StayAreasIs Downtown a good place to stay in Austin?
Yes, especially for a first visit or a music weekend. Sixth Street, Red River and the Capitol are a walk away, but it's loud late at night and rooms are pricey.
Stay here if
- First-time visitors
- Live music fans
- Business travellers
Look elsewhere if
- You want quiet nights
- You're on a tight budget
- You want a neighbourhood feel
Hotels in Downtown
All Downtown hotels on Booking ↗Typical rates for a double outside peak events, not live prices. Updated Oct 2026 · How we rate areas · Booking through our links costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission. Learn more
Staying in Downtown
Downtown is the most convenient place to stay in Austin for a first visit. Sixth Street, the Red River music venues, the Texas State Capitol and the Congress Avenue Bridge are all within a short walk, and the convention centre, the 2nd Street District and the Lady Bird Lake trail are on the same blocks. South Congress is across the bridge.
The area is built around live music. Sixth Street is a long strip of bars and clubs, Red River has many of the city's best small venues, and ACL Live at the Moody Theater hosts big names on 2nd Street. By day there's the Capitol and the lake trail, and from March to October crowds line the bridge at dusk to watch the bats fly out.
The downside is the noise and the price. Sixth Street gets loud and rowdy late at night, especially at weekends, and downtown hotels are some of the most expensive in Texas. Parking adds a lot to the bill, and prices jump during SXSW, ACL Fest and big conferences.
What makes downtown special is how much live music you can walk to. You can watch the bats at sunset, catch a band on Red River and still find music on Sixth Street after midnight. For a first trip to the Live Music Capital of the World, there's nowhere more convenient to stay.
Getting around
- Sixth Street7walk
- Congress Avenue Bridge11walk
- Texas State Capitol13walk
- Franklin Barbecue13transit
- South Congress Avenue16transit
- University of Texas Tower19transit
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)35
Downtown questions
Is Downtown a good area to stay in Austin?
Yes, especially for a first visit or a music weekend. Sixth Street, Red River and the Capitol are a walk away, but it's loud late at night and rooms are pricey. It suits first-time visitors, live music fans and business travellers.
How much does a hotel in Downtown cost?
A typical double is around $215 a night at a budget hotel, $285 mid-range and $1,140 for luxury, outside peak events.
How do I get from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Downtown?
About 35 minutes door to door: CapMetro bus 20 from the airport, or a taxi in about 20 minutes.
How far is Downtown from the main sights?
Door to door from Downtown: Sixth Street 7 minutes on foot, Congress Avenue Bridge 11 minutes on foot, Texas State Capitol 13 minutes on foot and Franklin Barbecue 13 minutes.