21 Fun Things to Do Alone in Austin

Austin is a fabulous city for the solo traveler or digital nomad. It’s easy to meet new people, but there are also a lot of fun things to do alone in Austin. The people are friendly, there’s a sense of community, there are numerous coffee shops to work from, and there’s no shortage of fun activities. Plus, it’s known for being a “weird” city, which I’m all about.

So without further ado, here’s a list of my favorite things to do alone in Austin!

Patsy the chicken

1. Spend a Sunday at Chicken Shit Bingo

Litlte Longhorn Saloon
5434 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

Yes, you read that one right. Every Sunday, the Little Longhorn Saloon hosts an Austin tradition – Chicken Shit Bingo. And it works exactly like you’d think–you place a bet on which Bingo square the chicken is going to shit on. It’s that simple. I didn’t win, but it’s not really about winning.

The crowd is what makes this event worthwhile– I got a few “yee-haws” captured on the videos I took of the ordeal!

Patsy, the first chicken they brought out for us, didn’t want to shit. So the crowd encouraged her with “C’mon, Patsy!” and “C’mon, Patsy, shit!” After a while, the chicken wranglers brought out another chicken to try to get that one to shit instead, but it turned out that good ol’ Patsy came through for us in the end and did her business on the board. Yee-haws were shouted, Lonestars were drunk, and a good time was had by all.

2. Tour the Cathedral of Junk

Cathedral of Junk
4422 Lareina Dr, Austin, TX 78745
(512) 299-7413

Another very “Austin” activity. The cathedral is actually located in a nice man named Vince’s backyard. Vince is definitely doing his part to “Keep Austin Weird.”

This was the most organized I’ve ever seen junk stacked. There are 3 stories and several different rooms. Each room has a theme, and Vince is very picky about what he adds to his cathedral. So it’s not really a bunch of junk lying around, it’s carefully chosen junk arranged in a way that makes sense. People sometimes see junk they used to own!

It’s free to get in, but a small donation is suggested. Vince requests that you call him before you go to make sure he’s home and letting people tour.

3. Go swimming year-round at a massive 3-acre pool

One of the many things you can do at Austin’s Zilker Park is check out Barton Springs pool for swimming year-round!

4. Go hiking or biking at Lady Bird Lake

There are 10 miles to hike or bike here! Bonus tip: I really loved the Meetup group Hiking for Tacos. It’s as delicious as it sounds–you take a hike (leisurely stroll) to a delicious taco place and make a new friend or to while doing so!

Note on Austin hiking: You can leave the hiking boots at home. “Hiking” here is essentially walking. But it’s still fun and a great way to get out in nature!

I forgot to take a pic before I took a bite. Oooops

5. go to Franklin BBQ

Yes, that’s the famous bbq place with the giant line.

But let me tell you a hack. I went at around 1:30-2 p.m. on a random Tuesday and got right in, minimal line. I wouldn’t wait in line for hours–that’s not my vibe.

If you can go at an off-peak time, you may have luck like I did. But you’re also running the risk of them selling out, which they do every day.

So I’d say go to Franklin if you can. If not, no sweat.

6. Go practice yoga with some baby goats

12700 Hill Country Blvd S-115, Bee Cave, TX 78738

At Goga Yoga, you can do yoga with baby goats! This was by far the least serious yoga class I’d ever been to. There are several baby goats wearing dresses wandering around the studio. If a goat gets close to you, you can pet it, or sometimes an instructor will put the goat on your back!

Note: You won’t get a workout here. If you’re looking for an actual yoga class, I wouldn’t recommend this one. You don’t even have to do the yoga poses if you don’t want to. Most people were doing some of the poses, but mostly they were paying attention to the goats.

Sometimes the goats will poop, and some of it may get on your yoga mat. But don’t worry–there are several attendants with spray handy.

7. Go Shopping and snacking on South Congress Avenue

South Congress has so many interesting shops and places to get a bite. Here are a few noteworthy spots:

Allen’s Boots: The Texas spirit is infectious. Go try on some cowboy boots. Allen’s has a huge selection and just about any kind of cowboy boot you can imagine.

Jo’s Coffee: Afterward, go to Jo’s Coffee for a pick-me-up (and to see the famous “I love you so much” mural!)

Big Top Candy: Check out this massive candy shop for a sweet treat.

Amy’s Ice Cream: Check out this Austin ice cream staple.

8. Go see a show at continental club

1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

This a legendary South Congress music club. There’s live music every night of the week. I saw The Blues Specialists, one of the house bands since 1988!

And side note – I made a new friend here! Well, sort of. We were friends for the night then never saw each other again! After this show, we made more temporary friends and went to a Margo Price show together! Fun times.

9. Go tour the Capitol (free)

Curious what the inside of the Capitol is like? Take a tour! You can also just go in and walk around on your own.

All dressed up for the Edgar Allan Poe Ball

10. Find Some weird, quirky event

For me, it was the Edgar Allan Poe ball. Check Eventbrite–there’s likely something unusual happening!

11. Go on a haunted tour

I didn’t know this going in, but Austin has a lot of haunted places! I did this really cool tour where I rode in a hearse and went to several haunted local spots. Fun fact: hearses don’t have inside handles in the back. There’s uh…usually no need for them, so our guide had to let us out at each stop. Bonus – the hearse tour is also BYOB!

12. Take a Two-Step lesson

You don’t need a partner! You’ll line up and switch partners periodically. I had a lot of fun doing this even though I’m by no means a dancer! Several places offer lessons, including The Broken Spoke and Maverick’s (where I went).

