Zilker Park Tours

Zilker Park which includes a garden, a lake or waterhole and skyline
Zilker Park showing a bay or harbor and kayaking or canoeing
Zilker Park which includes landscape views, a city and a river or creek
Zilker Park showing a bay or harbor and kayaking or canoeing
Zilker Park showing a river or creek and a park


Perched on the banks of a beautiful lake, this centrally located park is an idyllic spot to relax in thermal springs or hike along extensive trails. 

Zilker Metropolitan Park is Austin’s main recreational park and is located directly across Lady Bird Lake from downtown. There are enough activities here to entertain you and your family for a whole day.

You can easily spend a half-day exploring the area. Start by getting your bearings on the the Zilker Zephyr, a miniature train that runs through the park. Hiking and bike riding trails are scenic and mostly flat. They extend for about seven miles (11 kilometers) through the park and along Lady Bird Lake, the 470-acre (190-hectare) lake that runs through Austin’s center. Rent a family-size canoe from Zilker Park Boat Rentals. The hourly charges aren’t cheap but it is a fun activity for an hour or two and no reservation is necessary. Take a dip in Barton Springs Pool, fed by underground springs with a year-round temperature of 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius). According to local legend, actor Robert Redford took swimming lessons here as a kid. There’s a small entry fee, but the pool is huge and a great place to escape the heat.

There are many attractions and live entertainment to keep you busy year-round. The Zilker Holiday Tree is a particularly special sight during the holiday season. This 155-foot (47-meter) "tree" is actually a collection of 39 streamers holding more than 3,000 multicolored light bulbs. This stunning spectacle has been an Austin tradition for decades.

The Austin City Limits music festival is held in the park, usually in October, and features more than 100 national and international acts. You can hear everything from contemporary pop and rock to Texas blues and swing. The Zilker Hillside Theatre stages plays as well as the Zilker Summer Musical. There's also the Zilker Park Kite Festival, held on the first Sunday in March, which has been entertaining families since 1929.

Zilker Metropolitan Park is about a half an hour walk from downtown. There isn’t much food available in the park grounds, so bring a packed lunch.

Plan a trip to see Zilker Park

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Charming & Bright W Lounging Pool
The Shores at Lake Travis
Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown South Congress

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Reviews of Zilker Park

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
765
5 - Excellent 58%
4 - Good
403
4 - Good 30%
3 - Okay
130
3 - Okay 10%
2 - Disappointing
10
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
16
1 - Terrible 1%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

We came to ride the train and it was not operational. They didn't have anything posted on website that it was not running.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler

Not much was in bloom. The Japanese garden was nice - lots of koi

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

make it accesible to scooters!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Stunning botanical garden, absolutely gorgeous.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Nice park, good price on kayak rentals. Excellent review would have been warranted except that parking at the Botanical Garden was pitifully inadequate.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Trail of lights was great family fun. Eat @ Chuy's on the way out.

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