Texas Capitol Tours
133 Reviews

Everything is bigger in Texas, and the Texas Capitol building in Austin follows suit. It’s the largest by square footage of any state capitol, and is 15 feet (4.6 meters) taller than the US Capitol. Its rosy hue, stunning at sunset, comes from the red granite exterior. Texas Hill Country limestone and granite were used in the building’s construction.
The Basics
To get a solid understanding of Texas’ past and present, stop by the capitol—zip by for a photo or, better yet, walk in for a guided tour. The building is part of most downtown Austin small-group tours, and some Segway and bike tour guides can explain the history of this important building and its presence in Texas politics throughout the years.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Texas Capitol is ideal for fans of history and politics.
- Free 30-minute guided tours of the capitol’s interiors are available every 30 to 45 minutes, seven days a week.
- The Capitol Visitors Center, located east of the main capitol building, houses various artifacts and information for visitors, as well as a gift shop.
- All capitol buildings are accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The Texas Capitol is located on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin, between 11th and 15th streets, just west of I-35. Parking is available at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage on San Jacinto Street. It’s usually free for the first two hours, but there may be a fee during events.
When to Get There
The capitol is a busy building throughout the year, filled with visitors, constituents, and legislators when in session. Tours are available between 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 3:30pm Saturday, and 12pm to 3:30pm Sunday. Specialty themed tours, such as women in Texas history, heroes of the Texas Revolution, African-American trailblazing Texans, and a Halloween ghost tour, are offered at various times during the year.
Part-Time Legislature
The Texas state legislature is in session for only five months every two years, and legislators earn just $7,200 per year. That arrangement began in the 19th century, when Texas lawmakers had a more difficult time traveling from their districts to Austin. Despite modernized transportation, there is little indication that lawmakers will change their biennial schedule.
Address: Austin, Texas, USA
21 Tours and Activities to Experience Texas Capitol
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Capitol of Texas Segway Tour in Austin
50
Go sightseeing in Austin by Segway on a 1.5-hour tour that allows you to cover more ground than other types of tours. Get an overview of downtown Austin and capture numerous photo ops as you pass by the Texas State Capitol Building, Congress Avenue, Warehouse Entertainment District, Lady Bird Lake, the historic Driskill Hotel, and other landmarks.
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From
$49.00
From
$49.00
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
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Austin and Hill Country Sightseeing Tour
350
Skip searching for best things to do in Austin, and let real locals show you the best of the city's rich culture and history, with a little bit of that famous Central Texas Hill Country. This signature Austin tour covers 30 miles, 50+ points of interest, in 90 minutes (1.5 hours).
You'll get to see iconic places such as the Texas Capitol, as well important cultural areas like the Six Square District in East Austin. Sit back and relax in the comfort of a Mercedes-Benz sprinter van as you explore the city and head into hill country. Even lifelong Texans can't believe these rolling hills and greenery are in their own state!
Read the What to Expect section below to learn about the places you'll pass by as your Austinite guide gives you anecdotes and ideas for how to enjoy the rest of your trip in this counterculture capital. For those who want to get out and explore, consider the 2.5-hour version of this tour with stops along the way!
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From
$25.65
From
$25.65
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Austin Famous Ghost and Bat Segway Tour
63
Discover another side of Austin on a 2.5-hour Segway tour that features bats and ghosts. Offered from March to October, this nighttime ride through downtown Austin visits haunted hotels and buildings, famous landmarks, and the world’s largest urban bat colony. See the Texas State Capitol Building, Lady Bird Lake, Austin Convention Center, the 6th Street Entertainment district, Moonlight Towers, and more
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From
$59.00
From
$59.00
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
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Austin in a Nutshell Bike Tour with a Local Guide
202
Make your own way to the bike shop at Zilker Park to meet your guide arriving 15 minutes before tour time. Get outfitted with your bike and helmet, then set out with your guide to see the best of Austin. Pedal along the hike-and-bike trail that runs through Zilker Park and around Lady Bird Lake. Turn north to check out the Italian Renaissance Revival of the Texas State Capitol building. Learn about the city's history as you roll through downtown. Head down Congress Avenue and over the Congress Avenue Bridge, where 1.5 million bats take shelter between the months of March to November. Continue to South Congress, Rainey Street, and the boardwalk trail. Get great photo opportunities throughout the bike tour.
