A Perfect Itinerary for a 3-Day Austin Bachelorette Party
When my college bestie and bride-to-be said that she wanted her last single hoorah in Austin, I didn’t know it would end up as the perfect destination for a bachelorette trip. Although this city is no secret to these kinds of parties, planning it was not as straightforward as we expected. Everyone on the internet has a ton of ideas but they either follow the same exact route or don’t give you a good plan on how to spread out your activities.
My gal pals and I got to work and ended up planning what you can call the best Austin Bachelorette weekend ever! Today I’m happy to share it with you so you don’t have to search any further 🙂 This plan is perfect for a 3-day weekend with activities spread out in just the perfect doses. Note, that this is not a traditional guide for Austin BUT although this is a plan for an awesome Austin bachelorette party, you can still find useful travel advice as well.
You will not find another route like this online because trust me, I searched and opted for making my own! So without further ado, let’s party it up in Austin, Texas!
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Austin Logistics
How to get to and around Austin
The best part about flying into Austin is that Austin-Bergstrom Airport is SUPER close to the city. By super close, I mean like 15-25 minutes depending on where you’re staying. And from someone who lives in the NYC area, that’s a big treat! (I’m looking at you JFK!!!!). The Uber/Lyft option is probably the easiest and with a group and splitting some costs, it will be the easiest way to get around. I noticed Uber being significantly cheaper for many rides too compared to Lyft. Note that when you land, you will have to take a small yet maze-like walk to the rideshare pick-up garage. Just follow the signs and don’t get discouraged 🙂
If you’re staying in downtown Austin, another super cheap option is to catch the Capital Metro Bus for just $1.25!! I mean you can’t beat that price. An NYC metro ride costs twice that! It stops at the Neon Guitar Bus Stop and will take you to a couple of stops in the center. Not a bad option if you ask me.
When you get to the city, Ubers and Lyfts are your best bet. There are a ton of electric scooters around the city too so if your group is up for it, you can scoot along. Although a good chunk of the city is walkable, you will need to catch rides to get in between neighborhoods and especially the Lakes.
Where to stay in Austin
Where you’ll stay in Austin will depend on your budget and group size. Keep the following neighborhoods in mind for your party as they are most central to where the action will be:
- Downtown: City center which will put you in the middle of it all: sightseeing, party streets, but expect more pricey hotels and Airbnbs 🙂
- The Line – stunning city views, modern rooms, restaurant, and pool!
- W Austin – looking for a little more luxury, the W has a certain reputation for a reason!
- Hotel ZaZa – what a beautiful spot! with boujee restaurants, pool and views!
- East Austin: This is where our group stayed and it ended up being a more budget-friendly and quirky option. We were still very close to the action but also in a little more local neighborhood.
- Sentral – apartments for rent with beautiful aesthetic
- East Austin Hotel – boutique spot and also affordable, good location for the East side
- Arrive Austin – funky building and super cute interior, sweet location too
- South Congress: A trendy area of town with shops, restaurants, and people. We explored some streets there and would say that it was a very modern and nice area to stay in.
- Austin Motel – stylish hotel with a sweet pool
- Hotel Magdalena – the new kid on the block with an amazing location in the heart of SoCo
- Hotel San Jose – bungalow-style hotel with another beautiful pool
What to pack for your Austin bachelorette?
First and foremost, you need a vibe! When else can you be extra and obnoxious with your girlfriends by wearing heart sunglasses, matching shirts, and cowboy hats if not at your best friend’s bachelorette? And Austin groups come in all costumes you can imagine. You can stick to the classics or come up with your own unique theme. Austin is your oyster so get creative!
In addition to your bach gear, you’ll need bathing suits, going-out outfits, exploring outfits, and walking shoes. You can get away with a small wedge rather than heels for a night out too. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and hydration packs. These 3 days are a marathon, not a sprint 🙂
Other things to know about Austin
- People say “Keep Austin Weird” for a reason
- Things add up quickly and it’s not necessarily the cheap city it once used to be
- There will be dozens of bachelorette parties walking the streets too
- You won’t see everything Austin has to offer in a weekend so pick things that are easy for the group and universally liked
3-Day Plan for a Perfect Austin Bachelorette Party
This guide will save you tons of stress in planning the perfect gal getaway! I followed this exact plan when visiting Austin and made a couple of tweaks to make it even better for you. You can trust that this was tested and I can vouch for its awesomeness.
