Weekend in Boulder: 2 Days in Boulder CO Itinerary

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What better way to enjoy a weekend in Boulder than by having an itinerary to follow?

The college town of Boulder, Colorado, is an excellent place for a weekend retreat. It has art, music, culture, and of course, no shortage of outdoor adventures. Plus, it’s just a short trip from Denver.

Whether you’re looking for a mini family vacation or a quick stop on your next road trip, here are some tips to plan the perfect weekend in Boulder.

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When to Visit Boulder

Any time is a good time to spend two days in Boulder because this town is beautiful in every season! Summer has the longest days and best weather for exploring the outdoors, but it’s also the most crowded. 

Spring and fall are ideal if you want to sample Boulder’s outdoor activities with thinner crowds. Plus, the scenery is a bit greener in spring, and fall is leaf-peeping season. 

Winter is quieter and more peaceful, perfect for snuggling up by a fire beneath the majestic snow-dusted Flatirons.

Transportation in Boulder

For this Boulder weekend itinerary, we will focus on activities in and around downtown, which are very walkable and bike-friendly. If you don’t bring your own, you can rent a bike for as little as $8 per day at places like Bcycle or U Bikes. 

The few activities we’ll cover outside of downtown are easy to reach by bus or a short Uber ride. It’s easy to get to Boulder by bus, too—take the AB1 from the airport or the Flatiron Flyer from Denver.

If you drive here or rent a car in Denver, parking in Boulder isn’t nearly the nightmare that it is in Denver. Several parking garages scattered throughout downtown make it easy to find a spot, and some of them are free on weekends.

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How to See Boulder in 2 Days

Day 1

Our first-day itinerary has something for everyone, from biking and water sports to museums and theaters. But first, be sure to fuel up with plenty of local eats.

Eat Your Way Through the Farmers Market

Start your weekend in Boulder with a visit to the Boulder Farmers Market. Stocked entirely by Colorado producers, the market has been promoting local businesses—and feeding hungry visitors—for nearly 40 years.

On Saturdays and Wednesdays from April to November, 13th Street comes alive with dozens of local vendors. You can get all your main food groups here, as well as pasta, pickles, honey, juices, baked goods, and more. The best part? Most of them offer free samples.

If you have any room left after making your way through the booths, grab breakfast or lunch at one of the many prepared food stalls like Pupusas Familia or Rang Tang Craft Barbecue. 

Walk or Bike the Boulder Creek Path

This gentle, paved path running alongside Boulder Creek is where I first fell in love with Colorado. Even in the heat of summer, the gurgling creek water and plentiful shade from the surrounding trees make the Boulder Creek Path comfortably cool—not to mention scenic. 

If you want to explore Boulder on two wheels, this is a much more pleasant way to do it than on the busy main roads. You’ll pass stops like Evert Pierson Kids’ Fishing Pond, Boulder International Peace Garden, and Scott Carpenter Park. Or pause pretty much anywhere to dip your toes in the creek or go for a float in an inner tube.

Hit Up a Museum

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is a fun spot to get out of the heat (or cold, depending on what time of year you plan your weekend in Boulder). Admission costs only $2 per person—except on Saturdays when it’s free! Exhibits range from paintings and collages to larger-than-life 3-D art made from garbage.

If the phrase “local history museum” conjures images of dusty display cases and dry informational plaques, fear not. The Museum of Boulder is a surprisingly lively venue that will appeal to both history buffs and their shorter-attention-spanned counterparts. 

The Museum of Boulder’s creative exhibits includes Brewing the New West, about how Boulder became a hub for local breweries, and the Boulder Experience Gallery, about inventions and innovations that happened in Boulder. There are also some fantastic kid-friendly activities, like the Playzeum and Google Garage.

Cool Off with Water Sports

Colorado may be a desert, but we do have some water sports if you know where to look.

Boulder Reservoir, only a 15-minute drive from downtown, is a mecca for water lovers in the summer months. You can rent equipment like canoes and paddleboards and glide serenely over the calm water beneath a cloudless blue sky…or fall off and flail around like me. Your choice!

Wonderland Lake is another great option for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. This family-friendly gem offers hiking and biking trails, a nature center, and easy fishing that’s ideal for children.

See a Show at the Boulder Theater

This historic entertainment venue has been livening up 14^th Street since 1906. Between its Art Deco architecture and floor-to-ceiling murals, it’s a gorgeous venue for a variety of musicians, comics, avant-garde film screenings, and more.

Day 2

For your second day, head 10 minutes south of downtown to explore the Flatirons and the CU Boulder campus. Be sure to leave plenty of time for sampling all the food and drinks Pearl Street has to offer, and to grab a souvenir.

Hike the Flatirons in Chautauqua

Before hiking, make sure you have these essentials:

🎒 Hiking backpack: Here’s the one I use & love!
💧 Water bladder: This is the water bladder I recommend!
💦 Water bottle: I love and use the Hydroflask 32 oz!
🥾 Hiking boots: These are the hiking boots I use!
🩹 First aid kit: This is a great first aid kit for your backpack!
🥨 Snacks: Clif Bars are my go-to on the trail!
🌲 Hiking poles: These hiking poles are a great option!
❄️ Microspikes: These are the ones I use when the trails are icy!
☀️ Sunscreen: This is a great hiking sunscreen!

No weekend in Boulder would be complete without hiking through some spectacular Colorado scenery—preferably the Flatirons, immense rock formations that tower over Boulder. They probably got their name from early settlers, who thought they resembled old-fashioned irons. 