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From
$64.84
From
$64.84
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Austin Biker Gang E-Bike Adventure
286
Cruise around Austin in style on a fat-tire electric minibike. These easy-to-ride bikes sit two people and travel at a top speed of 20mph. Follow your guide around the city streets passing by popular landmarks in downtown Austin including the State Capitol and the colorful murals on 6th Street. A great way to explore Austin, especially for first-time visitors.
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From
$61.54
$20.52 savings
From
$61.54
$20.52 savings
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Check Out Austin: Capitol Bike Tour
3
Explore the Texan capital’s historic highlights, outdoor attractions and unique character on a 2-hour bike tour of Austin. Cycle along easy paths with a friendly local guide, passing downtown landmarks like the Texas capitol building, Barton Springs, and the Congress Ave. Bridge. Peddle around scenic Lady Bird Lake and on the bike-friendly Butler trail for a great introduction to this vibrant city.
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From
$60.52
From
$60.52
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Downtown Austin Historic Segway Tour
29
Explore historic downtown Austin on an informative and fun 2-hour Segway tour. See many of Austin’s historic landmarks including the Texas State Capitol building, the Driskill Hotel, and the Austin Convention Center, and roll along the 6th Street music district, the Texas Walk of Fame, and Congress Avenue, and more.
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From
$59.00
From
$59.00
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
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Historic Austin Private Pedicab Tour
28
Our experienced tour guides will take you on a fun and informative tour of Austin in a relaxing open air pedicab. You'll amble through all the sites of downtown, including the Capitol, Governors Mansion, Pecan St, Lady Bird Lake and more. Great for couples, friends and families of all ages. The tour moves at your own pace and is individually tailored to your group.
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From
$55.00
From
$55.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin w/ Private Tour Option
44
On Austin: Secret Food Tour, you'll try wonderful foods created for our city. We'll navigate you past the tourist traps and into the best restaurants to make your city visit truly memorable.
We have a great history and are known for our weird sense of the world, as well as our amazing thriving music scene, cultural landmarks, and incredible food. With dishes dating back to our Aztec days, we're steeped in history. As you taste, you'll learn how the Aztecs, as well as our immigrants, have shaped the flavors of this modern metropolis.
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From
$221.20
From
$221.20
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Austin Ghosts Walking Tour
19
Join Austin Ghosts for a walking ghost tour through some of the city's most haunted areas. The history of the capital of Texas offers shocking stories of forbidden lovers, heartbreaking suicides, brutal murders, and freak accidents. Some of the ghosts we will encounter are playful and harmless, but others are quite wicked and have committed some horrific crimes in their lifetimes.
Hear tales of authentic hauntings that occurred in places like The Cathedral of Junk, the Hope Outdoor Gallery, and the Museum of the Weird, among countless oddball restaurants and vintage shops. Our unique collection of captivating and unnerving historical stories reveal what makes Austin one of the most compelling haunted cities in the country.
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From
$23.17
From
$23.17
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Austin Electric Minibike Adventure Tour
12
Your adventure begins with a safety check on your electric mini-bike. Your tour guide will make sure everyone is comfortable with their electric mini-bike. Wide tires make them super easy to ride. We practice riding as a group for safety.
South Congress is Austin's most prominent street. From where we begin, all of Austin can be seen. We will ride toward the first photo opportunity - The "Willie for President" Mural next to Home Slice Pizza. Next up is the "i love you so much" mural, across from the Continental Club. The tour will meander off city streets when possible, going places cars can't go.
We realize that capturing great photos to share from a vacation is important. Adventurers who choose this tour will discover interesting destinations in Austin, and will have many opportunities for epic photos to capture and take home. We bring professional photography gear to help with lighting. Your tour guide will share a gallery of photos for every Austin Electric Adventure Tour.
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From
$76.93
From
$76.93

