Things to do & places to visit in Boulder, Colorado, United States

Fondly described as “the city nestled between the mountains and reality,” Boulder delivers an urban twist on the outdoor fun you’d expect from a town surrounded by wilderness. In a single day, you can hike miles and miles of trails or bike alongside Boulder Creek – then head back into town for some well-deserved shopping on Pearl Street. And with many of Colorado’s top restaurants right within reach, be sure to treat yourself to at least one great meal.

Boulder city in Colorado, United States. Timezone: America/Denver, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 5:43.

Top things to do (25)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Flatirons (1.126 reviews)
- The Flatirons are Boulder's trademark
Hiking Trails • Geologic Formations

It is hard to find a more stunning view than that of the Boulder Flatirons as you crest the hill of US-36 that drops into Boulder. The beauty increases during a blue sky sunrise with a fresh snowfall blanketing them. Don't ignore this - ever! See more..
5.0 Valmont Bike Park (59 reviews)
- Great for families, kids and Old dudes like me with no shocks. No attitudes!
Biking Trails

My 16 yo son found this park online while planning a trip to Estes Park. We brought our bikes to ride in Estes, but came down one day to hit Valmont. Very nice place. Great place for beginners, with little or no berms. Then some smaller stuff for the inexperienced. It then graduated to medium, large, you get the picture. I have been mountain biking since 92, and this the most fun I've ever had, and my kids were in heaven. They started out small, and ended up big. Others who were much more advanced, with much more advanced bikes were nice and helpful. I didn't catch any attitudes from anybody anywhere, just everybody out to have a good time, and "everybody took turns!" Also had clean, usable bathrooms and water. In all, I was thrilled that my son found this place, as we'll be back for sure! See more..
5.0 Shelby American Collection (31 reviews)
- Great piece of history
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums

***The museum is closed for our normal hours on Saturday, September 4th. We will open at 3 pm for our Annual Car Show & Party. Visitors must have a ticket to the party to view the museum.** The Shelby American Collection celebrates the rich heritage of the Cobra, Shelby Mustang and Ford GT 40 cars that changed the face of auto racing in the 1960s. Thanks to the generosity of owners and collectors, we have some of the most important American cars ever made on display at our Boulder museum, along with an extensive collection of race records, period photographs, memorabilia and tributes to the pioneer drivers and visionaries of the era including Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant, Phil Hill, Phil Remington and other Shelby American Team members. The museum is dedicated to serve as a resource for all enthusiasts, and to memorialize & preserve one of the most important eras in American automotive history for all generations. See more..
5.0 Vapor Distillery (29 reviews)
- Enlightening Tour and Tasting
Monday: Distilleries

Tours and craft cocktails! Roundhouse Spirits is a micro-distillery making spirits of uncommon character. In addition to our distilling and bottling operations for which we offer tours and tastes, the location features an eye-catching speakeasy bar. Come visit for tours and/or craft-cocktails! See more..
4.5 Pearl Street Mall (2.795 reviews)
- Very enjoyable
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Shopping Malls

Situated in the heart of an energetic city is beautiful, historic Downtown Boulder. At the heart of Downtown Boulder is the Pearl Street Mall, a wonderfully charismatic four-block-long pedestrian mall that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007. Colorful, bright flowers fill the mall almost the entire year and street performers, with a multitude of talents, make the Pearl Street Mall one of the best people-watching destinations anywhere. See more..
4.5 Colorado Chautauqua: Park (1.337 reviews)
- Boulder Flatirons
Monday: 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM Parks

Originally established in 1898 to bring culture to rural areas, this beautiful park hosts cultural events, features rock climbing sites, lovely gardens and picnic areas and is the starting point for many hiking trails.Year-round lodging, dining and events available. See more..
4.5 Boulder Creek Path (561 reviews)
- Family Day Trip
Biking Trails • Jogging Paths & Tracks

This paved 7.5-mile path for walkers, bikers and skaters leads from Boulder proper into the mountains, winding its way along Boulder Creek, a large park and a playground. See more..
4.5 University of Colorado at Boulder (419 reviews)
- A campus with a view!
Educational sites

It is a pleasure visiting all the different Universities and seeing how special each one is. Well, the University of Colorado has many things that make it special. It has history, beautiful architecture, terrific sports and offers a top notch education. CU opened its doors on Sept 5th, 1876. The "Old Main" was the first building built. Mary Rippon was one of the first professors hired at CU, she was among the first women in the nation to teach at a state university. Charles Klauder created a unique architectural style for the campus using native stone. CU has won the team National Championship in skiing 20 times between 1959 and 2015. CU is well known for the Engineering Center that houses the nation's largest geotechnical centrifuge. See more..
4.5 Eldorado Canyon (381 reviews)
- Beautiful rock mtns by stream + climbing
Monday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Canyons

