29 Wonderfully Weird Things to Do in Austin, Texas
Are you looking for the best weird things to do in Austin, Texas? Are you looking for fun Austin speakeasies and restaurants? You’re in the right place, friend!
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Bright, colorful surprises can be found in virtually every corner of Austin, Texas.
Why is Austin, Texas “weird”?
When it comes to adventurous travel, few places are as fun to visit as Austin, Texas. Austin officially "became weird" in either 2000 or 2002 (depending on which source you read), when Austin Community College librarian Red Wassenich first uttered the phrase, "keep Austin weird" on a call with a local radio station. However, the words resonated with the people of Austin because of how well it reflected its existing character, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Prior to that, Austin was famously named the "Live Music Capital of the World" in 1991 when officials discovered that the city had more live music venues per capita than anywhere else in the U.S.
So, it's safe to say that creativity, weirdness, and the arts have always been a part of the fabric of this ever-growing city!
Today, Austin, Texas is home to almost a million people. It's full of hip eateries, hidden finds, and colorful murals, and it's impossible to see everything - but that didn't stop us from trying.
I did a deep dive on Austin during our cross-country road trip (and I mean DEEP), before we spent four nights soaking up every moment we could in this vibrant place. I hope you enjoy my honest reflections on our experiences chasing after all of Austin's lovely, weird things to do.
The exterior of Floppy Disk Repair Co. in Austin, Texas conceals a hip craft cocktail bar.
16+ Best Weird Things to Do in Austin, Texas
Grab a craft cocktail at Floppy Disk Repair.
One of the first things we did when we exited the van in Austin was hit Floppy Disk Repair, one of the city’s quirkiest speakeasies.
The ice cubes are shaped like Floppy Disks.
The flawless facade will surely give any millennial a chuckle; the perfectly dated exterior genuinely looks like a hold-out electronics repair joint that time forgot. The first clue that a speakeasy lies beyond the heavily mirrored windows is that the Floppy Disk Repair website reads,
“We are a full-service floppy disk repair company located in Austin, Texas!
Repairs by telephone appointment only. Sorry, we do not have a telephone number.”
Once you obtain the rotating keypad code from someone “in the know”, you’ll find a small, hip craft cocktail bar complete with an eyebrow-raising drink menu (get ready to clutch your pearls at some of the names) and highly Instagrammable swings at the bar. Oh, and did I mention the ice cubes have a floppy disk imprint?
The Texas Selfie Museum is one of the most fun weird things to do in Austin, Texas.
Strike a pose at the Texas Selfie Museum.
Though I’m a photographer, I’m not much for selfies. The idea of a selfie museum was such a novelty, however, that I had to check it out.
Inside the unassuming exterior at the Texas Selfie Museum, you’ll find two stories of colorful “vignettes” with professional lighting, props, and a bar to help your Instagram finally reach its full potential during your one-hour slot.
Though this quirky, self-indulgent spot is an influencer’s dream, it’s also smarter and more thought-provoking than it's aware of, making me wonder what selfie pioneers like Cindy Sherman would think of how far we’ve all come. If only there were a nod to the history of self-portraiture. I digress.
Whether you just want to put your hottest and most fun foot forward on social media or you’re curious about a creative and thoughtful-provoking photography challenge, this is a wonderfully weird way to pass an hour in Austin, Texas.
The immersive art exhibits at Wonderspaces will knock your socks off.
Get lost in art at Wonderspaces.
Hands down, Wonderspaces was our favorite weird thing to do in Austin. Make your reservation in advance, and expect to spend about an hour and a half in this immersive and interactive fine art experience.
The art installations are edgy, cool, and savvy enough that everyone will have a blast - whether you’re into art or not. My husband (who is not very artsy) loved the VR piece, while the enormous inflated meditation dome constructed from plastic bags was my favorite.
And, in true Austin fashion, there’s also a cocktail bar inside Wonderspaces, so you can relax with a beverage if you’re feeling overstimulated.
The project menu at Upstairs Circus in Austin, Texas has something for everyone.
Get creative at Upstairs Circus.
Hailed as “where DIY workshop meets bar,” Upstairs Circus is a fantastic detour during your night out on the town. Reserve your spot in advance and plan to spend up to two hours depending on which craft you choose, and note that they don’t serve food (though they do allow food to be delivered.
The extensive craft menu offers plenty of opportunities to get weird, and there’s something for everyone on there.
My husband isn’t crafty at all, but we both had a blast. He made a bottle opener; I made the sassy tassel necklace, and we tried the aptly named Firebreather margarita and a pineapple mocktail.
Visit the Cathedral of Junk.
