Lakeside college town with mountains and maple
Burlington is Vermont's largest city, a relaxed college town on the shore of Lake Champlain with the Adirondack Mountains across the water. Its pedestrian Church Street, waterfront bike path and sunsets over the lake make it easy to enjoy on foot. It suits couples, families and outdoor lovers, and is a base for Stowe, farms and fall foliage drives. Food and craft beer are big draws.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
A brick pedestrian mall of shops, cafes and street performers, ending at a historic church. It is the center of city life.
Free to walk.
A lakeside park and the Island Line bike path, which runs along the shore and out onto a causeway into the lake. Sunsets here are famous.
Free.
An unusual open-air museum of nearly 40 buildings, including a steamboat, a lighthouse and folk art collections. It needs most of a day.
Adults about 25 to 27.50 USD (2026, online versus gate); valid two consecutive days.
Narrated cruises from the waterfront show the lake, the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. Sunset cruises are popular.
Check the official site for current prices.
A historic working farm and estate on the lake with a cheese-making barn, walking trails and an inn. Families love the animals.
Check the official site for current prices.
A science center and aquarium about the lake's ecosystem on the waterfront. It suits families.
Check the official site for current prices.
A classic mountain village with a white steeple church, Mount Mansfield, skiing and hiking. Smugglers' Notch is a scenic mountain pass nearby.
Free to visit the village; lifts and gondola are paid.
The ice cream company's factory with short tours and a flavor graveyard. It is a fun stop on the way to Stowe.
Check the official site for current prices.
A cider mill and shop famous for fresh cider and doughnuts. It is busiest in fall.
Free to visit; food is paid.
A museum of the lake's naval and shipping history, with a replica Revolutionary War gunboat. It is open seasonally.
Check the official site for current prices.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one downtown and the lake, day two at Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms, day three in Stowe with a cider mill stop.
The smallest US state capital, with a gold-domed statehouse.
37 mi · Car, about 45 minutes
Orchards, vineyards and quiet lakeshore roads.
25 mi · Car, about 40 minutes
A French-speaking city just across the Canadian border.
93 mi · Car, about 2 hours, passport required
A college town with falls and shops.
37 mi · Drive about 1 hour
Olympic sites in the Adirondacks.
75 mi · Ferry and drive about 2h30
Best: June to mid October. Warm lake days in summer and brilliant foliage in late September and early October.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
Late September to mid October
Color peaks in the hills before the valley; book rooms early.
Early June
A multi-day music festival; confirm the date.
Memorial Day weekend, late May
A large road race through the city; confirm the date.
Based on UK FCDO travel advice for the USA (there is no US advisory for domestic travel): violent crime rarely affects tourists, so normal city precautions apply; Burlington is generally safe, with some petty crime downtown and harsh winter weather as the main concerns.
Downtown, Church Street and the waterfront are close together and very walkable.
Green Mountain Transit buses serve the area, and Amtrak reaches the city, but day trips need a car.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, foodies
Walk to restaurants, shops and the lake.
Best for: couples
Lake views and the bike path at your door.
Best for: art lovers, value
Arts district with breweries and studios.
Best for: families, quiet
Near Shelburne Farms and the museum.
| Main airport | Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV), 3 mi from the center |
| To the center | Taxi, rideshare or Green Mountain Transit bus to downtown. |
| Around town | Walk and bike in town; rent a car for Stowe, Shelburne and foliage drives. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Vermont produces more than any other state.
Sharp aged cheddar from local creameries.
Vermont's soft serve, often maple flavored.
Vermont is famous for hazy IPAs.
A fall favorite at cider mills.
Local farm cheeses.
Ben & Jerry's is a Vermont brand.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and 15 to 20 percent for taxis and tours. |
| Payments | Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors. |
| Etiquette | Casual and outdoorsy. Vermonters value local food; farmers markets are a social event. |
The Abenaki people lived in the Champlain Valley long before Europeans. Samuel de Champlain explored the lake in 1609, and Burlington was chartered in 1763. Revolutionary War figure Ethan Allen is buried here, and the University of Vermont was founded in 1791. The city grew as a lumber port, and later became known for progressive politics and companies like Ben and Jerry's, which opened its first shop here in 1978.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.