We had a great time soaking in the Austin skyline before watching the bats come our from under the bridge. Our host was very knowledgeable and provided great information about the history of the lake, the city, and the bats.

We went to watch the bats fly out from under the Congress street bridge. You can take a boat tour for a fee or you can go-to the public viewing area for free. We optd for the public park. During the week its not as crowded. Its a spectacular sight to see. You cant seem to take your eyes off them once they start flying. If you have the time it definitely worth the stop.

If youre new in town and an avid fan of bats, definitely check this out. Make sure to check-in 15 min before your appointment.

Super friendly staff, clean boats, knowledgeable tour guides and breathtaking sunset views (and of course, great spot on the river to see the bats.)

Loved this tour! We were so close to the bats that we needed an umbrella! loved our tour guide as well!

Holy bat cloud, Batman! This was a bucket list spot to visit for my son and I both. We had a blast watching the endless bats stream out from beneath the bridge at dusk. We love bats, and this is the most we have ever seen at once. I love how the local community has embraced these wonderful creatures and encourages others to appreciate them as well. Go watch the bats, you wont regret it. This made a great memory for us.

Boat tour was beautiful and informative. Our tour guide was awesome.

Yo have to be there about 30-45 minutes before sunset to get a good spot. It’s one of the iconic attractions in Austin and fills up quick. You get to witness a show of Gods creation in action w/ this one here y’all! Thousands and thousands of small bats release from under the Congress bridge every night in the summer to hunt and eat millions of insects. I would recommend it to anyone looking for the Austin “experience “!

Awesome experience! Far exceeded my expectations!

It was a wonderful relaxing way to experience this activity. The captain was extremely knowledgeable and funny. We learned history of Austin and about the Mexican Bays. Will do this tour again next time in Austin. We took there advice parked in the Hyatt. Even though it cost us it was worth it. The city scape was beautiful at night.

This was amazing, just something you need to see in person. Pics dont do justice. You can view from on top of the bridge, under the bridge, or pay to get on a boat. Look in the distance and it looks like a trailing line of black smoke. The shear number of bats is astonishing, with a steady mass flow of bats going on for about an hour. Timing depends on when during the year but figure they start maybe a half hour before sunset.

Captain Mike was very knowledgable, nice, and funny. The tour was delightful and it was awesome to see over a million bats go out hunting. Weve lived in Austin over 15 years and this was our first time seeing the bats. I cant believe we waited so long. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone.

Had a great trip around the lake before the bats came out. Our captain got us right at and under the bridge as the show began it was crazy seeing that many bat at one time. Highly recommend take the time to see it from the water.

So we’ve been wanting to see the bats, but they were a no show. Now we did see and hear a few that flew over us. Talked to a local and he mentioned that May, June is best for a great view! So we’ll definitely make it back down there. Luckily The view was incredible!

Only 3 stars because the bats didnt really fly in the numbers we expected. We heard that they hadnt been as plentiful since a big storm passed through a couple of weeks prior. We still had a great time meeting all the other people waiting for the bats! And if you turn around to face West - you will be treated to a beautiful sunset while you wait for the bats!

We recently went to see the bats and I think we may have just been too early in the season. You can really only see them if they come out AT DUSK. Any later and it’s too dark too see them. You’d have a better chance of seeing them in August, but worth going if it actually works out.

The bats came out around 20:00-20:30 yesterday. The smell is ok, not so bad. It’s cool to see such a number of bats fly out at the same time. It’s full of tourists. Need to get there earlier for good spot.

Didnt really know what to expect but both my mother and I had an amazing time. Captain Shelby is nothing but hilarious and informative.

Great tour guide! Lovely attraction overall. Cant reccomend enough!

I was disappointed, a few bats came flying out. Nothing like they advertised so Im glad we didnt do the whole tour. It does get super packed so keep that in mind. There arent many free places to park. There is a lot of information about the bats and their history so that was fun. I would love to go back and actually see a ton of bats.

These people were spectacular we came near sunset to look at the bats under the bridge and they did everything for us. they got us the right kayaks they supported my group with where to go what to do us before the sunset they were able to hold it down for us while were getting in and out of the kayaks they were really genuine and their approach

Watching the bats is quite intriguing. I’m not sure how so many bats can rest under a bridge or this size. Nature is interesting, don’t you think?

At first I thought it was gimmicky; Ive seen bats before... but the sheer number is amazing and worth watching for sure. We were on the opposite side of the river, but a really cool sight. Thousands of people gather each night to watch the flight- both on the river and on the bridge.

