Austin's Best Indoor Activities

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

If you can’t decide what to do indoors in Austin, look for places with a little bit of everything! The Punch Bowl Social, a lofty and warehouse-chic space, has a full menu and bar with bowling lanes, skeeball, darts, arcade games, and more!

Main Event is a perfect spot for the entire family to enjoy bocce ball, gravity ropes, karaoke, laser tag, mini-golf, rock climbing, and much more.

BECOME A MASTER BOWLER

Venture down to The University of Texas campus for a hip, glow-in-the-dark bowling experience at The Union Underground. It’s perfect for a night out with friends or a date night.

For a more family-friendly and traditional experience, visit Highland Lanes, also known as Dart Bowl. Highland Lanes also offers glow-in-the-dark bowling and got voted top burger by The Austin Chronicle! They also have plenty of bumper bowling lanes just for kids, which are great for keeping the bowling balls out of the gutters and smiles on the faces of your small children.

If you want a unique twist on bowling, head to Bull & Bowl in the Warehouse District. This trendy spot combines mini-bowling with a mechanical bull, arcade games, and a delicious menu. It's an excellent choice for a fun, lively evening with friends or coworkers, blending competitive bowling with Austin's vibrant nightlife.

BOUNCE IN AN INDOOR ARENA

Indigo Play, Urban Air, and Inflatable Wonderland are no strangers to the joys and challenges of keeping little ones happy, busy, and entertained when searching for indoor activities in Austin. You can count on them to ensure your event or day of play is a great experience.

Each inflatable bounce house and trampoline park offers a unique mix of fun, physical exercise, and creative and social play while inside. It’s one of the perfect indoor activities for your family on an extremely hot, rainy or even for a birthday party.

SWING INTO ACTION

Enjoy Austin's top indoor golf experiences, perfect for all skill levels. Dirdie Birdie offers an upscale mini-golf experience with stylish decor, creative courses, and craft cocktails. Golfinity provides state-of-the-art golf simulators and professional coaching, which are ideal for improving your game on virtual replicas of famous courses.

Spare Birdie combines indoor golf simulators with a trendy social atmosphere, offering food, drinks, and a laid-back vibe. Holey Moley presents a quirky mini-golf course in the entertainment district, perfect for a fun outing with friends or family. These venues offer a great way to enjoy golf indoors, no matter your skill level.

COOL OFF WITH A COLD BEER

So many local breweries in Austin will keep you entertained and drinking without having to go outside in the summer heat. Some local breweries include Meanwhile Brewing, Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom, Independence Brewing Co., Nomadic Beerworks, St. Elmo Brewing Company, and more!

If there are too many for you to check out in one day and you don’t want to drive around Austin all day, check out Austin Beer Bus. They offer brewery tours so you can get a personal look at craft brewing without the endless Google search. 

DISCOVER NEW RESTAURANTS

Rain or shine in Austin, the local cuisine is always fantastic since there are so many options. If you want a great spot to enjoy brunch, check out Café No Sé or Hillside Farmacy.

Austin also has a lot of farm-to-table restaurants, including Barley Swine and Casa de Luz.

Check out all these fantastic burger joints and BBQ joints in Austin. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, there are great options, too! Austin has an amazing plethora of vegetarian and vegan restaurants.

Another inside activity in Austin is visiting a sports bar to watch the big game or your favorite sports team.

ENJOY A STAYCATION

It is common to wish you were on vacation somewhere in nicer weather during Texas's hot and rainy summer months. Well,  you don’t have to travel far for a change of scenery. Luckily, you can find the perfect staycation here in Austin and its surrounding areas.

The W Austin attracts international visitors and Austinites with their AWAY Spa, WET pool deck, and local fare at TRACE restaurant. Hotel Van Zandt offers a front-row seat to all the action of Austin, with a world-famous music and bar scene, as well as a rooftop deck pool, cabanas, and coveted views of Downtown Austin.

GRAB YOUR SKATES

Playland Skate Center offers the finest skating entertainment with an impressive light show, fog machine, and state-of-the-art sound system playing various music.

Another option, Austin Roller Rink caters to all ages and provides arcade games and private party rooms for spending quality time with the kids.

And if you’re looking to cool off — check out Chaparral Ice, a family-owned business that shares their passion for ice skating with the community. Their ice skating is fun and safe for skaters of all levels. You can also enjoy a beverage and a snack while watching your kids skate or during one of their action-packed youth or adult hockey games.

PLAY ALL DAY

Combining Texas’s largest selection of classic pinball and video games with the best modern games and attractions, Pinballz Arcade is the perfect family entertainment destination. Test your skills in a vast outdoor arena with Inner Soldier Laser Tag at the Pinballz Kingdom.

