Shopping in Austin

Unlike American cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, Austin isn't known for luxury shopping. Instead, look for locally-made goods, clothing and crafts. The city is renowned for its craft fairs and marketplaces.

Key areas

Popular areas to shop at are located in and around the Downtown area. South Congress is one of Austin's main destinations for boutique shopping, hip souvenirs and antiques. Sixth Street at Lamar Boulevard is another attractive shopping area featuring several independently-owned book stores, music shops and clothing stores.

Markets

Every month, the Palmer Events Center at 900 Barton Springs Road hosts the city-wide Garage Sale, a marketplace brimming with antiques. Visitors pay $5 to peruse the rows of booths offering jewellery, collectibles, furniture and more. Every Saturday and Sunday, the Austin Country Flea Market is held in rural northeast Austin at 9500 Highway 290 East. This scruffy market is where buyers search for steals on everything from tyres to clothing. Admission is free to the public and live music and a concession stand are offered.

Shopping centres

Austin has several indoor and outdoor shopping markets, including The Domain, a luxury pedestrian mall located at 11410 Century Oaks Terrace in North Austin, Barton Creek Square, an indoor mall with department stores located at 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy in South Austin, and Lakeline Mall, an additional indoor mall with department and chain stores located in the Austin suburb of Cedar Park.

Opening hours

Standard shopping hours in Austin are Monday through Sunday, opening anywhere from 0900-1100 and closing anywhere from 1700-2100. Some businesses may be closed on Sunday or open late and close early.

Souvenirs

Austin has a number of souvenir shops located in the Downtown area on Congress Avenue, Sixth Street and at the Texas Capitol, but if you're looking for local mementos that aren't kitsch, shops that feature locally-made goods on South Congress offer a nice alternative. Pick up hip graphic tees with local sayings, local art or the Austin City Limits paraphernalia.