If you’re looking for a great city to explore solo, consider Austin, Texas. History lovers can peruse art and artifacts collections at the capitol building and grounds, while nature lovers can explore vast city parks and gardens. Find a food truck or spend a few hours shopping along eclectic South Congress Avenue. Love music? Austin has plenty of music venues where solo travelers feel safe and welcome. Oh, and don’t forget the tacos. Here’s our top 10 things to do in Austin for Solo Female Travelers.
Spend an hour or so exploring the state Capitol and Capitol Grounds. Pick up a self-guided brochure at the information desk and take a tour at your own pace, keeping an eye out for mobile tour signage throughout the building. Peruse the impressive art collection, grounds monuments, and a variety of historical artifacts like furniture, china, and more from bygone eras.
When in Austin, taco tasting is a must. Tacos Guerrero fires up breakfast tacos, fajitas, carnitas, and more on the east side, while Torchy’s Tacos – with multiple locations to choose from – is a high-energy local chain that puts inventive spins on Mexican street food.
Austin also prides itself on its robust food truck scene. Found in various locations, Via 313 serves up Detroit-style pizza. At Yeni’s Fusion, the truck’s namesake chef, Yeni Rosdiyani, creates sauces and Indonesian specialties from scratch. And for fried chicken, head over to Spicy Boys. Plenty of food truck parks, where you can sample multiple in one location, can be found throughout the city, too.
For a savory sampling of award-winning Texas barbecue, don’t miss Franklin Barbecue on Austin’s historic east side. (Pro tip: Get in line early – it’s open for lunch only from 11 a.m. until they sell out, around 2 or 3 p.m.)
For a more elevated fare,weather permitting, enjoy a glass of red and a charcuterie board on the charming patio at 1417 French Bistro. Other great options include Kitty Cohen’s, Cosmic coffee and beer garden, and Perla’s.
In 1980, the city renovated its Congress Avenue Bridge, transforming it into an ideal bat cave. Eventually millions of Mexican free-tailed bats migrated to the bridge. Today, locals and visitors, too, flock to the bridge to take in the nightly spectacle as the species takes flight.
Dip your toes into Barton Springs Pool, a natural, spring-fed swimming pool with green-blue teal waters right in the heart of sprawling Zilker Park. With your shoes back on, stroll through the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, featuring the works of artist Charles Umlauf, among other visual and performing artists, in a serene garden setting.
Meet some new friends on a bike tour. Several outlets, including Austin Bike Tours & Rentals offer themed tours for any interests, from art and architecture to historic sites and breweries. For roughly three hours, covering about six miles, the Pedals and Pints tour takes riders to many of Austin’s local art and historic sites, from the Texas State Cemetery, Texas State Capitol, moon towers, iconic murals, breweries, and more.
Strong along South Congress (SoCo to locals) for an eclectic collection of boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and music venues. Find a table outside at Far Out Lounge & Stage, a laid-back music venue with a backyard party feels.
Stop by one or both of The Contemporary Austin’s two distinct locations in town. The historic Jones Center, downtown on Congress Avenue, offers two floors of contemporary art exhibition spaces, plus a rooftop deck for special events and films. For an outdoor experience, Laguna Gloria is a 14-acre “art-in-nature” site that includes various works set against peaceful Lake Austin.
Book your stay at Aiden by Best Western @ Austin City Hotel.