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.

Explore Austin without getting lost with a guide
Tour the Texas State Capitol and visit other interesting locations
Check out some food trucks and other off-the-beaten-path sites
Travel with a smaller size group for a more personalized tour

What's Included

Driver/guide
A 'bucket list tour' of Austin gives you a city overview
Texas State Capitol

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Parking fee is $10.00 for up to 8 hours

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

602 E 4th St
602 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Meet inside the AUSTIN VISITOR CENTER

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet your guide at the Austin Visitor Center and board your bus to begin your tour.

As you stop for a few minutes at each destination, hear informative commentary from your guide about the location's history and particularities. Stops include a variety of sites, such as the inside of the Texas State Capitol building. Pick up a sweet treat at the food trucks and snap a photo in front of the Austin postcard.

Learn about the art, music, culture, food, history, parks, and famous residents of Austin, and how the locals live up to the slogan 'Keep Austin Weird.'

Rainey Street Historic District (Pass By)

6th Street (Pass By)

Texas State Capitol

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

University of Texas at Austin (Pass By)

Greetings from Austin Mural

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

South Congress Avenue (Pass By)

Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tour departs from the AUSTIN VISITOR CENTER located at 602 E. 4th Street, Austin, TX 78701.
Wheelchair accessible
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start time for check in. We are unable to delay the tour for guests who arrive late.
Stroller accessible
Guests with young children must provide their own car seats and arrive 30 minutes prior to the start of the tour to install them in the van as our guides are not permitted to handle car seats.
Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate
Parking is available in the Austin Convention Center Garage which is connected to the Austin Visitor Center. Enter the garage on E 5th St between Red River and Sabine.
The tour runs rain or shine, however we reserve the right to cancel the tour in the event of extreme weather and/or hazardous road conditions that would potentially affect the safety of our guides and guests.
Guests with limited mobility are welcome to bring a wheelchair or portable scooter on board to be folded and placed in the rear of the van. The vans are not equipped with a ramp or wheelchair lift however, so all guests must be able to step up into the vehicle (about 12 inches).
We do not permit animals or pets of any kind. Guests with a service dog MUST contact the tour operator in advance to request approval.
If you have cold or flu-like symptoms or if you are feeling ill in any way, please do not join the tour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

1,731 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 1,731 reviews

Interesting

Richard_Y, Sep 2023

Cliff was an excellent guide. Very energetic and knowledgeable, a great story teller. I would recommend this tour.

Ike is the best

Shawn_W, Sep 2023

Ike was fabulous, personable, funny, and very knowledgeable! He shared his own recommendations, and made this tour! We even stopped for a delicious cookie. I would highly recommend booking this to get an overview and history of awesome Austin.

Girls’ Trip in Austin

Monica_G, Sep 2023

Ike was a great tour guide. He was so knowledgeable about Austin and had the best Dad Jokes ever. He made our tour so fun, we could have asked for a better guide. He also got us the best cookies in all of Austin! Thanks Ike!

Fun in Austin with Connor

Sharon_R, Sep 2023

Connors personal touch made the experience enjoyable Loved seeing the capital Enjoyed the special macaroon treat Nice to visit downtown local shops

Great experience

Crystal_T, Sep 2023

Cliff was an awesome tour guide, very knowledgeable. He asked everyone was it something they were interested in seeing and made sure he pointed it out while on the tour

Best start to Austin trip

Naomi_H, Sep 2023

It was awesome! Ask all the questions because Jax is FULL of information, The van is comfortable and she will take you to the local places

Austin with Ike

Pauline_R, Aug 2023

Ike was fantastic! Very informative and extremely personable. The tour was very fun! The tour gave us a great overview of the city and its history.

The Learning Channel

Saleem_N, Aug 2023

Knowing the history of a city by getting so much information in couple of hours is a great experience!

Connor is a fun and...

Kae_P, Aug 2023

Connor is a fun and knowledgeable guide! This tour is a great way to get a feel for the city as well as learn some history.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Howdy! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour. We're delighted to hear that you had a great time exploring the city with Connor as your guide! It's wonderful that his fun and knowledgeable approach added value to your experience. We're glad the tour provided a way for you to get a feel for the city and learn about its history. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we can't wait to welcome you back for more informative and enjoyable tours in the future!🤠

Great Tour!

Megan_P, Aug 2023

Great city tour! Our guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and fun! We had a great time! We loved seeing the capital building and getting to see the city highlights in the comfort of AC.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Howdy Megan_P, Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour. We're delighted to hear that you had a great city tour experience! It's wonderful that your guide's knowledge, friendliness, and fun personality contributed to your enjoyment. We're glad you had a fantastic time exploring the city's highlights while staying comfortable in the AC. Your kind words are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more great tours in the future!🤠

Great!

Donna_A, Aug 2023

History of Austin explained well! The time went quickly as our guide did an excellent job of driving and chatting

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Howdy Donna_A, Thank you for sharing your impressions of the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour. We're delighted to hear that you had a great time on the tour! It's fantastic that the history of Austin was explained well, and you found the time passing quickly due to our guide's excellent driving and engaging conversation. Your kind words are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more enjoyable tours in the future!🤠

Cliff, the Man

Desiree_W, Aug 2023

Our tour guide Cliff, was amazing. Very knowledgeable and funny. Loved his stories. Would recommend him in a heart 💓

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Howdy Desiree_W, Thank you for leaving a review of your experience on the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Cliff as your guide. We're thrilled that Cliff's expertise and sense of humor made your tour enjoyable. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we're grateful to have been a part of your Austin adventure. We hope to welcome you back for more unforgettable tours in the future!🤠

Great tour

Doris_F, Jul 2023

The tour guide Nick was very knowledgeable and friendly. His knowledge of Austin was excellent. My favorite stop was the murial of the Black music artist on the east side. The tour was worth the cost. I reccomend for anyone that is visiting Austin for the first time.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Howdy Doris,Thank you for sharing your positive experience from the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide. We're delighted to hear that Nick, our knowledgeable and friendly guide, made your tour enjoyable and informative. It's great that his expertise added value to your exploration of Austin. We're also pleased to hear that you enjoyed the stop at the mural of the Black music artist on the east side – it's one of the unique highlights of the tour. Thank you for recommending our tour to first-time visitors of Austin. Your feedback is truly appreciated, and we hope to welcome you back on another memorable tour soon! 🤠

Our Tour Guide "Nick" was...

Elizabeth_C, Jul 2023

Our Tour Guide "Nick" was delightful, and personable . In my opinion, driving in downtown Austin is tricky enough adding an engaging and informative dialog would be an extreme challenge. Not for Nick, he did it seamlessly in a engaging way. My husband and I took family from out of town on his tour and although we have lived in Austin for 49 years we both learned new facts and info about our town. We all enjoyed our tour with Nick. Many thanks!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you for taking the time to share your wonderful experience from the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Local Guide. We're thrilled to hear that Conner made your tour truly special and engaging for guests of all ages. It's fantastic that he was able to blend humor and seriousness to create an entertaining and informative experience. We're glad that you were pleasantly surprised by Conner's knowledge and his ability to make the tour both fun and educational. Thank you for your high recommendation of the tour. We're delighted to have been a part of your Austin adventure and that you left with fun facts to share with others. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you and your family back on another tour soon!

Really fun and insightful tour!

Matthew_U, Jul 2023

We have been living in Austin for about six years, but really saw the city so we decided to stay in a hotel near downtown and actually "see" Austin. I decided that we should just take a tour, as it would give us more information than we could learn on our own so I found the Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour and booked it. Avery was our tour guide and she was amazing! She was very knowledgeable about the city's history, funny and very kind! We had a really good time, and got a lot of insight into the cultural, culinary and famous parts of the city!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you, Matthew_U, for your wonderful review! We're thrilled that you had a fun and insightful experience on our Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Avery as your guide. Even though you've been living in Austin for six years, we're delighted to hear that our tour provided you with new knowledge and insights about the city. Avery's passion for Austin and her ability to share its history and highlights in an engaging and humorous way is what makes our tours special. It's fantastic to know that you enjoyed learning about the cultural, culinary, and famous aspects of the city during the tour. Austin has so much to offer, and we're glad we could contribute to your deeper exploration of this vibrant city. Thank you for choosing Austin Detours to show you around your own city, and we hope you'll join us again for another tour whenever you feel like discovering more hidden gems in Austin!🤠

Awesome tour!