Day 1: Start out with a bang!
Let’s not lounge around yet, I recommend getting the party started right away! There is no complete trip to Austin without a day on the lake and honestly, there is a reason for it! Since everyone will have the most energy on day 1, I recommend doing the most involved stuff first.
Breakfast
For any boat venture, you will need to pack meals for lunch so sandwiches, snacks, and of course some booze. What we found to be the quickest and easiest solution is to head over to Whole Foods, (Austin has the OG flagship store), and grab some breakfast bites, and lunches for later.
Boat Party
The layout of Austin lakes might seem obvious to the locals but this initially confused me too. So let me try to explain this in the dumbed-down version of what they look like:
- Lady Bird Lake: Close to downtown, this lake is made more so for a walk around it, kayaking, or lounging in its popular swimming section Barton Springs.
- Lake Austin: Also close to downtown and where boats dock to party in the Party Cove area.
- Lake Travis: ~35 minutes outside of town, most boats dock here in Devil’s Cove area to party. It’s a warmer-temperature lake with a cool party vibe for bachelorettes.
Now, if you have a big group, there is a huge selection of boats you can rent. A simple google search will show you how many businesses provide this service. Prices will range based on your group size and length of the rental but expect to spend anywhere from $70-$200 a person.
If you have a smaller group as we did, there is another option that is incredibly fun. Premier Party Cruises has a Disco Cruise which is a group boat for only bachelor and bachelorette parties. If you think that sounds obnoxious, well it is. But since everyone was in the same mindset, it ended up being a ton of fun. You won’t worry about much, all you need to remember is to bring your drinks and the best party mood 🙂 We picked the morning cruise giving us the afternoon to rest. However, there is also a later one in the day if waking up before 9 isn’t your thing.
Next you rest or …
After 4+ hours on the boat, you’ll need a shower and a nap before continuing the night. Take some time to relax before a full night ahead. If you have time though or are ready to rally, I’d recommend checking out The Oasis on Lake Travis. The sunset views look amazing from this spot and there are many areas of it for you to explore. Since this restaurant is about 30 minutes outside the city, it makes sense to check it out when you’re close to Lake Travis.
Dinner & Party Time!
We had one major goal for ATX and that is to have some bomb BBQ. However, most of the famous BBQ spots in the city are either casual joints or trucks. Note that it’s probably the better way to do it but we were on a mission to get a good BBQ and a nice sit-down meal for the bride. Lambert’s seemed like the perfect place to do it so we booked their dinner and music option which they host upstairs.
Was it worth it? Yea, it was a great meal with some nice music but I would certainly also set aside some time to experience BBQ the way it was supposed to be experienced, not necessarily the fancy version of it 🙂 So with that said, some other BBQ spots worth your time are:
- Terry Black’s BBQ
- Cooper’s Old Time BBQ
- Franklin’s BBQ – note that this spot is famous with super long lines. Might not be ideal for dinner but it had to get a mention in this guide!
Now it’s time to rally and head toward the famous party area of Rainey Street. It can get pretty wild but that’s why you’re in Austin! My personal pet peeve is sardine-like bars so the most popular places like Clive or Unbarlievable won’t be where you’d find me having fun. Rather, I’d recommend places where I can dance without elbowing 3 people like Cantina or Tiki Bar. However, rather than planning where to party, just follow the music that makes you the happiest and you’ll be totally fine!
The second major party street in Austin is 6th Street. They call it Dirty 6th and after seeing it I can easily tell you there is a reason for it. Maybe a couple of years ago you could have convinced me to party there but today that won’t be the case 🙂 One place that I will recommend on the 6th though is Mala Vida. It’s a Latin outdoor club/bar place so if you like Latin vibes, it will be a cool place to visit.
Day 2
Brunch or Brew Bus
There is no better way to cure last night’s hangover than with a Brunch Bus. In true Austin fashion, they one-upped a traditional bus tour and created Twisted Texas Tour which offers a band on board, 3 brunch spots, and 3 drinks. They’re also BYOB so you can sip between the stops too.
