Hill Country Escape

New Braunfels, Texas is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country just 30 minutes northeast of San Antonio and 45 minutes south of Austin. New Braunfels is a picturesque city offering visitors an unforgettable experience with many ways to enjoy the outdoors, whether listening to live music in an open-air live venue, adventuring on the water, or unwinding with a beverage under a shady tree. New Braunfels boasts an old-world heritage that combines perfectly with its small-town charm offering a diverse range of activities, attractions, and entertainment!

History

Ever since a dashing German prince plunked down cash for 1,300 acres of land along the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers, visitors have been coming to experience the many appeals of New Braunfels.  

Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels had big plans to create a “New Germany” in unsettled Texas, he laid the cornerstone for the hilltop castle he planned to build for his fiancée back home, Princess Maria Josephine Sophie.  Despite this touching gesture, Sophie passed on Carl’s idea to start over in America. After their wedding in December 1845, Carl never returned to the community he had helped establish, instead living out a life of military service in his homeland. What was once the would-be site of a princess’ castle is now The Sophienburg, a premier museum of New Braunfels history.  

The New Braunfels Conservation Society takes visitors back in time at Conservation Plaza. Each of the 18 historic buildings on this 3.5 acre site tells a story of New Braunfels heritage and hospitality. Take a seat at a desk in a one-room limestone schoolhouse from 1870. Check out an original Sunday House, where ranchers coming into town for church would stay, or peek inside a garage holding a 1907 REO automobile. 

Take a deeper dive into the past with three great self-guided online tours, each complete with a map of historic places and interpretive videos that tell the story behind the site. The Walking Tour of New Braunfels takes you through the buildings and murals of downtown. The Driving Tour of New Braunfels covers the city center and beyond, and the Gruene Walking Tour fills you in on sites in the Gruene Historic District.  

Hotels & Lodging

New Braunfels has accommodations to suit your needs and help make your stay restful and relaxing! 

Choose from a variety of unique cabins, cozy condos, waterfront vacation rentals, familiar hotels, and more places to get a good night’s rest in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. 

Experience the luxury boutique hotel of Downtown New Braunfels at Sophie’s Gasthaus or stay and play with the family at Courtyard Marriott River Village or the Resorts at Schlitterbahn, World’s Best Waterpark! 

Explore Gruene Historic District originally settled over a century ago, Gruene is a snapshot of Texas culture and history come-to-life. You can stay in a unique boutique hotel like the Gruene Mansion Inn, or in cozy spots on the riverfront.  No matter where you like to lay your head, we have the right lodging solution for you.

 

 

 

Shopping

Take a stroll in downtown New Braunfels and shop til you drop!  The shops and boutiques are filled with unique gifts, souvenirs to take home, décor, and so much more!

Head on over to Gruene for more shopping, with 15 walkable acres designated a National Historic District, visitors can shop, dine, and dance within the walls of the original township buildings in Gruene.

Packed to the brim with locally-owned shops, a leisurely stroll through the eclectic collection of retailers will round out your day in the historic district.

Resturants

New Braunfels is bursting with unique restaurants and diverse dining experiences.

If you’re looking to try all the best restaurants in New Braunfels, we hope you’re hungry – we’re home to dozens of 5-star and award-winning establishments! You’ll find our cuisine is uniquely inspired by places across the United States and the world.

From the Historic Gristmill in Gruene overlooking the Guadalupe River to Krause’s Café and Huisache Grill and Wine Bar in Downtown. 

 

Whatever you’re craving New Braunfels has the food to satisfy all cravings!

 

Events

New Braunfels is home to many world-renowned major events, celebrating our heritage and love for all things fun! From Wurstfest in the fall, Troutfest in winter, Folkfest in the spring, and Texas’ largest county fair at the end of summer, and plenty in between, you’ll find fun events both big and small all year long.

Live music of all genres, theatrical performances, pop-up festivals, happy hours, and more can be found nearly every night and weekend.

Dive into New Braunfels, where you will find great water recreation options to cool down under the hot Texas sun. Visitors seeking adventures in nature will love our two crystal-clear rivers.

The Comal River and the Guadalupe River are popular tubing, kayaking, rafting, boating, and fishing destinations. Canyon Lake is just minutes away, offering great beaches, scenic vistas, boat rentals, and relaxation.

Be sure to pack your swimsuit when you visit New Braunfels!

New Braunfels offers a wealth of opportunities to hear live music just about any night of the week, year-round.

 

Historic Gruene Hall is lined with screened-in windows, letting the outdoors in as you enjoy live music from the hallowed stage of the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas.

Catch national touring acts at Whitewater Amphitheater, an outdoor venue nestled among the towering cypress trees on the edge of the Guadalupe River where new shows are always being announced.

For a more intimate setting, check out Freiheit Country Store, a honky tonk and live music venue dating back to 1889. Locals describe it as a half-indoor, half-outdoor, cool place to hang out and listen to music.