Boulder in 2 days

Planning a trip to Boulder? Our experienced travel editors break down the town so you can make the most of your stay. Let these itineraries be your guide, whether you're here for a weekend or a whole week.

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Day 1
1 Take a morning walk or run on the Boulder Creek Path. Have breakfast in one of myriad cafés along Pearl Street.
2 Head up the hill to the south to the University of Colorado campus, strolling, enjoying its shaded walkways and museums.
3 Stroll down the hill. On Saturday mornings or Wednesday afternoons in the warm months, take 13th Street and visit the Boulder County Farmers’ Market between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue, and have a bite at the food court.
4 On the same block is the polychromatic Dushanbe Teahouse from Dushanbe, the eponymous capital of Tajikistan, one of Boulder’s sister cities. Next door is the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.
5 Another option is to continue to Pearl Street.The lively mall four-block mall features sidewalk cafes, brewpubs and sushi restaurants for a light bite. Outdoor dining is possible on south-facing patios even on many midwinter days.
6 As you explore shops and galleries, don’t miss The Peppercorn and the Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery. Watch the street entertainers, especially on summer days. Special events—often on weekends—are centered on the mall, as well. Many restaurants offer happy-hour specials until 6PM or even 7PM, or return to your hotel to freshen up before a later dinner.
7 If you are inclined for one fine-dining extravagance, make a reservation at Frasca Food and Wine, one of Colorado’s most-honored restaurants. The stylish T-Zero Lounge in the St. Julien Hotel is a fitting place for a nightcap.

Day 2
1 Have breakfast at the Chautauqua Dining Hall in Chautauqua Park (or elsewhere during most winter days). Take a long or short hike directly from the park. Leave the park and drive west on Flagstaff Road with several roadside overlooks. Turn off to the Sunrise Amphitheater for fantastic views across Boulder to the endless plains.
2 Return to Boulder for lunch at the Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, and then head northeast on the Diagonal Highway for a tour of the Celestial Seasonings tea company.
3 You can spend an entire evening at Happy, enjoying Asian-inspired cuisine and cocktails by some of Boulder’s most talented mixologists.