This guide covers Burlington, Vermont, the small lakeside city on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, not the Burlingtons in Massachusetts, North Carolina or Iowa. The best way to sort the many things to do in Burlington is to split the city in two: the lake side, where the waterfront, beaches and bike path sit, and the town side, a few blocks uphill, where Church Street, the university and the food scene live. Below you will find both halves, plus easy day trips and the practical details that make a visit go smoothly.
Burlington is compact. Downtown runs from the lake up a fairly steep hill to the University of Vermont campus, and most visitors can walk between the two in about 15 to 20 minutes. That short distance is what makes the “lake or town” approach useful: you can change plans in minutes when the weather shifts, which it often does here.
Quick facts for planning (checked October 23, 2026): the Burlington Farmers Market runs Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October 31, 2026; the Island Line bike ferry is closed for the rest of 2026 and expects to reopen in May 2027; the Burlington to Port Kent car ferry has not run since 2019; Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express now ends at Burlington’s Union Station.
How Burlington Is Laid Out: Lake Side vs. Town Side
Think of downtown Burlington as a ramp. At the bottom is Lake Champlain, with Waterfront Park, the Community Sailing Center, ECHO and the boathouse, all strung along the Burlington Greenway (the bike path most locals still call the bike path). Halfway up is Church Street Marketplace, a four-block pedestrian mall. At the top is UVM and the Fleming Museum.
The lake side is at its best from late May through early October, when the water is open and the sunsets over the Adirondacks are the main event. The town side works year-round, and it is where you go when rain or wind rolls in off the lake. Most good days here mix both: a morning ride or paddle, an afternoon on Church Street, and back down to the water for sunset.
Part 1: Things to Do on the Water
Lake Champlain stretches more than 120 miles between Vermont and New York, and Burlington sits on one of its widest stretches. You do not need a boat to enjoy it, but getting on the water at least once is the single best thing you can do here in summer.
Waterfront Park and the Community Sailing Center
Waterfront Park is the city’s front lawn: a long grassy strip with a boardwalk, swing benches facing the lake and a steady flow of cyclists on the path. It hosts summer festivals and is the easiest place to watch the sun drop behind the New York mountains. Parking in the Pease Lot next to the park is $3 per hour, and seasonal passes do not cover it.
A short walk north, the Community Sailing Center at 505 Lake Street rents kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and small sailboats by the hour, with rentals starting each May. It also runs lessons and group outings, which makes it a good pick for a team or school group that wants a structured afternoon on the lake instead of a loose rental. By late October the fleet is heading into winter storage, so plan paddling for summer and early fall.
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
ECHO is a science and nature museum right on the waterfront at 1 College Street. Expect hands-on exhibits about the lake’s ecology, live animals and 3D films, all pitched at families but interesting for adults too. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check the ECHO website for current admission prices and online tickets. On a rainy day it is the one lake-side stop that still works.
The Island Line Trail and the Colchester Causeway
The bike path is one of Burlington’s signature experiences. From Oakledge Park in the South End, about 8 paved miles of the Burlington Greenway run north along the shore to Airport Park in Colchester. From there, roughly 5 miles of packed gravel lead onto the Colchester Causeway, an old railroad bed that runs straight out into the lake with water on both sides.
About 10 miles from Burlington, the causeway hits “the Cut,” a 200-foot gap where a small bike ferry carries riders across to South Hero in the Champlain Islands. The ferry is free (donations welcome) and run by the nonprofit Local Motion. 2026 status: per Local Motion’s bike ferry page, the ferry is closed for the 2026 season and expects to reopen in May 2027. You can still ride the causeway to the Cut and back, which is a great outing on its own.
- The causeway has almost no shade and is often windier than the forecast suggests. Bring a jacket, sunscreen and water.
- Restrooms and a water fountain are at Airport Park. There are no facilities on the causeway itself.
- When the ferry runs, sunny weekend afternoons can mean waits of over an hour, so go early.
