For a first visit, stay downtown or near Rainey Street if you want to walk to music venues and the lake, or on South Congress for shops and quieter nights. Austin hotel rooms carry a combined 17% occupancy tax — 11% City of Austin plus 6% State of Texas — before resort fees or parking. This page compares areas and calculates room taxes; it does not rate individual hotels. Some booking links are affiliate links (see our disclosure).
Where to stay in Austin
Compare areas, see the 17% room tax and calculate your total. Booking links come after the advice.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details.
Which area to choose
| Area | Best for | Trade-off | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown / Sixth Street | Walking to live music, the Capitol and the lake | Loud Thursday–Saturday nights; event weekends raise demand | Downtown guide |
| Rainey Street | Patio bars and lakeside walks | Late-night noise | Rainey Street guide |
| South Congress (SoCo) | Boutiques, murals, a quieter night | Rely on transit or rideshare for Sixth Street and the Capitol | SoCo guide |
| East Austin | Barbecue, East Sixth bars | Spread out; plan rides | East Austin guide |
| Mueller | Parks and a calmer base | Farther from nightlife | Mueller guide |
| The Domain (north Austin) | Shopping and north Austin business | About 20 minutes from downtown by car | Domain guide |
Our assessment, based on official descriptions. We have not inspected or rated individual hotels, and we do not publish nightly rates because they change daily.
Room tax calculator
Estimate the occupancy taxes added to your room rate. Rates: City of Austin 11% (9% occupancy tax + 2% venue project tax) and State of Texas 6%, as published by each agency on October 11, 2026. Resort or service fees, parking and other charges are not included.
Booking notes
- Event weekends: SXSW runs March 15–21, 2027; the ACL Music Festival is listed for October 9–11, 2026; the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix is listed for October 22–25, 2026. Hotel availability is tighter around events — book early for those dates.
- Getting from the airport: see the transportation guide.
- Affiliate links: the partner banner and "Compare" buttons on this page may be affiliate links; they are labeled and never change our area advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Which area should I stay in Austin?
For nightlife and walkability, downtown or Rainey Street; for shops and quieter nights, South Congress; for parks and a calm base, Mueller. See the neighborhoods guide for trade-offs.
How much is hotel tax in Austin?
The City of Austin lists its hotel occupancy tax at 11% (9% occupancy tax plus a 2% venue project tax) and the State of Texas adds 6%, so about 17% in total before other fees.
When should I book a hotel in Austin?
Book early for event weekends such as SXSW (March 15–21, 2027) and the October events. We do not have a verified price-by-month dataset, so we do not claim a cheapest month.
Are the hotel links affiliate links?
Some are. They cost you nothing extra, are marked as sponsored or partner links, and do not change what we write about areas. See the affiliate disclosure.
Sources
Facts on this page were read from the sources below on October 11, 2026. Hours, fares, prices and event dates change — confirm with the source before you travel. How we research and update.
- Hotel and Rental Tax — City of Austin Financial Services
- Hotel occupancy tax — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) — Visit Austin
- South By Southwest 2027 dates — SXSW
- Events in Austin — Visit Austin
- FTC Endorsement Guides: What people are asking — U.S. Federal Trade Commission
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