The best shopping in Austin isn’t on one big downtown street. It’s spread across a few walkable pockets: South Congress Avenue for boots, local jewelry and gifts, the North Loop and East Austin for vintage, the 2nd Street District for boutiques a short walk from downtown hotels, and The Domain in North Austin for national and luxury brands. Add a weekend farmers market and you’ve covered most of what visitors carry home.
This guide is for visitors who want to know where to go for what, how the districts fit together, and what the receipt will look like once Texas sales tax is added. The caveat: small shops open, move and close faster than any guide can track, so check a store’s own site or social feed the morning you go. Store lists come from the shops themselves and from Visit Austin’s own shopping guide, and everything here was checked September 26, 2026 against official sources.
What’s closed or different right now?
- The South Congress Hotel is closed for renovation. It shut on or around May 31, 2026 and is expected to reopen in spring 2027 as The Standard; only its Mañana coffee shop stays open in the meantime. The rest of the South Congress strip is business as usual.
- Holiday market season is close. The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar runs December 12 to 21, 2026. Blue Genie Art Bazaar and the Cherrywood Art Fair hadn’t posted 2026 dates when this guide was checked, so look them up before you plan a December trip around them.
- The next Texas sales tax holiday is August 6 to 8, 2027. Most clothing and footwear under $100 is tax free that weekend, which is worth knowing if you’re buying boots under that price. (Most boots aren’t.)
- I-35 is a construction zone. TxDOT’s rebuild of I-35 through central Austin runs into the 2030s, and it’s the road to both outlet centers. Leave extra time.
Where is the best shopping in Austin?
Think in districts, not stores. Most visitors do one south loop, because South Congress, South First and the 2nd Street District sit within a couple of miles of each other, and then make one trip north, either to the North Loop’s vintage stores or to The Domain’s chain-store comfort. Price levels below run from $ (thrift and vintage) to $$$$ (luxury).
| District | Best for | Price level | Time needed | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Congress Avenue | Boots, hats, local jewelry, gifts, candy | $$ to $$$$ | 2 to 3 hours | About a 25-minute walk from downtown over the Congress Avenue Bridge; CapMetro Rapid 801 |
| South First Street | Vintage, fair-trade boots, home goods | $$ | 1 to 2 hours | A few blocks west of South Congress |
| 2nd Street District | Boutiques, handmade jewelry, Austin gifts, toys | $$ to $$$ | 1 to 2 hours | Walk from downtown hotels |
| North Loop | Vintage clothing | $ to $$ | 1 to 2 hours | Car or rideshare, north of the UT campus |
| East Austin | Vintage, used records and books, stationery, home goods | $ to $$ | About 2 hours | Car, bike or rideshare; meters near I-35 |
| The Domain and Domain Northside | National and luxury brands, a few local labels | $$ to $$$$ | Half a day | Car, or CapMetro Rapid 803 |
| The Arboretum | Home goods, specialty food, gifts | $$ to $$$ | 1 to 2 hours | Car |
| Barton Creek Square | Department stores, indoors | $$ to $$$ | 2 to 3 hours | Car |
| San Marcos and Round Rock outlets | Discounted brand names | $ to $$$ | Half a day or more | Car, via I-35 |
If you want the neighborhoods themselves, not just the stores, our guide to Austin neighborhoods for tourists covers what each area is like to stay in and wander.
What’s worth buying on South Congress Avenue?
South Congress is the Austin shopping street people picture: a wide avenue running south from Lady Bird Lake, lined with low-slung storefronts, food trailers and neon, with the Capitol dome lined up at the north end. Most of the browsing happens in the blocks around the 1300 to 1600 addresses, which makes it a compact, walkable half-morning.
What’s there, according to the stores and to Visit Austin’s November 2025 guide:
- Allens Boots, 1522 S. Congress Ave.: “an Austin original since 1977,” with thousands of pairs of boots plus hats and western wear. Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Tecovas, 1500 S. Congress Ave.: the flagship of the Texas boot brand, with boots and hats in a showroom setting.
