{"id":346943,"date":"2026-06-23T12:03:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/346943\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T12:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:03:17","slug":"16-fittingly-weird-tours-in-austin-that-youll-remember-for-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/346943\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Fittingly Weird Tours in Austin That You\u2019ll Remember for Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aside from its penchant for live music, Austin has a reputation for being weird<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Videos by TravelAwaits<\/p>\n

How is it weird, exactly? Every local will have a different answer. The slogan \u2018Keep Austin Weird\u2019 popped up in 2000 thanks to a librarian, but the anti-establishment sentiment really began in the 1960s and 70s. Austin, at that time, resisted commercialization and chain stores.<\/p>\n

Locals were more interested in places like dive bars with live music and festivals with whimsical ideas\u2014the types of things that attracted an eclectic range of people, from university students to hippies to farmers.<\/p>\n

In short, Austin is a bit of a liberal enclave that still has a conservative underbelly. And while the fight to \u2018keep Austin weird\u2019 is still alive now that many parts of the city have been commercialized with corporate businesses, you\u2019ll still see plenty of counterculture.<\/p>\n

In fact, you can experience it for yourself by booking a spot on the weirdest tours in Austin. From 3D printing factories to speakeasies to pig farms, there\u2019s a lot going on. (If you want a more basic tour, start with the must-sees<\/a> that aren\u2019t quite as strange.)<\/p>\n

First up: Austin by water.<\/p>\n

16 perfectly weird tours in Austin<\/p>\n

Clear kayak sunset tour<\/a><\/p>\n

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Kayaking in the dark in an unfamiliar city? It\u2019s not weird in Austin\u2014it\u2019s just another evening on the San Marcos River. This sunset tour sets you up with a sweet neon-glowing kayak that\u2019s also made from clear materials, letting you see into the water as you glide across the river and spot creatures like fish, bats, and deer.<\/p>\n

Glowing kayak on the Colorado River<\/a><\/p>\n

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The San Marcos River passes through Austin, but the Colorado River is a bit further out. This nighttime glowing kayak tour lets you buddy up with a friend and choose one of seven neon lights to guide you on your way. You\u2019ll get to enjoy a peaceful evening underneath the stars while you enjoy a little history lesson on Austin, too.<\/p>\n

Tubing downtown<\/a><\/p>\n

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If kayaking is a little too active for you, kick back in an inflatable tube and let a pro guide you down the slow-moving spring river from the Barton Springs pool. You\u2019ll slowly float down the river until you end up at the magical Party Island. (More on Party Island below\u2014it\u2019s an actual place.) Note: This is a private tour that maxes out at 15 people.<\/p>\n

Holiday cruise with s\u2019mores<\/a><\/p>\n

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Heading to Austin over the holidays? You can book a cruise that takes you around Austin\u2019s shoreline, from 360 Bridge to Mt. Bonnell. You can enjoy the Christmas lights as you venture\u2014but the real star of the show is the small fire and s\u2019mores setup. Drinks are also served on this tour.<\/p>\n

Lake Austin pink boat tour<\/a><\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s your last perfectly weird tour in Austin that\u2019s out on the water: the Pink Boat Tour. It\u2019s a bright pink double-decker vessel that\u2019s made for Instagram and TikTok. It\u2019s heavily geared toward bachelorette parties and can fit up to 15 people\u2014but I\u2019m putting it out here because\u2026 don\u2019t we all have a bachelor\/ette deep down inside, waiting for a chance to drink in the sunlight?<\/p>\n

3D printing factory tour<\/a><\/p>\n

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This tour includes an experience at re:3D, a 3D printing studio that was founded by a former NASA member. You\u2019ll get to learn about how 3D printing works, along with how to print your own mini-rocket. The studio works with recycled plastics, too, giving you insights into one of Austin\u2019s coolest green-tech initiatives.<\/p>\n