Engage in sci-fi-inspired team-vs-team action with Galaxy Wars Laser Tag at Pinballz Lake Creek. Or battle robots, zombies, werewolves, and more in Pinballz Lake Creek’s multi-sensory thrill ride, the 7D Dark Ride Theater. Pinballz also has a full bar and restaurant service if you get hungry or thirsty while playing.

For another fantastic arcade experience, check out Cidercade. Located along Riverside Drive, Cidercade offers unlimited play on over 150 arcade games for a small entrance fee. Enjoy classic and modern arcade games, pinball, and even skeeball, all while savoring a variety of house-made ciders. It’s a great spot for a fun day with friends or family.

If you’re looking for something different, visit Electric Shuffle. This innovative spot offers a modern twist on shuffleboard with high-tech, interactive tables, and a lively atmosphere. It’s perfect for a competitive night out with friends, with delicious food and drinks.

RACE, DIVE AND SOLVE MYSTERIES

There are plenty of action-packed adventures for the adrenaline junkie in Austin. iFLY is where the dream of flight becomes a reality and a part of something bigger than yourself. K1 Speed offers highly advanced and environmentally friendly electric go-karts and authentic racing memorabilia, pit cafes, meeting rooms, and pool tables.

A group of friends or coworkers can solve a series of puzzles using deduction skills and clues, all while locked in a room and only having 60 minutes to escape at The Escape Game and Austin Panic Room!

RELAX AT THE SPA

Need a break from work, traffic, and the summer heat? Then take a day off from work and stress and visit a spa! At Zen Mind + Body Spa, they have unique and custom-designed rooms that keep you in mind and give you the option to relax, heal, detox, work out knots, or enjoy a relaxing massage. Also, check out Hiatus Spa + Retreat or Viva Day Spa for more great options.

SING IT OUT

Sing along to your favorite songs at some of the most popular karaoke spots around town. Austin Karaoke is a state-of-the-art, fully computerized, and individualized Karaoke system. The Common Interest provides private spaces and a main stage to rock out.

Hi Tunes provides private karaoke rooms for you and your friends, family, or co-workers to sing, dance, and have fun. DK Sushi mixes yummy food with their Thursday Karaoke Night and catchy music. Grab a group of friends and sing your heart out!

SPEND A DAY AT THE MUSEUM

If learning is your favorite way to pass the time, visit one of Austin's museums. The University of Texas campus boasts many museums, from the LBJ Presidential Library to The Blanton Museum of Art.

Explore the story of Texas at the Bullock Texas State History Museum or educate yourself on the state’s military history and vehicles at the Texas Military Forces Museum. Learn about Mexican and Latino art and culture at the Mexic-Arte Museum and check out their ever-changing street art on the side of the museum!

Looking for something more science-oriented? Check out Thinkery, a children’s museum where science and families play side by side!

STOP BY THE LIBRARY

Libraries are known as places to rent books, but they have plenty more to offer! Libraries provide knowledge, technology, and inspiration and are a meeting place of minds and an incubator of ideas for the Austin community.

The new and renovated Austin Public Library downtown has a gallery space dedicated to temporary art exhibits, an events center, space rentals, a cookbook bar, a coffee shop, a gift shop, and reading porches overlooking Shoal Creek and Lady Bird Lake. They have 20+ locations around the city, so you’ll find one near you. If Austin Public Library is too far from your home, check out Westbank Library and Lake Travis Community Library.

TAG SOME FRIENDS

Blazer Tag Adventure Center is the only place in Austin that can boast a 3-story game room with towers and ramps that create an awesome playing field for Blazer Tag. Try a fast-paced challenge, create laughter and memories, and test your abilities at laser tag.

You can also go above the arcade to incredible heights on the Austin Sky Trail. After a couple of laser tag games, venture out to their expansive entertainment area and play some arcade games or grab a bite. You can even have birthday parties and corporate events at Blazer Tag.

WATCH A SUMMER FLICK

Going to the movie theater is an obvious choice to beat the Texas heat or rainy day. Thankfully, Austin doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its unique selection of movie theaters. If you are feeling an indie, documentary, or foreign film, go to the Violet Crown Cinema. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is another option for a great movie experience with delicious food and drink offerings. They often play new movies and classics like Harry Potter, Shrek, The Iron Giant, and more while switching out their lineup to give you new movie options every month. If you’re looking for the best 3D film-watching experience, then the Bullock Museum IMAX Theatre is a perfect choice for all movie buffs.