- Kendra Scott: the flagship of the jewelry brand that started in Austin.
- Prototype Vintage: vintage clothing, and the easiest vintage stop if you’re only doing South Congress.
- Big Top Candy Shop: an old-school candy store that tends to decide a family’s afternoon for them.
- Paper Work: local art and gifts, good for flat, light things that survive a suitcase.
- Music Lane, the pedestrian lane off the avenue by Hotel Magdalena: national names including Lululemon, Nike, Hermès and Reformation.
Practicalities matter here more than the store list. The street is mostly unshaded, and at 2 p.m. in August the sidewalk is a griddle, so start early: Jo’s Coffee at 1300 S. Congress opens at 7 a.m. (its side wall carries the “i love you so much” mural, which will have a line for photos), and Allens opens at 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Street parking is competitive on weekends and the side streets are residential, so read the signs, or ride CapMetro’s Rapid 801, which runs along South Congress to downtown and UT. Stay into the evening and the Continental Club, open since 1955, is across the street from Jo’s.
Verdict: If you have time for only one shopping stop in Austin, make it South Congress on a weekday morning. On a hot weekend afternoon, it’s a sidewalk with a crowd on it.
What about South First Street and the 2nd Street District?
These are the two districts people skip because they’ve heard of South Congress, and both are worth an hour.
South First Street
South First runs parallel to South Congress a few blocks to the west, and it’s the quieter, more local-feeling version, with fewer national brands and more small independents. Visit Austin’s guide points to Devil’s Details Boutique for vintage, Fortress of Inca for certified fair-trade boots and Maaribu for home goods. Food is a big part of the draw: the same guide lists Elizabeth Street Cafe for brunch, La Patisserie for coffee and pastry, and Lenoir and Fresa’s for a longer meal. At 1720 S. First St., on the corner of Annie Street, the “Greetings from Austin” postcard mural covers the side of the Roadhouse Relics building. It’s the other photo everyone takes.
South First works best as the second half of a South Congress morning. Walk west along almost any cross street and you’re there in about ten minutes.
2nd Street District
The 2nd Street District is downtown’s own shopping street, a few blocks of West Second Street near City Hall and the lake. Visit Austin’s picks include Eliza Page for handcrafted jewelry, United Apparel Liquidators for women’s clothing and accessories, Austin Rocks for Austin apparel and gifts, and Toy Joy for toys, with Violet Crown Cinema for indie films and La Condesa for tacos and tequila cocktails when the shopping’s done. It’s walkable from most downtown hotels, and downtown’s street meters are free on Sundays. On Saturday mornings the SFC Farmers’ Market sets up at Republic Square a couple of blocks north, and the Central Library at 710 W. César Chávez St., a short walk west, has its own APL Shop.
Verdict: Staying downtown without a car? The 2nd Street District is your district. Pair it with a Saturday market morning and you won’t need to drive anywhere.
Where should you buy cowboy boots and hats in Austin?
South Congress, mainly, with a vintage option for anyone who’d rather buy boots already broken in.
| Store | Where | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allens Boots | 1522 S. Congress Ave. | The widest choice in town, plus hats and western wear | On South Congress since 1977 |
| Tecovas | 1500 S. Congress Ave.; Domain Northside | One Texas brand’s boots and hats, with fitting help | Two Austin stores, south and north |
| Fortress of Inca | South First Street | Certified fair-trade boots | A few blocks west of South Congress |
| Vintage shops | North Loop, South First, East Austin | Used boots at lower prices | Stock is hit-or-miss, so try several |
Allens’ own history is short and to the point: Steve Greenberg opened the flagship on South Congress in 1977, and it’s still there. The buying advice below applies wherever you shop.
- Try boots on in the afternoon. Feet swell through the day, and a pair that fits at 10 a.m. can pinch by dinner.
- Wear the socks you’ll wear with them. Thin dress socks make a boot feel roomier than it is.
- Snug across the top, a little slip at the heel. A new boot should hold the instep firmly; a small amount of heel lift is normal until the sole breaks in. Toes should have room to wiggle.
- Walk on a hard floor, not just the carpet. Leather soles are slippery at first, and you’ll notice it on the first sidewalk.
- Wear them home. Boots are the bulkiest thing in the suitcase, so put them on your feet for the flight.
- Flying abroad? Ask the store about import rules for exotic skins before you buy.
For hats, both Allens and Tecovas carry them. The traditional split is straw in the hot months and felt when it cools off, which in Austin means straw for most of the year: straw is lighter, cheaper and breathes in the heat, while felt holds its shape and suits a winter night at a dance hall. Have the hat sized and shaped in the store rather than guessing. It should sit level and snug enough that a breeze on the Congress Avenue Bridge doesn’t lift it. For the trip home, wear it on the plane or ask for a hat box, because overhead bins are hard on brims and a crushed hat is a sad souvenir.
Verdict: Allens for choice, Tecovas for a calmer, single-brand fitting, vintage if the price matters more than the fit. Don’t buy the first pair you try on at 3 p.m. in July.
Where are the best vintage shops in Austin?
Austin’s vintage scene is spread out, but it clusters in three places: the North Loop area north of the UT campus, South Congress and South First, and East Austin. Visit Austin’s November 2025 guide lists these:
| Area | Shops | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| North Loop | Revival Vintage, Ermine Vintage, Blue Velvet, Room Service Vintage | A proper vintage crawl, several shops in one outing |
| South Congress | Prototype Vintage | Vintage without leaving the main shopping strip |
| South First Street | Devil’s Details Boutique | A vintage stop on the quieter parallel street |
| East Austin | Charm School Vintage, BLK Vinyl, Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar | Clothes, used records and used books, with a glass of wine at the end |
The North Loop
The North Loop is a small commercial pocket just north of Hyde Park and the UT campus, and it’s the closest thing Austin has to a vintage row. Visit Austin groups four shops here: Revival Vintage, Ermine Vintage, Blue Velvet and Room Service Vintage. Each has its own angle and its own hours, so map them before you go and give the loop a couple of hours. Hyde Park’s old streets, laid out in 1891 as one of Austin’s first suburbs, are next door if someone in the group would rather walk than browse.
East Austin
East Austin’s shops are spread across the streets east of I-35 rather than packed onto one block. Visit Austin’s picks: Charm School Vintage for clothing, BLK Vinyl for used records and the Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar, which pairs used books with a glass of wine. Take Heart (sustainable home goods, accessories and gifts) and The Paper + Craft Pantry (stationery and home wares) round out an afternoon. Between I-35 and Chicon Street, street meters run until midnight Monday through Saturday, so budget for parking or bike over from downtown. For breakfast first, Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop has served East Austin since 1962.
A few habits help. Try everything on, because vintage sizing runs small and a 1970s shirt wasn’t cut for modern shoulders. Look at seams, zippers and underarms in daylight. Small shops keep short hours that change with the season, so check before you drive across town. And if you’re hunting for western wear specifically, the vintage racks are where a pair of soft, already-broken-in boots turns up at a fraction of the new price.
For more ways to stretch a trip budget beyond the thrift racks, see our guide to Austin on a budget.
What are the best souvenirs and local gifts from Austin?
The good ones are the things Austin actually makes or sells better than anywhere else: boots, jewelry, hot sauce, music and a certain strain of weird. Here’s where to find each.
| Gift | Where to look | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Boots or a western hat | Allens Boots, Tecovas | The souvenir you’ll actually wear |
| Jewelry | Kendra Scott flagship (South Congress), Eliza Page (2nd Street District), Nina Berenato (Domain Northside) | Austin-founded or local designers, easy to pack |
| Hot sauce and pantry gifts | Visit Austin Visitor Center gift shop (which stocks Austin’s Yellowbird hot sauce), farmers markets, Con’Olio Oils & Vinegars at The Arboretum | Local flavor for the people who didn’t get to come |
| Stationery, prints and small art | Paper Work (South Congress), The Paper + Craft Pantry (East Austin), Take Heart (East Austin) | Light, flat and made by locals |
| Austin T-shirts and gifts | Austin Rocks (2nd Street District), the Visitor Center gift shop | Quick, reliable, no digging required |
| Vinyl records | BLK Vinyl (East Austin) | A music-city souvenir that’s more than a logo |
| Candy | Big Top Candy Shop (South Congress) | The kids’ vote |
| Something strange | Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts, 412 E. Sixth St., home of the Museum of the Weird | Entering the gift shop is free |
Don’t overlook the institutional gift shops, which tend to be well chosen and quiet. The Visit Austin Visitor Center, at 103 E. Fifth St., is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and sells local art, jewelry and Austin apparel. The Capitol Visitors Center has a gift shop alongside its exhibits, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s shop is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September through May.
One packing note: liquids over 3.4 ounces, hot sauce included, go in checked bags under TSA’s rules. Wrap bottles in a plastic bag and a sweater, because a leaking habanero sauce will find every shirt you own.
How can you tell if something is really from Austin?
A lot of what’s sold as an Austin souvenir was designed for a hundred cities and printed with this one’s name. A few quick checks separate the local from the generic:
- Who owns the store? Allens has been on South Congress since 1977, and brands like Kendra Scott and Yellowbird started here. A shop’s own “about” page usually settles it in a sentence.
- Who made the thing? Check the tag or the bottom of the jar. Jewelry, paper goods and prints from shops like Eliza Page, Nina Berenato and Paper Work are the easy wins.
- Is the maker the one selling it? The Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller is producer-only, so the vendor grew, raised or made what’s on the table. The holiday bazaars are built around artists selling their own work in the same way.
- Is it a chain with local wallpaper? There’s nothing wrong with a national store, but the Nike and Lululemon on Music Lane sell what the ones at home sell.
The honest part: local usually costs more. Handmade jewelry, fair-trade boots and small-batch hot sauce are priced like what they are. The trade-off is that you’ll remember where you bought them, and the money stays in town.
Which Austin malls and shopping centers are worth your time?
Austin’s malls are good malls, but most visitors have the same chains at home. They earn a place on the itinerary in three situations: you want luxury brands under one roof, you need air conditioning, or it’s raining.
| Center | Type | What’s there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Domain | Open-air district, North Austin | More than 100 stores and restaurants; Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Dillard’s, plus Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Anthropologie and Madewell | Luxury and big-brand shopping on walkable streets |
| Domain Northside | Open-air, next to The Domain | Nina Berenato (local jewelry), Tecovas, Free People, STAG, Mizzen+Main, CB2, Restoration Hardware; the Rock Rose dining and nightlife street | Local labels mixed in, and dinner after |
| The Arboretum at Great Hills | Outdoor center, Northwest Austin | Pottery Barn, Sugarboo & Co., Con’Olio Oils & Vinegars, Orvis, Chico’s | Home goods and food gifts in a calmer setting |
| Barton Creek Square | Indoor mall, Southwest Austin | More than 180 shops and eateries; Nordstrom and Dillard’s; a 14-screen theater | A hot or rainy afternoon |
The Domain and Domain Northside
The Domain, owned by Simon, is an open-air district in North Austin with more than 100 stores and restaurants, apartments and offices mixed in, and it’s where Austin keeps its luxury houses and department stores. Domain Northside, next door, is the more interesting half for visitors: a handful of local names like Nina Berenato’s jewelry, a Tecovas store for anyone who missed South Congress, home stores, and the Rock Rose strip of restaurants and bars for when the shopping bags get heavy. It’s a car trip from downtown, about 10 miles north, or you can ride CapMetro’s Rapid 803, which runs between The Domain and downtown by way of UT. Because the streets are outdoors, summer visits work best in the evening.
The Arboretum
The Arboretum at Great Hills is smaller and quieter, an outdoor center of home, gift and specialty food stores under old oaks in Northwest Austin. It’s the pick if you want Con’Olio’s oils and vinegars or a home store without The Domain’s crowds, and it pairs easily with a drive to the Hill Country west of town.
Barton Creek Square
Simon calls Barton Creek Square the city’s largest indoor shopping center, with more than 180 shops and eateries, and Visit Austin lists Nordstrom, Dillard’s, GAP, J.Crew, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor among them, plus a 14-screen theater. There’s also a Saturday farmers market. It’s the mall for families and for the hottest part of a summer day, and it’s close to the Barton Creek Greenbelt if someone in the group would rather hike.
Verdict: Skip the malls unless you need something specific, want luxury brands, or the weather has ruled out South Congress. If you go, go to Domain Northside first.
Are the outlet malls near Austin worth the drive?
Sometimes. There are three outlet centers within an hour of downtown, all off I-35:
| Outlet center | Where | Drive from downtown | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos Premium Outlets (Simon) | San Marcos, south of Austin | About 30 miles; 40 minutes to an hour, depending on I-35 | Luxury outlets: Simon calls it Texas’ largest luxury outlet destination |
| Tanger San Marcos | San Marcos, south of Austin | About the same as above | Mid-range brands; pairs with the Simon center on the same trip |
| Round Rock Premium Outlets (Simon) | Round Rock, north of Austin | About 20 miles; 30 to 45 minutes | A shorter outlet run, closer to North Austin hotels |
The math works when you’re after specific brands at a real discount and you can go on a weekday morning. It stops working on a Saturday afternoon or a holiday weekend, when I-35 traffic and the parking lot can eat the savings in time. If you head to San Marcos, make a day of it with a swim or a float; our day trips from Austin guide covers what else is down that road.
Verdict: Worth it for a shopping-focused trip with a list. Not worth it for browsing, when South Congress is closer and more fun.
Where are Austin’s farmers markets and holiday markets?
Farmers markets are the best place in town for edible souvenirs, and the holiday markets are where Austin’s artists sell directly in December. As listed in September 2026:
| Market | When | Where | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown | Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; scheduled every Saturday through Dec. 26, 2026 | Republic Square Park, 400 W. Fourth St. | A walkable market for downtown hotel guests; running since 2003 |
| Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller | Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round | 2006 Philomena St., Mueller | A producer-only market in a walkable neighborhood |
| Barton Creek Farmers Market | Saturdays | Barton Creek Square | Combining groceries and gifts with a mall trip |
| Armadillo Christmas Bazaar | December 12 to 21, 2026 | See the bazaar’s site | Art and handmade gifts from a long-running holiday show |
| Blue Genie Art Bazaar | Holiday season; check 2026 dates | See the bazaar’s site | Handmade goods and art |
| Cherrywood Art Fair | Holiday season; check 2026 dates | See the fair’s site | A neighborhood art fair with handmade work |
Go early for the best selection and the coolest hour, bring a tote, and ask vendors about shelf-stable items if you’re flying: honey, jams, spice rubs and hot sauce travel; a bag of peaches in July does not. For March visitors, Rodeo Austin’s fair, held March 12 to 27, 2027 at the Travis County Expo Center, includes shopping alongside the rodeo. Our Austin events and festivals calendar has the rest of the year.
What about shopping with kids, a stroller or a wheelchair?
For families, the obvious stops are obvious for a reason. Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress and Toy Joy in the 2nd Street District are built for kids, and Barton Creek Square has a 14-screen theater for the afternoon that falls apart. For ideas beyond the shops, see our Austin with kids guide.
On access, indoor malls are the easy option, with level floors, escalators and elevators, and The Domain’s streets are flat and wide. South Congress is flat too, but weekend-afternoon crowds make it slow going with a wheelchair or a stroller, and weekday mornings are much easier. Small independent shops are the hardest: older storefronts can have a step at the door, and packed racks and narrow aisles are part of the charm and part of the problem in vintage stores. If access matters, call ahead; small shops are usually glad to tell you.
What should you know about sales tax, parking and getting around?
Sales tax is 8.25 percent, added at the register. That’s Texas’s 6.25 percent state rate plus 2 percent in local taxes, the maximum the state allows, so a $300 pair of boots rings up at $324.75. Price tags in the U.S. don’t include it, which surprises visitors from countries with VAT.
The sales tax holiday is a narrow window. On August 6 to 8, 2027, most clothing and footwear priced under $100 is tax free. If a store charges tax on a qualifying item that weekend, you can ask the seller for a refund, and the Comptroller has a form that lets you claim it directly.
Parking downtown is metered, but not on Sundays. Downtown meters (roughly I-35 to Lamar, Lady Bird Lake to 10th Street) run 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to midnight Wednesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday. In East Austin between I-35 and Chicon Street, meters run 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. That covers the 2nd Street District and the western end of East Austin’s shops.
Transit works for two districts. CapMetro’s local fare is $1.25, and tapping a contactless card on the bus caps your spending at $2.50 a day. Rapid 801 runs along South Congress, and Rapid 803 connects downtown with The Domain. For the outlets, the North Loop’s scattered shops and most of East Austin, a car or rideshare is simpler.
Plan around the heat. From late May to late September, normal highs sit at 90°F or above, and South Congress and The Domain are both outdoors. Shop the open-air districts in the morning or evening and save the afternoon for Barton Creek Square, a museum or a long lunch; our best restaurants in Austin guide can help with that last one.
When is the best time to shop in Austin?
Weekday mornings, almost anywhere. South Congress is at its best between opening and lunch on a Tuesday, and at its most crowded on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Beyond that, the calendar decides a few things for you:
| When | What changes | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Saturdays | Farmers markets downtown and at Barton Creek Square; South Congress at its busiest | Market in the morning, independent shops on a weekday if you can |
| Sundays | Downtown street parking is free; the Mueller market runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 2nd Street District and a market brunch |
| March | SXSW crowds, then Rodeo Austin (March 12 to 27, 2027) | Book early and shop on weekday mornings |
| June to September | Normal highs of 90°F and up on the open-air streets | Outdoor districts early or late; indoor malls in the afternoon |
| August | The Texas sales tax holiday (August 6 to 8, 2027) | Clothing and shoes under $100, tax free |
| December | Holiday bazaars, including the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar (December 12 to 21, 2026) | Handmade gifts straight from the artists |
For the bigger picture on weather, crowds and hotel prices through the year, see our guide to the best time to visit Austin.
How would you plan a day of shopping in Austin?
Here’s a south-side day that uses the districts in the right order, with a north-side alternative. For full trip plans, our Austin itineraries fit shopping around the rest.
- 8:30 a.m.: coffee at Jo’s on South Congress, then the mural photo before the line builds.
- 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Allens, which opens at 9 a.m. Monday to Saturday, then Tecovas, Kendra Scott, Paper Work and Prototype Vintage as they open; check the smaller shops’ hours the night before.
- 11:30 a.m.: a few blocks west to South First Street for Devil’s Details, Fortress of Inca and Maaribu.
- 1 p.m.: lunch indoors, then back to the hotel to drop the bags and cool off.
- 4:30 p.m.: the 2nd Street District for Eliza Page, Austin Rocks and Toy Joy, then dinner downtown.
North-side version: a late-morning vintage crawl in the North Loop, lunch, then Domain Northside in the late afternoon and dinner on Rock Rose. East Austin works best as a separate afternoon, with BLK Vinyl and the used bookstore saved for last.
Austin Shopping FAQ
What is the best shopping area in Austin?
