Top Austin Historical Tours

Hear the historical tales of murder and mayhem that helped make Austin weird on this haunted history tour of Texas's capital city. Join an acclaimed storyteller and a small group for a walking tour through Austin's supernatural nooks and creepy crannies, including a tour of the famous Driskill Hotel.

In 1885, America’s first serial killer stalked the streets and alleyways of the city of Austin. He came to be known as the “Midnight Assassin,” but his identity remains a mystery. On this guided evening walking tour, explore historic Austin including West 6th Street, Guy Town, and the Warehouse District, plus stop for a drink at the Driskill Hotel, as you learn about his crimes.

Discover Austin’s spooky side on an evening walking tour through the city's most haunted areas. Austin history features stories about forbidden lovers, suicides, brutal murders, and freak accidents. Learn about authentic hauntings that happened in locations such as the Cathedral of Junk, the Hope Outdoor Gallery, and the Museum of the Weird, as well as restaurants and vintage shops.

Get to know Austin on this guided bus tour. Hear about the history of the Texas capital aboard a roomy Mercedes-Benz sprinter van. This open-air vehicle comes equipped with headsets that offer both English and Spanish language options. See local hangouts, hip and historic neighborhoods, and Central Texas Hill Country. Along the way, stop to take photos at locations such as the Driskill Hotel, Barton Springs, and the Austin Public Library.

Explore Austin via a relaxing open-air pedicab tour. Pass by downtown sites including the Texas State Capitol, Governor's Mansion, Pecan Street, Lady Bird Lake, and more. Travel at your own pace on this tour that's individually tailored to meet your group’s interests. Choose between two convenient departure locations or arrange for pickup in front of your hotel.

Want to see the best of Austin and the Hill County in the comfort of an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz sprinter van with a local guide? Look no further! In 90 minutes, this signature tour covers 30 miles and 50+ points of interest, including the Texas Capitol and East Austin’s Six Square District, to give you a taste of the city’s rich culture and history. For even more exploration (with stops), check out the 2.5-hour version of this tour.

Get a comprehensive overview of Austin on this sightseeing tour. See famous landmarks along with hidden gems, real neighborhoods, and food trucks. Learn about Austin's history and culture with commentary from your guide and hear fun facts about the city that even the locals don't know. Plus, choose a morning or afternoon departure to easily fit this tour into your schedule.

Make your own way to the bike shop at Zilker Park to meet your guide arriving 15 minutes before tour time. Get outfitted with your bike and helmet, then set out with your guide to see the best of Austin. Pedal along the hike-and-bike trail that runs through Zilker Park and around Lady Bird Lake. Turn north to check out the Italian Renaissance Revival of the Texas State Capitol building. Learn about the city's history as you roll through downtown. Head down Congress Avenue and over the Congress Avenue Bridge, where 1.5 million bats take shelter between the months of March to November. Continue to South Congress, Rainey Street, and the boardwalk trail. Get great photo opportunities throughout the bike tour.

Retreat from the city for a day of wine tasting in Texas Hill Country. After meeting at a designated location, hop into a luxury limousine and visit three wineries just outside Austin, sampling several wines at each. The tour also stops for lunch at the renowned Salt Lick restaurant in Driftwood - cost of lunch not included.

Get to know Austin on a leisurely morning walk with a nationally acclaimed storyteller as your guide. Learn little-known stories about the city, get inside tips on the best coffee shops, restaurants, and live music venues, and explore the city like a local. This tour helps you avoid tourist traps to make the most of your visit to Austin. Great for kids and adults alike, learn about the city in a fun, low-key way.

Go sightseeing in Austin by Segway on a 1.5-hour tour that allows you to cover more ground than other types of tours. Get an overview of downtown Austin and capture numerous photo ops as you pass by the Texas State Capitol Building, Congress Avenue, Warehouse Entertainment District, Lady Bird Lake, the historic Driskill Hotel, and other landmarks.

