Discover 13 International Treasures That Are Austin’s Sister Cities

Austin has several prestigious titles, including the capital of Texas and the live music capital of the world. This vibrant city holds hundreds of live music venues and hosts South by Southwest (SXSW), an enormous gathering complete with music festivals and conferences with a wide variety of creative professionals.

However, music isn’t all the city has to offer. Austin’s fascinating history dates back to the days when Mexico possessed Texas. Today its culinary scene is defined by a fusion of Mexican and Texas-style cuisine. Iconic foods like the breakfast taco are a staple in Austin.

Austin also offers a number of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. The city contains hundreds of miles of wooded trails for walking, running, and mountain biking. Visitors can also kayak, paddleboard, and canoe in Lady Bird Lake, which stretches for over 400 acres.

Austin has a lot to offer and over the years it has developed Sister City relationships with a total of 13 cities. Let’s explore these international treasures and the surprising things they have in common with Austin.

What Is a Sister City?

President Eisenhower created the Sister Cities International Program in 1956. According to Sister Cities International, Eisenhower envisioned a network that would promote peace and prosperity by fostering bonds with communities across the globe.

Cities may also form “Friendship City” relationships, which works as a kind of stepping stone toward the official Sister City agreement. Today hundreds of U.S. cities participate in the Sister City program, connecting with over 2,000 communities worldwide.

1. Saltillo, Mexico

Austin’s first Sister City relationship was established in 1968 with Saltillo, Mexico. The two cities share a fascinating history as they have both been the capitals of Texas.

According to Austin Sister Cities International, Saltillo was the capital when Texas belonged to the Mexican state Coahuila. In 1836 Texas ceded to form the Republic of Texas. It was annexed into the United States in 1845 and the following year, Austin was dubbed Texas’ capital.

Today the Sister Cities celebrate their friendship with a special day in each city dedicated to international understanding. Since 2017, Saltillo Day has been celebrated in Austin, while Austin Day is celebrated in Saltillo.

Saltillo is known for its Spanish Colonial architecture and is a growing industrial base. The city also boasts tourist attractions such as the Palacio de Gobierno and the Cathedral of Saltillo.

2. Maseru, Lesotho

Maseru is the capital of Lesotho, a landlocked country encircled by South Africa. Austin and Maseru became Sister Cities in 1978. Since then, the Austin-Maseru Sister Committee has focused on providing humanitarian aid for Maseru, as well as hospitality for Maseru students attending school in Austin, according to Austin Sister Cities.

Lesotho itself is geographically unique. It is the only independent state that lies entirely 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in elevation. This has earned Lesotho nicknames such as the “Kingdom in the Sky” and “Switzerland of Africa.” Lesotho is also home to Africa’s largest hydroelectric project.

Like Austin, Maseru is known for its vibrant and diverse mix of cultures. It also houses the National University of Lesotho, which is the oldest university in the country. Austin and Maseru have participated in training exchanges between surgeons in each city — a project that received the Sister Cities International Special Achievement Award.

3. Lima, Peru

Austin’s third sister city was established with Lima, Peru, in 1981. Lima is the largest city in Peru with a population of more than 10 million people. It is also Peru’s capital.

The city overlooks the Pacific Ocean and, together with the seaport of Callao, creates an urban area known as the Lima Metropolitan Area, writes Austin Sister Cities.

Lima shares Austin’s love of food and is known as South America’s culinary capital. Visitors to Lima must try iconic dishes such as ceviche and tiradito. In the states, Austin is known for its breakfast tacos, chili, and Texas BBQ.

Since they became Sister Cities, Austin and Lima have participated in exchanges of culture, art, and history with one another. For example, the International Center of Austin hosted the Patterns of Peru and Texas Art Exhibition in 2007. Additionally, several young musicians from the Costa-Ornano Academy in Lima traveled to participate in workshops and perform at the Bauer House in Austin.

4. Adelaide, Australia

Austin and Adelaide became Sister Cities in 1983. Surprisingly this Australian city has a lot in common with the capital of Texas. Adelaide itself is the capital of South Australia and is home to renowned museums displaying Indigenous art, natural history exhibits, and more.

Although they are hubs of urban life, Austin and Adelaide both feature beautiful and numerous parks and important bodies of water. The River Torrens cuts the city of Adelaide in half and offers opportunities for rowing, canoeing, and kayaking, much like Austin’s Lady Bird Lake.

Adelaide is also the first Australian UNESCO city of music, according to the City of Adelaide. Austin shares Adelaide’s love of music. The vibrant city has certainly earned its acclaimed title as the live music capital of the world.

Every year Austin hosts South by South West (SXSW), an enormous gathering complete with music festivals, as well as conferences and panels for a number of creative professionals.

Over the years Austin and Adelaide have continued to grow their friendship. In July of 2023, they celebrated 40 years as Sister Cities and the City of Adelaide held a Civic Celebration at Adelaide Town Hall.

5. Taichung, Taiwan

Taichung is Austin’s Sister City in Taiwan. This relationship began in 1985 and has since led to student exchanges between Anderson High School and Hui-wen High School. The cities have also shared each other’s arts, music, and cuisine.

Located in western Taiwan, Taichung is known for both its bustling city life and serene natural areas, including the famous Sun Moon Lake. Taichung is a growing city, drawing people from around the world with attractions such as the Central Taiwan Science Park, Wan He Temple, and Feng Chia Night Market.