Kune Kune pig farm visit<\/a><\/p>\n

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Pigs are great, but Kune Kune\u2019s are one of the cutest breeds out there. This tour of the Hutto Kunekune Pig Farm lets you learn about this unique breed, along with how the farm operates. Yes, you get to feed the pigs (under farm staff supervision).<\/p>\n

Austin murder walk<\/a><\/p>\n

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Did you know that Austin was home to the country\u2019s first serial killer, whose crime spree began in 1885? Me, neither\u2014and I love true crime. This leisurely walking tour dives deep into the real-life murder mysteries that have defined Austin throughout the ages.<\/p>\n

Haunted Austin hearse limousine tour<\/a><\/p>\n

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Board a Cadillac-hearse-turned-funky-limousine on this three-hour tour. You\u2019ll get out to visit haunted establishments, but otherwise don\u2019t need to walk much. Along the way, you also get complimentary sodas and drinks. This tour is a bit lighter than the last and is appropriate for ages 13 and up.<\/p>\n

Old west history and bar crawl<\/a><\/p>\n

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Get a lowdown on Austin\u2019s Old West identity and cowboy ghosts in this dual ghost tour-pub crawl. As you wander from haunt to haunt, you have the chance to sip on cocktails at some of Austin\u2019s most beloved bars and clubs.<\/p>\n

Austin cat caf\u00e9 experience<\/a><\/p>\n

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Compared to places like Japan and South Korea, the United States doesn\u2019t have too many animal cafes\u2014and they aren\u2019t nearly as weird. But Austin does have a state-of-the-art cat caf\u00e9. This tour lets you visit the caf\u00e9, which is home to over 20 adoptable rescues, as you sip on coffee or tea. The tour is available for 30 or 70 minutes.<\/p>\n

3-hour speakeasy tour<\/a><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t just visit some of Austin\u2019s best bars during your visit\u2014if you enjoy a good drink and a themed experience, you need to explore its speakeasies. This tour takes you to three of its most celebrated speakeasies that include theatrical drinks and exotic d\u00e9cor. Think: a slice of luxury that most tourists won\u2019t find.<\/p>\n

Brewery tour with live band on the bus<\/a><\/p>\n

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If you prefer IPAs and jam bands to cocktails and sultry jazz, go for this bus tour instead. You\u2019ll be ferried around to some of Austin\u2019s top breweries and bars where you can sip on local favorites. In between, you\u2019ll get to board a school-bus-style vehicle where a live band turns short drives into sing-alongs.<\/p>\n

Pistol introduction at the shooting range<\/a><\/p>\n

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Some places are better than others when it comes to learning the ins and outs of firing a pistol\u2014and I think Austin is one of the best places to take on this type of adventure. The Range at Austin has a few experiences for you to choose from. I\u2019d start with the pistol introduction, but you can also go for a machine gun if you\u2019re a little more eager.<\/p>\n

Selfie mural tour via pedicab<\/a><\/p>\n

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Whether you\u2019re in it for the pedicab ride, the street art, or the selfies, this is a relaxing, no-frills tour that lets you get out on Austin\u2019s streets. As you venture between famous murals, your guide will also give you a quick rundown of the city.<\/p>\n

Weird Austin tour<\/a><\/p>\n

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Looking for a place to start when it comes to perfectly weird tours in Austin? This is the adventure that will kick off your trip by giving you a comprehensive look at the city\u2019s oddball, standout culture\u2014from food to music to history. If you really want to know what makes Austin weird, this is perfect way to kick off your first visit.<\/p>\n

[Just a heads-up: We may earn an affiliate commission when you make a purchase from a link in our articles.]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Aside from its penchant for live music, Austin has a reputation for being weird. Videos by TravelAwaits How…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":346944,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,134,133,39654,27,123857],"class_list":["post-346943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-austin","tag-austin","tag-austin-headlines","tag-austin-news","tag-guided-tours","tag-texas","tag-weird-tours"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=346943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346943\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/346944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=346943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=346943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=346943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}