21 Amazing Things To Do in Burlington, Vermont for the Best Vacation

Looking to plan a getaway to the beautiful Green Mountain State of Vermont and want to pack it with some amazing things to do in Burlington, VT? You’ve come to the right place! I’ve visited Burlington, Vermont a few times and recently returned to spend a week enjoying the latest and greatest restaurants and activities there — and more!

This charming city is right on Lake Champlain (across from New York’s Adirondacks) and beautifully weaves in nature with historic architecture, coastal views, and a vibrant arts scene.

To make the most of my Vermont travel resources, I recommend you pair this list of Burlington, VT activities with a thorough Burlington, VT travel guide (which also includes a recommended 4-day itinerary!)

1. Go Boating on Lake Champlain

Burlington, VT is right on the shores of Lake Champlain, offering calm scenery and lots of lake activities. I highly recommend taking a boat out on the lake, or a cruise if you want to feel extra special!

I took a Sunset Cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen and even got a charcuterie picnic to go with it. The food options on the Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise got really good reviews, so naturally we had to try some of their dessert too!

Travel tip for a Lake Champlain Cruise

Take the Spirit of Ethan Allen for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise and sit on the top deck for amazing views. The deck is covered but completely open on the sides, which is great for air circulation and sun protection.

Which side of the Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise is best for photos of the sunset?

Both! The Spirit of Ethan Allen sunset cruise makes sure to turn at the perfect time so that both sides of the ship get to experience the beautiful sunset glow above the Adirondack mountains.

2. Enjoy Lakeside Burlington Vermont Restaurants

If being lakeside is ultimate goals on vacation, there is no shortage of it in this waterfront city! Dine at a Burlington restaurant right on the lake for meals with locally sourced ingredients, yummy drinks, and of course — a great view.

I particularly loved Farmers and Foragers Dockside: a food truck restaurant with outdoor seating right in the Burlington Harbor Marina.

Here are downtown Burlington restaurants lakeside:

• Spot on the Dock
• Splash At the Boathouse
• Farmers and Foragers Dockside

3. Experience Church Street Marketplace (go shopping too!)

When you look up Burlington, VT the iconic photos that come up first are always of the magical Church Street Marketplace. Once you experience it, you’ll understand why!

The core of Downtown Burlington Vermont shopping and dining options are along this multi-block pedestrian walk, and you’ve got to explore it at all times of the day!

If you want to shop Vermont-made goods at Church Street Marketplace while in Burlington, here are some ideas. You can find more at Hello Burlington’s shopping guide.

• Handcrafted fine chocolate at Lake Champlain Chocolates
• Fine handmade pewter jewelry at Danforth Pewter
• Handcrafts from Vermont’s rural communities at Frog Hollow
• Classic Vermont flannels at the Vermont Flannel Company

4. Dine at James Beard nominated restaurants

If you are a self-proclaimed foodie you’ll be pleased to know that there are some iconic chefs right in Burlington, VT. It may be hard to get a reservation, so plan ahead.

If you don’t get a spot, don’t worry… you could always show up as a walk-in and get yourself on the waiting list via text — cross your fingers! Just be sure to plan to hang around for 1-2 hours.

James Beard restaurants to definitely experience in Burlington, VT:

• Honey Road Restaurant for Mediterranean (James Beard Award multi-finalist for Best Restaurant)
• Hen of the Wood for New American (James Beard multi-nominated for Best Chef)

5. Go biking along the Burlington Greenway

The Burlington Greenway is Burlington, Vermont’s iconic bike path along Lake Champlain. There you can find runners, walkers and of course, bikers, cruising eight miles of paved, dedicated path safely built separately from car traffic.

Regardless of your method of transport along the Burlington Greenway, you can enjoy stops for scenic viewpoints, recreational activities, and direct access to Burlington beaches.

Travel tip for the Burlington Bike Path:

Head to the Burlington Greenway early to bypass mid-afternoon crowds and high sun! The early morning lake breeze and minimal foot traffic will make this bike path extra peaceful.

