Weekend in Burlington, Vermont: The Perfect 2 or 3-Day Itinerary (2025)

What is Burlington known for?

Burlington is known for several things, including:

• Lake Champlain: This is the largest freshwater lake in New England and 13th-largest lake in the U.S. There is a nice walking and biking trail along the lake, as well as opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, and other activities.
  
  
• Ben & Jerry’s: This beloved ice cream company was founded in Burlington in 1978 and the original store is still located downtown.
  
  
• Church Street Marketplace: This pedestrian-only street is a favorite place for locals and visitors to browse the many shops, restaurants, and cafes.
  
  
• Outdoor adventures: Burlington’s proximity to Lake Champlain and Vermont’s beautiful mountains and forests make it a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts to explore.
  
  
• University of Vermont: This university campus is in the heart of Burlington and is another nice place to walk around. The university dates all the way back to 1791 and is known for its programs in environmental studies, medicine, and engineering.

How many days should you spend in Burlington?

While you could definitely spend a week or more in Burlington to take full advantage of all the hiking trails and other activities available, I think Burlington is a great place to visit on the weekend.

I arrived there on a Friday night and left on Sunday morning and was able to experience a lot in that time. This post is especially geared toward those who are considering a weekend trip to Burlington.

3-day weekend in Burlington, Vermont

If you’re planning a long weekend in Burlington, here are some ideas of how to spend three days there (assuming an afternoon departure on day three).

Day 1

Breakfast: The Skinny Pancake

Start off your trip right at The Skinny Pancake, a popular crêperie not far from Waterfront Park. You can choose from either sweet or savory crepes (or both!). Customers rave about the Johnny Crepe, Chicken Bacon Rancher, Choco Monkey, and Hot Apple Crumble.

Visit Waterfront Park

After breakfast, take a short walk to Waterfront Park along the shores of Lake Champlain. This 12-acre park includes a scenic boardwalk, playground, and skatepark.

Tour ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

Next to Waterfront Park is the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, a non-profit organization and science museum right on the water.

The center focuses on promoting understanding of the ecology, culture, and history of the Lake Champlain Basin. There are numerous interactive exhibits and displays that are fun for all ages!

Lunch: A Single Pebble

Stop for lunch at A Single Pebble, a Chinese restaurant that is highly rated for its authentic dishes, unique flavors, and variety of both meat and vegetarian options.

In the words of a Google reviewer, “I’ve eaten in Chinatown in Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco; this was the best Chinese food we’ve ever had… and it’s not even close.”

Bike the Burlington Greenway

After fueling up with a good meal, head back to Lake Champlain to bike the Burlington Greenway, a 7.5-mile trail that runs along the shores of the lake, providing stunning views of the water and the Adirondack Mountains in the background.

The Greenway is also open to walkers, joggers, and rollerbladers if you’d prefer a different exercise method. The trail connects several other recreational areas in Burlington, including Waterfront Park, North Beach, and Oakledge Park.

🚴🏿‍♂️ FUN FACT: The Burlington Greenway is part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile trail system that stretches from Maine to Florida.

Dinner: Waterworks Food + Drink

Just outside of Burlington in the small town of Winooski is Waterworks Food + Drink, a cozy restaurant located near the falls on the Winooski River. If you’re going there on the weekend, you’ll want to make a reservation on their website ahead of time to secure a spot.

Enjoy a performance at The Flynn

Catch a show at Burlington’s historic performing arts center, The Flynn. They host a variety of performances throughout the year, including concerts, stage plays, films, and more.

For a more relaxed live music venue, check out a place like Radio Bean or Light Club Lamp Shop. Or if you’re ready to laugh, visit the Vermont Comedy Club.

Day 2

Breakfast: Henry’s Diner

Experience an authentic, all-American breakfast at Henry’s Diner, not far from Church Street Marketplace. My cousin and I enjoyed every part of this place, from the friendly staff to the generous portion sizes. It’s definitely a must-stop while in Burlington.

Note: I recommend arriving close to when they open to avoid waiting in a long line. This place is popular on the weekend!

