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Sight Downtown, Austin

Texas State Capitol

A sight in Downtown, Austin, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Morning.

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Texas State Capitol in Downtown, Austin
Photo: LoneStarMike · CC BY 3.0 · license

Why go

Pink-granite capitol, taller than the US Capitol, with free guided tours.

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Austin, alongside 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 2 outdoor spots. The closest of our other picks is The Driskill, 0.5 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Sight · Culture
Neighborhood
Downtown
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Morning

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Austin. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    The Driskill

    An 1886 Romanesque hotel on Sixth Street, the oldest operating hotel in Austin, with a clubby bar off the lobby.

    Stay · Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · 0.5 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Franklin Barbecue

    Austin's most famous brisket, worth the morning line.

    Food · 0.6 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony

    Up to 1.5 million bats stream out from under the bridge at dusk.

    Outdoors · 0.9 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge

    The bridge carrying Congress Avenue over Lady Bird Lake, with the Capitol at one end and a wide sidewalk facing the fireworks.

    Sight · Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · 1.0 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge

    A curving walk-and-bike bridge over Lady Bird Lake beside the Lamar Boulevard bridge, with open views of the skyline.

    Sight · Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · 1.1 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Jeffrey's

    A Clarksville dining room open since 1975, known for steaks, oysters and a long wine list.

    Food · Downtown Austin & Lady Bird Lake · 1.2 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Texas State Capitol is a stop on our Texas BBQ Trail route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Austin

Texas State Capitol is our only sight pick in Austin; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Austin guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Austin run from 60°F in January to 98°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Texas State Capitol itself, we suggest: Morning.

Modelled monthly averages for Austin from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Austin weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Texas State Capitol, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701, USA
Coordinates
30.27467, -97.74035
Destination
Austin, Texas

Texas State Capitol: quick answers

How much time do you need at Texas State Capitol?

Plan on about an hour at Texas State Capitol. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Texas State Capitol?

Our pick: Morning.

Is Texas State Capitol free?

Yes, we list Texas State Capitol as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Texas State Capitol?

Texas State Capitol is at 1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701, USA, in Downtown. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Texas State Capitol?

Texas State Capitol appears on Texas BBQ Trail, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Texas State Capitol to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Austin.

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Also in Austin

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.