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Boulder Itineraries

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.
See 2 Day Itinerary » See Map of 7 Day Itinerary »
  • Day 1
  • 1 Take a morning walk or run on the Boulder Creek Path.
  • 2 Head up the hill to the south to the University of Colorado campus, visiting Old Main and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History. Stroll down the hill.
  • 3 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, where you’ll also find the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.
  • 4 If you are inclined for one fine-dining extravagance, make dinner reservations 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.
  • Day 3
  • 1 Today you'll experience the heart of Boulder, which is found at the ever-popular Pearl Street Mall. Watch the busker musicians perform, grab some coffee at one of the local cafes, and then shop for souvenirs at The Peppercorn.
  • 2 For dinner, have a burger at the Dark Horse, a favorite local hangout.
  • 3 Afterward, go for drinks at the Catacombs Bar.
  • Day 4
  • 1 Visit Rocky Mountain National Park to hike or simply for a scenic drive over Trail Ridge Road. For anyone with altitude issues, Bear Lake Road is lower. On busy summer days, park at an intercept lot and take a bus to Bear Lake.
  • 2 After an invigorating day in the mountains, enjoy a leisurely dinner in Boulder at Alba Restaurant & Wine Bar.
  • Day 5
  • 1 Have lunch at the Dushanbe Teahouse, an exotic teahouse given as a gift from Tajikistan, one of Boulder's sister cities.
  • 2 Relax in your hotel or at one of the local parks.
  • 3 End the evening at The Rock N Soul Café, a haven for live music lovers—rock, funk, soul, jazz, you name it—almost every night of the week.
  • Day 6
  • 1 Stop into Neptune Mountaineering or Little Mountain Outfitters (if you have kids) for any needed hiking supplies.  
  • 2 The City of Boulder manages 144 miles of trails for hiking, biking, walking or running. And since you're here, you may as well enjoy nature's bounty. If you're up for a day hike, pack your lunch, grab lots of water and a jacket and head out on the 6 ½ mile Mesa Trail at the base of the foothills between Chautauqua Park and Eldorado Springs. 
  • 3 For dinner, head to Sherpa’s Adventurers Restaurant & Bar to sample food from Nepal, Tibet and India.
  • Day 7
  • 1 Enjoy breakfast at one of the cafes along the Pearl Street Mall.
  • 2 Pick up some local art treasures at Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery, one of the oldest artist cooperatives in the U.S.
  • 3 For dinner, enjoy brick-oven pizza at SALT.
  • 4 Take in a show at the Boulder Theater. Afterwards, have drinks at George's, which is operated by the theater.

MAP OF 7 DAY ITINERARY

  • DAY 1
  • DAY 2
  • DAY 3
  • DAY 4
  • DAY 5
  • DAY 6
  • DAY 7
See 2 day Itinerary »
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