Austin Date Ideas: 25 Romantic Things to Do in Austin for Couples

Packed with romantic date ideas ranging from secluded hiking trails to trendy restaurants, narrowing down the most romantic things to do in Austin can be quite the challenge!

Over the past 15 years, it isn’t only locals who understand how cool and quirky Austin can be.

Whether you are planning a romantic date night in Austin with your spouse, the first date with someone you met online, or a double date with your best couple friends there are endless date ideas in Austin.

Here are some of the most romantic things to do in Austin for your next date night (or day)!

Classic Romantic Things to Do in Austin, TX

Looking for traditional Austin date ideas?

You can’t go wrong with these classics.

Enjoy a picnic in Zilker Park.

A picnic in Zilker Park is an ideal way to spend time with your significant other. 

This city park is located southwest of downtown Austin and offers sweeping views of the city. 

Dog owners also love Zilker Park, which has a dog-friendly zone where you can walk your dog and let it run free. 

The best part about this place is that it’s completely free of charge and there’s plenty of room to roam around and hundreds of great spots to sit and enjoy a picnic.

Austin is home to many delicious delis, wine shops, and of course food trucks, so it is easy to create a lovely picnic full of delicious treats.

Head to Lou Neff Point for some of the best skyline views, or to the Great Lawn if wide open spaces and some new dog friends are what you crave.

Browse the shops on South Congress.

Whether you’re shopping for local art at Parts and Labour, grabbing ice cream at Amy’s, snapping photos of the “I love you so much” mural at Jo’s, or simply wandering aimlessly hand-in-hand, there’s no doubt that SoCo is a classic place for a date night in Austin.

Is it a bit touristy?

Sure–but with the right person, touristy is just another word for fun.

Recreate Roman Holiday, Texas-style.

One of the most iconic romantic images of the last century is a young princess with her arms wrapped tightly around a journalist riding a Vespa through the historic streets of Rome.

Recreate that feeling with a Texas twist by renting a Vespa for the day and taking a tour of downtown Austin.

There are many great sights in and around the downtown area that are fun, educational, historical and more.

Make your date night romantic and adventurous by traveling from spot to spot on a Vespa.

Share a sunset cruise and observe the famous Austin bats.

One of the most iconic things to see in Austin are the Congress Avenue bats.

Romance lovers of all ages can truly appreciate a nice sunset cruise.

When you put those two together, you get one of the most romantic date nights available in Austin. 

There are many sunset cruises available that set sail from a perfect location to watch the Congress Street bats take their nightly flight (from March to October), and then watch the sunset over Lady Bird Lake in Downtown Austin.

A new option for those with a more adventurous spirit is a guided kayak tour.

Instead of sitting on a river boat, you and your love could be in the action paddling under the Congress Street bridge just as the bats fly away.

Watch the sunset from Mount Bonnell.

Mount Bonnell has been a classic Austin date spot and even engagement spot dating back to the 1800s!

A quick climb up a limestone staircase is all that’s required to reach one of the best views of Austin.

Bring some snacks and schedule your visit for sunset, and you’ll be all set to enjoy one of the most romantic things to do in Austin, TX.

Drive into a nostalgic Austin date.

Nothing says nostalgia like watching a double feature from the front seat (or the truck bed) at a drive-in movie theater.

Austin is home to two local drive-ins, and every night of the week they are showing both new releases and some of your favorite classics.

Don’t forget to share a popcorn (or a milkshake with two straws) for the ultimate romantic touch.

Go for a stroll in Umlauf Sculpture Garden.

Couples with an artistic bent will love a visit to the peaceful Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum just outside of Zilker Park.

Located in the heart of Austin, this art museum and sculpture garden are a peaceful haven among the bustling streets of the city. 

The collection of Umlauf’s works makes for a memorable experience for couples on a date.

Austin Date Ideas for Thrillseeking Couples

If your idea of the perfect romantic night (or day) out involves some heart-pounding excitement or beautiful nature, these attractions might be right for you!

Take your love to new heights.

There are so many beautiful sights around the Austin area, and they can be even better when viewed from a helicopter.

Whether you are flying over the capitol dome and DKR Stadium, taking in all the spring wildflowers, or flying out to Salt Lick for an epic plate of barbecue there is so much to see from the air.

There are many local companies that provide helicopter tours, and most allow you to create your own itinerary or if you’re not sure you can select a pre-existing day trip.

Get underground to enjoy an adventure with your partner.

One of the hallmarks of the Hill Country terrain is the abundance of limestone caves and caverns that are sure to dazzle.

There are many area caverns just a short drive from downtown Austin like the Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown or Longhorn Cavern State Park near Marble Falls.

While standard cave tours are lots of fun, for a more exciting date, sign up for an adventurous spelunking tour instead!

You’ll need to plan ahead, but for the right couple, tackling a new skill together is undoubtedly one of the most romantic things to do in Austin.

Let your heart race at high speeds.

One of the best Formula 1 tracks in the United States can be found in Austin Texas.

Circuit of the Americas hosts major races throughout the year that can really get the adrenaline going on a fun and adventurous date.

If you and your date are more into doing than watching, there is also the opportunity to burn some rubber yourselves on the track when there aren’t races scheduled.

COTA has go-karts that can reach up to 55 mph, so you and your date can race each other to the finish line on the same track used by some of the best race car drivers in the world.

Check into the Driskill for a night.

Sometimes, an overnight romantic night in Austin is exactly the right plan–and the city’s most iconic hotel is the perfect spot.

