Guide · 2 Places
Austin
United States
Before You Go
March to May and September to November offer ideal weather with temperatures from 15-28°C (59-82°F). Summer (June-August) is very hot (32-38°C/90-100°F) but pool and festival season. Winter is mild (8-18°C). SXSW in March and ACL Festival in October are huge but book early.
Visa
Check requirementsInternational visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries can stay up to 90 days without a visa (requires ESTA authorization). Others need a B-2 tourist visa. Verify at travel.state.gov.
Getting There
TransportationBy Air: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is 8 miles southeast of downtown.
By Car: I-35 corridor. Driving from Dallas (3 hours), Houston (2.5 hours), San Antonio (1.5 hours).
By Bus: Greyhound and Megabus from Dallas, Houston, San Antonio.
Language
CommunicationEnglish is the primary language. Austin is diverse but English is universal.
Currency
Money mattersUS Dollar (USD). Cards accepted everywhere. ATMs widely available. Tipping: 18-20% at restaurants, $1-2 per drink (live music venues often have no cover but expect tips), 15-20% for rideshare.
Getting Around
Local transportCapital Metro Bus: Network covering city but limited compared to other major cities (single ride $1.25).
MetroRail: One commuter rail line (limited service).
Uber/Lyft: Essential for getting around, widely available ($15-30 for most trips).
Scooters: Bird, Lime, and others everywhere downtown.
Bikes: B-cycle bike share, growing bike lanes.
Walking: Downtown, South Congress, East Austin neighborhoods walkable.
Rental Car: Useful for exploring Hill Country and suburban areas.
From the Airport
Arrival infoCapital Metro Bus Route 20: To downtown (30-40 min, $1.25).
Uber/Lyft: $25-35 to downtown (15-25 min depending on traffic).
Taxi: Around $30-40 to downtown.
Rental Car: Available at airport, useful for exploring beyond downtown.