I was really excited to see that I was on the Ann Richards Bridge ️That aside, I’d been told that the bats hadn’t been performing well. What a goofy comment, as if they’re there specifically for our viewing pleasure. I found the show to be spectacular.

Also a TX bucket list check off for our family.. great fun for the kids. I made my boys wear batman shirts for photo ops the only time you wont see bats is off season and batfest

Great Mother Natures show! It gets really crowded, so, better is to get there around 7:30PM to 8PM. Bats usually go out from 8:15PM to 8:30PM.

The bridge is located in heart of downtown Austin, so is definitely something different to see if youre in town. Theres a public parking ramp just few blocks away and less then ten minutes of walk.You could either stand on the bridge of be under it where theres a park by the river. As the sunset time gets closer, crowds start to huddle the area. Honestly, being under the bridge I didnt find it too hard to get a good spot.Its unique expetience to see swarm of tiny sized bats come out all in a gush! Since its dark, its a bit hard to capture them in pictures, have to see to really experience it.

Lovely place but waited for more than an hour before sunset to watch the bats. But spotted very few bats , so little disappointed

I waited there for 3 hours (from 6pm to 9pm) to see the birds. Later found few hundred of them at around 9pm. It was not that many birds as people say. But scenery was awesome

Congress bridge is a beautiful sight seeing area and 1.5 million bats flying out at dusk is an awesome experience!! Definitely a must do if your in ATX!

Closer you get better the bite. Ride a boat for informative tour.

Loved the boat ride, but didnt care to much about the bats

It was really cool but not as cool as I thought itd be. Was beautiful and I think if it was warmer it wouldve been better

Was hard to see the bats, Id suggest doing so from a boat. Very nice location and beautiful scenery. Easy to get to

Very cool and a free and easy thing to do in Austin.

Get there early to snag a good viewing spot....I prefer the bridge as you have less of a chance to get batpee on you...very cool to watch em fly out beneath you and stream out into the sky....bats are awesome!

Seasonal to watch the bats. Double check when the bats will be there. Something that must be experienced in person.

May be January is not a good time to see the bata around here. But the morning and evening view was great during the river walk.

Havent been here in many years, brought my kids for the 1st time and its still a cool experience. It gets very packed on the bridge and on the hill. I recommend bringing chairs and snacks lol. We arrived at 6 and picked our spot, by 7 the bridge was filling up and by 8 the area was pretty full, standing room only on the bridge. The grassy hill next to the bridge is still a great viewing area, no matter what the gentleman with the bat hat tries to tell you. The trees along the water have grown much higher over the years so you wont see the bats flying out over the water. HOWEVER, you do get to see the first signs of the bats emerging from underneath the bridge which for this time of year (3rd weekend in June) was about 840-ish. For about 15 mins or so the bats fly around underneath, and as more start to emerge they come out a little further. Later in the summer, Aug /Sept the baby bats are usually able to fly, which makes for even more bats flying around, plus they tend to emerge a little sooner than dusk. Im sure the view from on top of the bridge is also great, and perhaps Ill try it another time. But we enjoyed watching them from the hillside next to the bridge. (See my pics) oh and there is a nice bike/walking path while you wait. Closest bathroom that I could find is the Hyatt hotel. Take the path under the bridge, you will see a flight of stairs going up the hill, at the top to your right is a small patio. You can enter that way into the lobby area. Theres a Starbucks in there also!

If you like bats but are more of a fan of iron Man instead of Batman, then this place is for you! Its an amazing naturally occurring phenomenon without Batman yelling in your ear! 5 stars!

There parking beside the bridge can be very busy. We waited 15 minutes in line to pay for parking. There is an app you can use to pay for parking; if you have wifi or data to download it. Bring bug spray as there can be a lot of mosquitos in the park. There will be a line up of people on the bridge as well as the park. Either way you get a good view. Try to get towards the middle of the bridge for the best views.

Interesting experience , all bats come out at the same timeI have heard that the best time of year to go is October

Worth every penny. Yes, the tour is long but you get a history lesson, a sunset view and millions of bats flying out towards the night. The row back towards the dock was tiring but it was all worth it. The staff is great, friendly and informative. definitely a must while in Austin.

In the heart of the city. You can see the bats take off at sundown. Its a great view of the city and Lady Bird Lake. Highly recommended for visitors with lots of eateries around and beautiful views.

If you are in Austin and like seeing incredible wildlife I highly recommend going here.

Such an amazing phenomenon! Must see! Sitting on the lawn below is the way to go. Grab a ride with one of the taxi golf carts afterwards.

