Things to do & places to visit in Burlington, Vermont, United States

Vermont's largest and perhaps most cosmopolitan city, Burlington beckons with the perfect blend of old New England charm, arts, culture and nature. Located on the shores of Lake Champlain, between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, Burlington is one of those places you can't help but fall in love with. During the spring and summer, the streets come alive with festivals and outdoor concerts. The picnic benches, playground and bike paths of Leddy Park are filled with warm weather revelers, and opportunities to swim, fish or just kick back on the beach abound. In the fall, the Burlington Bike Path is bustling with leaf peepers who come to view the vibrant autumn colors. In winter, lace up your ice skates and head to the Paquette Arena or grab your skis and head to any of the nearby resorts. Church Street Marketplace, with its early 1900s architecture, great restaurants, live entertainment, one-of-a-kind shops and well-known stores, is the focal point of the downtown area. Anytime of the year is a good time for chocolate. Be sure to stop by Lake Champlain Chocolates for a tour and taste.

Burlington city in Vermont, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Thursday, May 02, 2024, 10:07.

Top things to do (32)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Burlington Bike Path (1.152 reviews)
- Best of Burlington
Hiking Trails

Converted from the Central Vermont Railway to a bike path in the 1970s, this easy trail crosses through beaches and parks and offers great views of Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks and the city. See more..
5.0 Whistling Man Schooner Company (988 reviews)
- Smooth Sailing on Lake Champlain
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historical & Heritage Tours • Boat Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Boat Rentals

We had the most wonderful time on a classic sloop called Friend Ship yesterday sailing with Diddy and Yeo out of Burlington, VT. After a quick, but thorough safety talk, we set sail on what the Captain called a “Goldilocks”day with perfect wind conditions. Diddy and Yeo worked seamlessly together to give us the smoothest sail we have ever experienced. The 2 hr trip was filled with interesting facts and lore about Lake Champlain and the surrounding area. We ate our lunch and then enjoyed putting our feet in the water as we explored the lake. If you plan on visiting the Burlington area, we highly recommend making a reservation online. We got one of the last time slots available for the week we visited so reserve early and don’t miss out. It was definitely a highlight of our vacation and we will be back next year. See more..
5.0 City Brew Tours Burlington (401 reviews)
- A must-do in Burlington for craft beer lovers!
Thursday: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM Beer Tastings & Tours

My husband and I did the Classic Brew Tour through Burlington yesterday, and we could not be more impressed with the City Brew Tours experience - the caliber of the tour itself, the breweries we visited, and our tour guide all exceeded our expectations. The cost was more than reasonable for the beer and food that were included. The booking process was simple and smooth; the tour ran efficiently without us feeling rushed. Our guide, Kianna, was warm, funny, knowledgeable, and made the experience memorable. Her narration of the history of beer in between stops was humorous and educational! Lastly, each of the breweries we visited were welcoming and friendly, and the brews and food we sampled were top-notch. I would not hesitate to recommend City Brew Tours to anyone looking to enjoy local craft brews in a fun, unique way without worrying about driving. See more..
5.0 Burlington Segways (359 reviews)
- The Burlington Segway tour covers a lot of distance like a hop-on-hop-off tour but with the intimacy of a walking tour.
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Segway Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Sightseeing Tours

Rick’s knowledge and oration of Burlington’s history while touring around on the Segway was equivalent to watching a great documentary on the city. We learned how to navigate with the Segway and I would put the experience up there with the best Hop-on-hop-off tour. It is a must if you are coming in to Burlington. See more..
5.0 Let's Go Sailing Private Cruises (121 reviews)
- 5 pm cruise with Gideon
Boat Tours

In town for a couple of days our trip wouldn't have been complete w/out this experience. The 2 hours fly by unnoticed as you are mesmerised by the beauty of the lake. If you though it was pretty from the shore, just wait till you see it in all of its glory from the middle. Captain Gideon is super experienced and is a wonderful conversationalist. An absolute must do!!! See more..
5.0 Burlington Edible History Tour (89 reviews)
- Fun activity!
Thursday: 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours • Food Tours

This was so fun! Even as a Burlington resident, I learned a ton that I never would have known. We did it as a group and had such a great time. It was a nice walk around, the right balance of stops and food and history and conversation. See more..
5.0 Mad River Distillers Burlington (44 reviews)
- Dog-friendly, great cocktails.
Thursday: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Distilleries

Mad River Distillers Burlington is a retail outlet for our small batch spirits made by hand in Warren, Vermont. We also feature an expansive selection of bitters and cocktail mixers from across the country. We offer tasting flights of spirits everyday as well as craft cocktails from Thursday-Sunday. See more..
5.0 Fletcher Free Library (12 reviews)
- Incredible Programs and Selection of Titles
Spent 1-2 hours Libraries