6. Oita, Japan

Oita and Austin became Sister Cities in 1990 and have participated in numerous events with one another over the years. The Sister Cities Program has seen Austin musicians perform at the Yumeiro Music Festival and Austin runners compete in the Oita Beppu Mainichi Marathon, according to Austin Sister Cities.

Additionally, Austin holds the Oita, Japan, Summer Festival every year at the Asian American Resource Center. This free event includes Taiko drumming, Japanese food, a tea ceremony, a demonstration of the martial art of kondo, and more.

Oita lies on the island of Kyushu, Japan, and is known for its chemical industry including steel, petrochemicals, and copper. Scenic spots such as Takasaki Mountain lie just outside the city. There are also nearby geothermal hot springs to explore.

7. Koblenz, Germany

Koblenz, Germany, joined Austin’s list of Sister Cities in 1992. Since then, the cities have held student exchanges and a Dual Degree Program between UT’s McCombs School of Business and the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, writes Austin Siter Cities.

Koblenz lies on the banks of the Rhine and the Moselle and dates back to around 8 B.C. The city was once a Roman military post and still holds Romanesque, gothic, and Baroque churches from centuries past. Though it is an old city, Koblenz is a major exporter of mineral water and is a center for wine production.

8. Xishuangbanna, China

Austin and Xishuangbanna established their Sister City relationship in 1999. Though these cities might seem like they are worlds apart, they actually have a lot in common. As USA Today explores in their Sister Cities video, both Austin and Xishuangbanna are home to a “melting pot” of cultures.

Though they are large urban cities, Austin and Xishuangbanna also boast beautiful natural surroundings. Xishuanbanna is known for its tropical rainforests, while Austin offers spots like Mount Bonnell for outdoor enthusiasts. The cities are also defined by their warm climates, making them ideal spots to enjoy the great outdoors.

9. Gwangmyeong, South Korea

Gwangmyeong is located in South Korea near the capital city of Seol. It established a Sister City relationship with Austin in 2001. Since then the Austin-Gwangmyeong committee has particularly focused on the sharing of music between the two cities.

For example, many Korean bands and orchestras have performed in Austin, including during SXSW. The Austin Children’s Museum also opened an exhibit titled “Song of Korea,” according to Austin Sister Cities International.

This exchange of art is unsurprising considering Gwangmyeong is a cultural hub in its own right. The city hosts events such as the Ori Culture Festival, Mt. Gureum Art Festival, and Music Valley Festival. Gwangmyeong is also known for its street food and the Gwangmyeong Cave.

10. Antalya, Turkey

Austin formed its sister city relationship with Antalya, Turkey, in 2009. Antalya is known as the “capital of tourism” in Turkey and it’s no surprise that visitors flock to this city. With its beautiful coastal location, Antalya offers access to pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, as well as scenic views of the Taurus Mountains.

Antalya is the fastest-growing province in Turkey, while Austin, TX, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. According to Austin Sister Cities, the Austin-Antalya Sister City Committee aims to facilitate intercultural and interfaith dialogue.

Austin and Antalya are both religiously diverse cities. Polytheists, Jews, Christians, and Muslims, worship peacefully in Antalya, while Austin is home to an eclectic mix of Christians, Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims with a number of places for locals and visitors to practice their faith.

11. Angers, France

Austin, TX, and Angers, France, have been Sister Cities since 2011. This beautiful city lies in western France beside the Maine River which flows for 7.1 miles.

Angers actually developed at the confluence of three rivers, the Mayenne, the Sarthe, and the Loir, according to Austin Sister Cities International. The confluence of these three rivers creates the Maine.

Angers is the capital of France’s Maine-et-Loire District. This historic town was once the medieval seat of the Plantagenet dynasty. Today it holds a number of historic monuments, chateaux, and manor houses. Angers is also one of France’s greenest cities, as well as the country’s fourth-largest industrial producer. 

Although Angers and Austin have only been Sister Cities for about 12 years, the pair have strengthened their relationship in a number of ways.

Texas musicians, chefs, and entrepreneurs traveled to Angers to celebrate the city’s 2nd Annual “Austin Week” in 2015. In Texas, Austin held an “Angers French Market Day” to showcase musicians, filmmakers, artists, chefs, sports, and culture from its Sister City.

12. London Borough of Hackney, UK

The London Borough of Hackney lies within Inner London in England. It established a formal Friendship City agreement with Austin in 2012.

Over the next two years, this friendship fostered exchanges in high-tech and digital media, the creative industries, economic development, and sustainability, writes Austin Sister Cities. Their relationship graduated to full Sister City status in 2014 and the exchanges have continued since then.

It’s no surprise that Austin prized Hackney for all it has to offer in the tech and digital media world. Hackney is home to an East London hub of tech innovation and entrepreneurship and has a robust start-up scene. On the other hand, Austin itself has its own array of impressive startups and large tech companies.

13. Pune, India

Pune is Austin’s newest Sister City. The relationship was officially established in 2019. Since then, the Austin Pune Sister City International (APSCI) team has begun working with Pune City Connect to fight against COVID-19. According to Austin Sister Cities, Pune currently has the highest number of infected cases in India.

Pune is a sprawling city located in southwestern India. It is the second largest city in the Indian state of Maharashtra with an estimated population of 3.13 million.

Pune has earned the nickname “Oxford of the East” thanks to its numerous educational institutions. Austin, TX, contains some notable schools of its own, such as the University of Texas at Austin and St. Edward’s University.

Additionally, Pune is the number one city in India in the ease of living ranking index. Austin faired pretty highly as well in this regard, earning a number four rank in the ease of living index out of cities in the United States.

Summary of Austin’s Sister Cities