This beautiful park is only 15 minutes from Boulder. We only had a short time to see this place because of a flight. It was so worth the $10 entry fee (state park so National park passes are not accepted). The pass is good up until noon the day after purchase. The drive is short to the visitor’s center right next to the stream with some picnic tables. We parked close to the Fowler trail and walked as far as we could (? 1/4 mile, about marker 9) as the rest of that trail was currently closed due to rock fall. It was a flat, dirt trail wide enough a wheelchair may be able to go, but it’d be a bit tough since it’s not paved. The view was awesome: trail was right along the edge so you could see the stream as well as the canyon and rock climbers too. We reparked close to the footbridge (crosses the stream) closer to the entrance and then watched rock climbers on both sides of the canyon from the bridge. Would love to go back to spend more time here and see the continental divide. See more..
4.5 National Center for Atmospheric Research - NCAR (310 reviews)
- Architectural masterpiece and interesting exhibition
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Science Museums

Explore hands-on exhibits about weather, climate, the Sun, the atmosphere, and art-science connections in this famous I.M. Pei-designed building. Other options: a wheelchair-accessible outdoor weather trail, guided tours for the public at noon on Monday/Wednesday/Friday except holidays, and a Guide-By-Cell audio tour (using your phone). Free admission, open 363 days a year. Hours: M-F 8am-5pm; Weekends & holidays 9am-4pm. Visit our website for information about your visit, including organized group tours and to find out about our two annual maintenance closure dates. See more..
4.5 Flagstaff Mountain (295 reviews)
- So beautiful
State Parks • Mountains • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Located close to downtown Boulder, this mountain offers climbing and hiking trails with sweeping views of the city. See more..
4.5 Avery Brewing Company (179 reviews)
- Great beer, great food
Spent < 1 hour Breweries

I like to go to Avery's for lunch. Really good menu and the sandwich special is always unique and delish. Beer is fresh of course. See more..
4.5 Boulder Public Library (144 reviews)
- Endless ways to spend the day!
Monday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Libraries

The Public Library sits along Boulder Creek, so the setting is idyllic if you want to stop inside at the Seeds Cafe, grab some lunch and eat along the creek. But you could also eat in the Japanese garden or the Growing Garden. The library offers many story times for kids, concert series, film series, Boulder Reads literacy program, a large art gallery and a new Maker Space with 3D printing in Building 61 (the original BPL built in '61). Great selection of books, DVDs, magazines, and many databases that get you access to things like Consumers Reports, Ancestry.com, or car repair manuals. It also has multiple sizes of meeting rooms. Currently undergoing some exterior renovation, It's a great community resource! See more..
4.5 Colorado Shakespeare Festival (143 reviews)
- Wonderful!
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Theaters

For over 60 seasons, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with classic theatre under the stars. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is a professional theatre company in association with the University of Colorado Boulder. Since 1958, the festival has celebrated and explored Shakespeare and his continuing influence and vitality through productions of superior artistic quality, education and community engagement. See more..
4.5 Boulder County Farmers Market (139 reviews)
- The Ultimate Boulder Experience
Monday: Flea & Street Markets

If you want a taste of the real Boulder, go to the Farmers Market. It's a delightful experience, not just a shopping trip, so even if you don't need any fresh produce you've gotta go! Saturday mornings from April through October find all the locals and plenty of visitors walking up and down the one-block length of the market. There's plenty to hear, see, and eat--including a "food court" with delicious, freshly prepared hot dishes, cool drinks, and pastries. Once a month, they add a craft market section, so you can buy art, cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, and more. There are always musicians, too. While you're at the "Farmers," be sure to stop in at the Dushanbe Tea House (in the same block). It's a beautifully hand-carved and painted structure given to Boulder by her sister city in Tajikistan. It's gorgeous and you won't see anything like it in the US! See more..
4.5 Mount Sanitas Trail (128 reviews)
- Lion’s Lair Trail - the perfect winter hike and the highlight of our trip!
Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Hiking Trails

I searched for weeks to find a hike I felt confident would be doable in the snow. Not too steep at all. We did our hike on February 24 and the weather was GORGEOUS. It is pretty windy though so I wore my scarf as a head wrap to protect my skin. A very short Uber ride from Boulder, there was no issue getting there once you find the starting point address (1929 Sunshine Canyon Drive). From there, the trail is very well defined and easy to follow and took us about 3 hours to get to the top and back down. Most important thing is to wear spikes! We bought some on Amazon for $25 that just hook onto your boots and they were more than sufficient. There was a lot of ice and mud but it was a very comfortable hike. See more..
4.5 Mesa Trail (107 reviews)
- Six miles up hill and down.
Hiking Trails

Extending six miles with a 440-foot gain in elevation, this trail from Boulder to Eldorado Springs is for ambitious hikers only. See more..
4.5 Folsom Field (97 reviews)
- Breathtaking
Monday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Arenas & Stadiums

THE best college football venue. No one else in the world like Folsom Field. Climb up to section 217 and look at the Flatirons sitting over campus. Go in to the historic landmark of Balch Fieldhouse to pick up a beer in a sustainable cup you can take home. Stand in the student section before the game for the deafening chant of "WE WANT RALPHIE". Walk around the beautiful Fall campus afterwards as everyone pours out. Folsom Field should be on every college fan's bucket list See more..
4.5 Dairy Arts Center (67 reviews)
- Thank you Dairy Center!
Monday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Civic Centres

