Bus to Burlington

Burlington is Vermont's largest city, sitting on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain with the Adirondacks rising on the western horizon and the Green Mountains visible to the east. It's a college town that has grown into a small, year-round city — University of Vermont students, lake-side cafes, a downtown pedestrian mall, an active food and brewery scene, and easy access to ski mountains, hiking and the long Vermont autumn. The bus to Burlington drops you in the centre of the city at the Downtown Transit Center on St. Paul Street, with the Church Street Marketplace, the waterfront and the UVM campus all within a short walk. People come for the lake, for the foliage, for the food and brewery culture, for skiing at Stowe and Smugglers' Notch, and for the manageable scale of a city that still feels like it's built around its lake. A Burlington bus ticket lands you a few blocks from the Lake Champlain shore.

Greyhound stops in Burlington

Burlington has three Greyhound stops, all operated locally by Vermont Translines. The main one is the Burlington Downtown Transit Center at 45-68 St. Paul Street, just south of Pearl Street on the east side — the central downtown stop and the right choice for most travellers. The second is the airport stop at 1200 Airport Drive, in a dedicated bus cut-out past baggage claim — useful if you're connecting to or from a flight. The third is the Colchester Park & Ride at 400 US-7, in the suburb of Colchester north of the city, primarily a drive-and-park stop.

The Downtown Transit Center is the most useful for travellers heading into the city. It's a full terminal with indoor seating, restrooms and the basic shelter you'd expect, and it sits within a short walk of the Church Street Marketplace, the City Hall Park, the central restaurants and the pedestrian zone. Plan to arrive in good time so you can find your bay and get checked in.

If you're being met, the surrounding streets are familiar territory for rideshare drivers and the Church Street area is a comfortable place to wait. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed for boarding.

Getting around Burlington after your bus to Burlington arrives

Burlington's central downtown is exceptionally compact. From the Downtown Transit Center on St. Paul Street, the Church Street Marketplace, City Hall Park, the lakefront and most of the central restaurants and bars are all within a comfortable walk. The University of Vermont campus and the Fleming Museum are a short walk or rideshare uphill from downtown.

Green Mountain Transit — GMT — runs the local public-transport network with a hub at the same downtown Transit Center. Useful routes go out to the airport (Route 1), the Burlington town belt and across to South Burlington and Essex Junction. Service is reasonable on weekdays and lighter on weekends, so check timing if you're relying on it. Rideshare runs reliably across the metro and is the realistic option for evening trips.

For the wider region — Stowe, Smugglers' Notch, Lake Champlain ferry crossings to New York, the Shelburne Museum south of the city — a rental car is the practical option. The Lake Champlain Ferries cross from Burlington to Port Kent, NY, in summer, which is an atmospheric onward connection if you're heading into the Adirondacks. Cycling is also viable in the central downtown and along the Burlington Bike Path that runs the length of the lakeshore.

Top things to do in Burlington

• The Church Street Marketplace, the four-block pedestrian-only stretch of Church Street between Pearl and Main, with restaurants, independent shops, street performers and the steady year-round pulse of the city.
• Lake Champlain and the Burlington waterfront, with the boardwalk along the water, the ECHO Center for science and the lake on the harbour, and the Spirit of Ethan Allen sightseeing boat in season.
• The Burlington Bike Path, the long lakeshore trail running from Oakledge Park in the south up through the central waterfront and out to the Colchester Causeway over the lake — an unusual rail-trail that runs out into open water on the old rail bed.
• The University of Vermont's Fleming Museum, with strong galleries on European, American, African, Pre-Columbian and Asian art, plus rotating exhibitions. Free entry on Saturday afternoons.
• The Shelburne Museum, six miles south of the city, an unusual American folk-art and Americana museum spread across 39 buildings on a 45-acre campus, including a steamboat moored on the grass.
• Battery Park, the bluff-top park overlooking the lake just north of downtown, with 1812-era cannons, lake views and the western edge of the central downtown grid.
• City Hall Park, the green square in the centre of downtown, the natural heart of the city's outdoor life with regular markets, free concerts and a fountain.
• The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, the restored 1787 home of the Vermont founder on the Winooski River north of downtown, with interpreted exhibits on early Vermont and the Allen family.
• South End Art District, the converted industrial buildings of the Pine Street area, with artist studios, small breweries and the Conant Metal & Light works open during regular events.
• Magic Hat Brewing Company in South Burlington, the original Vermont craft brewery with tours and a tasting room.
• Stowe and Smugglers' Notch, both within an hour's drive — the headline ski mountains in winter and serious hiking territory in summer, with classic Vermont village centres at their feet.

