Vermont’s lake city
Set on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, Burlington is Vermont’s largest city — though at about 45,000 people it feels more like a spirited college town than a metropolis. Home to the University of Vermont, a car-free downtown marketplace, a revived waterfront and one of the best small-city food-and-beer scenes in America, it packs a lot into a walkable footprint.
Two days is enough to fall for it. Here’s how to spend them — streets and sunsets one day, arts and the lake the next.
Day 1 morning: Church Street
Start on Church Street Marketplace, four car-free blocks of brick paving lined with local shops, sidewalk cafes and street performers, and repeatedly named the best public space in America. Grab coffee and a pastry, browse the independent bookstores and Vermont-made goods, and let the buskers set the tempo. The University of Vermont’s hilltop campus rises just above, lending the city its youthful buzz.
Day 1 afternoon: the waterfront
Walk downhill to the Lake Champlain waterfront, where Waterfront Park’s lawns and swinging benches face the Adirondacks across the water. Rent a bike from Local Motion and ride the Island Line north onto the three-mile Colchester Causeway — a stone railway bed that carries you straight out over the lake — or board the Spirit of Ethan Allen for a narrated cruise. At dusk, the sunset over New York’s mountains is the city’s nightly show.
Day 1 evening: eat & drink
Burlington eats very well.
Hen of the Wood — landmark farm-to-table dining.
Foam Brewers — experimental hazy IPAs on the waterfront.
Honey Road — acclaimed Eastern-Mediterranean small plates on Church Street.
Zero Gravity & Queen City — standout local breweries.
Day 2: arts, cider & the South End
Spend the morning in the Pine Street Arts District (the South End) — Citizen Cider’s tasting room, artist studios and the Generator makerspace fill old warehouses, best during the September Art Hop. In the afternoon, visit the ECHO Leahy Center on the waterfront for Lake Champlain ecology and shipwreck history, or take the ferry across to New York and back for the views. Cap the day with dinner in the walkable downtown.
Beyond the city
With more time, Burlington is the gateway to the whole region: Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms are 20 minutes south, the Champlain Islands and their bike ferry a half-hour north, and Camel's Hump and Mount Philo within easy reach for a half-day hike. The city's airport (BTV) and I-89 make it the natural start or finish for a Vermont loop.
Getting around & when to go
Downtown Burlington is compact and walkable, with the waterfront a short stroll or bike ride from Church Street; a car helps for day trips but isn’t needed in the core. Summer brings festivals (Discover Jazz in June, the Brewers Festival in July) and warm lake days; September adds the Art Hop and foliage; winter is quieter but lively with students. Book downtown lodging early for summer weekends and fall.
Good to know
What’s the top thing to do in Burlington?+
Stroll Church Street Marketplace and the Lake Champlain waterfront, then watch sunset over the Adirondacks from Waterfront Park.
Is Burlington walkable?+
Yes — downtown, the university and the waterfront are all within an easy walk or short bike ride; a car is only needed for day trips.
What are the best day trips?+
Shelburne Museum and Farms (20 min south), the Champlain Islands (30 min north), and hikes up Camel’s Hump or Mount Philo.
When should I visit?+
Summer for festivals and the lake, September for the Art Hop and foliage; book lodging early for summer weekends and fall.
Where should I eat?+
Hen of the Wood and Honey Road for dining, Foam Brewers and Zero Gravity for beer, Citizen Cider in the South End.