Good view of the lake, Capital building, downtown, and festive site for the Susan G Komen race today, as well as other events near the lake/hike bike trail. Unpleasant odors coming from areas of the bridge (bat areas). Enjoyed seeing people kayak on the lake as we crossed Congress Ave. Bridge. The rentable scooters look like great fun & enjoyable way to get around downtown area! :)

Wow. Quite an amazing sight. Was not too difficult to find parking within a 5-10 min walk). Plenty of standing and sitting space available on the park and on the bridge to watch this natural spectacle. If you can, try catching the ferry boat nearby to watch from the river.

An amazing experience. I’ve seen bats before, but never this many in one spot. Get there early for close parking next to the bridge.

Keep waiting for that moment when you see millions of bats fly. I would recommend not staying on the bridge to view this sight cos it stinks and the view is better down the bridge near the grass area

Fun but big piece of advice: rent out a kayak from there for like $10-15 And just row to the bridge.... if not then you spend money to basically just follow a group that has one maybe 2 tour guides that you cant hear half of the time and then you have to wait until they are all ready to leave. You cant leave when you want.... your welcome!! :)

We arrived shortly before 8:30 and parked in free parking right near the bridge. We walked to the center and right around 9 the bats began to extract. It was hard to capture in pictures from the top of the bridge, I think under would be better.

Great time lots of fun and a zillion bats. Youll be amazed.

Cool place to go and watch bats fly out at night

Amazing experience to see so many bats in sync

Amazing. 1.5 million bats filling the sky.

Mother Nature meets human nature. The bats are amazing to watch as they take flight for the evening.

It was a great experience for my wife so now I can take it off our bucket list. Only CON for us was having a good view under the bridge because the smell of the bat urine is something I NEVER want to experience again ha! ha! ha!

Took boat ride on Lady Bird Lake and at sunset watched the bats emerge from Congress Bridge. It was a great experience.

If you come to Austin, you must make time to see the bats! More than a million bats come out each night which takes about an hour to to get out from under the bridge. From there, you can see them swarming as they eat. You will have to stand on the bridge at least an hour before sunset to get a good spot. Or, you can sit at the park or stand along one of the walkways under the bridge. You can also see them through any of the various bat tours or even rent a Canoe or kayak.

Fun thing to do with family. Would bring a flashlight.

This was my first time to see the bats and my God there were a lot. I was told up to 2 million that fly out just before going dark.

For $12 for an hour you get to see millions of tiny bats fly, you can bring your own drinks (no glass), and you get a little river cruise to see the gorgeous night lights of Austin!

Apparently the largest urban bat colony in America lives under this bridge. Somewhere between 750,000 & 1,000,000 bats. Get here about 20 minutes brute sundown if you want a viewing spot on the bridge. Also, you can rent a kayak or take a boat tour to the base of the bridge to watch the bats.

Gets pretty busy but spectacular sight for animals lovers. Get there early and stand on the south side of the bridge for best viewing. Can be viewed from anywhere on the east of the bridge though

This was one of the coolest experiences I have ever had, you get to see millions of bats fly through the air. To the eye it looks like millions of gnats. This was absolutely stunning and will be a memory I will have forever.

Must see if you come to Austin from March-Oct

Beatiful bilding

Cutest thing ever. Worth the wait!

The boat ride was very nice and relaxing, grat for taking some beautiful sunset pictures, our tour guide was very friendly and funny. Dont expect to see blankets or waves of bats though, they trickle out single file from under the bridge and theyre tiny. Be prepared to be sprinkled with bat urine, so if youre particularly concerned or picky about that sort of thing, bring a small plastic bag or something to cover your head. It was nice but I wouldnt pay to go again. You can bring soft and alcoholic drinks on board. There is no bathroom on board and the tour is a little over an hour long.

For out of towners its great to witness the bats. Fully enjoyed making a new memory with my mom.

It was a lot of fun, and the view from under the bridge is amazing - however, be prepared for a shower from the bats as they leave the North side of the bridge.

Spectacular sight of thousands of bats taking off. Better to go under the bridge.

I went for batfest anfit was such a great time. The concert was off the chain and the vendors where excellent.

Really neat, but heres the scoop. Some nights they dont come out. And, when they do, it will most likely be at dark. Harder to see. So, this is what to do.. either go early, to get a good spot, realizing youll wait several hours. Or, go later, to avoid that. Crowds begin arriving between 6 & 7:30, but depending on time of year, bats may come out anywhere from 6pm-9pm. Definitely check for an accurate sun set time & plan accordingly. Maybe take a chair & snacks if you go early. If you go later, expect to stand on the bridge. Also, ask which side the bats are sleeping on. We went early, got a great spot on the viewing deck, then 2 hours later, with no chair, learned they come out on opposite side of bridge. There is a grassy knoll on that side (its opposite the downtown side). Next time, Ill be spreading a blanket there. With snacks & wine..

