Burlington

State: Vermont. Type: city, Vermont's most populous, in Chittenden County on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. Population: 44,743 (2020 census). Settled 1783; incorporated as a city in 1865. Home to the University of Vermont and Champlain College. In 2015 became the first U.S. city to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

Burlington is Vermont's largest city, set on a hillside rising from the eastern shore of Lake Champlain in Chittenden County, about 45 miles south of the Canadian border. Settled in 1783 and incorporated in 1865, it grew from a lake-trade and mill town into a college city anchored by the University of Vermont and Champlain College. Its compact downtown centers on the pedestrian Church Street Marketplace, while its lakefront has been reshaped into parks, bike paths and public beaches. Burlington's history includes building the world's first lake-going steamboat in 1808 and, more recently, the 1978 founding of Ben & Jerry's in a converted gas station. The city markets itself on a mix of outdoor lake access, a walkable historic core, and a progressive, environmentally minded civic identity, reinforced by its renewable-electricity milestone and the 2022 launch of Amtrak passenger service to New York City.

Burlington sits in Chittenden County on Lake Champlain's eastern shore, about 45 miles south of the Canada-U.S. border and roughly 95 miles south of Montreal. The city rises from the waterfront to an elevation of about 300 feet. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport lies just south in neighboring South Burlington.

Burlington has a humid continental climate with cold winters (January averages around 21°F) and warm summers (July averages around 72°F). Annual snowfall averages about 86 inches, though totals vary significantly from year to year.

Late spring through early fall offers the mildest weather for lakefront activities, festivals and walking Church Street Marketplace, while winter brings cold temperatures and heavy average snowfall better suited to visitors interested in snow sports in the surrounding region. Exact seasonal crowd and pricing data were not found in the sources used and should be confirmed with the city's tourism resources.

Burlington was settled in 1783 and incorporated as a city in 1865. In 1808 it was the site of the world's first lake-going steamboat. The city later became a college town anchored by the University of Vermont, whose medical school is described as among the most selective in the country, and by Champlain College. In 1978 Ben & Jerry's ice cream was founded here in a converted gas station. Burlington reached a notable environmental milestone in 2015 by becoming the first U.S. city to run entirely on renewable electricity, and in 2022 gained direct Amtrak service to New York City.

Visitors can browse and dine along the pedestrian Church Street Marketplace, which hosts year-round festivals and events. The waterfront offers parks, biking and walking paths, including the Island Line Trail, which extends about four miles out into Lake Champlain. Leddy Beach on the lakefront hosts community events such as weekly summer gatherings. The University of Vermont and Champlain College campuses add a college-town atmosphere with public lectures, galleries and events.

Church Street Marketplace is the city's historic pedestrian shopping and dining core. The Burlington waterfront and its parks give direct access to Lake Champlain. The Island Line Trail is a notable engineered path running out into the lake on a former rail causeway. The University of Vermont campus anchors the city's northern side.

Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV), in neighboring South Burlington, is the main air gateway to the city. Amtrak began direct passenger rail service between Burlington and New York City in 2022. Interstate 89 connects Burlington to the rest of Vermont and to Canada to the north.

Burlington City Hall keeps office hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., per the city's official site. Individual attractions, parks and Church Street Marketplace businesses set their own hours, which vary by season and by business; confirm directly with each venue.

Church Street Marketplace, the waterfront parks and Leddy Beach are free public spaces; specific attractions, tours, and any paid parking (see the city's parking information) carry their own separate costs. No single admission fee applies to the city itself.

A day is enough to see Church Street Marketplace and the waterfront; two to three days allows time to add UVM-area sights, lake activities and day trips into the wider Lake Champlain region.

Downtown Burlington and the area near the University of Vermont offer a range of hotels, inns and bed-and-breakfasts within walking distance of Church Street and the waterfront. Additional chain hotels cluster near the airport in South Burlington. Specific property names were not verified against an official source and are intentionally omitted here.

Church Street Marketplace and the surrounding downtown blocks concentrate Burlington's main restaurant and cafe scene, with a wide range of casual and sit-down dining. The waterfront area adds additional dining with lake views. Specific restaurant names were not independently verified for this summary and are intentionally omitted.

Lake Champlain itself, with its islands, ferries and shoreline towns, is directly adjacent to Burlington. The University of Vermont campus and South Burlington (home to the airport) are close by. The wider Champlain Valley, including Shelburne, is a short drive south.

Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) is the primary air gateway. Amtrak provides direct rail service to New York City as of 2022. Green Mountain Transit operates local bus service within the city; a car or rideshare covers most other regional travel needs.

Standard city precautions apply downtown and on the waterfront, especially after dark. Lake Champlain water conditions (temperature, currents) should be checked before swimming or boating. For any emergency, dial 911.

Layers are useful given Burlington's variable weather across seasons; a warm coat and waterproof footwear are worth packing for winter visits given the area's heavy average snowfall. Comfortable walking shoes suit Church Street and the waterfront paths.

Church Street Marketplace and the waterfront are both walkable from most downtown lodging, so a car is not essential for a city-focused visit. Checking Green Mountain Transit or Amtrak schedules ahead of time can help visitors arriving without a car. Confirm current parking rules via the city's official parking information page before driving downtown.

Dial 911 for any emergency. Burlington City Hall's general line is 802-865-7000, per the city's official website.

City of Burlington, Vermont - https://www.burlingtonvt.gov

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.