City guide: Austin

Ten years ago, when Formula One held its first US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, some fans can admit they didn't know all that much about the city of Austin.

Fast-forward to today, and the Texan capital has become one of the most anticipated destinations of the year; with a calendar filled with incredible cities, that says a lot.

Austin is a city where everyone will always find something fun to do, whether you're travelling for the Grand Prix or not. So here are our highlights for a trip to Bat City.

We may be a little biased, but Circuit of the Americas and motorsport have become one of the sporting cornerstones of Austin. The city features on the international stage for F1 and MotoGP, and NASCAR began racing at the track last year for the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix.

Away from horsepower competition, the Texas Longhorns represent Austin's college sports presence, with the (American) football team bringing in crowds of over 100,000 at the Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium – the ninth-largest stadium in the world.

Last year, Austin FC began their journey in the Western Conference of the MLS at the newly-built McKalla Place, removing Austin's unusual title as the largest city in the USA without a team in any major professional sports league.

The Colorado River cuts Austin in a roughly north-south split, with the Circuit of the Americas lying southeast of the city near the Austin-Bergstrom Airport.

If you're heading to the city for the Grand Prix weekend, staying around South Congress will mean you're a little closer to the track while still being next to downtown, just to the north. Even better, when you cross to head downtown, you can check out the bats on the Congress Avenue Bridge (see Nature below).

South Lamar is further out from downtown and COTA, but it is a perfect spot to access nature at Zilker Metropolitan Park and Barton Springs – or to access Austin City Limits if you're visiting for the festival.

As the name suggests, North Loop is north of Austin's downtown and is an excellent spot for vintage shoppers. If grabbing a coffee in between browsing one-of-a-kind stores sounds like your ideal day, this is the place to be.

Although Austin is a large city with close to a million residents, you don't have to venture out of the city to find nature, thanks to nocturnal visitors that swell the population. Around 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats congregate underneath Congress Bridge and head out en-masse around an hour before sunset.

The bats are Austin's most popular attraction (the Bat City nickname exists for a reason), and you can enjoy watching them clocking the evening sky every night from March to October. Viewing is free from Congress Bridge, but boat and kayak tours operate to give a completely different perspective – and to avoid the crowds.

If you do fancy travelling a little way out of the city, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center in South Austin is a perfect spot that encompasses all of Texas's flora into 284 acres. Named after the former First Lady from the 1960s, the center houses America's most comprehensive native plant database and boasts over 900 native Texan species.

To the northwest of Austin lies Lake Travis, a Colorado River reservoir with a staggering 271 miles of shoreline. Boat rides, hiking, fishing, ziplining, and so much more are possible at the lake, and it's only a 30-minute drive from downtown Austin.

You are in the right city if arts and culture is your scene. One of Austin's many nicknames is the "Live Music Capital of the World," so you won't be surprised to hear there are plenty of venues to enjoy live music. In fact, there are more per capita than anywhere else in the country.

Depending on when you visit, two powerhouse American festivals might be on in the city, with South By Southwest (SXSW) taking place in March and the TV show-turned-music festival Austin City Limits in October. If ACL isn't on, the Zilker Metropolitan Park location is still a worthwhile stop for its Nature & Science Centre, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum and the Barton Springs Pool.

Not to be confused with the above festival, Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater has year-round performers at the state-of-the-art, 2,750-person capacity venue. With 100 concerts a year, any decent stay in Austin means there's an opportunity to check out an artist; we know for sure that three will be there on Friday 21 October.

For some music at the other end of the scale, venue-wise, head to Hole in the Wall on Guadalupe Street for an authentic dive bar experience. The historic drinking spot may not have the modern conveniences of the Moody Theater, but it's as rough around the edges and charming as you could hope for.

Luxury-brand fashionistas may want to skip Austin, whose residents rally against corporate America so they can "Keep Austin Weird". Instead, head to South Congress Avenue for kitsch boutiques and locally-made art far more in keeping with the city's vibe if you have some cash to burn. You'll definitely find some unique art and clothes here.

When you're in Austin, you're in Texas, and if you're in Texas, you're in for a second-to-none culinary experience. No matter where in the city you may be, there will be somewhere nearby with Texas BBQ or Tex-Mex dishes.

If you've never had a Texas BBQ, prepare to have your mind blown by how succulent the low-and-slow cooked meat is here. Best of all, you can sit inside table service restaurants or head to outdoor food trucks for equally good eats. Oh, and make sure to try brisket wherever you grab a bite. Trust us.

Although the Mexican influence from the southern border has infiltrated Texan cooking, it's merged with Texan food to become an entire cuisine of its own. The drinks in Austin also have a Mexican twist, with Margaritas and Mexican Martinis, which both boast a boozy dose of tequila.

Tex-Mex options are available all day, but we recommend sampling the ultimate Tex-Mex meal – the Breakfast Taco. Scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, filling potatoes, and everything topped with cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese and lashings of salsa? Sign us up.

Austin has a light rail network provided by Capital Metro that makes getting around the city simple. Capital Metro also offer buses, with some routes even offering a late-night service until 3am, perfect for partying over the Grand Prix weekend.

Bicycle hire is possible with the B-Cycle app, allowing you to explore downtown Austin on two wheels at a comfortable pace over any trip. However, COTA is 15 miles from downtown Austin if you're coming for the race.

Grand Prix visitors will find shuttles from multiple spots around the city their best bet – or to drive directly to the circuit. In either case, leave plenty of time before a session, as some over 130,000 fans make the daily pilgrimage to see the F1 action.

Language: English

Currency: US Dollar (USD)

Weather: Warm-to-hot, dry days. Stay cool in shorts and tees, but bring a light jacket for the evening.