picture of the South Congress Cathedral of Junk
• Visit the creepiest wax museum in Austin the Sfanthor House of Wax
• Enjoy some wine tasting at The Austin Winery
• Check out the murals and graffiti walls around South Congress
• Have a picnic in Battle Bend Neighborhood Park
• Visit the Yard Dog Art Gallery which displays contemporary American folk art

4. Zilker – where to stay in Austin for families

We all wanna treat our families to something nice and fun from time to time. So for travelers visiting Austin with their partners, parents, and kiddos, I got you covered! The Zilker neighborhood is one of the greenest areas in the city, and its close location just southeast of Downtown Austin across the Colorado River makes it the perfect mix of busy and calm for families.

The many outdoor activities in the area for all ages make it a favorite family getaway in Austin, Texas. In Zilker Metropolitan Park, the main attraction and highlight of the Zilker neighborhood, you can go hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, or try many other activities in its 350-acres of land. Doesn’t that just sound like a paradise for kids (or kids at heart)!?

There are also a variety of trendy cafes, restaurants, and shopping areas you can find in the neighborhood, so you can take your loved ones to family dinners and go shopping afterward to cap off a perfect day of adventures. 

Here are the best places where to stay in Austin, Texas for families:

Other Accommodation Options in Zilker

Things to do In Zilker, Austin, TX

• Be one with nature at the Zilker Botanical Garden
• Delight yourself with hearty Texan-Mexican dishes at Chuy’s
• Enjoy the miniature railway rides of the Zilker Zephyr train
• Go swimming at Barton Springs Municipal Pool
• Try some new activities in Zilker Park
• Check out the artworks at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum
• Teach your kids about the environment in Austin Nature and Science Centre

5. Red River Cultural District – the best place for party people

This unique and vibrant nightlife in Austin is something you don’t want to miss during your stay in the city. This happening neighborhood is actually a small part of the downtown area but deserves a mention in its own right. There are an abundance of rooftop bars, nightclubs, and trendy hipster restaurants you can check out in this district so if you wanna have a good time your whole stay in Austin, I recommend choosing the Red River Cultural District! 

This cultural area is known for its diversity of live music, food, drinks, and a lot of great venues for people who love the nightlife. As the heart and soul of Austin’s music scene, the Red River Cultural District is one of the liveliest neighborhoods where you can find big events no matter when you visit!

To see it all, head to 6th street, which is a popular area for partygoers and is considered as Austin’s epicenter of nightlife, one of the best places to stay in Austin, Tx if you don’t wanna miss any action. If that’s not enough, check out Rainey Street, another area popular with party-goers. 

Other options in Red River Cultural District

Things to do In Red River Cultural District, Austin, Tx

• Party all night at Cheer Up Charlies 
• Dance the night away with live music and DJs at Elysium
• Go to Arlo’s Truck for your late-night vegan cravings around 6th street
• Taste the Southern flavor with your whiskey cocktails in the patio of Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
• Fulfill your cravings with mouth-watering pizzas at Hoboken Pie
• Have a pub crawl along 6th street to check out the music venues
• Make your way down to Rainey Street to experience another of the cities party hotspots

👑 Luxury price:	$250
💵 Mid-range hotel:	$150
🛏️ Budget:	$100
🏠 Airbnb:	$170
💰 Accommodation prices:	Medium
📍 Best Area:	Downtown Austin
🛎️ Best luxury hotel:	The Stephen F
👛 Best budget hotel:	Firehouse Hostel

Conclusion

There is so much that Austin can offer to travelers and adventurous people. No matter what adventure you seek in the city, whether it’s to party and dance all night, an escapade with your family, a romantic getaway with your partner, or just a solo trip for you to relax and unwind, there’s plenty to discover in the city of Austin, Texas. 

I hope this guide helps you to decide where to stay in Austin. The most important thing in every trip and vacation is to have fun, so no matter where you are in Austin, Texas, you’re sure to make the most out of your trip.

Remember to book your hotel as soon as possible as the accommodation here sells out fast and you wouldn’t want to miss your dream stay or price! If you still haven’t decided between the great options on my list, here are my absolute top 2 favorites:

• The Stephen F – spacious luxury rooms with an unbeatable location
• The Carpenter Hotel – A warm and homey hotel with a swimming pool and free wifi 

Now, all there’s left to do is to pack your bags and have the trip of a lifetime during your stay in Austin, Texas! Feel free to leave me a comment if you have any other questions or suggestions about the city, I love reading them!

Have fun and stay safe!

Kate

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