Burlington (Vermont)

Burlington is the largest city in the American state of Vermont. Situated on Lake Champlain, it is the heart of a small urban area that acts as Vermont's vibrant and cosmopolitan center. Known for its ultra-liberal environment (for an American town at least) and free-thinking spirit, Burlington is a college town and an important commercial city, but maintains an intimate atmosphere.

Understand

Burlington, a city of 45,000 people (2020), is known outside of Vermont mostly as the place where Ben & Jerry's ice cream began, and as the city where democratic socialist Bernie Sanders launched his political career, winning the 1980 mayoral election and serving in that role for eight years before moving on to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the 2016/2020 presidential races. However, contrary to what you may think, this lovely town has a lot more to offer than left-wing politics and ice cream.

Tourist information

Get in

It is relatively well connected to Montreal to the north and Plattsburgh, New York to the west.

By plane

By car

Interstate 89 lies just to the east of town. The town center is accessible via exit 14W, while the south end of town can be accessed via Interstate 189 at exit 13. Interstate 89 continues north to the Canadian border at Highgate, and south and east to the New Hampshire city of Concord. U.S. Route 7 can also be useful for accessing Burlington from the south, as it travels north from western Connecticut and Massachusetts and the southwestern Vermont town of Bennington.

It is a 6-hour drive from New York City, a 3½-hour drive from Boston and a 1½- to 2-hour drive from Montreal.

By bus
  • Greyhound, ☏ +1-800-552-8737. The Greyhound bus terminal is at the airport, but there is stop at the downtown transit center (listed as "Burlingt Transit Ctr" on the website search page - you must type "burlingt" without the "-on" to find it in the search). The price for the two stops differs by about $7.
  • Megabus. Daily service to Burlington from Montpelier and Boston. The bus stop is at the north end of University Place, near Colchester Avenue.

By train
See also: Rail travel in the United States

By ferry

Lake Champlain Ferries operates seasonal ferry service from 🌍 King Street Dock in downtown Burlington to Port Kent, NY across Lake Champlain; this gives access to the Adirondacks area of New York state. This ferry is mainly a tourist attraction since it is faster to drive up to the Grand Isle-Plattsburgh ferry and then take the interstate to Port Kent than it is to use the Burlington-Port Kent ferry.

Get around

On foot

Downtown Burlington is one of the most walkable and beautiful small cities in New England, and you'd do well to get out of your car (parking in city and most private garages is free for the first 2 hours, and all day on Sundays) and soak it in.

By car

There are car rental offices at Burlington International Airport, including Hertz, Avis and Thrifty. Traffic is generally bad during the normal crunch half-hours (7:45-8:15AM and 4:45-5:15PM). Williston Road to the east and Shelburne Road to the south are congested during those hours, and, unfortunately, unavoidable for the most part.

By bus

Burlington and the surrounding communities of Winooski, South Burlington, Shelburne, Colchester and Essex Junction are served by Green Mountain Transit (GMT) which operates public buses. Buses are generally clean, uncrowded and relatively cheap. The main terminal is in downtown Burlington at the intersection of Church St. and Cherry St.

By bicycle

Burlington is a bike-friendly city. There are various bike lanes around the downtown area, and thanks to slow traffic and often courteous drivers, getting around the greater Burlington area on bike is a breeze. In the summer extra bicycle parking is made available, and low bike-related crime helps encourage everyone to get on their bikes. Bikes can be rented at Local Motion on the waterfront or at some of the other bicycle shops around town.

See

Downtown Burlington is home to an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants, and is well known for its pedestrian Church Street Marketplace. Church Street is home to a multitude of performers ranging from violists to folk singers to hip-hop dancers, and you don't have to pay a penny, although it doesn't hurt to leave a few dollars. Burlington is ideal for observing all sorts of individuals: flower-child hippies, students, funky artists, tattooed hipsters, and preps mingle on the streets and can provide unparalleled entertainment.

  • 🌍 ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, 1 College St, ☏ +1 802-864-1848. Daily 9AM-5PM in summer. Lake aquarium and science center. $9/$7. (updated Oct 2016)
  • Waterfront. At the bottom of College street. $5 for parking. 
  • North Beach (End of Institute Road (off North Avenue, behind Burlington High School)). $8 for non-resident parking or get there for free from the bikepath at the Waterfront (go right when looking at the water, i.e. to the north). 
  • Williams' Fire Escape, Williams Hall, University Pl. One of Burlington's hidden treasures is a few flights up the fire escape of one of UVM's buildings. Williams Hall, across from the University Green, is an architectural masterpiece in its own right. However, the sunset sights seen from an outside stairwell are some of the best views one will experience. If there are not too many people/students visiting the spot, it is a romantic and breathtaking place to visit. At the uppermost flight of the fire escape, all of downtown Burlington, spanning to Lake Champlain, is visible. At sunset, the sun hits the water and the buildings in a lovely way. 