Experience the Burlington Farmers Market

About a 13-minute walk (or 3-minute drive) from Henry’s Diner is the Burlington Farmers Market at 345 Pine Street. The market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from mid-May through the end of October and features dozens of craft, agriculture, and prepared food vendors to browse and sample.

Shop along Church Street Marketplace

After exploring all the food options at the Farmers Market, head over to Church Street Marketplace for more walking and shopping.

If you talk to anyone who has lived in or visited Burlington, Church Street Marketplace is usually one of the first recommendations they will share.

This pedestrian-only street is lined with dozens of shops and restaurants and feels like the heart of Burlington. My cousin and I spent hours exploring the variety of stores here — so fun!

Lunch: The Farmhouse Tap & Grill

After our breakfast at Henry’s Diner, we were full until well into the afternoon, so a break at Black Cap Coffee & Pastry on Church Street was perfect to tie us over until dinner. But if you’re looking for something more substantial for lunch, try The Farmhouse Tap & Grill, featuring delicious food from local Vermont farms.

Hike the Red Rocks Park Loop Trail

If you’re looking for an easy hike after lunch, the 2.7-mile Red Rocks Park Loop Trail takes only about an hour to complete and provides beautiful views of Lake Champlain along the way.

If you’d prefer to bike again, another option for some afternoon exercise is the 14.5-mile Island Line Rail Trail that has great reviews.

Take a cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen

Another popular activity on Lake Champlain is a cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. You can choose from a variety of cruise options, including a scenic narrated cruise, dinner cruise, or sunset cruise.

The cruises last anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours and are a great way to experience the beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Dinner: American Flatbread Burlington Hearth

If you decide not to do the Spirit of Ethan Allen dinner cruise, another excellent dinner choice is American Flatbread, where you can feast on delicious, wood-fired flatbread pizzas with locally sourced ingredients.

Grab ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s

What better way to top off the day than with a scoop or two of Vermont’s famous ice cream — Ben & Jerry’s — which actually started in Burlington in 1978. Stop by the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop on Church Street and choose from over 30 different flavors.

Day 3

Breakfast: The Café HOT.

Start your last day in Burlington by indulging in the best breakfast sandwich you might ever have at The Café HOT. I ordered their Secret Biscuit Sandwich and it was A-MA-ZING. I am still thinking about their homemade biscuits and pickled red onion sauce.

Grab local goods from City Market

If you want some local snacks for the road, stop by the City Market cooperative grocery store, open every day from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. This is where I picked up some Vermont coffee to bring home — they have a nice selection of beans to choose from.

Tour Shelburne Farms

About 7 miles south of Burlington is the well-known Shelburne Farms, which could be a nice way to top off your visit. It’s a 1,400-acre working farm that’s been around since the late 19th century. Today, the farm prides itself on its efforts in education and sustainable agriculture.

The farm hosts tours, cheesemaking classes, and workshops if you want to do something more organized. If you prefer to just browse around the farm, there are plenty of walking trails, a children’s farmyard, and a seasonal restaurant on the property as well.

2-day weekend in Burlington, Vermont

If you only have two days in Burlington, here is a condensed version of the three-day itinerary, featuring what I would consider the best-of-the-best things to do.

Day 1

• Breakfast: Henry’s Diner
• Visit Burlington Waterfront Park
• Bike the Burlington Greenway
• Lunch: The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
• Cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen
• Dinner: Waterworks Food + Drink
• Grab ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s
• See a show at The Flynn or hear live music at Radio Bean

Day 2

• Breakfast: The Café HOT.
• Take a morning hike on the Red Rocks Park Loop Trail
• Visit the Burlington Farmers Market (if on a Saturday)
• Lunch: The Skinny Pancake
• Shop at Church Street Marketplace
• Coffee from Black Cap Coffee & Pastry before departure

How to get to Burlington

BY PLANE: Burlington International Airport is only a few miles from the city center.

