Come Walk With Us.

Locally owned. Passionately told. Made for curious travelers..

View Full Calendar

Top-Rated walking tours in the heart of Austin. No gimmicks — just the wild, true stories told by passionate locals.

Our walking tours dive into the scandals, surprises, and characters that shaped Austin, from muddy frontier town to music-loving capital.

Story of Austin History Walking Tour Guests pose around Angelina Eberly Statue on Congress Avenue in Austin
  • $27.50 public/ $30 private (3pp min)

  • 1.1 miles / <2 hr

  • 2 hrs, easy pace, accessible, age 13+ suggested

  • Begins: Halcyon Coffee — 218 W 4th St

  • Tracks Austin’s growth from outpost to tech city.

  • Rated 5 Stars on all platforms

  • Online booking required — book here

Austin History Walking Tour guests pose for a selfie on Congress Avenue with view of Texas State Capitol Building.

“The Story of Austin” Description: This Austin history tour is a rich, engaging journey through the city’s past, led by a knowledgeable local guide who brings Texas history to life with vivid storytelling and insider insights. Guests consistently praise the tour’s perfect pace, fun atmosphere, and depth of information—from Austin’s days as a republic to its modern transformation. Ideal for visitors and locals alike, it’s a memorable way to explore the city’s historic downtown on foot.

Loading tour calendar…
Available as Private Tours
The Story of Austin 1.5 hr $30/person 3–60 people
Austin Ripper 1885 2 hr $55/person 2–30 people
Historical Architecture 2 hr $30/person 3–30 people
Gunfights & Grifters 1.5 hr $30/person 3–30 people
Haunted History Ghost Walk 1.5 hr $30/person 3–60 people

We offer Custom Tours, too!

You can customize your private tour. Here are some common customizations:

Tacos

Cocktails

Starting hotel (downtown only)

Mix &match content from other tours

Special requests

Typically $25-45/person

or start your private or custom tour request below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your Austin walking tours family-friendly?
Most of our tours are best suited for ages 13 and up — not because they’re explicit, but because we cover real history, including topics like bordellos, political scandal, and crime. We aim to keep it respectful and factual, but some parents might prefer to skip a few tricky questions from the kids.

What happens if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine. We don’t cancel for drizzle or thunder — this is Austin, after all. In the rare event of dangerous weather, we’ll work with you to reschedule or refund. If you're concerned about rain, feel free to cancel 24+ hours in advance for a full refund.

Do I need to book in advance?
Yes — our public walking tours often sell out. Booking ahead guarantees your spot and helps us keep our groups small and enjoyable. Private tours require a quote and a little more notice, but we can often accommodate last-minute requests.

Where do your tours take place?
All of our tours take place in downtown Austin. Meeting spots vary by tour and can be found on the individual tour page. We’ll always send you the starting location after booking.

Are your Austin tours wheelchair accessible?
Some are! “The Story of Austin” +and “Gunfights & Grifters” are fully accessible. “Austin Ripper 1885” and the others include steep hills or tricky sidewalks that make access difficult. Each tour page lists accessibility details, or you can always ask before booking.

How long are your walking tours?
Tour lengths vary from 1.5 to 2.25 hours depending on the tour. “The Story of Austin” is a solid 2 hours, and “Austin Ripper 1885” runs about 2 hours and 15 minutes. All our tours are well-paced with plenty of stops for storytelling (and a few restrooms too).

Is parking available near the tours?
Yes, but give yourself extra time to find it. Street parking is usually easiest north of 8th Street, or you can park in one of several downtown garages. We’ll include parking tips in your confirmation email.

Do you offer private tours?
Absolutely. All of our tours are available as private experiences — just choose “Book as Private Tour” or contact us for a custom quote. Private tours can start at your hotel and be tailored to your group.

What’s your cancellation policy?

  • Public Tours: Cancel up to 24 hours before your tour for a full refund. No refunds for cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance. We’re pretty flexible about rescheduling.

  • Most private tours are paid in full at the time of booking. For larger groups booking more than 30 days in advance (typically 15+ guests), we offer the option to reserve with a 15% deposit.

    In either case, the first 15% of your booking total is considered a nonrefundable commitment once you're within 30 days of the tour. This helps cover guide scheduling, planning time, and any tour customizations we've started preparing.

    Our cancellation terms:

    • More than 30 days before the tour: You’ll receive a refund minus 5% of the total booking amount.

    • 30 to 1 day before the tour: The 15% deposit is nonrefundable. Any additional amount you've paid will be refunded.

    • Less than 24 hours before the tour: No refund.

    If only the 15% deposit has been paid and you cancel fewer than 30 days before the tour, no refund will be issued.

NGC Tours has a Five Star average rating across all platforms.

★★★★★

“Our guide was very knowledgeable. Appreciated that very much!”

— Daniel

(GetYourGuide Review, Story of Austin, September 4, 2025)

★★★★★

Absolutely perfect! Guide was informative and witty. Great pace, it was clear Caroline was passionate about not only the history of Austin, but making sure every guest had a great time. She even offered personalized recommendations to further see the city. Thank you, I made it to both the Bullock Museum 👍🏻 and Scholz Garten 😍 please don’t quit your side job 😉 thanks for providing a safe and comfortable tour for a solo traveler.”

— Shannon T

(Viator Review, Story of Austin, October 11, 2025)

★★★★★

“Great walking tour. Very knowledgable guide. The small group allowed for conversation and questions with the guide.”

— Mary J

(Google Review, Story of Austin, September 2025)