Churches
  • 🌍 Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 20 Allen St. Seat of the Catholic Diocese of Burlington. The church was built in 1887. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 🌍 First Baptist Church, 81 St. Paul St. A significant example of early Italianate ecclesiastical architecture in the state, this Baptist church was built in 1864. (updated Jun 2022)
  • 🌍 First Methodist Church, 21 Buell St. Built in 1869, it is the city's only example of ecclesiastical Romanesque Revival architecture. (updated Jun 2022)

Do

Burlington is renowned for its cultural amenities and strength in the arts, providing the opportunities typical of a much larger city. Outdoor activities include a 7.6-mile (12.5-km) bike path that runs along the lake and now connects to the Colchester bike path. Mount Philo is a leisurely hike for beginners, especially with younger kids. Camel's Hump and Mount Mansfield offer more challenging terrain, but reward hikers with beautiful summit views of the Champlain Valley. All three mountains are within 1-hour driving distance of Burlington. Several alpine and cross-country ski resorts and backcountry ski trails are within an hour of Burlington—and you can Nordic ski in the city, as well, at Red Rocks Park and Burlington Country Club.

  • Spirit of Ethan Allen III. Regular cruise tours of Lake Champlain leave from Burlington's harbor. 
  • Flynn Theater. Home to the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Stage Company, and Lyric Theatre Company. 
  • Flynnspace. Presents alternative and avant-garde performances in an intimate, black box theater. 
  • 🌍 Ethan Allen Homestead, ☏ +1 802-865-4556. Guided tours of Revolutionary War Hero Ethan Allen's final home on Burlington's Scenic Intervale 
  • 🌍 Fleming Museum of Art (formerly Robert Hull Fleming Museum), ☏ +1 802-656-2090 (recorded info), +1 802-656-0750 (museum offices). 
  • BCA Center. A five-story complex of galleries, classrooms, and studios run by Burlington City Arts. 
  • The Bern Gallery, 135 Main St (Downtown Burlington across from City Hall Park), ☏ +1 802-865-0994. 10AM-9PM. This is a local grassroots art gallery with live glassblowing daily. The Bern Gallery smoke shop makes custom glass, has Burlington's only Hookah Bar, features local artwork and jewellery, and is a Vermont accredited glass blowing school. The Bern Gallery is also home to the Pipe Classic, the glass industry's première pipe-making competition. Held every September, the Pipe Classic features the talents of 12 glass artists chosen from across the nation to compete head-to-head in this celebration of pipe-making. 
  • Queen City Ghostwalk, Downtown Burlington (tours start at 199 Main St. and 1 Main St., check website for exact location), ☏ +1 802-351-1313, . Haunted history tours of Burlington with author and historian Thea Lewis. 
  • Center for Mindful Learning, 751 Page Rd (the Burlington Friends Meeting House), ☏ +1 802-540-0820. CML offers guided meditation practice on Sunday nights from 7PM-9PM. 
  • Magic Hat Brewing Company. A tour worth checking out. 
  • Sunset Drive-In Theater. In the neighboring town of Colchester, sends patrons on a nostalgic trip back to the 1960s with double features of movies on four screens. Open seasonally from late April to early September. $8.50 for adults, children under 12 get in free. 

Festivals

Burlington hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. This list changes every year but the following events staples of the community.