13. Go to The Broken Spoke

Even if you don’t take your two-step lesson there, you’ll want to give it a visit. It’s legendary! So many country legends have performed there, and it’s got a great vibe. Bonus: there’s a kitty cat who lives there too!

14. Check out Dirty 6th Street

3201 S. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78704

Even though I had one of the worst dates of my life there, don’t let that discourage you. Dirty 6th gets some flack for being “touristy,” but I’d say that’s bullshit. What’s really cool about Dirty 6th is that you can hear every kind of music at once. When you’re walking down the street, you’ll hear rock, blues, piano, hip-hop, you name it–all coming out of various bars at the same time.

Note: There’s also an East 6th and a West 6th, and they all have different vibes. Check them all out if you have time, but you don’t want to miss Dirty 6th!

15. Try as many food trucks as you wish

Food trucks, food trucks, food trucks.

There are food trucks, and even food truck parks, just about anywhere you go in Austin. Perfect for the solo diner who doesn’t want to deal with the restaurant experience.

16. Check out the cool murals and artwork around Austin

And have a little photoshoot if you wish! Here’s a handy guide to murals around town.

Some quick tips for taking solo photos:
Use the Lensbuddy app. This app continually takes photos for you until you tell it to stop. Just set your phone on your tripod (or whatever object is handy) and presto! Post the best ones and laugh at the rest.
Carry a tripod. I have this one. You can easily stuff it in your bag so you’ll have it handy.

17. Check out Austin Central library

710 W. César Chávez St.

An introvert’s paradise, this is one of the coolest libraries I’ve been in. Be sure to go up to the roof, take in some amazing city views, and then find a good spot to take a break and read!

18. See the bats under Congress Bridge!

From mid-March through early November, each night you can see 100,000 spectacular Mexican free-tail bats leave their home under Congress Bridge and take to the night skies. They take flight 30-60 minutes before sunset, but you’ll want to get there early to stake out a viewing spot. Alternatively, there are a few bat tours that take place.

19. Hike Mount Bonnell and catch the sunset

A gorgeous nature retreat! The “hike” consists of a short .5 mile loop trail. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. You’ll likely see people taking photos.

20. Try Rainey Street and see if it’s your jam

If you’re looking for a party, this is where you find it. I went to Rainey Street twice, once in the daytime and once at nighttime. Personally, it wasn’t for me, but I recommend trying it out anyway.

21. Get Voodoo Doughnuts

Multiple locations

Had to mention it! Delicious, open late, and so many interesting flavors.

How to meet people in Austin

Exploring solo is great, but as a digital nomad, sometimes we have to put ourselves out there and meet new people. If you need to do this, I’ve got you covered.

Looking to make friends in a new city? Check out my guide.

I really liked this Facebook group for meeting people. They have karaoke nights (my favorite), game nights, bar crawls, and more.

Honestly, it’s easy to meet people in Austin. I don’t think I ever felt lonely there. Just go out and see what happens!

Day trips from Austin

Need a change of scenery from your stay in Austin? I’ve got you!

San Antonio is only about an hour away, and there are several interesting things to do. Be sure to check out The Alamo and the Riverwalk.

Fredericksburg is about an hour and 40 minutes away from Austin. This cute German town in Texas Hill Country is perfect for any day trip out of Austin for those who want to escape the city for some peace and quiet.

Dallas and Houston are both about 3 hours away from Austin. If you’re looking to knock out your Texas bucket list, either would make a great day trip!

Things to know about Austin, TX

Hiking in Austin is really just a long walk. I touched on this earlier, but wanted to drive the point home. Leave the hiking boots/poles/gear at home All you need is comfy clothes and water for an Austin hike.

You’ll find yourself in the mood to do something “Texasy.” Even though Austin prides itself on standing out and being weird, it’s still Texas. You may get the urge to try on boots and hats or take a two-step lesson!

You may not meet anyone originally from Austin. Austin is full of transplants. I don’t know if I met anyone who was born in Austin. I met people who’d lived there from a young age, or had been there 10 plus years, which counts as being “from” Austin, I guess. Get used to being asked where you’re from.

The people are super friendly. The good thing about being in a spot with a bunch of transplants is that everyone’s looking to make friends. There’s a sense of community, and if you want to be a part of it, you’ll be welcomed.

It seems like it’d be great for dating. I say this even though I went on one of the worst dates of my life there. Except for that guy, dating in Austin seems great! I’m sure the locals will beg to differ, because everyone hates dating where they live, but with how welcoming the people in Austin are, it seems like dating would be a little less hellish there.

Just when I thought I’d escaped winter...

When is the best time to visit Austin?

I’d say the best time to visit Austin is spring, fall, or winter. Summers are sweltering, while winters are generally mild. Keep in mind, though, that Texas does get cold fronts and occasionally snow. If you’re a digital nomad, you’ll likely have good weather in winter for most of your stay with a few cold days, so make sure to bring your coat, hat, and gloves. If you’re only planning on staying a few days, though, I’d wait til spring or fall for better chances of good weather.

Is Austin safe to visit alone?

Yes! I never felt unsafe there. Keep your head on a swivel, like you would any place, but I felt safe hiking solo and walking around solo.

Where to stay in Austin as a digital nomad

Furnished Finder is my go-to for temporary housing during my digital nomad stays. The Downtown and South Congress neighborhoods are solid bets but are also going to be the more expensive neighborhoods. I’d recommend trying to find something as close as you can to either of those neighborhoods.

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Final thoughts on things to do alone in Austin

I really loved Austin. I can see why so many people move there. Though there are many solo activities there, you don’t have to do them alone if you don’t want to because it’s so easy to meet people!

What do you think? Have you been to Austin? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts.