5 Best for Shopping Austin

Why it made the list: Austin's signature shopping strip, a walkable stretch of vintage shops, indie boutiques, hip national brands, and iconic stores like Allens Boots (a cavern of cowboy boots) and Uncommon Objects (curated antiques). Add the murals, food trucks and Capitol view and it's the most fun browse in the city.

Why it made the list: Austin's 'second downtown', a large, open-air, upscale district of designer flagships, national brands, restaurants and rooftops laid out like a walkable town. It's the place for high-end and mainstream shopping under one (open) roof, especially handy if you're staying up north.

Why it made the list: For local designers, vintage, records and one-off finds, East Austin is the spot, independent boutiques, vintage and thrift stores, maker studios and concept shops scattered among the murals, coffee and taco joints. It's the anti-mall, and the coolest browse in the city.

Why it made the list: A tidy, walkable cluster of downtown blocks lined with boutiques, local and national shops, cafés and restaurants, right by the lake and City Hall. It's the convenient, central place to browse if you're staying downtown, polished, easy and pedestrian-friendly.

Why it made the list: Two beloved Austin institutions across from each other near downtown, Waterloo Records, the legendary indie record store (with free in-store shows), and BookPeople, the largest independent bookstore in Texas. For a music-and-book city, this corner is the definitive, characterful souvenir stop.