Free things to do in Austin.

Austin still has more free things to do than half the cities its size — the trick is knowing where to look. This page is our running guide to the ones worth actually going to, not just 'technically free but cost you $40 in parking and a bad drink minimum.'

We update this weekly with free events happening in the next seven days: live music in the park, gallery openings, nature hikes, museum free days, community runs, farmers markets, neighborhood walks. We skip the chain-sponsored 'free' things that are really ads, and we're honest about which hidden costs (parking, required donation, exhausting crowds) make something not quite free in practice.

Bookmark this page, or subscribe to The Sunday Dispatch — every Sunday we flag the two or three freebies worth planning your week around, hand-picked so you don't have to scroll past sponsored content to find them.

• Arts · Thu · 4–9pm
  Blanton Museum's free evening hours.
  Free admission every third Thursday and every day for Texas residents this week. One of the country's best university art collections.
  Blanton Museum of Art · Free
• Outdoors · Daily · 5–8am
  Barton Springs before 8am — free.
  68° year-round. Before 8am the gate's open and admission waived. After that it's $5 and the crowd arrives.
  Barton Springs Pool · Free before 8am
• Live Music · Weekdays · 5pm
  KUTX Live at Five free taping.
  KUTX 98.9's daily live-session tapings — free, thirty minutes, local-first bookings. Studio holds 40 so RSVP opens Monday.
  KUTX Studios · Belo Center · Free
• Market · Sun · 10am
  Mueller Farmers Market.
  Sunday mornings, 70+ vendors — the free version of a Saturday out.
  Mueller Lake Park · Free
• Tour · Daily · Hourly
  Texas Capitol guided tour.
  Forty-five minutes, impressively detailed, free. Starts at the south entrance hourly.
  Texas State Capitol · Free
• Arts · Daily
  Laguna Gloria sculpture grounds.
  Contemporary Austin's 14-acre lakeside park. Always free, rarely crowded.
  Laguna Gloria · West Austin · Free
• Outdoors · Daily
  Lady Bird Lake boardwalk loop.
  Ten miles, free, best views in the city. Start at Auditorium Shores for parking.
  Ann & Roy Butler Trail · Free
• Arts · Daily
  East 11th mural corridor walk.
  Self-guided East Austin murals, Carver Museum route map, an hour on foot.
  East 11th & Chicon · Free
• Museum · First Sun · 10am
  Bullock Texas State History Museum — free Sundays.
  First Sunday of every month is free admission. Rotating temporary exhibits.
  Bullock Museum · Free (first Sun)
• Outdoors · Daily · Sunset
  Mount Bonnell at sunset.
  775 feet up, six-minute hike, the best skyline photo you'll take this year. Free.
  Mount Bonnell · Free
• Market · Sun · 11am
  HOPE Farmers Market.
  Sunday market at Plaza Saltillo — smaller and funkier than Mueller, same energy.
  Plaza Saltillo · East Austin · Free
• Neighborhood · Anytime
  South Congress shop & stroll.
  Free window-shopping, free murals, free people-watching. Weekdays less chaos.
  South Congress · SoCo · Free
• Film · Tue · 10am
  Alamo Drafthouse free Summer Kids Camp.
  Free family screenings — classic kid-movie picks, 10am weekday sessions.
  Alamo Drafthouse · Mueller · Free
• Arts · Daily
  HOPE Outdoor Gallery at Carson Creek.
  New location, same rotating murals, free and always open.
  Carson Creek Ranch · Free
• Outdoors · Daily
  McKinney Falls State Park swim hole.
  $6 entry in theory; free if you walk/bike in via the back trail. Limestone falls swim spot.
  McKinney Falls · SE Austin · Free walk-in