The Dairy is a nonprofit arts organization that houses four (free) art galleries, 3 performance theaters, and an intimate arthouse cinema. Art, Theatre, Cinema, Music, Comedy, and Dance - all under one roof! Over 25 years strong! See more..
4.5 Twisted Pine Brewing Company (66 reviews)
- Best craft beer in Boulder!
Monday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Breweries

Founded in 1995, Twisted Pine Brewing Company has long served as both a locals' hangout spot and a popular destination for craft beer tourism. We're home to some truly twisted concoctions, including our Ghost Face Killah (the spiciest beer in the world), Big Shot(brewed with locally roasted coffee), Roots Revival (a Carrot IPA), as well as an array of delicious, award-winning brews. We feature 24 taps, with many devoted to showcasing small batch experimental beers. In addition, we have a full menu, consisting of fresh pizzas, sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. Twisted Pine is centrally located and is an easily reached destination from anywhere in town. We're looking forward to enjoying a fresh pint of Colorado craft beer with you! See more..
4.5 Royal Arch (65 reviews)
- Trekking Poles!!
Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails

Best advice I can give to people who are walkers, tourists, and from out of state- buy yourself a pair of trekking poles at Dick’s in Flatiron Crossing Mall. For my husband and I (both 48 years old and in basic shape) this was strenuous, but a perfect hike for the day. It took us 3 hours round trip and we loved meeting families, dogs, and couples all along the way, outside enjoying nature. Park your car at Chitaunquin Park and take the Flat Iron trails to the Royal Arches trail. The signage is pretty good. You will feel so much more comfortable having poles to steady your steps, especially if you’ve had knee surgeries etc. See more..
4.5 Redstone Meadery (56 reviews)
- Enjoyed the tour
Monday: 12:00 PM - 6:30 PM Distilleries

While this is not in some posh orchard, and it’s not a huge operation, we really enjoyed our tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and the tastings were great. Lots of fun and happy we went. See more..
4.5 NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (44 reviews)
- Reserve in advance
Educational sites

I hear it is great, but we missed the booking window, which is days in advance. I add this review only to say that it would have helped to see this before getting there prior to tour start time and missing a chance (they are not super flexible). See more..
4.5 Sanitas Brewing Company, LLC (41 reviews)
- Cool outdoor space
Monday: 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

A craft brewery in Boulder, Colorado. Makers of Sanitas Black IPA, Sanitas Saison, Sanitas IPA, and an array of unique, premium craft beers. Founded in 2013, Boulder’s Sanitas Brewing Company is regarded for their signature blend of tradition and innovation as well as their use of only the finest ingredients. With a passion for exploration, Sanitas epitomizes the wild spirit of Colorado with a variety of premium beers. Our mission is to offer a unique experience in every beer we make. We lean on a blend of traditional processes, responsibly grown ingredients, and an innovative approach to create inspiring and well-made beers. We succeed with the hard work and passion of our staff and are motivated by the support of our fans. See more..
4.5 Settler's Park (36 reviews)
- Amazing! Fairly difficult trail for young kids
Spent 2-3 hours Parks • Geologic Formations

Went hiking here with our seven year old. He was capable of completing this hike. It did get a little anxiety ridden when we got closer to the top. I recommend if the child has impulse control and good listening skills. This is not a run up run down trail for kids but the views are magnificent. Hidden gem! See more..
4.5 Long's Iris Gardens (21 reviews)
- BEAUTIFUL FLOWERING GARDENS, BUT...
Gardens
This is an attraction that has been around for a long long time. The people that run the gardens are very hard working and dedicated to developing the Iris into many many healthy, hardy, flowering plants, BUT you might drive right past it. It about 1.5 North of Pearl St. on Broadway St. You can walk, drive or take the bus marked SKIP. Look for the sign on your right for the North Boulder Recreation Center (City Of Boulder) and the gardens just after it. I HOPE YOU FIND MY REVIEW HELPFUL AND MARK IT HELPFUL! ENJOY!!! See more..
4.5 Switzerland Trail (17 reviews)
- Beloved historic mining trail
Biking Trails

A popular and easy mountain bike trail following the route of an old narrow-gauge railway line. See more..
4.0 Boulder Falls (215 reviews)
- Worth the visit!
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Waterfalls

Visitors get a chance to view the "Yosemite of Boulder Canyon," scenic waterfalls plunging more than 70 feet into Middle Boulder Creek, by walking on a short trail to a viewpoint area just below the falls. See more..
4.0 Fiske Planetarium (81 reviews)
- Great Groupon Deal
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Observatories & Planetariums

Over 25,000 visitors a year gaze at the stars and learn about astronomy and space science at this Colorado University planetarium, which offers workshops, shows and hands-on activities. The Fiske's newest exhibit showcases findings from the Hubble Space Telescope. See more..
4.0 Fox Theater (27 reviews)
- Great venue
Monday: 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Theaters

We saw a Tuesday evening show. Cool vibe, easy to park . Really enjoyed the show. Full bar. Intimate venue See more..