Downtown Austin
OVERVIEW
The heart of downtown Austin is a bustling center of cuisine, commerce, preservation, arts, and cocktails. You’ll find everything from galleries and hip shopping to careful preservation projects, world-class cuisine, and bungalow bars in Downtown Austin. This city is one of America’s fastest growing cities, and the downtown area is flourishing. Austin’s downtown district is a vibrant, quirky place that caters to nearly every taste. It’s a great place for those who love having something to experience or do at every turn—you’ll have countless hours of exploring and fun in Downtown Austin! If you want to experience the heartbeat of Austin, there’s no better place to start your search than here.
Public Transportation
Downtown Austin is a bustling place, but public transportation options are rarely more than a few steps away. You can choose from the MetroBus, which connects downtown to all other areas of Austin, the MetroRail, a 26-mile rail line that connects Leander and Downtown, with planned expansions in the near future. Austin is also a bike-friendly city and encourages cyclists to enjoy the city.
Proximity
Downtown Austin is home to much of the area’s local government, as well as the state’s capitol buildings. It also isn’t far from the University of Texas at Austin campus. The area is home to quite a few corporate headquarters and flagship stores of national brands, as well as featuring live entertainment, dining, and nightlife scene. Austin is also quite proud of its history and invests heavily in preserving iconic and historic local features, like the Paramount and State Theaters.
School System
Downtown Austin is a part of the Austin Independent School District and includes Mathews Elementary School, O. Henry Middle School, Austin High School, Lee Elementary School, Kealing Middle School, McCallum High School, Bryker Woods Elementary School, and Pease Elementary School. The school district has routinely been rated “academically acceptable” by the Texas Education Agency. In addition to public schools, Downtown Austin also is home to middle and high school campus of the private school Headwaters School. The Rio Grande Campus of the Austin Community College is also located in Downtown.
Population
Austin has experienced an explosion in growth over the past few years, with plenty of young professionals flocking to the Downtown area. The median age of the population in Downtown Austin is 35.4 years old. Most households tend to be small and without children. Much of the population in Downtown Austin are employed in a white-collar position for a private company.
ART & CULTURE
Downtown Austin is renowned as a cultural hub and features a variety of arts and cultural experiences for everyone.
Nightlife
Rainey Street’s relaxed vibe is a great place to pop into a bungalow bar for a quiet drink or catch a food truck to sample some of the incredible street food Austin loves. Red River features a collection of nightclubs, and you’ll often mingle with other concert goers in the area’s numerous bars. If you’re looking for something crafty, you’ll want to head to West Sixth Street, which features many of the area’s best eateries and cocktails. The Warehouse District is the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ community, as well!
Shopping
The Second Street district is renowned for its extensive shopping in downtown, featuring many local and national brands. You’ll also love the Sustainable Food Center Farmers' Market Downtown at Republic Square Park for all your local grocery needs.
Museums & Galleries
The Contemporary Austin Jones Center is a can’t-miss museum in the heart of downtown. It is a community art museum that boasts two locations and an art school.
Entertainment
Entertainment options abound in the heart of Downtown Austin. Catch a movie at one of the restored antique movie palaces, head to a concert at one of the dozens of nightclubs and venues scattered throughout the downtown area, or enjoy some of the remarkable outdoor spaces with your furry friend. Downtown Austin is bursting with entertainment options.
RECREATION
Downtown Austin loves to play, which means there are plenty of great opportunities for recreation in the downtown area.
Food Scene
You can’t go wrong with West Sixth Street when it comes to dining. This district showcases some of the best chefs in the state, and there are options for every palate. If you’re looking to catch some truly unforgettable food trucks, head over to Rainey Street, where it’s common to catch a variety of fun and funky street food. Downtown Austin also features the flagship store of Whole Foods, as well as the weekly Sustainable Food Center Farmers' Market Downtown at Republic Square Park on Saturdays.
Parks & Natural Landmarks
When Downtown Austin was first planned, city planners made sure to create plenty of public space for recreation, which has given downtown its incredible array of parks and public squares. Our parks feature farmer’s markets, movies under the stars, and so much more! We recommend Lady Bird Lake, the crown jewel of Downtown Austin and a wonderful place to explore, hike, and enjoy.
Outdoor Activities
Farmer’s markets, hiking, parks, outdoor movies, concerts, festivals, food trucks, and more… Downtown Austin enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year and we love to get outside and enjoy it. We have a robust offering of outdoor activities. Check out some outdoor activity ideas for yourself!
Hotels
There’s plenty of places for visiting friends and family to stay in Downtown Austin. The area boasts a number of amazing hotels, including many major chains and unique boutique hotels.
