Boulder travel guide

Boulder, United States

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Boulder

Introduction

Boulder is a home rule city and the county seat of Boulder County, Colorado, and the primary city of the Boulder metropolitan area. It sits within the Front Range Urban Corridor, the string of communities stretched along the mountains at the edge of the plains.

As the most populous municipality in its county, Boulder anchors the surrounding metro area, making it a natural base for exploring this part of the Front Range.

Before you go

Boulder sits in the Front Range region of Colorado, virtually adjacent to Denver but buffered by Open Space Parks, and it serves as the front door to the mountainous country to the west. The city wears several hats at once: it's a university town, home to the University of Colorado Boulder and others; a hi-tech town; and a center of alternate culture with new age institutions, Naropa University, meditation centers and Buddhist centers. What sets it apart most is its status as a mecca for serious athletes, drawn by the conditioning advantages of high altitude and a community built around training and competition. Even the average nine-to-five Boulderite is far more likely than the average American to be a serious climber, cyclist, runner or skier, and you'll notice it as you go about town. Come no matter the weather and you'll still find people outdoors running, biking, walking and hiking.

Plan around cost and climate before you arrive. Living in Boulder is very expensive, and while smaller towns are popping up around the city that are cheaper, they may take 10–15 minutes to get into town. The climate is dry, so dehydration can be a problem in any season—drink plenty of water, and if you hike in the evening bring two quarts. Temperatures drop remarkably at night, even during summer months, so pack warm clothing for evenings out. If you'll be on the trails, be aware of mountain lions. Boulder has a very low crime rate and no bad neighborhoods, but use common sense: University Hill can become raucous in the evenings, especially on weekends, and downtown, especially at night, is frequented by panhandlers who can be aggressive at times though not dangerous—aggressive panhandling is illegal and you may report it to the police. It is not advised for women to walk alone after 1 AM on the Hill or near Pearl Street Mall, and Boulder has had reports of violence against Asians. On hiking trails near university property, look for black posts lit with a blue light; these have emergency phones that only dial 911.

Getting there

Denver International Airport is the nearest and most practical airport for reaching Boulder. The AB bus runs directly between Boulder and the airport, or you can take the Flatiron Flyer and connect to the A Line. RTD, the regional transit system, runs frequent service in and around Boulder, and nearly all its buses carry bike racks. The Flatiron Flyer is the main commuter route in and out of the city, departing at least every fifteen minutes on safe, comfortable buses, and it also connects to Denver Union Station, where you can pick up Bustang routes across the state or other intercity carriers such as Greyhound. Other RTD services include the BOLT to Longmont with a stop in Niwot, the JUMP, 225 and DASH running east to Erie, Lafayette and Louisville, the infrequent GS to Golden, and the NB shuttle to Nederland in summer and on to the Eldora ski resort in winter. From Fort Collins, Transfort's Flex service reaches Boulder on the F3X variant, with express stops in Longmont and Loveland. In summer, Bustang's seasonal route between Denver and Estes Park stops in Boulder and Lyons — the only car-free way to reach Rocky Mountain National Park short of backpacking in.

By train, Denver is the closest Amtrak station, served by the California Zephyr and the seasonal Ski Train to Winter Park; the throughway bus from Denver to Boulder is made redundant by the more frequent Flatiron Flyer. By car, Boulder sits roughly thirty miles from downtown Denver via I-25 and highway 36, the Boulder Turnpike, and the drive on US 36 offers spectacular views of the Flatirons. Cyclists can ride the US 36 Bikeway to downtown Denver or the LOBO trail to Longmont.

Getting around

Boulder and Denver share a common mass transit system called RTD, which serves both the city and the wider Denver region and is the backbone of car-free travel here. The Flatiron Flyer is the main commuter service in and out of Boulder, running at least every 15 minutes and connecting to Denver Union Station, where you can pick up other Bustang routes across the state as well as intercity companies such as Greyhound. The AB bus runs directly between Boulder and Denver International Airport via E470, and many locals use the "Skyride" RTD bus for airport trips, which is greener and easier than driving. Other routes a visitor is likely to use include the BOLT between Longmont and Boulder with a stop in Niwot; JUMP, 225 and DASH, which run parallel east to Erie, Lafayette and Louisville respectively; the GS to Golden, though it runs very infrequently; the NB shuttle to Nederland in summer and Eldora ski resort in winter; Flex (Transfort) from Fort Collins, of which only the F3X goes all the way; and Bustang's summer seasonal Denver–Estes Park route, which stops in Boulder and Lyons. Nearly all RTD buses carry bike racks, so you can combine riding and transit easily. Boulder itself has no rail, metro or tram network; the nearest train station is in Denver, where you can board Amtrak's California Zephyr and the seasonal Ski Train to Winter Park.