Ok, when I was researching weird things to do in Austin, this one came up a lot, but not one blog made it clear that the Cathedral of Junk is not simply open to the public. It is in someone’s backyard and available by appointment only. Also, the owner apparently will shoot down any drones flying over the property, according to a neighbor.
That being said, it’s still a sight to behold, and there’s a reason it makes the top of everyone’s must-see in Austin lists.
We were able to see it from the driveway, but the owner was having a “staycation” during our time in Austin - and thankfully, my husband’s drone survived unscathed.
Get a sparkly squid ink cocktail at Lucky Robot.
Does it get weirder than a sparkly squid ink cocktail?! In my opinion, Lucky Robot should be on everyone’s Austin bucket list for its amazing modern Nikkei cuisine (a delightful fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors).
This gourmet eatery makes a lot of “best of Austin” lists for its colorful and whimsical decor, and whether you’re looking for fun fusion eats or wonderfully weird decor, Lucky Robot is an essential Austin stop. Make a reservation to enjoy this popular upscale hotspot, and, of course, get the Midnight in Tokyo cocktail!
The Museum of Pop Culture is currently closed, but the grounds offer authentic weird Austin art installations.
Walk the Museum of Pop Culture grounds.
The Museum of Pop Culture is currently closed, but the building itself and parking area is full of fabulously weird murals, broken-down-cars-turned-succulent-gardens, and more.
The Eureka Room is definitely one of the stranger experiences we had in Austin, Texas.
Book a session at The Eureka Room.
We still don’t quite know how to explain what we did during our experience at The Eureka Room, but if you’re looking for something weird to do in Austin, this one is solidly odd. The less said, the better!
Pull into the Garage Bar.
Park yourself at Garage Bar for an upscale evening of Austin-weird-meets-sophisticated. The swanky watering hole is hidden away under a parking garage on-ramp, and the dimly lit, luxurious space offers up delicious craft cocktails and amazing, balanced mocktails.
Donn’s Train Depot is one of the best things to do in Austin, Texas.
Do the Texas Two-Step at Donn’s Train Depot.
When’s the last time you caught a bluegrass show in an old, eclectically-decorated train depot?
Back in 1978, long before Austin became the live music capital of the world, civil engineer and real estate man Bob Ogden paid $300 for an old train depot. He moved it and three railroad cars to a lot in Austin, hired Donn Adelman to play piano, and an Austin institution was born.
There’s an intangible “cool” factor to catching live music or bustin’ a move at Donn’s Depot, and the joint was in full, over-the-top Christmas mode when we were there, which added to the uniqueness of the place.
The fun, flowery facade at Lola’s will reel you in, but the tasty brioche donuts will keep you coming back.
Chow down on Lola’s Donuts.
Don’t let the bright, flowery facade fool you into thinking Lola’s Donuts is just another colorful Austin gimmick. The delicious brioche donuts come in surprising flavors like Fruity Pebbles Cereal Milk, and they sometimes have doggie donuts as well.
Austin, Texas is awash in beautiful murals.
Take a walking tour of Austin’s murals.
Take in Austin’s local color on a self-guided tour of some of the vibrant murals. While there are murals in virtually every corner of Austin, we enjoyed walking around downtown and taking in the plethora of murals. (Also, this activity was free, which was a nice breather for our bank account.)
The grounds at Zilker Botanical Gardens offer multiple themed gardens and sweeping views of downtown Austin.
Get lost in Zilker Botanical Gardens.
While maybe not the “weirdest” of Austin’s famed activities, this is one of the most fun and affordable. The sprawling 28-acre attraction boasts multiple themed gardens that interlock, so you can really get lost for hours.
Settle in across from the giant velociraptor, hop from stone to stone on the koi pond, hideaway under a rock bridge, and snap a picture on one of the brilliantly hued butterfly benches.
We were there shortly after an abnormally hard freeze, and while a lot of the foliage was on the sad side, the features and sweeping views of the city were incredible.
Keep an eye out for exciting events while you’re in Austin, Texas.
Attend one of Austin’s super weird events.
Do you want to go to a sexy horror-themed circus? Or would you rather go down the rabbit hole at an Alice in Wonderland-themed pop-up mixology event? What about watching aerial acrobatics or attending an annual Eeyore festival? Austin’s got you covered with all that and more. Check out what’s going on in town while you’re visiting to get a real glimpse of that infamous weird - and dodge the tourist traps.
The striking architecture and sweeping views of the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge make it work a visit.
Stroll the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.
A stroll across Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge may not exactly knock your socks off with its weirdness, but the architecture is really striking, and the bird’s eye view of Austin makes this well worth adding to your must-see list. If you’re lucky, you may even catch some live music on the bridge.
