Austin: Double Decker City Tour with Live Guide & SoCo Views

Summary

See Austin’s icons from above on a breezy city loop with stories

You’ll ride high above Austin on an open-top double-decker bus with a local guide sharing stories as you pass icons like SoCo, 6th Street, and the Texas Capitol. Expect friendly waves from locals below, cool water onboard, and plenty of unexpected details—plus that feeling of seeing Austin with fresh eyes.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest—at first I thought riding around on a double-decker bus in Austin might feel a little too touristy. But about five minutes after we pulled away from the Visitor Center and our guide (I think her name was Maribel?) started pointing out the murals along 6th Street, I realized how much I’d missed just looking up. There’s this rush of warm air up top, and you catch these bits of music and BBQ smoke drifting up from somewhere below—like tiny reminders that you’re in Texas, not just anywhere.

We rolled past the Driskill Hotel (our guide told us it’s haunted—she winked but didn’t elaborate), then slowed for the Texas Capitol. The dome really does look pinkish in the afternoon sun, which I never noticed before. People on the sidewalks waved at us like we were celebrities or maybe just because they could see us grinning back. At one point, someone shouted “Hook ’em!” and half our bus tried to do the Longhorn sign at once. Not everyone nailed it.

There was a quick pause by Congress Avenue Bridge—no bats out yet (wrong season), but you could still smell the river and see kayakers drifting under. We circled SoCo next, where shopfronts are all colors and there’s always someone strumming guitar outside Jo’s Coffee. It felt like every block had its own story; Maribel kept tossing in facts about Susanna Dickinson or LBJ that made me want to look things up later. The whole loop took maybe 80 minutes? Traffic wasn’t bad, but honestly I wouldn’t have minded if it lasted longer. Water was cold, sunscreen helped—it gets real sunny up there.

I still think about that moment when the breeze picked up near UT Tower and everyone fell quiet for a second—not for any big reason, just watching students cross campus below us. Sometimes you get more out of seeing a city from above than you expect. So yeah, if you’re curious about Austin or just want to wave at strangers for an hour or so… this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Austin city sightseeing loop tour

• Board double-decker bus
• Pass Historic 6th Street Entertainment District
• Pass Austin Convention Center
• Pass Austin Fire Museum
• Pass Joseph and Susanna Dickinson Hannig Home
• Pass William Sydney Porter's house
• Pass The Driskill Hotel
• Pass Texas Capitol
• Pass Texas Governor's Mansion
• Pass Austin Visitor Center
• Pass Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
• Pass Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium
• Pass UT Austin Tower
• Pass Bullock Texas State History Museum
• Pass Blanton Museum of Art
• Pass Ransom Center
• Pass Congress Avenue Bridge
• Pass South Congress Avenue (SoCo)
• Pass The Long Center
• Return to Austin Visitor Center

Top questions

How long is the double decker Austin sightseeing tour?

The single loop lasts about 75 to 90 minutes depending on traffic.

Does this Austin city tour include live guides or audio recordings?

Every tour has a live driver and local guide—no audio recordings are used.

Is there shade or climate control on the bus?

The lower deck is climate-controlled; upper deck is open-air for views.

Are water and sunscreen provided during the tour?

Yes, cold water and sunscreen are included for your comfort.

What main attractions does this Austin sightseeing tour pass?

You’ll see South Congress Avenue (SoCo), Congress Avenue Bridge, Bullock Museum, LBJ Library, Texas Governor's Mansion, Texas Capitol, Driskill Hotel & more downtown spots.

Where does the tour start and end?

The loop begins and ends at Stop #1—the Austin Visitor Center downtown.

Is this double decker tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the bus is wheelchair accessible for all guests.

Can infants join this sightseeing tour in Austin?

Infants can ride in a pram or stroller but must sit on an adult’s lap while onboard.

What’s included

Your day includes a single-loop ride from the Austin Visitor Center with live narration by a local guide (never pre-recorded), complimentary cold water to keep cool under that Texas sun, plus sunscreen if you need it—the basics covered so you can focus on soaking up those city views and stories before returning to your starting point downtown.