- Bike rentals are easy to find near the waterfront, including e-bikes for riders who want help on the ride back into the wind.
Lake Champlain Ferries (and the Port Kent Question)
Many older guides still list a scenic car ferry from the Burlington waterfront to Port Kent, New York. That crossing has not operated since 2019, and the operator has not announced a return. If you want to cross the lake by ferry, Lake Champlain Ferries runs two other routes: Grand Isle, Vermont, to Plattsburgh, New York, about 30 minutes north of Burlington, and Charlotte, Vermont, to Essex, New York, about 25 minutes south. The Charlotte route moves to its winter schedule on November 2, 2026.
The Charlotte to Essex crossing pairs nicely with a day in the Adirondacks; our Adirondack Mountains guide covers what is on the New York side.
Sunset Cruises on the Spirit of Ethan Allen
If paddling is not your thing, a cruise is the easiest way onto the lake. The Spirit of Ethan Allen boards at the Burlington waterfront (1 College Street) and runs a public cruise calendar each season, including daytime scenic trips and specialty evening cruises. A sunset sailing, with the Adirondacks turning purple to the west, is the classic choice. Note that the boat needs at least 15 passengers to sail, and the company currently advises allowing an extra 30 to 45 minutes because of downtown road work.
Oakledge Park
Oakledge Park, off Flynn Avenue in the South End, is where locals go for rocky shoreline, tall trees and quieter swimming spots. It has two small beaches, Blanchard Beach and Oakledge Cove, plus picnic areas and the southern start of the bike path. There are no lifeguards at Oakledge. Parking is $3 per hour from May through October 31 and free in winter.
North Beach
North Beach, off North Avenue, is Burlington’s main sandy beach and the best bet for families. Lifeguards are on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, roughly early June through late August. You will find restrooms with showers, grills, a playground, seasonal snack bars and summer paddleboard rentals, plus a city-run campground. Parking costs $3 per hour from May through October 15 and is free after that; walk-in and bike access is open all year.
Lake Champlain gets most of the attention, but the state has dozens of quieter lakes worth a drive; see our roundup of the best lakes in Vermont.
Part 2: Things to Do in Town
Head uphill from the lake and Burlington turns into a lively college town with a strong local-business streak. These are the stops that hold up in any weather and in any season.
Church Street Marketplace
Church Street Marketplace is a four-block, brick-paved pedestrian mall running from Main Street up to Pearl Street, with City Hall at its southern end. It has more than 30 restaurants and dozens of independent shops, plus street performers in summer and cart vendors on busy days. The north end, around the Unitarian church that gives the street its name, is the most photogenic stretch.
Parking tip: the city-owned Downtown Garage, two blocks away with entrances on Cherry Street and College Street, offers two free hours daily (start a ParkMobile session to check in), and all city-owned downtown parking is free on Sundays and holidays.
Fleming Museum of Art at UVM
The Fleming Museum sits on the University of Vermont campus at 61 Colchester Avenue, at the top of the hill. Its collection spans world cultures and centuries, from ancient Egyptian objects to contemporary work, in a handsome historic building. Admission and events are free. For fall 2026 the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday; confirm hours and university closures on the Fleming Museum site before you go.
Ethan Allen Homestead
On the Winooski River at the north edge of town, the Ethan Allen Homestead preserves the farmhouse where Vermont’s best-known Revolutionary War figure spent his last years. The museum is open daily May through October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the house is shown only on guided tours, which start at 10:30, 11:50, 1:10 and 2:30. The surrounding park, run by the Winooski Valley Park District, has free riverside trails open year-round from dawn to dusk. The Homestead’s website lists reenactments, lectures and its popular October events.
Breweries and the Food Scene
Burlington eats and drinks well for its size. The South End, especially along Pine Street, has a cluster of breweries within about half a mile of each other, along with makers’ studios and cafes in old industrial buildings. Downtown leans toward farm-to-table restaurants, and you will find waterfront spots for drinks with a lake view.
