Quick Details
A favorite Austin city bus tour according to hundreds of traveler reviews on Tripadvisor!
Skip Googling “best things to do in Austin” and let real local experts show you the city and its surroundings in just 1.5 hours, covering 30 miles and more than 50 points of interest. This Austin tour includes a visit to the Six Square District in East Austin, where you will get to learn more about Austin’s Black music, arts, and cultural history.
We’ve been running our tour since 2003, which is rated one of the top city tours in Austin on Tripadvisor, providing a fascinating, budget-friendly overview of the city’s history and culture. It also cuts through the edge of the Texas Hill Country. Even lifelong Texans can’t believe all this is in their own backyard!
From the must-do’s to the who-knews, we give you the budget-friendly rundown on the sights, and tips on fun things to do around Austin, saving you time to explore the places that interest you most. Have a large group? Call us and we’ll take care of it.
Upon pickup, sit back and relax in our 14-passenger Mercedes-Benz sprinter. Along the way some 50 Austin attractions and landmarks, but you’ll also discover more about local hangouts, the live music scene, that “Keep Austin Weird” culture, and the city’s extraordinary gastronomic scene.
On this 90-minute tour, a local resident is your guide, in addition to being a professional driver, ensuring that safety is top of mind as we cover 30 miles of lively parks, trendy shopping districts, and the Hill Country’s lakes and vistas. You’ll also get to hear some great local commentary along the way.
In the next section, check out the map that shows the points of interest we visit.
Austin City Limits Live, Moody Theater, City Hall (B), Boutique Shopping & Dining, and the Willie Nelson Statue.
South Shore, Bat Bridge (Congress Ave), Lady Bird Lake (G), Butler Park, Long Center for the Performing Arts, Palmer Events Center, and ZACH Theatre.
Restaurant Row, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool(H), and the Zilker Botanical & Prehistoric Gardens. (I)
Texas Geology & History, Lake Austin, West Lake Hills, Wild Basin Preserve (J), Scenic Downtown Overlook, and the Pennybacker Bridge. (K)
Mount Bonnell (L), Camp Mabry (M), Laguna Gloria, and Mayfield Park.
Upscale shopping, restaurants and bars (N), Whole Foods Market’s Headquarters, and Book People.
United States Federal Courthouse, Republic Square Park, and many night clubs & bars. (O)
Texas State Cemetery (F), French Legation (E), Moonlight Tower, Huston-Tillotson University.
Night clubs & bars, Brush Square Park, Dickinson-Hannig Museum, The Driskill Hotel, Pecan Street, Live Music Venues, O. Henry House & Museum.
Texas State Capitol (A) & Visitor Center, Governor’s Mansion, Congress Ave., and the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum
U.T. Tower (C), The Drag, Campus Drive, the L.B.J Presidential Library (D), Texas Memorial Museum, Royal Memorial Stadium, Harry Ransom Center, J. Blanton Museum, and U.T. Performing Arts Center.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center, SoCo-South Congress, Cultural Austin, Food Trucks & Trailers, music venues, and George Washington Carver Museum.
For those who want to take a more leisurely version of this tour, consider our 2.5-hour experience that includes 4-6 stops to places such as Barton Springs, Driskill Hotel, the Rhapsody Mural, Mount Bonnell, and the Austin City Library. You’ll receive a multilingual audio guide, in addition to your driver and live guide.
As a family business, AO Tours strives to hire professional guides with enthusiasm and deep knowledge on the state capital of Texas. Depending on the tour, you may be with an actor, a comedian, or local resident who can tell you the best places to eat, where to catch a live show, or where to get off the beaten track. Each tour is a little different than the next thanks to this group, who you can learn more about here.
Online ticket purchases are refundable up to 24 hours before tour time, and reservations may be changed to another date and/or time (subject to availability).
For Students, Seniors 55+, Military, and Convention Tag Holders – Must present ID upon arrival.
1. Wild About Music located at 615 Congress Ave. (Click link to open in map)
Wild About Music is a Art and Gift Gallery located on the East side of Congress Ave.
2. The Austin Visitors Center is located at 602 East 4th St. (Click link to open in map)
Parking meters are enforced Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. Parking is $2 per hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. is a flat rate of $5. For paid time that continues after 6 p.m., the $5 flat rate is added to existing payment and parking expires at 3 a.m.
Child safety seats must be provided by parents whose children legally require them. Please see the laws at the follow link: Texas Department of Safety
There must be at least one adult over the age of 18 with each party that includes a child.
We do allow service animals, but we ask that you give us prior notice to allow for us to accommodate you safely. Non-service animals are not allowed without prior authorization by Mary Davidson – AO Tours Austin Owner.
Take our most popular tour and get the pink luggage tag that gets you discounts all over town. Learn More
14 passenger closed Mercedes-Benz sprinter van
English only at this time – More options coming soon!
Private tours with a translator can be arranged with advanced notice, please contact us for more info.
Our 4:30 p.m. tours are only available on Saturday and Sunday from February through October. We don’t operate on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter – we have reduced schedules on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
The Austin tour route may be modified because of traffic, construction, weather, parades, and sporting events.
Request for special accommodations will be addressed by management. Special arrangements may require as long as 72 hours’ notice to secure.
Austin Overtures Corporation retains the right to remove customers from our group tours for reasons that impact on the enjoyment or safety of other tour members, such as, but not limited to, unsocial or unruly behavior, or the carriage of prohibited substances and materials.
Now departing from two locations in Downtown Austin, TX 78701:
615 Congress Ave. (Wild About Music) OR 602 E. 4th Street (Austin Visitors Center)
Please arrive 20 minutes prior to departure to check-in and board.
NOTE: Seats are subject to resale if we have not heard from you or you are not checked-in 15 minutes prior to departure. Our Austin city tours depart on schedule – Thanks!
If you’ve taken this tour already, please consider leaving us a review on your favorite review site.