Save time looking up bus schedules and opt for this hassle-free Austin sightseeing bus tour instead. Travel on a loop around the city that passes by top landmarks in Austin’s downtown area. Along the way, listen to commentary from a guide, get great photos from the top deck, or sit in the climate-controlled lower deck. Highlights include 6th Street, The Museum of the Weird, The Driskill hotel, Texas State Capitol, and the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

Discover another side of Austin on a 2.5-hour Segway tour that features bats and ghosts. Offered from March to October, this nighttime ride through downtown Austin visits haunted hotels and buildings, famous landmarks, and the world’s largest urban bat colony. See the Texas State Capitol Building, Lady Bird Lake, Austin Convention Center, the 6th Street Entertainment district, Moonlight Towers, and more

Discover the highlights of Austin along with several local breweries during this half-day beer tasting and bike tour. Pedal past landmarks including the Texas State Cemetery and the Texas State Capitol, and stop for sudsy refreshments at three breweries. Your guide shares commentary about the city and breweries on a moderate level bike tour that is suitable for most people with biking experience. Bike gear and beers are included.

Check off more Austin attractions in less time on this 2-hour bike tour of the historic Texan capital. At a relaxed pace, you’ll cycle to significant sites including the 600-year-old Treaty Oak tree, the University of Texas, and the Scholtz Garden, a 19th-century beer garden. Delve into Austin’s rich history and receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 12 participants.

Experience a ghost tour with a difference on this themed adults-only tour that focuses on murders and hauntings in Victorian-era Austin. Instead of spending hours researching the city’s ghost stories, this tour takes you to places known for their poltergeists and paranormal activity. Notable locations that the tour passes include the Millett Opera House, the University of Texas Tower, and the Driskill Hotel.

Hear stories about Austin’s spooky history and unexplained happenings—and discover many of its most atmospheric drinking dens—on this two-in-one ghost tour and pub crawl. Meet your guide in the evening in central Austin, and get ready to explore. You’ll visit multiple bars and historical landmarks over the course of the tour, with a dose of storytelling—and chances to buy drinks—at each stop.

It's easy to book an Austin sightseeing bus tour, but a crammed coach is no way to enjoy the famous Texas sunshine. To enjoy Austin's balmy weather, and see the city's top sights, travelers shouldn't miss this attraction-packed Segway tour. Visit the Seaholm Power District and Texas State Capitol, cruise Congress Avenue, and stop for selfies with statues of two of Austin's most famous musicians. Wrap up your tour at Auditorium Shores, and take in fantastic skyline views.

Experience Texas Hill Country while exploring the life of U.S. President and Texas native son Lyndon Johnson. After a convenient hotel pickup, visit Johnson’s “Texas White House,” his reconstructed boyhood home (now a national park), and the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. Learn about the cowboys and German immigrants who shaped the region, stop by historic Fredericksburg, and visit the legendary country music town of Luckenbach.

Lady Bird Lake is a popular nature escape in the heart of downtown Austin, complete with scenic footbridges, lakeside parks, and skyline views. Ideal for families and outdoor enthusiasts, this cycling tour allows you to escape city traffic and cruise around the Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail, which spans 10 miles (16 kilometers) and loops around the lake’s shoreline.

Hop aboard an open-air pedicab for a relaxing jaunt around Austin with a guide. Find out why this city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” by traveling to venues and sites such as the statues of Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Antone's Home of the Blues, Armadillo World Headquarters, and more.

Guests of all ages are welcome to our Ghosts of Austin tour, combining history with hauntings for a fun and family-friendly outing. After an introduction to Austin's haunted past, we'll visit some of Austin's spookiest locales: the Texas State Capitol, The Driskill Hotel and the Texas Governor's Mansion. As we unearth some of their histories, you'll hear about the ghosts, ghouls, apparitions and phantoms that haunt their grounds. Expect an outing that will make your spine tingle!

Explore Austin in style with this small-group tour in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that’s equipped with a convertible top. Having a driver means no navigation worries, and plenty of time to enjoy the views and take photos. Highlights include the University of Texas campus, the Texas State Capitol, and lots of historic sites and impressive murals along the way. As well as driving between sites, there’s time to hop off the bus and explore places on foot too. Note: convertible top may be closed during bad weather, cold/hot/rain, as well as any part of the route that is on the highway.

Experience the Best of San Antonio from Austin on this 7-hour small-group tour of the River City. Explore the Alamo - a local cultural icon, witness the beautiful city skyline on a narrated drive, explore the beautiful Spanish colonial missions, and take in stunning views of the city from both a relaxing River Cruise and 190 m (623 ft) above from the top of the Tower of the Americas.