- Try a creamee: Vermont’s soft-serve, often maple-flavored, is a summer must from roadside stands and waterfront counters.
- Look for local cheese and maple: many menus credit the farms they source from.
- Plan for crowds: popular breweries fill fast on summer and foliage weekends, and larger groups should call ahead.
Old North End
Just north of downtown, the Old North End is Burlington’s most diverse neighborhood, a grid of older homes, corner stores and international groceries and restaurants. It is not a sightseeing district in the usual sense, which is exactly the appeal. Walk North Street and the blocks around it for affordable food from around the world and a sense of how locals actually live.
Burlington Farmers Market on Saturdays
The summer Burlington Farmers Market runs every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 345 Pine Street in the South End. The 2026 summer season runs May 9 through October 31, so one Saturday remains as of this writing. Expect produce, cheese, maple, baked goods and prepared food you can eat on the spot. A winter market follows; check the market site for dates and location.
Want more small-scale stops like these? Our list of hidden gems in Vermont covers lesser-known spots around the state.
Pick Lake or Town by the Weather
Burlington weather changes quickly, and the lake magnifies it. Use this quick guide to decide where to spend each half-day.
| Conditions | Go to | Best picks |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny, light wind | Lake side | Paddle from the Community Sailing Center, ride the causeway, swim at North Beach |
| Sunny but very windy | Lake side, on land | Walk Oakledge’s shoreline, watch the whitecaps from Waterfront Park, skip the causeway |
| Clear evening | Lake side | Sunset cruise or a bench on the Waterfront Park boardwalk |
| Rain or drizzle | Town side | Fleming Museum, ECHO, Church Street shops and cafes, a brewery on Pine Street |
| Hot and humid | Lake side early, town side midday | Morning ride or swim, then air-conditioned museums and lunch downtown |
| Cold and gray (late fall, winter) | Town side | Church Street, restaurants, the Old North End, then a drive to the ski hills |
Part 3: Day Trips Within 30 to 45 Minutes
Burlington makes a good base for short trips into the Champlain Valley and the Green Mountains. These four are the most popular, and all can be done as half-day or full-day outings.
Shelburne Farms
About 15 to 20 minutes south, Shelburne Farms is a 19th-century model farm on the lakeshore, now an education nonprofit with a working dairy, cheesemaking, a children’s farmyard, walking trails and a grand inn. The 2026 day-visit season ran May 9 through October 18, so the main visitor program is closed for the year, though the farm hosts events into late fall and offers off-season visiting options. Plan a summer or early fall visit for the full experience.
Shelburne Museum (Seasonal)
Just down Route 7, Shelburne Museum is a village of historic buildings filled with American folk art, quilts, decoys, Impressionist paintings and even a full-size steamboat, the Ticonderoga. In 2026 it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 9 through October 25, with a seasonal Winter Lights event starting November 27. The Circus Building is closed for preservation work until 2028, but its vintage carousel is scheduled to keep running. See the museum’s visit page for group and school tour contacts.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury
About 30 minutes east on I-89, the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury offers a 30-minute tour with a short film, a view of the production floor from a glassed-in mezzanine, and a tasting. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $1 for kids 2 to 12, plus a service fee, and tours have been selling out, so book ahead. Groups of 21 or more need to arrange visits at least two weeks in advance through the factory tour page. Operations close December 1 to 3, 2026, for winter repairs, and the outdoor Flavor Graveyard closes in winter.
Stowe
Continue another 15 minutes past Waterbury and you reach Stowe, the classic Vermont mountain village with a white-steepled church, a long recreation path and Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, rising above it. It is a natural add-on to the Ben & Jerry’s stop. We cover the village in depth in our guide to things to do in Stowe, VT, and other ski-country villages in our list of mountain towns in Vermont.
If the drive is half the point, our guide to scenic drives in Vermont suggests routes that link these stops.
