Austin

Laid-back yet cosmopolitan, Austin is an eclectic mix of down to earth sophistication with a sprinkling of Texan spirit and is widely considered the place in Texas for music, food and culture.

Austin is known as the ‘Live Music Capital of the World’ – with nearly 200 live music venues across the city, and a music scene centred around country, blues and rock. The city comes alive by night, and there’s a bar with live music no matter your taste, you’ll find everything from techno to R&B. Head to Austin’s 6th Street and Warehouse District to immerse yourself in it all - there isn’t a bar in town that isn’t playing a live tune - and consider visiting when the renowned South by Southwest and City Limits Music Festivals are on in spring and autumn.

A close second to Austin’s incredible nightlife is its spectacular dining scene. Local staples are Tex-Mex and barbecue – and well worth trying – but over the past few years the city has grown in its variety of cuisines and styles and people are taking note. Enjoy a meal at one of the city’s many delightful food trucks – you’ll get some of the best street food around – or dine at a nationally award-winning establishment. In Austin, you’ll be spoiled for choice no matter what you choose.

Austin is also home to the formidable State Capitol, an impressive building which, at over 300 feet, is taller than the National Capitol in Washington DC. Its stunning 22 acres of grounds and adjacent museum provide fascinating insight into the story of the Lone Star State. Those interested in culture will find themselves in the Blanton Museum on the University of Texas campus where they can see more than 21,000 objects of European, American and Latin American art.