In the capital of Texas, the fringe lives at the centre, walls whisper sweet nothings through a bug-eyed bullfrog named Jeremiah asking, “Hi, How Are You,” and chickens decide your bingo fate. This isn't a dream sequence. This is Austin. 

The city's famous “Keep Austin Weird” tagline isn't just a bumper sticker or an ironic tattoo. It's a lifestyle manifesto, etched into every street corner, neon sign, and bassline rolling out of a Sixth Street bar at two in the morning. It's a promise to celebrate the odd, the original, the bold, and the beautifully offbeat. It's a declaration of defiance against beige sameness and an ode to beautiful creativity. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, Austin is a glitch in the matrix you'll actually want to fall into. 

Weird doesn't sleep. It checks in. 

Begin your trip with a stay near the heart of downtown, right on the shores of Lady Bird Lake. The Loren Hotel blends modern luxury with artistic flair. This sleek boutique spot even offers “Artisan Room Service,” allowing guests to order curated art supplies and create their own masterpieces from the comfort of their robes. Painting while the morning light spills over the lake feels like living in a Wes Anderson daydream. 

If you're more into vinyl and velvet, check into Hotel Saint Cecilia, a lush refuge in South Congress just minutes from all that is SoCo and cool, including the iconic Allen's cowboy boots store and Güero's live music and tacos. This hotel is named for the patron saint of music and poetry and caters to creatives and free spirits. Vintage-inspired decor, secluded bungalows, and a "Vinyl Library" stocked with carefully curated records make this a retreat for those who appreciate soul, style, and silence in equal measure. In room record players and vinyl come as standard. 

For something kitschier, book a stay at the Austin Motel. Located on South Congress Avenue near Allen's Boots, this retro gem is equal parts cheeky and charming. Think neon signs, mid-century vibes, colourful palettes and poolside “Dive-In Movie Nights.”  

Daytime Fantasias 

Spend your day living out surrealist vignettes across the city. Begin with Chicken Sh*t Bingo at The Little Longhorn Saloon, where a live chicken determines your fortune one square at a time. It does what is says on the tin…If chickens aren't your thing, head to Little Woodrow's for turtle racing. Grab a local brew, place your bets and join in on the cheering. Alternatively, take a different path and build your own sausage platter at Scholz Garten, the oldest beer garden in America. Since 1866, it's been a hub for community, culture, and cold beer. You might even catch a polka band or a group of rowdy Longhorn fans fuelling up before a game. If you're in need of a release join Austin's first ever Scream Club. Let go of your stress in a safe, supportive space where screaming is not only accepted but also encouraged. Stay after to connect with others or simply enjoy the calm that follows the catharsis. 

Art lovers should head into the Museum of the Weird, a curio-packed institution dedicated to the bizarre, the unexplained, and the just plain strange, or wander through The Cathedral of Junk, a multi-story folk art wonderland built from, well, everything. It's a living monument to maximalism and one man's refusal to throw anything away. Austin is even a little different with their Botanical Gardens, with the annual Whimsical Woodland Faerie Trail each summer, and the Cretaceous Garden on Dinosaur Island. 

There's a festival for that. 

In Austin, the calendar bends around music, and time itself seems to warp during festival season. 

Big names like SXSW and Austin City Limits pull in crowds from around the world, offering a wild mashup of tech visionaries, indie bands, and late-night taco runs. But some of the best festivals here are less big tickets and really get under the skin of what the city is all about. 

Hot Luck Festival is curated by barbecue royalty Aaron Franklin and pairs experimental cuisine with live music. It's part cookout, part concert, all delicious chaos. Moontower Comedy Festival brings together some of the best stand-up comedians in the country for days of punchlines and afterparties and OUTsider Fest is a collision of queer storytelling, performance art, and genre-defying brilliance. 

And maybe funkiest of all, there's Eeyore's Birthday Party, an iconic event in Pease Park where you'll find costumed dancers, drum circles, and an open invitation to let your freak flag fly. No shoes required, fairy wings encouraged. 

Nightlife isn't just night life — it's identity. 

Austin is known for innovative music and contemporary bars, but it also has a proud Texas-country background that is best experienced through a night of dancing. Spend a night at one or all of these favourite honky-tonks.  If dancing isn't your thing (that might change!), then check out this guide to Austin's neighbourhood nightlife, and you're sure to find something that suits your fancy. 

Some of the real gems aren't quite so in-your-face. Speakeasys lay in welcome, behind unmarked doors, secret alleyways, and other obscure entrances lie a clutch of hidden bars and venues that guarantee unforgettable nights. If you're into thrill and mystery, Red Headed Stepchild is a must-visit. This secretive bar is loosely themed around serial killers and horror movies, with decor that sends a shiver down your spine. The Midnight Cowboy is hiding in plain sight on Austin's lively 6th Street. Pay no attention to the neon sign outside that says "Midnight Cowboy Modeling,” clearly this is anything but your average bar. 

For a different kind of energy, head to the Warehouse District, where Austin's queer scene shines bright. At  Rain on 4th, you'll find pulsing bass, rhinestone-studded drag shows, and a dance floor full of joy. The Iron Bear offers a more laid-back vibe, less glitter, more grit, but just as much heart. And if you land at Coconut Club, prepare for a rainbow of drag shows, tequila shots, and possibly a mid-dance-floor spiritual awakening.  

Weird means welcoming. Weird means awake. Weird means real. And in Austin, real is still allowed to be a little wild. Keep Austin Weird. Because normal never changed the world. For more information and travel inspiration, visit www.visitaustin.com.  

About Austin, Texas  

Visit Austin is the official destination marketing and sales organisation for the City of Austin. An accredited member of Destinations International, Visit Austin is charged with marketing Austin nationally and internationally as a premier business and leisure destination, thus enriching our community's overall quality of life. Learn more at www.visitaustin.org   

For media inquiries, please contact: Melina Collie, Head of Communications (UK & Europe, MDSG,  melina@mdsg.eu