Things to Do in Burlington by Season
Burlington has a strong seasonal rhythm. The lake side rules in summer, foliage pulls crowds in fall, and winter sends most visitors toward the mountains with the city as a base.
| Season | Lake side | Town side and nearby | Planning notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (June to August) | Lifeguarded swimming at North Beach, paddling, sailing, bike ferry (when running), sunset cruises | Farmers market, festivals, patio dining, Shelburne Farms and Museum | Peak season; book lodging and cruises early |
| Fall foliage (late September to mid-October) | Bike path rides with color along the shore, last cruises of the season | Orchards, cider, Shelburne Museum until late October, Stowe and the mountain roads | Busiest weekends of the year; expect traffic in Stowe and Waterbury |
| Late fall (November) | Quiet walks at Oakledge and North Beach, free beach parking | Museums, restaurants, Shelburne Museum Winter Lights from late November | Many seasonal attractions closed; good value on hotels |
| Winter (December to March) | Frozen-lake views, winter walks | Ski areas within about 30 to 60 minutes, including Bolton Valley, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe and Sugarbush | Check road conditions on mountain routes |
| Spring (April to May) | Bike path reopens to full use, rentals start in May | Maple season, museums reopening in May | Mud season on dirt roads and trails |
For peak color timing outside the city, read our guide to the best places in Vermont for fall foliage. If skiing is the main goal, our overview of ski resorts in Vermont compares the mountains near Burlington and beyond.
A Simple One-Day Plan
If you only have one good-weather day, this order follows the light and keeps walking to a minimum.
- Morning: rent bikes near the waterfront and ride north on the bike path toward the causeway, or paddle from the Community Sailing Center while the lake is calm.
- Late morning: ECHO if you have kids, or the Saturday farmers market on Pine Street.
- Lunch: walk up to Church Street Marketplace and eat there.
- Afternoon: continue uphill to the Fleming Museum, then wander back down through the shops.
- Evening: a sunset cruise or a boardwalk bench at Waterfront Park, then dinner in the South End.
With a second day, add Shelburne in the morning and Waterbury and Stowe in the afternoon. For a statewide trip, our list of places to visit in Vermont helps fill out a longer route.
Getting to Burlington
Burlington is easier to reach than many visitors expect, with an airport, a direct train from New York City and an interstate running through town.
| Mode | What to know |
|---|---|
| Air | Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) is in South Burlington, about 10 minutes from downtown, with nonstop flights from cities including New York, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta. |
| Train | Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express runs daily between New York’s Moynihan Train Hall and Burlington’s Union Station near the waterfront, by way of Albany, Saratoga Springs, Rutland and Middlebury. Service was extended to Burlington in July 2022; the full trip takes roughly 7.5 hours. |
| Car or bus | I-89 connects Burlington with Montpelier, central New Hampshire and, via I-93, Boston. Montreal is a short drive north. Greyhound stops downtown, about a minute from Church Street. |
| Around town | Downtown is walkable, the bike path covers the shoreline, and Green Mountain Transit runs local buses. |
Train riders should note that Union Station is at the foot of the hill, so the waterfront is steps away and Church Street is an uphill walk of a few blocks. Drivers meeting the train can park at Perkins Pier, where Amtrak customer parking is $15 per day. The Ethan Allen Express route page has schedules and fares.
Traveling with a group? Our online quote form handles pickups at BTV, Union Station or your hotel, so you can price the weekend before anyone books flights.
Visiting Burlington with a Group or by Bus
Burlington is a popular stop for school trips, college visits, church groups, wedding parties and fall foliage tours, and its compact layout suits groups well. The main challenge is the street grid around downtown, which was not built for large coaches.
