Hotels in Burlington

Burlington: Vermont's Lakefront College City

Burlington, Vermont sits on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, 45 miles south of the Canadian border. The city holds roughly 45,000 residents, making it Vermont's largest city despite its compact scale. Church Street Marketplace, a four-block pedestrian mall in the downtown core, anchors retail and dining year-round. The University of Vermont, founded in 1791, keeps the population young and the arts calendar full. Ferries cross Lake Champlain to Port Kent, New York in about an hour, offering a back-road route into the Adirondacks.

Where to Stay in Burlington

Hotels concentrate near Church Street, the Burlington Waterfront, and the UVM/Medical Center corridor on Colchester Avenue. Waterfront properties offer direct access to the Island Line Trail, a converted rail path that extends 14 miles north toward the Champlain Islands. The Old North End and South End Arts District hold independent restaurants and galleries within walking distance of most downtown hotels.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Burlington International Airport (BTV) is 3 miles east of downtown; most major US carriers serve it with connections.
• Seasons: Foliage peaks mid-October; ski season at Stowe (35 miles east) runs December through April.
• Getting around: Green Mountain Transit buses cover downtown and UVM; a car helps for day trips to Shelburne Museum, 7 miles south on US-7.