  • First Night. December 31. Parades, performers, and fireworks help to mark the coming of the new year. Burlington continues the First Night tradition with plays, performers, and a grand welcoming of things to come. 
  • Winter Carnival. February time frame. Celebrate the winter with ice sculptures, parades, and sleigh rides. 
  • Mardi Gras Parade. Weekend before Ash Wednesday. Burlington hosts its own Fat Tuesday parade which is usually scheduled for the Saturday before Ash Wednesday. A large parade goes up Church Street, bands play in the clubs and streets, and special events hosted by Magic Hat Brewery. 
  • KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. Sunday before Memorial Day. A qualifying race for major national marathons, it is one of the largest sporting events in the city with street vendors, musicians and food stalls during and after the race. The marathon begins and ends at Waterfront Park and traverses much of the city. Expect major city streets to be closed down in the morning hours and most hotel rooms booked far in advance. 
  • The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. First two weeks in June. The Discover Jazz festival is the largest event of its kind in the state and draws internationally renowned performing artists to the city each summer, as well as throngs of jazz, blues, gospel and Latin music fans. Its the highlight of the summer festival season. Venues throughout the city, including Waterfront Park, Memorial Auditorium, Contois Theatre, Waterfront Theatre, and The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. 
  • Independence Day Fireworks. Evening of July 3. The City of Burlington holds its fireworks the evening of the 3rd to allow people to attend both it and the smaller towns' festivities on the 4th. If you go to the latter, prepare to leave early as many roads are closed for parades and it's not always possible to reach towns without Interstate exits between mid-morning and late afternoon of the 4th. 
  • Vermont Brewers Festival. Mid-July. Taste microbrews from Vermont and throughout New England during this annual summer gathering on Burlington's waterfront. General admission is $35/session which includes 10 tasting tickets and a complimentary tasting glass. Discounts are available for admission tickets purchased before July 1st. 
  • Festival of Fools. Early August. A curated festival of street performers. 
  • Dragon Boat Festival. Early August. The Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival is hosted by Dragonheart Vermont, a breast cancer survivor and supporter dragon boat team. Local companies paddle 10-person dragon boats in head to head races on Lake Champlain. 
  • Vermont Air Show. Late August. Watch an air demonstration of older and newer airplanes. Sometimes held at Hanscom Field and sometimes held over the downtown area. 
  • Grand Point North (GPN), 1 Lake Street. Annual September music festival curated by Vermont's own Grace Potter who also headlines both nights of the festival. (updated Apr 2017)

Buy
  • 🌍 Church Street Marketplace. Four blocks of Church Street are closed to all motor traffic and creates an open air mall in the heart of the city. A variety of eateries, shops, and stores provide a diverse place to find unique gifts. 
  • 🌍 University Mall (U-Mall), 155 Dorset St, ☏ +1 802-863-1066. The University Mall is closer to campus and offers a wider range of shops than the Downtown Mall. Anchor stores include Kohls and JCPenny's. The state's only Target location can be found here as well. (updated Nov 2017)
  • LeZot Cameras, 34 Church St, ☏ +1 802-652-2400. This non-chain, locally owned and operated camera shop has an amazing collection of lenses, manual cameras, and accessories; even their camera bags collection is large and versatile. Their repair shop is great, and the employees actually know cameras, love cameras, and you can see it. For the service, it is reasonably priced. 
  • Lower Main Neighborhood (Lo Main), Main St. from Pine St. to the Waterfront. This funky neighborhood sits between Church St. and the Waterfront, and boasts some of the best local establishments. Look for quirky antiques and collectables at Anjou and Little Pear, earth-friendly and locally made housewares at the Green Life, and delicious artisan breads, pastries, coffee and lunch at August First Bakery. Discover Burlington's special off-the-beaten-path neighborhood! 
  • Kiss the Cook, 72 Church St, ☏ +1 802-863-4226. Locally owned kitchen store. 

Eat

Budget

Being a large college town, Burlington is home to many cheap eateries. Due to the competition, most of them are pretty good.

  • Ahli Baba's Kabob Shop, 163 Main St, ☏ +1 802-862-5752. Serves Greek and Middle Eastern food. Popular spot with students, open late. 
  • Asiana Noodle Shop, 88 Church St, ☏ +1 802-862-8828. Specializes in noodle soups from all over East Asia. 
  • The Skinny Pancake, 60 Lake St, ☏ +1 802-540-0188. 8AM-8PM. A Burlington creperie. They serve sweet and savory crepes with a local twist. The "Heartbreaker" crepe features the world favorite Nutella spread loaded with fresh bananas and local strawberries. Along with an emphasis on local and organic products, the S.P. offers molten Swiss fondues and live music on Th, F and Sa. Come grab a crepe! $6 and up. 

American

Coffee and bakery
  • New Moon Cafe, 150 Cherry St, ☏ +1 802-383-1505. Named well before the Twilight craze, this cafe is a good place to grab coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and salads. 
  • 🌍 August First Bakery, 149 S. Champlain St (At the corner of Main St.), ☏ +1 802-540-0060. M-F 7:30AM-5PM, Sa 8AM-3PM, Friday nights 6PM-9PM for flatbread pizza. A local favorite! Casual bakery cafe in downtown Burlington, baking artisan bread and serving delicious breakfast and lunch. Look for classics like BLT made with Vermont bacon on homemade baguette, and amazing pastries like their signature Hungarian Sweet Roll. under $10. (updated Oct 2016)
  • Barrio Bakery, 203 N. Winooski Ave, ☏ +1 802-863-8278. Old North End bakery that turns into a pizza place at night. 