Besides, haven’t you always wondered if it’s actually haunted?

Take a dip at Barton Springs.

One really cool (pun intended) feature of Austin is the local swimming pools that are open to the public and are fed completely from local natural springs.

Locals and tourists alike love to spend time at pools like Barton Springs all summer long because of the beautiful surroundings and the cool water of the pool.

Spend the day splashing in the spring water, and follow up the adventure with some tacos from a nearby truck.

Nothing says Texas summer quite like a day in the pool and a taco from a food truck.

Get a bird’s eye view of Lake Travis.

Lake Travis certainly is a beautiful sight from any vantage point, but why not show your date the waters from above.

Take your partner in crime for a high-flying adventure by ziplining across Lake Travis.

Buckle up your harness and enjoy the lake life swinging from platform to platform situated on the banks of one of the most impressive lakes in Texas.

Fun Foodie Date Ideas in Austin

Does nothing say “I love you” in your relationship like offering your beloved a plate of tacos?

Here are the best dates in Austin for foodies.

Learn the art of Texas barbecue.

Though there are many iconic Texas cuisines, the art of Texas barbecue is something that residents of Austin take very seriously.

There are opportunities all over town to sit at a picnic table and get messy with your date over a rack of ribs or a slab of perfectly smoked brisket.

But you know what they say: give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.

For true barbecue enthusiasts, there are classes offered at many of the iconic Austin smokehouses where you can learn the art of seasoning, smoking, and saucing meat. 

A perfect date opportunity because you can eat one of Texas’ true delicacies after you learn how it was prepared.

Try a new wine, or two.

Texas wineries have been around for a while, but in the last few years, they have produced some truly unique vintages.

All around Austin there are local Hill Country wineries where you can spend an afternoon enjoying the views of grape fields and trying a wide range of whites and reds.

If you want to stick closer to downtown, there are wine tasting venues that pride themselves on selecting the best local wines.

Enjoy a mixed selection of the best wines that the Hill Country has to offer!

Go on a taco crawl through Austin.

Tex-Mex is a beloved tradition in Texas, and Austin takes its taco culture very seriously!

A fun date idea is to choose a few local Austin favorites, grab a couple of the most popular tacos from each, and sit down with your date to figure out once and for all what the best taco in Austin is. 

Veracruz, Juan in a Million, Las Trancas, and Tacodeli are just a handful of tried-and-true favorites that can make up a fantastic Austin taco crawl.

Step back in time at an Austin speakeasy.

Looking for a date night in Austin that’s bound to impress your partner?

Rumor has it that there are several traditional underground speakeasies slinging whiskey to this day in and around downtown Austin.

With their iconic depression-era vibes and signature cocktails, these bars located around town are truly a treat (if you can find them).

If you are able to locate one of these Prohibition-era haunts, expect to find great food and interesting cocktails served up in truly unique surroundings.

But don’t forget the password or the secret knock.

Basic brunch is such a drag.

The only thing better than some delicious brunch fare paired with a mimosa or a Bloody Mary, is all of that and a drag show as well.

Austin is famous for its local drag brunches at not one, but three different establishments around town.

Join in on the cheeky fun with some of the best female impersonators in all of Texas.

Romantic Things to Do in Austin For Couples on a Budget

Dating in Austin doesn’t have to break the bank!

These free (or nearly free) romantic things to see in Austin are bound to impress on a first date in Austin or a fiftieth.

Hike the greenbelt for an experience you can only get in Austin.

Austin is well known for its commitment to maintaining the natural beauty of the area, even in the heart of the city.

There are branches of the Barton Creek Greenbelt that pass by picturesque waterfalls, bubbling creeks and rocky landscapes.

Made up of over twelve miles of trails, with the longest branch being 7 miles, you can hike the Greenbelt at any time of the year and see something new.

If you and your date are feeling a bit more daring, you can also mountain bike the trails and cover even more ground.

Take advantage of a free outdoor concert.

The Austin music scene is made up of all types of music from contemporary rock, to classic country and everything in between.

While you can find a different acts playing in bars on Sixth Street every night of the week, Austin also provides the opportunity to see free concerts all summer long.

Sit outside and enjoy a wide range of music under the stars every weekend.

Take in the incredible street art that Austin has to offer.

Austin is known for its quirky attitude and artistic community.

That combination has led to a dynamic and ever-changing street art scene perfect for exploring with your partner!

From government-funded murals to dynamic and spontaneous graffiti displays, it often seems that concrete is the canvas of choice for local artisans.

Scope out a few of the best examples, and take your date on a walking tour of an outdoor museum that only Austin can offer.

Of course, when exploring Austin’s romantic side, you can’t miss the famous “I love you so much” mural or the “You’re my butter half” mural when exploring!

Volunteer together for a cause you both care about.

The Austin community is always finding ways to come together and help each other or a charitable cause.

Spend your time with your date giving back by finding a way to volunteer for a cause you both care about.

Whether you are picking up trash on the shores of Lake Travis or helping with an adoption day at the local animal shelter, you will really learn a lot about your date based on their charitable passions.

Two-step the night away at an iconic country bar.

You can’t beat a night on the dance floor, enjoying some classic country and two-stepping.

Bars and dance halls all over Austin host country music artists every night who are hoping to pack a dance floor with couples spinning and gliding through the motions of this classic country dance.

So slip on your boots, grab your hat, and show your favorite dance partner a really good time. 

Don’t know how to two-step?

No problem: many bars offer lessons early in the evening, and learning a new skill together definitely makes for a fun date night in Austin!