What to do While in Austin for SXSW EDU 2025

With so much excitement going on during SXSW EDU, it’s hard to imagine having time to squeeze in anything else. Still, you might find yourself with some extra time in your itinerary that you can use to explore the city.

Austin is full of outdoor activities, entertainment, and eats. Check out some of your options below:

Outdoors

Lady Bird Lake | This trail is popular for a reason. Get an early morning workout by running, walking, or biking along the trail, or if you love the water, you can rent a paddleboard, kayak, boat, and more to enjoy views of downtown Austin.

Staff Pick → Mount Bonnell | Take a quick drive for a short hike to and take in the best views of Lake Austin and the surrounding hills at Mount Bonnell.

Staff Pick → Pease Park | Take a leisurely stroll through Pease Park, and take in the relaxed Austin vibe as you wander through Kingsbury Commons. Don’t forget to stop by and visit Malin, the iconic Austin troll, add watch the bats on congress.

Staff Pick → South Congress | Austin’s iconic neighborhood known for its vibrant mix of local stores, quirky shops, and a variety of restaurants and cafes. Visit places like the Continental Club, a legendary live music venue in Austin with a retro vibe.

Zilker Park | Visit Austin’s oldest metropolitan park, Zilker Park, to take part or watch people practicing yoga, playing volleyball, and running with their dogs, while enjoying the outdoors.

Entertainment

Staff Pick → Broken Spoke | Get the real Texas experience at the Broken Spoke, where you can learn how to Texas Two-Step, enjoy live music, and eat amazing southern food.

Blanton Museum of Art | If you love art, you won’t want to miss the Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas. As one of the largest university museums in the U.S., the Blanton is home to more than 21,000 works of art.

Staff Pick → Paramount Theatre | Visit the Paramount Theatre, the historic downtown spot that offers diverse entertainment. Great for any mood: comedy shows, theatre, live music and more.

The State Capitol | As the capital of Texas, Austin is home to the State Capitol Building. Take free guided or self-guided tours of the building, which open every day of the week.

Eats

Staff Pick → Bangers | Head to bangers for a lively, upbeat beer garden setting and enjoy some craft beer, sausages, cold cut sandwiches, and more.

The Driskill Grill | Visit the historic Driskill hotel, the oldest operating hotel in Austin, and then enjoy a bite to eat at the connected restaurant, The Driskill Grill, featuring old-fashioned leather furnishings and woodsy decor.

Home Slice Pizza | Home Slice Pizza is the place to go if you’re looking for authentic, New-York style pizza with fresh ingredients. With a location on South Congress, you can take your pizza to-go and enjoy some Austin sightseeing.

Matt’s El Rancho | If you want authentic Tex-Mex, look no further than Matt’s El Rancho. This family-owned Austin staple makes everything from scratch daily, so your food will always be fresh.

Staff Pick → Taqueria 10/10 | Only a walk away from the ACC, stop by this speakeasy style spot and grab a bite of authentic Mexican street food with flavorful tacos.

Break a Sweat

Staff Pick → Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail | With a beautiful view of Lady Bird Lake, relax on a walk amongst Austin’s nature filled downtown, catching glimpses of the water, wildlife, all in the heart of the city.

Staff Pick → Black Swan | Enjoy a relaxing yoga session at one of Black Swan's donation-based locations. The Orchard spot is conveniently located near local favorite coffee shop, Nate’s Baked Goods, for the perfect post-class treat.

These suggestions are just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring Austin, Texas. Looking for more suggestions? Visit do512.com or check out the Instagram accounts @whenwherewhataustin and @365thingsaustin to name a few.

Join Your Community in March

Join us for SXSW EDU 2025 from March 3-6 in Austin, Texas. Don’t forget to Register and book your hotel early, and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know of any event information leading up to the event.

Photo by Caleb Pickens.