Austin History Walk and Bat Bridge

Discover Austin’s history and witness 1.5 million bats take flight on this unique walking tour. Explore landmarks, hear wild tales, and see baby bats soar.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Texas State Capitol - Discover the largest State Capitol building in the U.S., constructed in 1888. We remain outside.
  • Texas Governor’s Mansion - Erected in 1856 and designed by architect Abner Cook, the Governor’s mansion holds many secrets! Hear a few of them from just outside the front gates of this stunning Greek revival residence.
  • Paramount Theatre - This gem has been showcasing dramatic performances on Congress Avenue for over a century. We stay outside.
  • The Driskill - We go inside this one! As one of Austin’s premier attractions, this hotel is a marvel to see and has a fascinating history!
  • Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Watching - The tour ends at Congress Avenue Bridge around sunset, home to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats. From late July to mid-August, the young bats are learning to fly. On dry nights during this period, they often emerge in large numbers at sunset.
What's Included
  • Guided Walking Tour
  • Live person tour guide
Additional Information

Immerse yourself in Austin’s unique history beginning at Capital Square, then weaving our way south through stories of statemen, locals, and wild tales that would only ever happen in Austin, Texas. Finish at the Congress Avenue Bridge, where 1.5 million Mexican freetail Bats live tucked away in the crevices underneath. These stops are all outside, except for the Driskill Hotel. This time of year is when baby bats begin learning to fly, and dry summer nights at sunset are the best time to see them. Bats stay close to the bridge on moist nights and make spectacular shows on dry nights. Bats are wild animals, so bat tours can not guarantee their behavior.

Location
100 1/2 W 11th St
West 11th Street
Meet at the South Gates of the State Capitol Building at the intersection of 11th Street and Congress Avenue. The exact location is right outside the South Gates near the steps. Beware of GPS directions that may take you to the 15th Street gates.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
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Jeffmauree
Aug 21, 2024
Fantastic Fun and Educational Walking Tour of Austin's History and Bats - We enjoyed every minute of the seasonal “Bat Bridge & Austin History” evening tour. We’ve taken dozens of walking tours over the years and, thanks to our guide Emily, we found this NGC Tour to be among the best we’ve experienced. Our tour was a perfect mix of walking, duration, sites visited, and information provided. We were impressed with our guide’s detailed knowledge, and her enthusiasm for history and for sharing Austin’s and Texas’ historical (and intriguing!) stories made the tour even that much more fun and entertaining. Emily was also helpful in sharing great recommendations for local food and activities. What a cool way to experience Austin city history and its famous bat bridge flight all in the same tour. Highly recommend the “Bat Bridge & Austin History” guided tour with Nitty Gritty City Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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