The Flatirons are beautiful from a distance, and you’ll see them pretty much wherever you go. But to get more up-close-and-personal with these Colorado icons, add a hike in Chautauqua Park to your two-day Boulder itinerary. 

This dog-friendly park has hiking trails for all skill levels. Local favorites include Bluebell Loop (an easy 1.5-mile stroll), First and Second Flatirons (an intermediate 2.7-mile hike), and Royal Arch (3.4 miles of steep inclines and scrambling over rocks).

Chautauqua can get very crowded, so start your day early—or better yet, go on a weekday. If you can’t find a parking spot, there’s plenty of street parking in the neighborhoods nearby.

Explore CU and the Hill

One of Boulder’s trademarks is its combination of natural beauty, art, and laidback culture. Nowhere is this more prevalent than at CU Boulder, a campus of gorgeous red sandstone buildings set against the backdrop of the Flatirons.

In the summer, you can take in a show beneath the stars during CU’s annual Shakespeare Fest.

Fiske Planetarium is open year-round, Thursdays through Sundays. It offers free educational exhibits and a variety of shows, from informational science talks to immersive liquid sky music concerts to guided meditations. 

Across Broadway from campus is the Hill, a much less refined neighborhood where students flock. Here you’ll find casual eats like sandwiches, burritos, and bubble tea—all in the shadow of the Flatirons.

Sip Tea at Dushanbe Teahouse

Did you know that Boulder is sister cities with Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan? 

To celebrate this bond, dozens of Tajikistani artisans came together over 30 years ago to carve, paint, and mosaic this exquisite building—the largest teahouse in the US—in downtown Boulder. The result is a beautiful setting for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course, afternoon tea.

Dushanbe Teahouse’s menu draws from cuisines in Europe, Asia, and India, but it’s most famous for its tea selection. If you take a fancy to a particular brew, you can purchase more from their online shop. Reservations are required, and they’re happy to accommodate dietary restrictions. 

Shop for Souvenirs 

Pearl Street Mall, the backbone of downtown Boulder, has all the shopping your heart could desire. There are the usual souvenir stores—and after the first one, you’ll probably be sick of slogans like “I got HIGH in Boulder.” But there are plenty of shops with a little more character.

Boulder Bookstore houses a wide selection of new, used, and local books inside its historic three-story building. Into the Wind specializes in kites, and Liberty Puzzles sells only artisan puzzles. Savory Spice Shop offers a huge variety of spices, rubs, extracts, cooking kits, and baking supplies. 

Get Dinner on Pearl Street 

Round out your weekend in Boulder with a meal at one of Pearl Street’s many restaurants. The Rio has delicious Mexican food, Hapa is a must for sushi fans, and Falafel King offers quick, no-frills Mediterranean. You’ll see tons of pub-type restaurants, but my favorite is Bohemian Biergarten. 

Then there’s Avanti, a relatively new addition, which is kind of like an upscale food court. It’s great for groups because you can get your Costa Rican fix while your dad gets pizza and your sister gets mapo tofu. You can also stop in just for coffee or ice cream.

Where to Stay in Boulder

The good news is that Boulder is a popular place to visit, so there are plenty of lodging options, from chain hotels to boutique places with a little more character.

The bad news is that, well, Boulder is a popular place to visit—meaning rates can be sky-high, especially in summer. Even in the off seasons, keep in mind that the university often dictates price fluctuations.

If you can plan your trip to avoid high-demand dates like homecoming weekend or big football games, you’ll save yourself some cash.

Luxury – Boulder Guest House

Set in an urban Zen Buddhist practice center, this boutique hotel is a relaxing place to spend a weekend in Boulder. The rooms are spacious, with tranquil, minimalist décor, and some have luxurious amenities like balconies and fireplaces.

If you need a little stillness during your busy two-day Boulder itinerary, guests are welcome to join the Boulder Zen Center’s meditation hall. 

The Boulder Guest House is in a convenient central location, right next to the Boulder Creek Path and a 10-minute walk from Pearl Street Mall. Rates start around $350 per night in summer.

Mid-Range – Foot of the Mountain Motel

Nestled between downtown Boulder to the east and the foothills to the west, this motel immerses you in a mountain lodge atmosphere while still being close to everything Boulder has to offer. Amenities include a library, garden, and picnic area, and you can rent a bike straight from the hotel.

Rates start around $300 per night in summer, but are half that during spring and fall shoulder seasons. Every room includes free breakfast.

Budget-Friendly – Chautauqua Airbnb

Because lodging in Boulder can be so expensive, vacation rentals like Airbnbs are a great option for budget travelers planning a weekend in Boulder. 

This 700-square-foot suite just outside Chautauqua Park is within walking distance of Boulder’s best hiking and just a 10-minute drive from downtown Boulder—all for only $240 per night in summer (including Airbnb’s cleaning and service fees). It also has a full kitchen, so you can save money by dining in during your two days in Boulder. 

There are plenty of other Airbnb and Vrbo options out there, including cheaper ones that are a little smaller or less central, so definitely explore these if you’re looking to plan a Boulder weekend itinerary on a budget.

Final Thoughts: 2 Days in Boulder

Boulder is a lively town loved by locals, tourists, and college students alike. There are activities for everyone, whether you prefer outdoor adventure or culture and art—or all the above! Use these tips to plan your ideal weekend in Boulder.