Austin: Morning History Walking Tour of Downtown Austin
🏎 Why We Picked This
gygIdeal for a Saturday morning start before FP3 kicks off at 12:30. The short duration and central location allow fans to experience Austin’s history and still have plenty of time to commute to COTA.
📅 Popular during Grand Prix week
Austin: Morning History Walking Tour of Downtown Austin
From $32 per person
About this experience
Get an overview of Austin's past and present on a morning walking tour led by a local guide. See the Willie Nelson Statue, Texas Capitol, Driskill Hotel, Pearl House Hotel, Congress Avenue, and more.
Start your day with 20% off! Enjoy 20% off your breakfast order at Jo's Coffee (242 W. 2nd St.) - exclusive to Morning Walk guests! Just show proof of your Morning Walk purchase on the day of your tour to receive the discount. Then, explore Austin on a leisurely morning walk with a storyteller as your guide. Learn little-known stories about the city, get insider tips on the best coffee shops, restaurants, and live music venues, and explore the city like a local. Begin your tour in downtown Austin, following your guide to the 2nd Street District (aka Warehouse District) on the west side of Congress, including the Moody Theater with Austin's iconic statue of Willie Nelson. Next, walk through the Warehouse District straight to Guytown and the first railroad depot in Austin (circa 1871), formerly the Spaghetti Warehouse. Continue to Congress Avenue and go by the speakeasy tavern, formerly the Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph Company (circa 1886). Northbound on Congress Avenue, go across the famous Sixth Street to the Angelina Eberly statue and hear a fantastic story about how she saved the city back in 1842. From there, cross Congress with a beautiful view of the state Capitol just two blocks away. Discuss some of the history of the Capitol and then move to the Driskill Hotel from 1885 where you will tour the beautiful lobby and the Driskill Bar and Lounge. Watch as your guide points out points of interest on Sixth Street as you head east passing great music venues and Voodoo Donuts. Venture down San Jacinto past new and old buildings. Take a right at Vince Young's Steakhouse, back to Congress Avenue. Then, walk to the Pearl House Hotel to 2nd Street with Austin's famous bat bridge in site. Make a stop to talk a little bit about the bat phenomenon in Austin.
Highlights
- ✓Feel the eclectic energy of Sixth Street as you stroll past music venues
- ✓Tour the interior of The Driskill Hotel, a premier historic hotel in Texas
- ✓Stroll through 2nd St, Warehouse District, Guytown, and Congress Avenue
- ✓Stand in awe of the majestic Texas Capitol and learn about its history
- ✓Avoid Austin's tourist traps to make the most of your visit with a local
What's included
- ✓20% off your breakfast order at Jo's Coffee (242 W. 2nd St.) with proof of your Morning Walk purchase on the day of your tour
- ✓Local guide
- ✓Walking tour
- ✓Entry to Driskill Hotel
Not included
- ✕Food and drinks
- ✕Tips
Good to know
This tour will take place rain or shine Bring money if you would like to purchase a treat or drink during the tour
Getting there
Meet your guide in front of Jo's Coffee. Look for a guide wearing a Walking Tours of Austin cap and shirt with an A-frame Morning Walk Austin sign. Restrooms are available at Jo's Coffee.
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“Loved this tour. Our guide, Sharon or Shannon, was engaging, fun, and full of fascinating facts. The walk was relaxed and flexible, shaped by what the group was interested in rather than a rigid script. It never felt like a dry, rehearsed history lecture. She made a real effort to share genuinely useful insights, along with stories about Austin’s culture, people, and everyday life. It felt like a sneak peek into what life here is really like. The bite-sized historical details were especially interesting, and as a South African, I found many of them surprisingly eye-opening.”
“Audrey gave us the local’s take! Saw highlights of the city’s history and got a great orientation to downtown.”
71 reviews on GetYourGuide
Audrey gave us the local’s take! Saw highlights of the city’s history and got a great orientation to downtown.
Loved this tour. Our guide, Sharon or Shannon, was engaging, fun, and full of fascinating facts. The walk was relaxed and flexible, shaped by what the group was interested in rather than a rigid script. It never felt like a dry, rehearsed history lecture. She made a real effort to share genuinely useful insights, along with stories about Austin’s culture, people, and everyday life. It felt like a sneak peek into what life here is really like. The bite-sized historical details were especially interesting, and as a South African, I found many of them surprisingly eye-opening.