Weird things to do in Austin that we didn’t love, but you might:
Kura Revolving Sushi
We got suckered into this one from reading all the other blog posts about the weirdest things to do in Austin, and to be fair, I’ve never had conveyor belt sushi or drinks delivered by a robot before. It does sound cool.
However, the place is an absolute madhouse, and they don’t take reservations. Expect to wait a very long time, and the beverage robots don’t serve the waiting area, so you’ll need to bring your own water bottle. We stuck it out for about 30 minutes and then took an Uber to Dai Due for an elegant, chill evening.
Fairy Alley still has several small fairy gardens, though the street paintings have faded away.
Fairy Alley
I think Fairy Alley used to be a really magical place, but it’s definitely fallen by the wayside in 2023. We were lured in by other blog posts’ vibrant photos, but all we found were some sad stuffed animals in trees, a couple fairy houses, and barely visible faded street paintings.
The private residence on the corner of Fairy Alley and Treadwell is gorgeous and whimsical, however, and it’s definitely worth walking by if you’re in the area. Just remember that is someone’s home, and please be respectful.
Don’t be surprised if there’s a line to take a photo with the Greetings From Austin mural.
Greetings from Austin Mural
Austin is awash in colorful, cheeky, and inspiring murals, so it was hard to sell me on waiting in a long line of tourists to get a photo in front of the iconic Greetings from Austin and the I Love You So Much murals. If you have an attachment to those specific murals, have at it, but we decided to keep exploring instead.
The display cases are packed at the Texas Toy Museum.
Texas Toy Museum
I love a niche museum, but the Texas Toy Museum isn’t for everyone. The upstairs space is small, and it’s packed to the brim with various toys and action figures. Maybe it was just that their Little Pet Shop section was rather small, and there was no Polly Pocket section at all (com’on, guyssss), but the attached one-room arcade was a nice bonus.
The trademark Voodoo doughnuts are filled with red jelly.
Voodoo Doughnuts
Keep your friends closer, and your enemies in a donut case. Voodoo Doughnut’s trademark doughnut doll comes with a pretzel pin stuck in it and red jelly filling, but it is HUGE so you may want to bring someone to share it with. They also have doughnuts shaped like giant blunts, dicks, and peanuts, but the Ring of Fire spicy chocolate was only so-so on the day I went.
Book an architectural tour to catch glimpses of all the delightfully weird houses and designs of Austin.
Weird things to do in Austin that I didn’t do personally, but wish we’d had time to try:
Chicken Shit Bingo
Chicken shit bingo is one of Austin’s long-standing weird attractions. You’ll find chicken shit bingo at the Little Longhorn Saloon on Sundays from 4 pm - 8 pm (confirm that this is still accurate before you go). They do 4-8 rounds and let kids 13 and under go in the first round - that’s right, folks, this is a family affair! Tickets are currently $2 a round.
Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to an enormous colony of migrating Mexican free-tailed bats. If you’re visiting between early spring and late fall (we were there in the dead of winter), you can watch the bats emerge in a giant winged cloud each evening at sunset. Rumor has it that the show can go on for up to 45 minutes, and you should arrive early to find parking and secure a spot to watch.
Taquero Mucho
Any place that serves Anti-Bitch Juice in a pouch with a straw and a cocktail called Acting Kinda Shady (complete with complementary sunglasses) has to be fun. Gabriela Buccio’s concept restaurant is by women for women, and everything in this cheeky establishment is bright pink… including the waffles and tortillas.
Gourdough
Have you ever had a sandwich that uses doughnuts in lieu of bread? Have you ever had a salad with doughnut croutons? Me neither, but apparently, these are menu staples at Gourdough, one of Austin’s over-the-top eateries.
Austin Architectural Tours
Austin’s private residences showcase innovative and mind-blowing design, and we spent a morning peering over fences at the incredible, creative homes. My biggest regret is not discovering that architectural and residential tours are a popular (weird) Austin tourist attraction.
Hit an arcade.
There’s a decent amount of buzz around Cidercade and Arcade UFO, but there’s a whole slew of fun spots for games, indoor mini-golf, and more. Check out this blog for more ideas on where to get started.
Museum of the Weird
The Museum of the Weird seems to be in the same vein as a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, but it remains one of Austin’s most visited “weird” attractions. The ticket price is only $12.99 for adults.
Hippie Hollow
Hippie Hollow is known as one of the only nude beaches in Texas, which is particularly notable due to its rather urban setting. But if you’re ready to hang out and let it all hang out (not me in January), this is your spot.
Have you been to Austin, Texas? What were your favorite weird things to do? Did you find a weird Austin restaurant? Lemme know what we missed in the comments below!
And, if you’re looking for more information on the best restaurants in Austin, check out my top 8 must-try restaurants in Austin and this awesome Austin restaurant guide from the real estate experts over at Redfin.
