Austin is weird, I'm sure you've heard that.
Even those who have never been to Texas probably know that the city of Austin stands out. The slogan 'Keep Austin Weird” may have been coined to boost small business, but the phrase stuck.
While Austin definitely has the Lone Star spirit, locals also tend to dabble in artistic and eclectic hobbies. This stands out from the cowboy and Wild West atmosphere in other cities like Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
But what makes things so weird about Austin?
Is this the range of museums and art installations? Is this a certain form of fanaticism of the locals towards life? Is this the range of day trips available throughout the city? Is this bats on Congress Avenue? All this live music? Or rather the barbecue?
There are no easy answers, but that doesn't mean there aren't any. As a former anthropology student, I like to get in on the ground floor to learn more. And when it comes to expert advice, there's nothing like a passionate local.
Want to know what makes this city weird? I suggest taking a closer look at some of Austin's coolest tours to hear what their knowledgeable and obsessive hosts have to say.
The Coolest Tours in Austin
Strange Austin City Tour
Want to gain a fundamental understanding of what makes Austin so weird? Start here. This tour will introduce you to the city as passionate local experts discuss its culture, history, and key musical and culinary traditions.
There is also a live band performance during the tour, which takes you on a front-row journey to Austin's unique identity.
Small-Group Morning Walk in Austin
Greet the day by avoiding all those tourist traps. This is one of the most unique city tours I have ever seen. There's no big selling point other than exploring downtown Austin with two goals.
First of all, avoid tourist traps. Second, learn about the city's lesser-known stories from a critically acclaimed storyteller. It sounds low-key, but critics have called the tour “exciting” and “exceptional.”
Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour
Want to really spread your wings and learn more about the city? This driving tour seems to be one of the most comprehensive ways to experience the city while locking eyes with some of its most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods, as well as a few hidden gems that locals love.
Austin Food Walking Tour
Get out and explore one of Austin's most historic neighborhoods and taste some of its best foods along the way. This tour will introduce you to top favorites like barbecue, as well as lesser-known favorites like cannoli, breakfast tacos, and more.
4-Hour Austin Signature Brewery Tour
Good barbecue is only half the story in Austin. If you want to better understand the strangeness of the city, then you will have to taste its local beers from its best breweries.
This tour takes you to the city's three most famous breweries and bars, showing you around Austin in a small group. As well as tasting a range of beers, customers are also treated to a small meal.
Guided kayak tour at sunset
A bat kayak tour – this is the kind of oddity that I thought would abound in Austin. Every night at sunset, bats flood the Congress Avenue Bridge.
But this site has become a tourist hotspot, meaning that many tour groups are too large for visitors to really enjoy the experience. This option focuses on small groups so everyone involved can see the bats and follow their group.
The Brunch Bus: gastronomic tour with a live band on board
You can find plenty of live music bar crawls around Austin – and I recommend joining one, two, or five. But none can match the strange appeal of the Brunch Bus.
Simply find a seat, listen to the band on board, get off at brunch time, then start again.
