Hotels in Austin, Texas

Austin Hotels

The bustling city of Austin is Texas’ bohemian hotspot, a quirky, alternative metropolis that boasts a cutting-edge contemporary arts scene and ultra-cool live music venues. The cityscape of this booming wonderland is a mix of ritzy high-rises and rustic tree-lined streets, that lead out to the shimmering Colorado River and deep, bright-green woodland. Trendy fashionistas will be wowed with Austin’s retro stores and bouncing markets, and culture-lovers will be at home in the city’s refined museums.

Things to see

There’s plenty do in Austin, and thanks to the city center’s manageable size, sight-seeing is a breeze. Begin at the Mexic-Arte Museum in Downtown, a refreshing fine-arts gallery that showcases imaginative contemporary work from up-and-coming Mexican artists - from surreal ink-prints to industrial sculptures. After, check out the Blanton Museum of Art in the city’s leafy university campus, which displays spectacular European and Latin-American works. Just around the corner, you’ll find the looming Bullock Texas State History Museum, where you can learn about Texas’ extravagant history through ever-changing exhibits and jaw-dropping IMAX movies. If the great outdoors is more your bag, head out for a hike beside the river, or - on a very hot day - amble through Zilker Park to Barton Springs. These natural swimming pools, surrounded by soft grassy slopes, remain at 68 degrees year-round, providing a perfect way to cool off.

Hotels in Austin

Austin’s hotels range from laid-back, no-frills comfort to luxurious 4-star havens. If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Austin, you’ll find plenty on offer that provide spacious air-conditioned rooms and that all-important outdoor pool. Austin’s 3-star hotels are a bit fancier, and treat guests to in-house restaurants, relaxed bar-lounges and modern fitness centers. But for a mix of ritzy decor, sublime massage services, and huge airy rooms, stay in a 4-star Austin hotel. The trendy traveler, meanwhile, will find a couple of sociable - and inexpensive - hostels.

Where to stay

Stay in central Downtown Austin and benefit from easy walking-distance access to the city’s key sights, and its bouncing live music scene. The old-world Victorian houses of 6th Street come alive at night with electrifying blues, rock, and country music, and heart-pounding late-night clubs. Trendy-types should stay in South Congress - known as SoCo - to be immersed in hip cafe hangouts, weird and whacky flea markets, and cool vintage stores. For a chilled out area with an academic vibe and plenty of museums, stay near the University campus, or in the adjacent affluent North Central area.

How to get to Austin

Gently glide through Texas’ pure blue skies into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, based 8 miles southeast of the city center. The airport serves plenty of domestic flights - from destinations like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles - and a handful of international flights. From the airport, either hop on the cheap MetroAiport bus to Downtown Austin, hire a car onsite, or take a cab, which wait outside the terminal. Once in Austin, it’s easy enough to visit the city center’s main sights on foot, if you don’t mind a bit of walking. Alternatively, driving a rental car through the city can be quick and convenient - but keep in mind that parking can be scarce.