The fletcher has tremendous services for the community with all kinds of events and programs that enhance its mission as a library. It also has an easy to use online platform for members. Incredible old historic building too. See more..
4.5 Church Street Marketplace (1.979 reviews)
- Burlington Church Street
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Flea & Street Markets

Downtown Burlington Vermont's award-winning open air mall is a hub of activity where you'll find historical architecture, year-round festivals, street entertainers, music, over 100 places to shop and dine, and even quiet places to ponder. We invite you find out about exclusive shopping, dining and events in downtown Burlington as well as to explore the area! See more..
4.5 Waterfront Park (888 reviews)
- Great Park
Parks

It is a nice place for walking around and taking in the beautiful view of Lake Champlain and they have swings near the walkway and I enjoyed swinging on one. Great park for your family or children. Great park to jog or walk in. Great place for sunsets!! See more..
4.5 Lake Champlain Chocolates (484 reviews)
- Delic!
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

The Lake Champlain Chocolates Flagship Store & Cafe offers chocolates and confections including handmade truffles, caramels, clusters, our famous Five Star Bars, gift assortments and gourmet hot chocolate. The cafe serves lattes, ice creams, gourmet coffee and teas, hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream or marshmallows, and lots of factory seconds! There are a variety of activities to enjoy for all ages including Vermont's Largest Chocolate Sculpture Exhibit, an outside Storywalk, tasting kits, a kids Chocolate Adventure Kit and a sample of the day! See more..
4.5 Lake Champlain Ferries (284 reviews)
- Time saving easy experience
Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Ferries

This business is temporarily closed. Board the ferry to Port Kent, New York for a one-hour boat ride offering some of the most beautiful mountain and lake views in the world. See more..
4.5 Esc4pe (270 reviews)
- Always a challenge, Always a Blast!
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent 1-2 hours Escape Games

The Esc4pe room was a fun experience. We have closed permanently. Check out BurlyAxe and Vermont simracer where we are operating some new activities! See more..
4.5 Burlington Farmers Market (198 reviews)
- Nice place to walk around
Thursday: Spent 1-2 hours Farmers Markets

Since 1980, the Burlington Summer Farmers’ Market has been held every Saturday from late spring through autumn in downtown Burlington. We have over 90 vendors in the summer and 40 vendors in the winter selling agricultural produce and value added products, prepared foods, and artisan crafts. See more..
4.5 University of Vermont (192 reviews)
- A Pleasant Pair of Days in the Burlington Zone
Educational sites

We drove through / past the campus of UVM. Looks beautiful as you’d expect, but we spent no time there at all. The Lake Champlain waterfront area is very nice — spread out, neat and inviting. We went on a 90 minute cruise on the Ethan Allen and though it was cloudy & breezy, it was a very fine little trip and well worth the $40-something tag (which included a full lunch served by a very attentive staff). We like Burlington a lot. And especially Church Street where it’s set up for pedestrians only….they’ve got dozens of modest-sized but quite fine retail stores & restaurants & taverns, etc. As for lodging—we didn’t stay in Burlington because we had a super deal in nearby Waterbury at a Marriott Fairfield….about a 20-30 minute drive away. See more..
4.5 Foam Brewers (156 reviews)
- Great Location and Beer Menu
Spent 2-3 hours Breweries

This place is quite popular and parking is easy. The beer menu is amazing, and I also enjoyed the cider. They have a lovely charcuterie tray to accompany any beverage, easily shareable for 4-5 people. It's a dog & child friendly place with a fabulous outdoor space in front with partial water views of Lake Champlain. There's also an outdoor space in the back, but it's not very interesting. Ordering online from your table is an option, and it's quite efficient. If one does choose to order inside, the staff is very helpful , friendly, and knowledgeable. There is an attached restaurant, but we didn't dine here. See more..
4.5 North Beach Park (151 reviews)
- great and close to Burlington
Beaches

very nice beach, only about 5-10 min drive from the waterfront area. in response to SpyderWitch, the park entrance is the same as the campground, the exit on the left side is clearly marked but the entrance on the right side is not as obvious. After the stop sign, just go straight to the gate. When we went it was $10 parking per car and just drive down straight and to the right. Fairly calm as expected, although there were small waves. Small restaurant, bathrooms, kayak and standup board rentals all available. The sunsets were amazing over Lake Champlain. See more..
4.5 Switchback Brewing (150 reviews)
- Worthwhile Brewpub Stop
Thursday: 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

We stopped at Switchback while visiting friends in Vermont. Although I am not a beer drinker, my husband loved the beer, so much that we made a return trip. Nice brewery, with a small gift shop and unique artwork for sale outside. See more..
4.5 Flynn Center for the Performing Arts (111 reviews)
- Mania The Abba Tribute
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Theaters

