Boulder itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Boulder, day by day: Flagstaff Mountain, the Flatirons, Chautauqua and Pearl Street Mall first, then Celestial Seasonings, Hotel Boulderado, the History Museum, the Hill, Mesa Laboratory and Bear Peak. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Boulder in 1 day
Day 1
Flagstaff Mountain
Mountain park west of Boulder with a summit road, viewpoints and trails above the city.
The Flatirons
Distinctive slanted sandstone rock formations on the western edge of Boulder, popular for hiking and climbing.
Colorado Chautauqua
National Historic Landmark park founded in 1898 below the Flatirons, with cottages, a dining hall and trailheads.
Boulder Public Library
Main public library on Arapahoe Avenue, with a creekside setting and reading rooms.
Pearl Street Mall
Four-block pedestrian street in downtown Boulder with shops, restaurants, street performers and views of the Flatirons.
Boulder in 2 days
Day 1
Celestial Seasonings
Tea company headquarters in north-east Boulder, known for its factory tour and a tea shop.
Avery Brewing Company
Boulder craft brewery founded in 1993, with a taproom and food in the Gunbarrel area.
Hotel Boulderado
Historic hotel opened in 1909 at Pearl Street's edge, with a stained-glass ceiling and a lobby open to visitors.
Boulder History Museum
Local history museum in a Victorian house, now called the Museum of Boulder, with rotating exhibits about the area.
Boulder Public Library
Main public library on Arapahoe Avenue, with a creekside setting and reading rooms.
Pearl Street Mall
Four-block pedestrian street in downtown Boulder with shops, restaurants, street performers and views of the Flatirons.
Day 2
The Hill
Neighborhood west of the University of Colorado campus with student cafes, shops and music venues.
Colorado Chautauqua
National Historic Landmark park founded in 1898 below the Flatirons, with cottages, a dining hall and trailheads.
Mesa Laboratory
National Center for Atmospheric Research building by I. M. Pei on a mesa above Boulder, with free exhibits and trails.
The Flatirons
Distinctive slanted sandstone rock formations on the western edge of Boulder, popular for hiking and climbing.
Flagstaff Mountain
Mountain park west of Boulder with a summit road, viewpoints and trails above the city.
Bear Peak
Mountain summit above Boulder in the Front Range, reached by a strenuous hike with views over the plains.
Watch: Boulder
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Boulder
Boulder gets about 300 days of sun a year. Late spring, summer and early autumn suit hiking and Pearl Street, though summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms. Autumn colours peak in late September to early October in the foothills, and winters are cold with periodic snow that clears quickly in town. University graduations and football weekends in autumn fill hotels.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Boulder on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Boulder on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Boulder on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Boulder
- Pearl Street Mall is a pedestrian street of shops, restaurants and street performers; it is liveliest on weekend afternoons and summer evenings.
- Boulder sits at about 1,650 metres, so drink plenty of water and take it easy on the first day if you have just arrived from sea level.
- Hikes such as Bear Peak and Flagstaff Mountain are best started early, as afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer and trails can be icy in winter.
- Parking at the Chautauqua trailheads and popular mountain parks fills up early on weekends; the local bus network and bikes are a good alternative.
- Flagstaff Mountain road and some trailheads have seasonal hours or closures, so check conditions before driving up.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Avery Brewing Company: White Rascal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bear Peak: Thomson200, CC0
- Boulder History Museum: user:Хомелка, CC BY 3.0
- Boulder Public Library: Seraphimblade, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Celestial Seasonings: NE Ent, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Colorado Chautauqua: Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Flagstaff Mountain: «Gaurav», CC BY 2.0
- Hotel Boulderado: Willliamson Haffner Co, Denver, Public domain
- Mesa Laboratory: en:user:Daderot, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pearl Street Mall: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Flatirons: Taken by Jesse Varner. Modified by AzaToth ., CC BY-SA 2.5
- The Hill: Kvng, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
