Austin is a very social city. Nearly a million people live in Texas’s capital, and there’s never a shortage of activities to do with friends or family.
Sometimes, though, you want to make like Jason Derulo and do a little ridin’ solo. ATX is great for that, too—here are 7 wonderful things to do alone in Austin.
Go on a mural tour
No matter where you are in Austin, you’re never too far from a stunning mural. The backstories behind each one are pretty cool, whether they honor a local legend or empower women’s rights.
Here’s one of my favorite self-guided mural tours, which includes gems like Willie for President, Tau Ceti, and Smile! Even If You Don’t Want To.
Visit the downtown Austin Central Library
The downtown library is one of the most fantastic things to do alone in Austin. It’s not like you’re going to be loudly chatting with folks anyway. You may get a dirty look from your keyboard clacking being too loud, but that happened to me at a different library, not this one, so you should be fine.
Anyway, the Austin Central Library is so cool! It has seven floors, each with a unique theme. Personally, I most enjoy playing around the area that features music creation, 3D printing, and a “make your own zine” setup.
The downtown library also provides one of the more sneaky impressive views of the entire city. This picture is from a cloudy day, but still—not too shabby!
Find some guitars
Austin used to have a lot of colorful guitar statues scattered around downtown, but alas, many of them have been moved to the airport. You can still spot some rockin’ art, though—like this “Vibrancy” statue from Craig Hein.
Alternatively, go check out some funky artwork and guitar-related gifts at Wild About Music. It’s not so much a scavenger hunt since the store is right there on Congress, but it’s a grand time nonetheless.
Take a pottery class
Say the word “pottery,” and many people might picture the scene from Ghost where Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are embracing while The Righteous Brothers play in the background. Real life isn’t like that, but it’s even more enjoyable.
There are several different pottery classes around Austin. I’m a fan of Tina Williams at Brave Ceramics, who offers an approachable method to making things. That’s key for someone like me, who had never touched a pottery wheel in his life. That remains true since I haven’t taken any classes that didn’t already provide some pre-cut clay, but I’ve made cool things like the mug above that I wouldn’t have otherwise.
And yes, you can do Ghost poses alone, too.
Visit the Texas Capitol
This is a very obvious statement, but there’s only one capital per state. So, when you’re in that state’s capital, it’s worth checking it out, especially when the capitol building and surrounding area are super cool.
I used to work in downtown Austin, and one of my favorite lunch break activities was just walking around the area near the capitol building. There are lots of lovely trees and pathways to wander, and when you need a break from the heat, you can pop inside the building itself.
The Texas Capitol offers guided tours of the building every day (9:30 am to 4 pm during the week, 12:30 to 4 pm on weekends). Even if you’ve taken the tour before, you’ll get a different experience with every guide. The last time I toured the building, our guide was a retired woman who was SO GIDDY to show us everything, and it was absolutely delightful.
Pet a few kittens
I’ll just say it: I’m a dog person. My uncle had many cats when I was growing up, and one time, when I was eight or so, a bunch of them scratched my arms all at once. I’m still scarred to this day (figuratively, the literal scars have thankfully disappeared).
But the Purrfecto Cat Lounge? That’s something I can get behind. This space rocks. You come in, you play with some cats, and you leave with a huge smile on your face. This is one of the best things to do alone in Austin because you’re not vying for attention with too many other people. The cats are all available for adoption, and there’s a wall with happy cats who have found their forever homes. It’ll warm your heart.
During the summer, Purrfecto Cat Lounge offers yoga with cats. I haven’t tried that out (yet), but it’s surely a wonderful time.
Get your retro gaming on
Picking up a controller and making your way through a video game at home can be a lovely way to relax—no one is disputing that. But the feeling of getting behind the controls of an actual arcade cabinet is just a different vibe. Luckily, Austin offers a couple of great spots to make that happen.
The Austin Toy Museum has, as the name suggests, a bevy of toys (and a scavenger hunt to find dozens of them and score prizes). But it also sports a classic arcade collection with every game set to free play. Finally, you can nail that Guitar Hero solo or ascend to the highest Donkey Kong level without running out of quarters. Bonus points for using cowboy slang while dodging barrels.
If you need an even wilder arcade fix, Cidercade Austin is home to more than 150 arcade games with unlimited play starting at $12. As a bonus, Cidercade has among the best secretly good pizzas in the city. Cidercade becomes 18+ after 9 pm, so head there after dark if you want a bit more breathing room.
Exploring a city on your own is never a bad time. Go forth and adventure with these things to do alone in Austin!