An Art Deco landmark in downtown Burlington, hosting the finest international, national, and regional performing arts events in its main theater and FlynnSpace, an intimate, 150-seat venue. The FlynnTix Regional Box Office is Vermont's primary ticket outlet for events throughout Vermont, northeastern New York, and Quebec. See more..
4.5 Frog Hollow Craft Center (108 reviews)
- fabulous collective of artists
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Art Galleries

Frog Hollow is a lovely collective of local artists with varying styles and talents. I took my time wandering from display to display enjoying pottery, jewelry, painting, wool work, wood and so much more. Do not visit Burlington without stopping in here. Its almost impossible to leave empty handed. And why not support local artists?? See more..
4.5 Zero Gravity Craft Brewery (99 reviews)
- When u feel like a drink at 8am
Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

One of the very few places that open and start serving craft beers at 8am. Beers were great. There are table games indoors which makes this a fun place. Would have stayed for a meal if we did not have a plan to visit other breweries as well. See more..
4.5 Centennial Field (83 reviews)
- There is nothing better to do on a summer evening than take in a ballgame.
Arenas & Stadiums

If it is summer and the Lake Monsters are in town, go to a game. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the young players, I definitely felt that there was a chance I could be watching future pros. The facility is also very nice. We walked because the parking lot is small, but my brother needed to drive, and was looking for a handicapped parking spot. Since they were all full, the supervisor of the parking lot actually moved his car to provide a spot. See more..
4.5 Queen City Brewery (81 reviews)
- Beers and pizza
Spent < 1 hour Breweries

First visit to Queen City Brewery. This place is big it has a pizza restaurant, party area and a big area in the back which is where the brewery is located. Fun place which is also child friendly also the beer flights are excellent. My favorite was the Monk of underhill which is a Belgium beer See more..
4.5 Oakledge (67 reviews)
- Great spot for Fireworks on July 3rd.
Parks

New park located south of downtown on the waterfront. See more..
4.5 Battery Park (65 reviews)
- A View For The Ages
Spent < 1 hour Parks • Playgrounds

Originally built as a military camp during the War of 1812, Battery Park sits high above the Burlington shoreline with majestic views of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain. The 14 acre park was deeded to the city in 1870 and also overlooks Waterfront park below. There are historic markers, monuments, a playground and a bandshell for summer concerts. They also have an ice skating rink in the winter months. This park reminds me of the many I have been to in the northeast, on a sunny summer day with the shaded greenery and a sense/respect of American history and greatness. That panoramic view is a sight to behold. They did not have any permanent restrooms, but we did find 2 portable ones in the back of the northwest section. See more..
4.5 Burlington Community Boathouse Marina (43 reviews)
- Great place to watch sunset.
Spent More than 3 hours Marinas • Piers & Boardwalks

At the centrally located Burlington Community Boathouse Marina, transient boaters will find dockage, services and a fantastic dockside restaurant, Splash. Whether you’re looking for hourly dockage, moorings or overnight dockage, the Boathouse Marina offers the greatest amount of dockage while not compromising on location! Boaters will find easy and close access to shopping, grocery stores, hardware stores and fantastic restaurants all within close walking distance. Located at our docks are the sailing charter companies Whistling Man Schooner and Let’s Go Sailing. The Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise boat also calls the Boathouse Marina home. Come pull up a seat in one of our Adirondack chairs located on our fully public dock and enjoy the best view in town! Free Wi-Fi is made available by Burlington Telecom See more..
4.5 Leddy Park (38 reviews)
- The best in the Burlington area
Parks

This large, popular park has just about everything for indoor and outdoor fun, including a small beach on Lake Champlain, indoor ice rinks, ball fields, tennis courts, a playground and part of a 7-mile bike path that borders the lake. See more..
4.5 Auer Family Boathouse (31 reviews)
- A wonderful Cultural experience!
Historic Sites

We rode by this place on our bikes and stopped to see about kayaks. It is a great place to visit. The kayaks were reasonable at $10 an hour and they give you directions to go down the Winooski River. We saw tons of birds and turtles and lots of green frogs called tontons. After our kayak we had popsicles and talked to the owners (sister and brother aged 89 and 93) They told us those frogs were what they ate during the depression and showed us the little pitchforks they used to trap them with. They have a beautiful view. Make sure to sit in the swinging chairs and take it all in. See more..
4.5 Robert Hull Fleming Museum (28 reviews)
- Small museum with treasures
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Speciality Museums

This art museum built in 1931 has a mammoth collection of art through the ages, including European and American paintings and prints, paintings by 20th-century Vermont artists, African and Asian art and ancient art objects. See more..
4.5 Grand Isle Lake House (18 reviews)
- This place is why people love Vermont
Historic Sites

Every American needs to visit this place sometime. Incredible charm. The Grand Isle Lake House is an historic location where our daughter was married. See more..