Christopher_B, Jul 2023

This was the perfect tour for a newbie visitor to Austin to help get a lay of the land. Evan has an awesome energy about Austin and it came through showing us around all the different parts of the city. I recommend doing this your first day so you can see where everything’s at and they provide personalized recommendations based on what you’re looking to do while in town.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you, Christopher_B, for your awesome review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience on our Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour with Evan as your guide. Helping newcomers like you get a lay of the land and experience the best of Austin is exactly what we strive for. We're glad you found Evan's energy and passion for Austin infectious, as our guides take pride in sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for the city with our guests. It's great to know that you found the personalized recommendations helpful in planning the rest of your trip. We truly appreciate your recommendation and the fact that you chose our tour as your first-day activity in Austin. It's an excellent way to start your visit and get oriented in this vibrant city. Should you ever return to Austin, we'd be delighted to show you even more of what this wonderful city has to offer. Thank you for choosing Austin Detours and leaving such a positive review!🤠

Great trip!

JackT_P, Jul 2023

Been through Austin, but this is the first time to stay here and see the sights. Great tour guide. Thank you, Conner!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you, JackT_P, for your review of our Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great trip and enjoyed exploring the sights of Austin. Conner is an exceptional tour guide, and we're glad that he provided you with a memorable experience. Your kind words are truly appreciated. We hope you had a fantastic time discovering the vibrant city of Austin, and we look forward to welcoming you back on another tour in the future. Safe travels!🤠

Fantastic tour!

Carrie_C, Jul 2023

Awesome tour! Conner was great and knew all the cool places!! The whole family thoroughly enjoyed this tour!!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you, Carrie_C, for your fantastic review of our Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour on Viator. We're thrilled to hear that you had an awesome experience with us. Conner is indeed a great guide who knows all the cool places in Austin. We're glad to hear that the whole family thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we appreciate your kind words. Thank you for choosing Austin Detours, and we hope to welcome you and your family back for another memorable tour in the future!🤠

Great tour

Ashley_S, Jul 2023

It was fun! Our tour guide was very informative and talkative! He really loves his job. We had a great time.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you, Ashley, for taking the time to review our Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour on Viator. We're glad to hear that you had a great time and enjoyed the tour. Our guides are passionate about what they do and love sharing their knowledge with our guests. We appreciate your positive feedback and hope to see you again on another tour in the future. Thank you for choosing Austin Detours!🤠

Ike our tour guide was amazing

Nathaniel_D, Jul 2023

The tour of Austin, Texas was an exhilarating experience that showcased the city's vibrant culture and diverse attractions. From the iconic music scene on Sixth Street to the lush greenery of Zilker Park, there was something for everyone. The knowledgeable guide shared fascinating historical tidbits and insider tips, making the journey even more engaging. The tour highlighted Austin's unique blend of hipster cafes, art galleries, and food trucks, providing a taste of the city's culinary delights. The highlight was witnessing the stunning sunset over the Congress Avenue Bridge, where the famous bat colony emerged. This tour was a fantastic introduction to the vibrant soul of Austin.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you, Nathaniel, for your review of our Best of Austin Small-Group Driving Tour! We're thrilled to hear that you had an exhilarating experience exploring the vibrant culture and diverse attractions of Austin, Texas. It's wonderful to know that Ike, your tour guide, provided an amazing experience. Our guides are passionate about showcasing the best of Austin and ensuring that our guests have a memorable time. We're glad you enjoyed the tour's highlights, including the iconic music scene on Sixth Street, the beautiful Zilker Park, and the culinary delights of hipster cafes, art galleries, and food trucks. Witnessing the sunset over the Congress Avenue Bridge and observing the emergence of the famous bat colony sounds like a truly magical moment. Thank you for choosing Austin Detours as your tour provider. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for more adventures in the future!🤠

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