6. Book a hotel stay with an epic lake view

If you are going to stay downtown, one of the absolute best things to do in Burlington, VT is reserve a hotel stay that offers beautiful lake views.

We last stayed at the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain and I couldn’t have asked for a better location. Our corner king room caught the beautiful sunset and illuminated the room throughout the day.

The awesome thing about the particular Hilton we stayed at was that they also offered free bikes to borrow, so no need to seek a bike rental for the Burlington Bike Path!

7. Visit the Shelburne Winery

Wondering if there are wineries near Burlington, VT? I was honestly shocked to hear there was a vineyard and winery in Shelburne, Vermont (which is part of greater Burlington and just a 20-minute drive from our hotel in downtown Burlington!)

They offer affordable wine tastings ($11-14), charcuterie and cheese plates with all local cheeses from Vermont, and a peaceful outdoor seating area with a vineyard backdrop.

8. Explore the Burlington arts scene

Burlington definitely has a quirky vibe so it is no surprise that there are some cool and unique things to experience in Burlington for people who enjoy the arts.

If arts and culture travel is a must for you, be sure to stop by the Fleming Museum of Art on the University of Vermont’s campus, or follow Pine Street all the way down to Burlington’s South End Arts District.

9. Go Brewery Hopping

My husband is a big beer guy (me, moreso wine), so if you are like him and are excited to explore some local breweries, you’ll have some great options.

Breweries in Burlington Vermont include:

• Zero Gravity Craft Brewery
• Foam Brewers
• Fiddlehead Brewery (Shelburne)
• Switchback Brewery

10. Support BIPOC businesses in Burlington Vermont

A question I get often when I travel is for insight on BIPOC-owned businesses (especially when the destination’s demographic is majority white). I was pleased to find a number of BIPOC businesses to support, and here are some of my favorites:

• Wilder Wines (wine shop in Downtown Burlington with natural wines at affordable prices)
• Mamajuana (woman-owned restaurant with afro-caribe cuisine serving up delicious pastelillos—or empanadas as you may call them— and more)
• Istanbul Kebab House (delicious Turkish-Mediterranean food right in Downtown Burlington)

11. Swim at one of Burlington’s beaches

Did you know Burlington, Vermont has public beaches? And plenty of them! You can get to the beach using the Burlington Bike Path too.

It makes sense that Burlington would have beaches, because hey—they’re on a lake! While it isn’t an ocean beach, it offers plenty of opportunity to cool off during the hot summer months, and even try some recreational activities. If you want shallow water for peaceful beach wading, head to Oakledge Park.

Is Lake Champlain safe to swim in?

The City of Burlington does a great job monitoring the lake daily and testing it twice a week to ensure quality and safety. They also have a webpage that is constantly updated to let you know if it is OK to be on the water today. You can view Burlington’s current beach status each day.

12. Visit the Shelburne Museum

Experience a mix of art, design, and American history across acres of manicured grounds and gardens at the Shelburne Museum. You could honestly plan to stay here all day—that’s how big it is!

I only had about 2-3 hours to spare during my visit, but loved visiting the historic houses transported from their original locations; walking through beautiful landscaping, and taking way too many pictures.

Bring lots of sun protection and expect to need a break if visiting under the summer sun (there’s a cafeteria and bathrooms thank goodness!) because there is very little coverage.

13. Do yoga on the lake

There is a really gorgeous boardwalk just walking distance from Church Street Marketplace (and my Burlington Vermont Hilton mentioned above). Here you’ll find people doing yoga on the lake and other peaceful workouts in the morning.

If you want to try something like this you can either grab a mat and try it yourself, or reserve a class with a yoga studio that provides such services.

Though I didn’t get to try them on my last visit, I found that Evolution Yoga offers daily 7:00 am yoga classes on the lake at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center, which is just north of the Burlington Waterfront Park.

14. Get your ice cream fix at Ben & Jerry’s

Can you visit Ben & Jerry’s in Burlington? Is one of the first things people asked me when I mentioned planning a getaway to Burlington, VT—well, that and whether I’d be bumping into Bernie Sanders.

The Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop is unmissable, as it sits right on a prominent corner of the Church Street Marketplace pedestrian walkway.

Expect there to be lines outside of the store! But don’t worry, it moves fairly quickly. I also love that they have non-dairy ice cream.

15. Hike Mount Philo nearby

When I plan my getaways I always seek a form of outdoor activity—especially hiking. Mostly because I love to search for scenic overlooks!

We took advantage of our proximity to Mt. Philo State Park during our Shelburne visit (museum and vineyard) and drove 10 minutes to Vermont’s first state park.

You can either hike the nearly 2-mile out-and-back trail to the summit or (during the summer) drive up the narrow road to help you out a bit. When you get to the top of this nearly 1,000-foot mountain, you’ll find breathtaking views of Lake Champlain with a New York Adirondack Mountain backdrop.

16. Refresh with fresh juice from the Vermont Juice Co.

I’m not even a big juicer but OMG this is so good we went by to pick up juices a few times. With a massive menu of organic, cold-press juices The Vermont Juice Co. is a definitely must-visit during your Burlington getaway.

Wondering what to order on The Vermont Juice Co. juice menu? Brain Boost and Berry Beetiful are my faves (they both have blueberry, beet, apple, and cucumber; with Brain Boost adding ginger and Berry Beetiful adding grape and mint)!

17. Experience the Burlington Farmers Market (Saturdays only)

I prefer to plan my getaways during the week when crowds thin out and I can enjoy a slower-paced vibe. But there are definitely perks to planning for weekend exploration too! In this case, it is to experience the awesome Farmers Market.

In South Burlington, there is the famous Farmers Market, which runs from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. There you can try all the Vermont-made goodies like Vermont maple syrup, artisan crafts, farmed produce, and more!

18. Explore beautiful street art/murals in Burlington

Murals literally make a city vibrant, and you can definitely feel the colorful, artistic energy as you come across mural after mural throughout Burlington

Whether it is part of a park, along random walls on your day walks exploring or even decorating store buildings, the city is brimming with cool public art. Here’s a list of public Burlington Art to start exploring Burlington street art.

19. Take a stroll along the Burlington Waterfront Park

If you don’t want to bike the Burlington Bike Path one day, but still want to experience the waterfront’s serene energy, head to Burlington Waterfront Park. It is a “no cycling” boardwalk perfect for walkers and resters just seeking laid-back lake views.

There are swinging benches there and lots of space for relaxation and recreation. The bike path and city bike shares are also nearby so you can combine it with other activities.

20. Visit ECHO the interactive science and nature center

Adjacent to the bike path and waterfront park is the acclaimed ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. It is an interactive science and nature center in Downtown Burlington that houses the only National Geographic theater in the state of Vermont, as well as tons of interactive exhibits.

If you are into science or traveling with a family, this would be lots of fun to add to your Burlington trip!

21. Enjoy live music at Red Square

Do you love live music and want to experience some during your visit to Burlington, Vermont? Then head to Red Square!

While there is plenty of live music and performances throughout Burlington, this spot is convenient to downtown Burlington for people seeking the downtown nightlife and offers live music 7 days a week, followed by late DJ sets. We stopped by on a Thursday and it didn’t disappoint!

If you want live music but hold the nightclub/bar vibes, The Flynn is Burlington’s acclaimed historic performing arts theatre, established in 1930.

Enjoy these fun activities in Burlington, VT!

There are just so many things to do in Burlington, Vermont — this list is just a taste of many favorite activities to add to your Burlington getaway.

If you are looking for a detailed itinerary guide to just print out and follow along, here is my 4 Day Burlington Itinerary, where I share all the amazing things I did each day during my recent summer visit to Burlington. You can tweak those details as you see fit!

→ LEARN MORE: Find more amazing things to do in Burlington, Vermont year-round at HelloBurlingtonVT.com and @HelloBurlington.

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