Whether you’ve attended SXSW before or this is your first time exploring everything the massive festival has to offer, there are a few insider hacks that make the South By experience much more convenient and enjoyable.
Create a Festival Email
There’s no doubt you’ll want to RSVP to a range of South By events, exhibitions, speaking engagements, VIP experiences, free after-parties and more. What you won’t want are the hundreds of SXSW marketing and promotional emails you’ll receive from partners and sponsors flooding your main inbox. Before you begin to hit “yes” to attending SXSW events, create a brand new email account and use it to RSVP or sign up for any and every experience during SXSW. Trust us—you won’t have to unsubscribe from the plethora of lists you’ll be placed on and can use this email for other festivals and events in the future! We love Do512 and the When Where What Austin account for discovering popular and pop-up SXSW events and activations.
Tip: While the “Hide My Email” feature on iPhone is handy for online shopping or keeping your personal information off the web, using it for SXSW means your personal email inbox will still get bombarded by promotional emails before, during and after the festival.
Make Restaurant Reservations ASAP
Austin has grown exponentially over the past decade, and the post-quarantine years have seen a surge in restaurant reservations that make it hard to book places even a week or two in advance. Many Austinites actually have group chats going with extended circles of friends to swap pre-booked restaurant reservations when someone no longer wants them or can’t make them anymore. And that’s the standard when SXSW isn’t happening. So—if you’ve been eyeing a spot you saw on Instagram or have a favorite restaurant you always visit when you’re in town, make sure to book your reservations now because chances are, you’re not going to be able to get in anywhere or will have to brave long lines and wait times otherwise.
Tip: If you’re looking for restaurant suggestions, check out our list of SXSW 2023 dining selections here.
Plan Ahead To Get Around
SXSW is a massive festival and industry showcase in the middle of downtown Austin. That means the main part of the city and every street within a five-mile radius become pretty tricky to navigate. Rideshare fares typically more than double during this time, so we suggest investing in a pair of comfy shoes and walking to and from SXSW events whenever possible. If you plan to use rideshare apps, consider downloading the app for Austin’s locally built, nonprofit rideshare company RideAustin. Austin also boasts a healthy pedicab population for traveling within and outside of downtown, and shared mobility providers Bird, Lime, LINK and Wheels operate within city limits. Austin also has a beautiful hike and bike trail that offers pedestrian access between the north and south sides of Lady Bird Lake.
Tip: Austin’s downtown lake (which is actually a dammed area of the Colorado River) was renamed in 2007 to honor First Lady Claudia Alta Taylor (Lady Bird) Johnson after her death. Prior to 2007, the lake flanked by today’s hike and bike trail was called “Town Lake,” a name you may hear long-time Austinities use if they’re offering you directions or a landmark.
