Austin
Curated Experiences
20
San Antonio — the Alamo, the River Walk, and Five Missions
80 miles down I-35, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Texas's most-visited historic landmark
Downtown San Antonio
Austin's Live Music Scene — Beyond the Festival Stage
Officially named "Live Music Capital of the World" in 1991 — and the small clubs that earned it long before that
South Austin
Lady Bird Lake — Paddle, Walk, and Catch the Bats
A 416-acre lake through the middle of downtown, with the world's largest urban bat colony on its edge
Downtown / South Congress
Texas Hill Country & Fredericksburg — Wine Country Day Trip
25+ wineries on one highway, a German-founded town, and a genuine reason to leave Austin for a day
Fredericksburg
Zilker Park & Barton Springs Pool — Austin's Backyard
A 68-70°F natural spring-fed pool inside 350 acres of Austin's oldest park
Zilker
Sixth Street & Rainey Street — Two Very Different Nights Out
Historic dive bars, converted bungalows, and three distinct personalities packed into one downtown stretch
Sixth Street / Rainey Street
South Congress — Boots, Murals, and Austin's Own Style
The strip that turned from pawn shops to Austin's most photographed street in one generation
South Congress (SoCo)
Austin BBQ Beyond Franklin — Three Real Alternatives
Michelin recognition, no 4-hour line, and locals will tell you these are just as good
East / South Austin
Franklin Barbecue — the Line, Explained
A James Beard Award and an Obama endorsement, guarded by a 4-5 hour wait that starts before sunrise
East Austin
Where to Stay — Downtown, South Congress & Value
Three real picks across three budgets, all realistically close to COTA and Austin's own nightlife
South Congress / Downtown
Weather & What to Pack — a Hot, Unpredictable October
2023 hit a record 98°F on race weekend — plan for real heat, not a mild autumn afternoon
Circuit of the Americas
First-Timer's Guide — Austin GP Weekend, Explained
No sprint race this year, a cashless circuit, and a schedule that rewards knowing the format before you arrive
Circuit of the Americas
Getting to COTA — the Traffic Reality
15 miles from downtown Austin, and the post-race exit is the part nobody warns you about
Circuit of the Americas
Germania Insurance Super Stage — Race Weekend's Concerts
Maroon 5, Post Malone, and a post-race Alesso set — included with every race ticket, upgradeable if you want closer
Circuit of the Americas
General Admission — the Budget Way In
No seat, no fixed spot, and — unlike every grandstand — a physical wristband mailed to your house
Circuit of the Americas
Champions Club — Grid Walk and a Trophy Photo
A step below Paddock Club on price, but with its own signature: walking the actual starting grid
Circuit of the Americas
Paddock Club — Above the Garages, Inside the Action
F1's official hospitality tier, built directly over the pit lane at Austin's own Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas
Turn 15 — the Stadium Section's Best Seat
Five corners, two grandstands, and the closest thing COTA has to a proper amphitheater
Circuit of the Americas
Turn 1 "Big Red" — the Hill and the Hairpin
An 11% climb to a blind apex, named for the man who built the track — arguably COTA's single best seat
Circuit of the Americas
Main Grandstand — Start, Finish, Podium
COTA's biggest stand puts you level with the grid, the pits, and the champagne — but only three corners of the lap
Circuit of the Americas