Downtown Boulder is compact and well suited to walking, with most of the city sights within a couple of miles of one another, and plenty of locals get around the downtown by bicycle. Bike sharing is available through Boulder B-Cycle, which has stations downtown and near campus and offers unlimited rides under 30 minutes. For longer trips, Boulder is connected to downtown Denver by the US 36 Bikeway and to Longmont by the LOBO trail. If you do drive, expect heavy traffic on the main thoroughfares, plenty of pedestrians and cyclists, and somewhat tight parking downtown. Several city-owned garages are tucked behind the buildings downtown; look for the large green "P" signs outside their entrance ramps, since they don't look like parking garages from the outside. Parking in the university area can lead to expensive tickets. Boulder's police are vigilant about drunk driving, so leave the car behind if you've been enjoying local microbrews. Watch for school zones — when the yellow lights are flashing, slow to 20 mph — and note that many main streetlights have cameras that can capture you running the tail end of a yellow light, with tickets arriving by mail.

Where to stay

Downtown Boulder has only a handful of hotels, and the budget-conscious will find the Boulder University Inn on Broadway the most affordable of them, with clean, spacious rooms, wireless internet, a business center and an outdoor pool. The other two downtown properties are upscale: the Hotel Boulderado, a block off the Pearl Street Mall, and the St Julien at 9th and Walnut, which bills itself as the luxury experience in the center. The Boulder Marriott on Canyon Boulevard is also centrally placed, with spacious rooms, onsite dining and a pool.

Food & drink

Boulder eats well, and much of it is casual. On the east side of town, Efrain's II is a small dive turning out excellent, authentic Mexican food that's worth the drive. Students flock to Illegal Pete's on the Hill and at the east end of the Pearl Street Mall for generously portioned, economically priced Mexican food and beer—the burritos are a highlight. Kim's Vietnamese Food to Go is a little shack facing Broadway in a parking lot, where everything is made fresh in front of you, and Khow Thai, tucked into a small space on Broadway south of Arapahoe, is known for its green curry. For Nepalese food made to order, try Sherpa's just off Broadway and Pearl, and for Chinese, China Gourmet serves great food at reasonable prices just north of town.

Downtown, The Kitchen on Pearl Street is a neighborhood bistro sourcing most of its food from local growers and producers, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a family-style Community Dinner on Monday nights. Sushi Zanmai, a block north of Pearl, is a traditional sushi house with reasonably priced rolls and happy hour deals. The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse pairs tea with architecture from halfway around the world and offers outdoor dining in summer when the rose garden blooms. For a splurge, Brasserie Ten Ten serves French-inspired cuisine in an elegant downtown setting, while the Flagstaff House, up on Flagstaff Mountain, pairs a full meal or just cocktails and dessert with views over the city. West End Tavern is a locals' favorite for a cold brew and good eats on its rooftop deck, and Mountain Sun on the east end of the Pearl Street walking mall is known for homebrewed beers and tasty American fare—note that it and its sister Southern Sun are cash only, with ATMs onsite. Rincon Argentino serves traditional empanadas made with local ingredients, and Red Rock Coffeehouse pours locally roasted organic coffee.

What to see and do

Start with the University of Colorado Boulder, whose mainly pedestrian campus is worth a wander for its gardens and buildings; the Heritage Center in the Old Main building covers the school's history, and art galleries and museums are scattered throughout. Sports are among the city's best-known draws: the Colorado Buffaloes football team plays at Folsom Field, with the athletics ticket office in the Champions Center attached to the stadium, while the basketball teams play at the CU Events Center.

Three days in Boulder

Day one: Arrive at Denver International Airport and take the AB or Flatiron Flyer line into Boulder, or connect via Denver Union Station if you are coming by Bustang or Greyhound. Once settled, head for the Pearl Street Mall, the pedestrian heart of the city, and get your bearings among the shops and street life. In the afternoon, explore the University of Colorado Boulder campus and the surrounding University Hill neighbourhood, where the student character of the city is most evident.

Day two: Give the day to Boulder's Open Space Parks, the protected land that rings the city along the Front Range. Plan for temperatures that can swing widely, and dress in layers whether the day is warm or bitterly cold. In the evening, return to the city for a quieter look at Boulder's Buddhist and contemplative side around Naropa University.

Day three: Use the BOLT or other RTD services to reach Boulder County's surrounding communities, or spend a final morning on the Pearl Street Mall before departing. If you are heading back to Denver, the Flatiron Flyer and the AB connect you to Denver Union Station and Denver International Airport. Allow time for the Front Range Urban Corridor traffic if you are travelling by road.

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