Support Us Button Widget

Austin, TX ranked top fun city in US

paddleboarding

One fun activity in Austin is paddleboarding down Lady Bird Lake. | Photo by @rowingdock

Table of Contents

Austin and fun just go together like the Congress Avenue Bridge and bats.

It’s no surprise that our beloved weird city has made the top 10 list of WalletHub’s 2021 Most Fun Cities in America.

Coming in at No. 7, Austin is the only city in Texas to make the top 10. Ranking factors considered included entertainment and recreation, costs, and nightlife + parties.

In the spirit of all things entertaining, we’ve rounded up some ways to have fun in Austin.

Get lost at Wonderspaces

This place is home to 28,000 sqft of extraordinary art installations. Prepare to immerse yourself in artwork that uses light, mirrors, and technology. While you’re there, check out the new short film “ELI” by Nate Milton, a true story based on the filmmaker’s experiences within the realms of magical thinking.

🌊 Explore Austin from the water

How can you have a “fun list” in Austin without including water activities? Grab your favorite people and visit the Rowing Dock on Lady Bird Lake. Rent kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and you can even try the pedal kayaks.

🍻 Spend a night out on the town

Visit the Rainey Street District to enjoy a drink with friends and try some delicious food. Take a bite of the jalapeño cheddar brat at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden + sip on a Hill Country Lemonade from Javelina.

This list could go on forever. Don’t forget you can do other fun things like hike the Barton Creek Greenbelt, tour breweries, and see a live show at ACL Live at The Moody Theater or at the Historic Scoot Inn.

What do you think makes Austin fun? Send us an email. Let’s chat about it.

More from ATXtoday
Don’t forget to treat your shelf by picking up a new read — or two or three — that was written by your neighbor.
The 2026 James Beard Award season is upon us, and Austin has nine restaurants + foodies vying for a trophy.
From pop princesses to chart-topping bands, there’s no shortage of shows to see this year in the Live Music Capital of the World.
Dig into delicious and nutritious plant-based fare in every corner of the Capital City.
We see ribbon cuttings in Austin’s future, because the next decade has major projects that will change the shape of the city in store.
You’ll never have to deal with a layover again, because these are just a few of ABIA’s nonstop flights, which will take you to over 100 cities in the US and abroad.
Dip your toes into “phillumeny,” aka the practice of collecting matchbooks, while you explore ATX and support local businesses at the same time.
The slate of new grants goes toward projects including new bridge construction, shade structure creation, and trail repair.
Let’s take a deeper dive into some of Austin’s historical markers, the significance they hold, and how long they’ve been standing.
Austin made waves on dozens of studies, lists, and rankings, so we gathered some of the highest points the Capital City hit in 2025.