Austin itinerary: barbecue, live music and swimming holes
Austin is the live music capital of the world, with brisket worth queuing for and cold spring-fed pools in the middle of town. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan an Austin itinerary that times the barbecue queues and the bat flight at sunset, adds a swim at Barton Springs and a Hill Country day, and checks SXSW or ACL dates.
The prompt
- Plan an Austin itinerary for [NUMBER OF DAYS] days, [TRAVEL DATES], for [WHO IS TRAVELLING]. Include South Congress (SoCo) shops and murals, the Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake by kayak or paddleboard, Barton Springs Pool, the bat flight at the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset (in season), Sixth Street and Rainey Street, and live music each night with [MUSIC]. Pick barbecue spots and tell me how long the lines usually are and when to arrive. Add [DAY TRIP]. Check if SXSW, ACL Fest or Formula 1 fall on my dates. Interests: [INTERESTS]. Add heat tips and breakfast tacos. Email me a PDF. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3".
- [TRAVEL DATES]: E.g. "15 to 18 May". The bats fly roughly March to October.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "group of friends", "couple", "family".
- [MUSIC]: E.g. "blues and country", "indie rock", "whatever is good that night".
- [DAY TRIP]: E.g. "Hill Country wineries in Fredericksburg", "Hamilton Pool", "San Antonio", or "none".
- [INTERESTS]: E.g. "BBQ, swimming, live music, vintage shopping".
Example result
- Austin in 3 days, 4 friends
- BBQ, swimming, live music · mid-May
- Where to stay
- • Downtown: walk to Sixth Street, Rainey Street and Lady Bird Lake.
- • South Congress: boutique hotels, food trucks and music venues on your doorstep.
- Day 1: Downtown and the bats
- • Morning: breakfast tacos, then the Texas State Capitol (free tours).
- • Afternoon: rent kayaks or paddleboards on Lady Bird Lake.
- • Sunset: stand on or under the Congress Avenue Bridge, or take a bat boat tour. Around a million bats leave for the night; timing varies, so check the local bat hotline or website.
- • Evening: Rainey Street bungalow bars, then live music on Red River Street.
- Day 2: Barbecue, Barton Springs and SoCo
- • Morning: line up early at a famous barbecue joint. The best-known spots can have lines of 2 hours or more and sell out of brisket; some take pre-orders. Bring chairs and drinks.
- • Afternoon: Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park. The spring water stays about 20 degrees C (68 F) all year.
- • Walk South Congress: the "I love you so much" mural, vintage shops, food trucks.
- • Evening: the Continental Club or the Broken Spoke for two-stepping lessons.
- Day 3: Hill Country
- • Drive about 1.5 hours to Fredericksburg: Main Street and Texas wineries. Choose a driver or a tour.
- • Or Hamilton Pool Preserve (reservations required, closes after heavy rain).
- • Back for a final dinner on East Sixth Street.
- Good to know
- • Summer is very hot. Plan swims and indoor plans for the afternoons.
- • SXSW (March), ACL Fest (October) and Formula 1 weekends fill hotels and raise prices.
- • You'll need a car or rideshare; buses are limited outside the centre.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in days, dates, group, music, day trip and interests.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is or send it to your agent on WhatsApp, Telegram or Discord.
- Your agent sends an Austin PDF with barbecue timing, swims, the bat flight and music.
- Ask for changes ("add San Antonio", "family-friendly only") and book tours yourself.
Tips for a better result
- Go to the big barbecue places early on a weekday, or ask your agent which ones take pre-orders.
- The bats fly roughly March to October, with the biggest flights in late summer. Ask your agent to check sunset time.
- Hamilton Pool needs a reservation and closes after storms; have Barton Springs as the backup.
- Ask your agent to search music listings for your nights and send links.
Austin itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Austin? Two to three days covers barbecue, swimming, music and South Congress. Add a day for Hill Country or San Antonio.
- When can you see the bats in Austin? Roughly March to October, at dusk from the Congress Avenue Bridge. Times change through the season.
- Is Barton Springs Pool open all year? It is open most of the year with regular cleaning closures. Check the City of Austin site for the current schedule.
- Is Austin walkable? Downtown and South Congress are walkable, but the city is spread out. Use rideshare or a car for barbecue spots and day trips.
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