Food and drink in Burlington

Burlington has a food scene out of proportion to its size, built on Vermont produce, dairy and the long tradition of small artisan food businesses. The Church Street Marketplace and the surrounding blocks have farm-to-table restaurants, casual diners, taquerias, ramen places and the long-running independent cafes. Vermont cheese — Cabot, Jasper Hill, Vermont Creamery — turns up in restaurants across the city, often with charcuterie from local cured-meat producers.

The brewery scene is genuinely strong. Vermont's small-batch brewing tradition — Hill Farmstead, Heady Topper from The Alchemist, Magic Hat, Foam — gives the city a steady supply of beer that travellers seek out specifically. The South End and the Pine Street corridor have the smaller breweries and tasting rooms. Maple syrup and Vermont ice cream — Ben & Jerry's was founded in Burlington — are the obvious souvenirs, but the Friday and Saturday farmers markets are worth a trip too. The Burlington Farmers Market runs in City Hall Park in summer and indoors in winter.

Best time to visit Burlington

Late spring through early autumn is the long, comfortable window. From May into June the lake comes alive with sailing and the bike path opens up to a full season. July and August are warm — afternoons in a comfortable range with the lake breeze taking the edge off — and the long evenings stretch out late over the water. The Burlington waterfront, the boats, the cafes and the open lake are at their best.

September and October are the New England fall classic. The maples and birches come in around the Champlain Valley with a colour show that pulls travellers from across the country, the long evenings of August give way to crisp blue October days, and a final stretch of warm weekends bridges the season before the cold returns. This is the connoisseur's window.

Winter is the second high season for ski travellers heading on to Stowe or Smugglers' Notch. From December through March the city sits under snow, the lake freezes around the edges in cold years, and Church Street stays walkable on most days. Daytime temperatures sit around or below freezing — pack for it. Spring is the awkward shoulder month: mud season, variable weather, but lower hotel rates and a quieter Church Street if you don't mind unpredictable conditions.

From the Downtown Transit Center it's one block east to Church Street, and you're in the pedestrian heart of the city — Marketplace restaurants, City Hall Park and the bike path down to the lake all within a few minutes' walk. Drop bags, find a coffee on Church Street, and let Burlington open up at its own pace. Use the search bar on this page to check schedules and book bus tickets to Burlington when your dates are firm.

Planning Your Greyhound Bus Trip to Burlington?

You're in the right place! Get all the details you need to arrange your bus journey to Burlington! There are 3 bus stops in Burlington. You can board the Greyhound at Burlington Bus Stop, Burlington Downtown Transit Ctr, Colchester (VT Park & Ride). You can easily find the location of the stop(s) on the map available on this page. Traveling to or departing from Burlington can cost you as little as $12.99. If you're on the hunt for a cheap ticket to Burlington, remember to book early. Traveling on weekdays or during non-peak hours can also lead you to some of the most budget-friendly fares available! With 16 destinations linked to Burlington, Greyhound provides you with multiple options for planning your bus trip.

Why travel to Burlington with Greyhound

When you choose Greyhound, you're promised a comfy seat and free Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we safely drive you to your destination! Enjoy a comfy bus trip to Burlington with our onboard facilities like free Wi-Fi and power outlets. Choose your favorite seat while booking and travel with peace of mind rest easy knowing your ticket covers one carry-on and one checked bag.

How to book your bus ticket to Burlington

Booking a ticket with Greyhound is a breeze: on this website or on the free Greyhound App, you can complete your booking in a few clicks. When purchasing your ticket to Burlington online, you can choose between different secured online payment methods, such as credit and debit cards. Alternatively, you can pay in cash at a sales point.