Capital of Texas Segway Tour
6
It's easy to book an Austin sightseeing bus tour, but a crammed coach is no way to enjoy the famous Texas sunshine. To enjoy Austin's balmy weather, and see the city's top sights, travelers shouldn't miss this attraction-packed Segway tour. Visit the Seaholm Power District and Texas State Capitol, cruise Congress Avenue, and stop for selfies with statues of two of Austin's most famous musicians. Wrap up your tour at Auditorium Shores, and take in fantastic skyline views.
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From
$65.00
From
$65.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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Austin Ghost Hunt: Austin Ghost Hunt
1
Let’s Roam is the #1 app-led scavenger hunt company. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Work with your team or compete against them, as you learn new facts and create memorable experiences. Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts are great as an everyday activity, or for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, corporate team building events and more! Each player chooses an interactive role, with challenges varying by person.
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From
$12.31
From
$12.31

Best of Austin Small-Group Guided Tour
1041
Get a comprehensive overview of Austin on this sightseeing tour. See famous landmarks along with hidden gems, real neighborhoods, and food trucks. Learn about Austin's history and culture with commentary from your guide and hear fun facts about the city that even the locals don't know. Plus, choose a morning or afternoon departure to easily fit this tour into your schedule.
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From
$38.86
From
$38.86
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Austin Icons Bicycle Tour
21
Check off more Austin attractions in less time on this 2-hour bike tour of the historic Texan capital. At a relaxed pace, you’ll cycle to significant sites including the 600-year-old Treaty Oak tree, the University of Texas, and the Scholtz Garden, a 19th-century beer garden. Delve into Austin’s rich history and receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 12 participants.
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From
$56.44
From
$56.44
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
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Austin Art and Architecture Bicycle Tour
10
Ride through downtown Austin and the University of Texas campus on a 2.5-hour bike tour that highlights the city's architecture and art. Take in downtown gems such as the Driskell Hotel and the Littlefield building, and check out the UT Tower and public artworks on campus. Top off this informative tour with stops outside the Texas State Capitol building, Bremond Block Historic District, and more.
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From
$49.50
From
$49.50
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Downtown Austin Photo Tour
A little bit entertainer a little bit history buff, and all photographer a tour with Mackphotography Atx is going to include a little bit of local lore, some current facts and ongoings in the city and central texas (political discussions cost extra with a 50% surcharge on the tip...)
Mainly Mack will focus on some of the best locations to photograph Austin and Central Texas bar none.
Each tour can be customized limited only by your time and imagination.
Your tour guide is Gregg "Mack" McPhedrain a 25 year veteran photographer with experience photographing techno concerts cars for advertisers, and fashion photography around the world. Mack has focused on Central Texas in the last 4 years and is working with clients around Central Texas including a Brewery going national this year.
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From
$25.65
From
$25.65

Austin Capital Photo Tour
1
MackphotographyATX will take you into the grounds and explore the photo possibilities, taking photos, discussing framing, and composition with guests your guide and group will interact and share photos as we walk the grounds.
The Texas State Capitol grounds are comprised of about 22 acres in the heart of downtown Austin. Featuring 17 monuments, historic buildings and gorgeous and beautifully landscaped grounds, offer a great place to explore with a camera, offering literally endless photography opportunities to the creative eye.
We walk the grounds for the 60 minutes with specific shots in mind, along with the group providing input into what is shot for a more interactive and personalized time.
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From
$20.52
From
$20.52

Private Pedicab City Tour of Austin (Half Hour)
Each Pedicab can carry passengers (age 7 and older). Children under age 7 can sit in a lap. All of our pedicabs are motorized, allowing us to travel up to 15 mph. Fast enough to get where we need to go, but slow enough to take in all the sights. The Pedicab drivers are all licensed chauffeurs, so you can drink alcoholic beverages as a passenger. Just no glass bottles and the drivers cannot provide the beverages to you (you have to purchase alcohol from a store or restaurant).
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From
$60.00
per group
From
$60.00
per group
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
Guides required to regularly wash hands
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Double Decker Austin Single Loop Sightseeing Tour
1
* You will learn all about Austin and it’s rich history while enjoying an awesome view of the city from atop of a double decker bus.
* Locally owned and operated family business
* You get the best views of Austin from an unobstructed upper deck of a double decker bus
* The best tour for taking photographs.
* People on the street love to interact with people on the upper deck.
* Climate controlled lower deck
* Goes by more downtown attractions that any other Austin tour.
* Every Tour Has Driver and Tour Guide
* Austin’s best tour guides solely focus on making your experience fun and interesting. They don’t have to worry about driving.
* Absolutely No Audio Recordings. We feel that you will enjoy your Austin experience much more by interacting with our guides instead of a listening to audio recordings.
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From
$25.00
From
$25.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Austin Small-Group Tour in Convertible Van
2
In Texas, even our convertibles are bigger: Find out for yourself with 360-degree views of Austin in a unique, convertible-top Mercedes-Benz sprinter. Take in major sights, including time to hop off the van and appreciate beautiful views, iconic murals, and historic sites along the way. Expect stops for some light walking at the Driskill Hotel, the University of Texas campus, and the Pfluger bridge.*
This small-group tour (14 passenger max) is the one to do if you want a comprehensive look at what makes this city what it is: from the towering architecture of downtown, the humble yet active expanse of the south side, the quaint and historical east, and the perpetually awe-inspiring capitol and campus.
*Subject to change due to events or closures.
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From
$50.00
From
$50.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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