Honest opinion tho, it’s pretty pricey for you end up getting but it is still fun. I wish they served a little more food because you don’t really fill up on what’s offered. Additionally, I wouldn’t recommend the bus option for someone who has a specific food allergy. Although the website says they accommodate, that didn’t end up being the case for one of us who had a dairy allergy. If that’s the case in your group, I’d consider the Brew Bus instead. Overall it is a fun activity and it is pretty unique but expect to want more food afterward 🙂
Other sweet alternatives for a tour include:
Explore SoCo
After the brunch bus, you can take a little break and then head out to explore South Congress for some cool shopping. On this street, you’ll find some gems like Allens Boots, South Congress Books, Maya Star, Maufrais, and the iconic Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds which unfortunately will be closing sometime this year. There are so many shops there and you can spend hours exploring.
If you’re in the SoCo area, don’t forget to stop at Guero’s Tacos. It is famous for a reason and it is absolutely delicious. Not to mention the live music they often have.
Dinner
Dinner options in Austin are endless. You can find all sorts of cool restaurants all over town. I couldn’t possibly check out all of them but I did some research to help you narrow down what you might love. Here is what I got:
- Hula Hut – You’ll find this spot on many guides and although it didn’t knock my socks off, I still enjoyed the views from here.
- Perry’s Steakhouse – If you’re feeling boujee and want to treat your bride, Perry’s is your spot to go splurge and enjoy a great steak.
- Red Ash – Italian spot with great food, phenomenal reviews and unique industrial chic decor.
- Fixe Austin – Fancy vibes and Southern cooking.
Hire some good-looking cowboys to serve you pool-side drinks at home!
If your bestie isn’t into the whole stripper scene, there is an awesome alternative that can end up being even more fun for your crew at home. The Cocktail CowBoys are a great time for any bachelorette weekend in Austin. They are your hype boys that bartend, serve drinks, take and pose in pictures, pamper the bride and bridesmaids, Spotify DJ and hype you up before you go out (or stay in). They come with a vibe of southern gentlemen who know how to throw a great party, and make your bride feel like a queen!
They reached out to me after I got back and I seriously wish I found them before the trip! Make sure to save some $$ when you book them with the code perfectday for $20 off your booking here!
Day 3
On Day 3, you’ll want to take it easy. Even two days of non-stop fun can get exhausting. I recommend a lazy day on the river with a nice farewell dinner at the end of the day!
Breakfast
Before you head out of the water, you’ll want to eat well. If you’re floating with the same company I recommend below, their meeting point is close to the best breakfast place around, Cisco’s. I loved my huge breakfast tacos and it was the absolute perfect way to start the day. Another spot that is also super tasty is Cenote. Breakfast was delicious and we enjoyed the patio vibes!
Floating on the River
This is a very popular activity for a reason. You get to sip beers in a float for 3 hours and not do much of anything else. We really enjoyed it for our last day in Austin. The tubing company that we went with is called ATXcrusions and they provided roundtrip transport, tubes, and coolers with ice.
Explore more or relax
Tubing did take up about 5-6 hours so after getting back home we rested until the evening. However, if you’re up for more adventure, here are some ideas for your afternoon:
- See Austin’s Congress which has a beautiful structure and awesome grounds
- Walk Lady Bird Lake, one of the most tranquil and iconic places in town
- Picnic and relax at Zilker Park, another awesome nook of the city
- View sunset at Mount Bonnel
- See Cathedral of Junk, a quirky place that adds to the weirdness of Austin
Easy night-out
For the last night, I recommend having a different vibe. Head over to the East side of Austin for cool dinner spots and some funky drinking spots after. It’s time to soak in the last vibes of your trip and laugh at all the stupid things you did for the past couple of days in a more calm atmosphere!
For dinner, check out Salt & Time for a unique vibe, delicious Tex-Mex at Suerte or one of the best restaurants in the US, Canje.
After dinner, head to the local drinking wells. We had Easy Tiger on our radar but it ended up being closed. We ended up exploring the streets of East Austin which was a ton of fun. The area is full of bars, but you can grab a beer Lazarus Brewing, dance honky-tonk at White Horse or taste some wine at Apt 115.
Final Thoughts
Austin is an awesome place for a bachelorette party. Although it’s not a hidden gem, I promise you will enjoy everything it has to offer. I hope that my 3-day plan gave you a good itinerary for a weekend with your girlfriends or at least some ideas that you haven’t heard of before. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me and I will be happy to help ya!
Looking for another girl’s weekend plan? Check out my awesome Miami Girls Weekend Guide!
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