BY CAR: It took us about 3.5 hours to get to Burlington from Boston, and it was a beautiful, scenic drive with minimal traffic. Here are distances to Burlington from a few major cities:

• Montreal, Canada: 94 miles (1.75 hours)
• Manchester, NH: 167 miles (2.75 hours)
• Boston, MA: 216 miles (3.5 hours)
• Portland, ME: 257 miles (4 hours)
• New York, NY: 299 miles (5.5. hours)
• Philadelphia, PA: 381 miles (6.5 hours)

BY BUS: You can take a coach bus like Greyhound to Burlington from lots of different towns and cities throughout New England and beyond. This is how I returned to Boston after my cousin and I parted ways. (The ride took about 5.5 hours.)

Where to stay

We stayed in this Airbnb Lake View Room and it was a great experience. Vida’s home is beautiful and the guest bedroom has stunning views of Lake Champlain in the distance. This was a nice way to get a local living experience during our time in Burlington.

If you’d rather stay in a hotel, I’d recommend trying something unique to Burlington.
Hotel Vermont has great reviews for its cozy decor and free bike rentals that allow you to easily explore Burlington and Lake Champlain.

Best time to visit Burlington

Burlington is beautiful any time of year but gets the most tourists in the summer and fall when the weather is warmer and you can fully enjoy all the outdoor activities available.

Things to do in Burlington in the spring

Temperatures can still fluctuate quite a bit in the spring, so you’ll want to plan for both warm and cold weather. We visited Burlington at the end of March/beginning of April and had snow the first day, then temperatures in the 60s on day two!

Spring is maple syrup season in Vermont so this is a great time to visit a sugar house like Palmer’s in Shelburne and taste their fresh syrup.

Our favorite thing to do during our visit was shop along Church Street Marketplace and explore Burlington’s delicious food scene.

We were bummed that bike rental companies weren’t in operation yet so we couldn’t bike the Burlington Greenway like we wanted to, but the trail was still nice for walking.

Note: If you stay at Hotel Vermont you’ll get complimentary bike rentals with your stay.

Things to do in Burlington in the summer

Summer is when you can enjoy all things outdoors, like relaxing on North Beach, paddle boarding on Lake Champlain, biking the Burlington Greenway, or hiking the Red Rocks Park Loop Trail.

This is also a great time to experience the Burlington Farmers Market on Saturdays and attend an outdoor concert at Waterfront Park.

Things to do in Burlington in the fall

Northern Vermont is one of the most beautiful places to see fall foliage, and it’s worth taking a drive around Burlington and nearby towns like Stowe to experience all the colors.

The weather is usually still pretty pleasant in the fall, so this is still a nice time to bike the Burlington Greenway or go for a hike.

Things to do in Burlington in the winter

If you enjoy a snowy paradise, you might love Burlington in the winter. The city is within an hour’s drive from some of the best ski resorts in the state, including Sugarbush, Stowe Mountain, and Smugglers’ Notch.

Several Burlington parks have outdoor ice skating rinks, including Lakeside, Battery, and Callahan.

Winter is also the perfect time to enjoy Burlington’s cozy restaurant and cafe scene or see a show at The Flynn or Vermont Comedy Club.

If Time: Visit Stowe

If you have another day to spare, it’s worth driving to the picturesque town of Stowe as part of your Burlington itinerary. This postcard-worthy place represents New England at its finest with its white church steeples, storied buildings, and hilly landscape.

We visited Stowe as a stop on our drive to Burlington from Boston. We spent a Friday there before driving to Burlington that same evening.

Best things to do in Stowe:

• Get pizza from Piecasso
• Relax with coffee at Black Cap Coffee & Pastry
• Explore art galleries and shops on Main Street
• Hike the Stowe Pinnacle Trail (hard) or Bingham Falls Trail (easy)
• Ski at Stowe Mountain Resort

Wrap-up: Is Burlington worth visiting?

Burlington, Vermont is a perfect weekend destination in New England. Living in Boston, it felt nice to escape the city and feel like I was a world away, even though I was only about three hours north. If you enjoy being in nature or exploring new food scenes, Burlington is an excellent choice!