Dessert
  • Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop. No trip to Vermont would be complete without a stop by one of the renowned Ben & Jerry's scoop shops to sample their latest contributions to Americana. Indeed, few would dispute the fact that ice cream is in season every season. There is a scoop shop on the Church Street Marketplace at the corner of Cherry Street. The original Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop was nearby on the southwest corner of College Street and Saint Paul Street. 

Sandwich
  • Top of the Block Sandwich Shop, 2 Church St, ☏ +1 802-660-0667. They roast their own meats at this tiny sandwich shop. Coffee is $1 if you bring your own mug. 
  • Henry Street Deli, 11 Henry St, ☏ +1 802-864-1764. Possibly the best hidden sandwich shop in Burlington. 

Mid-range

Splurge

Although the Burlington area is much wealthier and more populous than the rest of the state, there aren't many expensive restaurants in town. Most of Vermont's expensive restaurants are out in the countryside or up in the mountains. Most of their menus change frequently and prices within each menu can vary wildly so if you want to get carried away, go for it.

  • Hen of the Wood, 55 Cherry St, ☏ +1 802-540-0534, . Daily: dining room 5PM-10PM, bar 4PM-midnight. This is a restaurant that changes its menu every day and concentrates on using ingredients in season in interesting ways. They also have a very interesting and wide range of alcoholic beverages, and their dessert chef is particularly brilliant, so if you have any inclination at all to order dessert in restaurants, make sure to do so at this one. Their small plates can be quite small, but their main dishes are filling. The food is delicious, but the level of salt can be high at times. (updated Aug 2016)
  • Lake Champlain Chocolates, 750 Pine St. A local chocolate maker. They have a company store and a viewing area to see the chocolate being made. They also have a small coffee bar where they serve espresso drinks and their own ice cream. They have another location at 65 Church St. 
  • NU Chocolat, 180 Battery St, Suite 110. A much younger local chocolate maker (founded 2018). 
  • Leunig's Bistro, 115 Church St, ☏ +1 802-863-3759. French style bistro with outdoor seating. They sometimes have live jazz. 
  • Trattoria Delia, 152 St. Paul St, ☏ +1 802-864-5253. W–Su. 

Breakfast

Pizza

Seafood
  • Shanty On The Shore, 181 Battery St, ☏ +1 802-864-0238. Fresh seafood and great lake views. Expect a wait on weekends. 

Indian
  • Masala Elaichi Indian Restaurant & Bar, 207 Colchester Ave, ☏ +1 802-862-7800. 
  • Shalimar of India, 16 North Winooski Ave, ☏ +1 802-864-5693. Tu–Su. Have a great Sunday brunch which is ~$10 and buffet/all you can eat. Good deal. 

Drink

Bars and clubs

Coffee and tea
  • Muddy Waters, 184 Main St, ☏ +1 802-658-0466. Locally owned. Great atmosphere. Some beers on tap too. 
  • Speeder and Earls Coffee, 104 Church St. Serving the best coffee in downtown Burlington, Ask Anyone. 
  • Dobra Tea, 125 S Winooski Ave, ☏ +1 802-951-2424. 

Sleep

Many other hotels with "Burlington" in their names are actually in South Burlington. If you have a car, consider those if price is a consideration, because many of them are within 5 miles (8km) of Downtown Burlington.

Go next
  • The Canadian border is about an hour's drive, and Montreal, Quebec, is less than a two-hour drive north. Border crossing between the U.S. and Canada requires a passport or enhanced identification (such as Vermont state's Enhanced Driver's License, or EDL).
  • Smuggler's Notch and Stowe ski resorts are within 45 minutes from the heart of the city.
  • Just south of the city are several state parks and some of the tallest peaks in the Green Mountains.
  • Try to find 'Champ', the Lake Champlain monster who is supposed to be a sister to Nessie of Loch Ness.
Routes through Burlington
Rouses Point ← Jct ← Winooski ←  N  E  → South Burlington → Jct → Montpelier
St. Albans ← Winooski ←  N  S  → South Burlington → Rutland


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