Incredible experience to see thousands of bats pouring out from the Congress St bridge and flying east in an organized swarm over riverside trees as the sun set. Great commentary by our riverboat captain/guide who drove us to the optimum spot on the river to view the bats.

We had a great time!

Educational and fun! Relaxing evening on the lawn below the bridge.

It’s a natural phenomenon. But it should not be marked as every day attraction. It’s said that during warm days during sunset bats comes out. If bats doesn’t come out it’s not their fault, it’s our wrong expectations. We went in the July 1st week in a peak summer, sunset was marked at 8:25pm we waiting from 7:45pm to 9:15pm along with the crowd. became complete dark then few bats just came out and started repositioning from one poll to the other under the bridge and that’s it. It doesn’t come out and fly as our expectation. So it’s better to hangout in the downtown rather than this long wait in a spot just not to miss the spot.

Can’t control nature. We were here mid October and even though we heard the bats, they did not come out at all before dark.

Yes there are bats and yes you see them, but it is lackluster at best. Probably the only time of year it is worth going is in August when there are more of them. Even now, in July they are hard to see when they finally start leaving. Not nearly as exciting as the pictures lead you to believe.

Great experience. Worth seeing while in Austin.

Very fun to watch from under the bridge, kinda smells like bat pee though.. Still worth it!

Hey its bats.. downtown in a great Urban environment in a cool city in Texas...We came from Utah to visit family and had an interesting time here.... If you are in Austin you should catch this event..

Awesome timei had amazing seeing the bats.The tour guide was excellent.

Very fun to see the bats fly out.

Great staff and a great experience.Bats are awesome!

Went to the bat fest with the kids and had a blast the food was great we saw the bats the lines were crazy long but expected.

Was awesome learning about the bats under the bridge and the boat ride was Amazing at night I definitely recommend this.

The bugs biting and the anticipation of the bats proved to be too much for my anxiety. I left once I saw a couple bats. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous though. I might grab some bug spray and go back tomorrow.

So you want to enjoy some bats! Come earlier than you think. Arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the sun starting to set and prepare to walk, as parking can be tricky. I recommend approaching from the south side of the bridge unless you are staying downtown. You can park at the Hyatt or the Statesman. He best place for viewing is to gather with the crowd on the bridge. There is a park down below the bridge (south side) as well but viewing from down there is more limited because of the trees. That being said, there is usually someone peddling ice cream treats and you may see someone dressed as Batman or with a Batman T-shirt. But being down below can also have other risks, like getting pooped on. Chances are slim but it happens. It’s a pretty spectacular sight to see the cloud of more than a million bats fly east off into the dusk.

Yea, there are lots of bats but wasnt as many at once and as big as I expected. Nevertheless, still an ashtoninshing sight to witness.

We sat on a hill below the bridge and paid $6 for parking only to be disappointed because the bats didnt come out. I know it wasnt their fault but all the text numbers and website on the signs were closed so we did not feel it was worth our 2 hour wait and parking fee

It was awesome! Definitely grab some tickets for this ride. You wont be disappointed

Great place to watch the bats wake up from their daily slumber. Parking is available for a reasonable fee. I recommend downloading the app to pay as opposed to waiting in line at the one automated ticket device. Bring a blanket or something to sit on. Would have been better if someone dressed like old-school Batman was walking around telling us about his family under the bridge.

We had a great time! Much easier to see the bats from below than to try to watch from the bridge.

We were down by the Congress Ave Bridge. Once the bats started out, could see them against the sky fairly well. Next time we will try standing on the bridge to see if view is better against the lake surface. Also, wish the Bat Conservancy would adjust the time weekly instead of such a wide range as 8:15 to 8:45. In July, it was about 9 pm. Long wait with little children.

Great place to go watch the bats. Ive seen the bats in Houston and there were definitely a ton more here in Austin. It was nice weather even during Texas summer and the bats were flying out for at about 3-5minutes. Lots of parking available around the bridge and its easy to time the bats because they always come around sunset.

If you can, go see the bats. Its an amazing thing to see in the middle a city.

So cool watching all those bats coming out. The Batman was awesome. Super friendly, helpful and sweet. He wears a hat with a bat and was wearing a Batman t-shirt. He helps us get a good spot and we tipped him. He gave us a couple of buttons.