Escape to Texas Hill Country: Fun Things To Do in Fredericksburg, Texas

Located in the Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg is one of the oldest German-settled towns in the area. Founded in 1846, it’s maintained much of its charm and German influence. It’s a lovely place for a relaxing weekend (or even a few days mid-week after the weekend day-trippers have headed home). Book one of the many bed and breakfasts and get ready to explore. Here are my tips on some very fun things to do in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Taste wine

Did you know that Texas is one of the top five wine-producing states in the Unites States? Granted, its production is a looong way behind that of California, but it’s a surprising fact nonetheless.

The wine area around Fredericksburg covers 110 miles and most wineries are have tasting rooms (for a fee). There are far too many wineries to visit in one weekend, but you can try to get to as many as possible.

You can visit the wineries by yourself – but better to keep it safe and book a seat on the 290 Wine Shuttle. This weekend shuttle stops off at 16 different wineries. You’re free to jump on and off as you like so you can visit as many wineries as you like.

If you’d prefer something more structured, book a half-day or full-day wine tour.

Visit Luckenbach

About 15 minutes from Fredericksburg is Luckenbach, a trading post established in the mid-1800s.

Head there on a weekend to check out the old dance hall. Even on weeknights you’re likely to find a few musicians sitting around the bar in a planned – or impromptu – jam session. It’s one of the coolest places to visit in the USA for casual, live music.

Eat at Vaudeville

A post of mine wouldn’t be complete without food. Our first meal was at Vaudeville, located on the cute Main Street. Upstairs is a rather pricey home decor store, but head downstairs and you’ll be surrounded by a delectable range of cheeses, meats, sweet things and local wines.

The Bistro features new American comfort food, and I ate a more-ish pork belly taco with Asian slaw and roasted peanuts.

More things to do in Fredericksburg

While we managed to squeeze quite a bit in to our day and a half in Fredericksburg, there are so many more things I had planned to do. So I’ve already made a list of the things we need to do when we inevitably return:

• More wineries! Preferably on one of the driven tours so I can taste to my heart’s content
• Do a couple of hikes in Enchanted Rock State Park, famous for its huge pink granite dome
• Come back in spring to see the bluebonnets in bloom and drive the Willow City Loop
• Explore the farms in the area – we saw so many signs advertising fresh peaches for sale
• Finally eat at Otto’s German Bistro. We tried to visit twice during our time there but both times were confronted with a two-hour wait time!
• Visit the National Museum of the Pacific War

Best time to visit Fredericksburg, Texas

The great thing about Fredericksburg is that it can be visited all year round. On our trip, we visited just after Christmas. It was chilly but pleasant. In summer, Fredericksburg can be swelteringly hot (like the rest of Texas!) but there are plenty of places to cool down.

Holiday weekends like July 4 and Memorial Day are always busy in this small town, so plan ahead.

Where to stay in Fredericksburg

• A gorgeous getaway that gets rave reviews is The Barn at the Quarry. This B&B has a hot tub and lovely terrace. Check availability and pricing online | Read reviews on TripAdvisor
• If you want some space to cook for yourself while you’re visiting Fredericksburg, check out the lovely Studio B Guest House. Check pricing online now and book 
• See other Fredericksburg properties on Booking.com

Fredericksburg, we’ll be back!

What are your tips for fun things to do in Fredericksburg, TX? Let me know so I can add them to our list when we return!

This post was published in January 2018, and was updated in June 2020 and January 2023.

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