South Congress Avenue, for most visitors. It packs boots, hats, local jewelry, gifts, vintage and candy into a few walkable blocks just south of downtown, with coffee, food trailers and live music around them. For big brands and luxury houses, The Domain in North Austin is the alternative, and for vintage, the North Loop and East Austin are better.
Where should I buy cowboy boots in Austin?
Allens Boots, at 1522 S. Congress Ave. since 1977, has the widest selection, with thousands of pairs plus hats and western wear. Tecovas has its flagship at 1500 S. Congress and a second store at Domain Northside. For fair-trade boots, Visit Austin lists Fortress of Inca on South First Street, and vintage shops sell used pairs for less.
What is the sales tax in Austin?
Austin’s combined sales tax rate is 8.25 percent: the 6.25 percent Texas state rate plus 2 percent in local taxes. It’s added at the register rather than included in price tags. During the Texas sales tax holiday, August 6 to 8, 2027, most clothing and footwear priced under $100 is tax free.
Is The Domain worth visiting?
If you want luxury brands or department stores, yes. The Domain is an open-air district with more than 100 stores and restaurants, and Domain Northside next door adds local names like Nina Berenato jewelry, a Tecovas store and the Rock Rose restaurant strip. If you have the same chains at home, South Congress is the better use of limited time.
What should I bring home from Austin?
Boots or a western hat if the budget allows, local jewelry from Kendra Scott, Eliza Page or Nina Berenato, and Austin-made hot sauce like Yellowbird, sold at the Visitor Center gift shop. Vinyl from an East Austin record store, stationery from Paper Work, and something odd from Lucky Lizard on Sixth Street round out the list.
When is the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in 2026?
December 12 to 21, 2026. It’s one of three holiday art markets Visit Austin recommends for handmade gifts, along with Blue Genie Art Bazaar and the Cherrywood Art Fair. Those two hadn’t posted 2026 dates in late September, so check their own sites before planning around them.
Related Austin Guides
- Austin Neighborhoods: where the shopping districts sit and what each area is like to stay in.
- Best Restaurants in Austin: where to eat between South Congress and The Domain.
- Austin Vacation Ideas: trip styles to build a shopping weekend into.
- Austin on a Budget: free and cheap ways to fill the rest of the trip.
- Day Trips from Austin: what to pair with an outlet run to San Marcos.
Sources and verification
Details in this guide were checked on September 26, 2026 against the operators and agencies listed below. The guide is compiled from them, not from other travel lists, and it doesn’t claim first-hand visits. Store lists for each district come from Visit Austin’s shopping guide of November 19, 2025 and from the stores’ own sites.
- Visit Austin: Austin shopping guide; Shopping in Austin; Visitor Center
- Stores: Allens Boots; Tecovas South Congress; Tecovas Domain Northside; Museum of the Weird and Lucky Lizard Curios & Gifts
- Shopping centers: The Domain (Simon); Barton Creek Square (Simon); Simon Austin-region centers, including San Marcos and Round Rock Premium Outlets; Tanger San Marcos
- Texas Comptroller: Sales and use tax; Sales tax holiday
- Markets: SFC Farmers’ Markets; Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller; Armadillo Christmas Bazaar; Blue Genie Art Bazaar; Rodeo Austin
- City of Austin and transit: Paid parking; CapMetro fares; CapMetro Rapid; NWS Austin/San Antonio climate normals
- Other gift shops and South Congress: Capitol Visitors Center; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; Austin Central Library; Jo’s Coffee; Continental Club; Community Impact on the South Congress Hotel
Photo credits
- South Congress Avenue at night: photo by LoneStarMike, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Shoppers crossing sign at The Domain: photo by Slamforeman, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- The Arboretum, Austin: photo by Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- Barton Creek Square, Nordstrom entrance: photo by Glubin39, Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- San Marcos Premium Outlets sign: photo by Billy Hathorn, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Downtown Austin farmers market: photo by Lars Plougmann, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Texas Farmers' Market at Mueller, 2016: photo by Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- Allens Boots on South Congress (featured image): photo by Larry D. Moore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)