Church Street Drop-Offs
Church Street Marketplace is closed to public vehicles, so buses cannot drive onto it. Groups are usually dropped on one of the cross streets at the edge of the mall, such as Main, College, Bank, Cherry or Pearl, and walk in. Agree on a single, easy-to-find meeting point (City Hall at the south end works well) and a firm pickup time, since a coach cannot circle or wait at the curb for long downtown.
Coach Parking and Waterfront Stops
The city does not publish dedicated motorcoach rates for its downtown or beach lots, and the downtown parking garages are not designed for full-size coaches. Ask your operator to confirm layover parking in advance, and expect the driver to drop the group, park outside the core and return at a set time. On the waterfront, Battery Street and Lake Street are the usual approach for ECHO, the boathouse and the sailing center. For cruises and factory tours, share the group size in advance: the Spirit of Ethan Allen needs at least 15 passengers to sail, and Ben & Jerry’s wants two weeks’ notice for groups of 21 or more.
Choosing the Right Vehicle
- Small groups (up to about 14): a Sprinter van handles downtown streets, the Shelburne Farms lanes and Stowe’s village center with ease.
- Mid-size groups: a minibus is easier to drop and park near Church Street than a full coach. Our minibus vs. coach bus comparison explains the trade-offs.
- Large groups: a 55-passenger charter bus keeps everyone together for day trips to Waterbury and Stowe, with luggage space for ski gear in winter.
On multi-stop days, build in buffer time for the downtown road work and foliage traffic. Our guides to planning a multi-day charter bus itinerary, planning rest stops for a bus group and what a one-day charter bus costs cover the details. For local options across the state, see our Vermont charter bus rental page.
Things to Do in Burlington: FAQ
What are the top things to do in Burlington, Vermont?
On the lake side, the highlights are Waterfront Park, the bike path out to the Colchester Causeway, North Beach, Oakledge Park, ECHO and a sunset cruise. In town, focus on Church Street Marketplace, the Fleming Museum, the Saturday farmers market and the breweries of the South End. Shelburne, Waterbury and Stowe make easy day trips.
Is the Island Line bike ferry running in 2026?
No. Local Motion, which runs the free bike ferry across the gap in the Colchester Causeway, lists it as closed for the 2026 season and expects to reopen in May 2027. You can still ride the bike path and causeway out to the gap and back.
Can you take a ferry from Burlington to Port Kent, New York?
Not currently. The Burlington to Port Kent car ferry has not run since 2019. Lake Champlain Ferries still operates crossings from Grand Isle to Plattsburgh and from Charlotte to Essex, New York.
When is the Burlington Farmers Market?
The summer market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 345 Pine Street, rain or shine. The 2026 summer season runs May 9 through October 31. A separate winter market follows, so check the market’s website for those dates.
Does Amtrak go to Burlington, Vermont?
Yes. Since July 2022 the Ethan Allen Express has run daily between New York City and Burlington’s Union Station, stopping in Albany, Rutland and Middlebury along the way. The full trip takes about seven and a half hours.
What is the best time to visit Burlington?
Late June through early October is best for lake activities, with July and August the warmest months for swimming. Late September to mid-October brings foliage and the busiest weekends. Winter suits visitors who want to ski nearby and enjoy a quieter town.
Where can a tour bus drop off near Church Street?
Church Street Marketplace is closed to vehicles, so groups are typically dropped on a nearby cross street such as Main, College or Pearl and walk in. Downtown garages are not designed for full-size coaches, so confirm layover parking with your bus operator ahead of time.
Plan Your Burlington Trip
The simplest way to plan the many things to do in Burlington is to let the sky decide: lake side when the sun is out, town side when it is not, and a day trip to Shelburne, Waterbury or Stowe when you want a change. Check the 2026 closures before you go, especially the bike ferry and the seasonal museums, and book cruises and factory tours early in summer and foliage season.
If you are bringing a class, team, congregation or wedding party, BusXoXo can match you with the right vehicle for Burlington’s streets and the mountain roads beyond. Contact our team with your dates and group size, or call (308) 304-6668 to talk through your plan.