Burlington is Vermont’s largest city, sitting pretty on the shores of Lake Champlain. That said, it’s relatively diminutive as compared to other capital cities, but that’s one of its innate charms. Besides the University of Vermont, which has resulted in a vibrant social and cultural life, Burlington is also home to the City Hall Park Historic District. It sits on the National Register of Historic Places, resulting in the most alluring and old-timey downtown with stunning Georgian Revival and neo-classical architecture. In fact, we found many options for a B&B in Burlington, Vermont, which was also in the historic district, with many distinctive Queen Anne-style homes. In fact, the homes date back to the 1800s, and many of them are now legendary landmarks in the New England retreat scene.
Since it’s one of the best places for fall foliage in Vermont and home to one of Vermont’s best ski resorts, Burlington sees visitors throughout the year. In fact, Time Out magazine listed it amongst the world’s 14 most underrated travel destinations. Plus, it’s home to many of Vermont’s places to visit and things to do excited us about visiting the gorgeous city. Here’s a detailed guide to visiting “The Queen City” and staying in its stunning bed and breakfasts.
Our Favorite Bed & Breakfast in Burlington
- Blind Tiger Burlington
- Sinclair Inn Bed & Breakfast
- Lang House On Main Street
- Stone Hill Inn
- Made Inn Vermont
- The Inn At Buck Hollow Farm
- Heart Of The Village Bed & Breakfast
- Snow Farm Inn
- Timberholm Inn
- Williston Village Inn
- The Inn At Charlotte Bed And Breakfast
Modern B&Bs
Blind Tiger Burlington
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Staying at the Blind Tiger was a unique boutique experience. The inn sits in a stunning and historic brick country mansion that’s been passed down through generations. Lush traditional gardens surround the 1881-built former private home. On the inside, more than 75% of the furnishings were antique, handmade, and one-of-a-kind. The mixed-use gathering spaces, like the monochromatic dining room and the jungle-like solarium, made it an utterly modern stay. The best bit? Every room included thoughtful touches from a local ‘host,” allowing us to see unique perspectives on best enjoying and exploring the surroundings.
Meet The Hosts
Blind Tiger is part of Lark Hotels’ portfolio. Shay Langley, the current general manager, runs the property and has an experienced and wonderful staff. They were warm and welcoming, showed us around the property, gave us tips on exploring the region, and took care of our every whim. They were incredibly kind and helpful, so much so that staying here felt like our private escape.
Food And Drink
The food and drink scene at the Blind Tiger is slightly different from that of a traditional B&B. For instance, there was a complimentary artisanal toast and yogurt bar in the dining room, where we were welcome to help ourselves. Served from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., breakfast included various kinds of bread, oats, quinoa, yogurt, and lots of unique seasonal toppings, which we loved.
What’s more, we had access to a fully stocked complimentary pantry, which included drinks and small-batch snacks available around the clock and afternoon cookies. What impressed us was the barroom, which sat beside a living room with a 1970s Swedish leather sectional and a fireplace; it was the perfect spot to enjoy cocktails.
The Rooms
None of the 14 rooms are alike; while some have original mantles with fireplaces, others have comfy seating areas with reading nooks. Nevertheless, all rooms seamlessly blend Colonial-Georgian Revival and Queen Anne architectural elements with modern living splendor. Plus, all rooms have essentials like plush beds, luxe bathrooms with bespoke bath products, wine glasses – the works.
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Williston Village Inn
The Williston Village Inn sits 15 minutes from downtown Burlington in the heart of the historical hamlet of Williston Village. Think old-world charm with affordable in-town convenience; that’s the inn for you.
- Meet the hosts: The Shalna family owns the Williston Village Inn, which Neringa and Algis Shalna currently run. What’s interesting is that Algis is a world-class, Olympic-winning biathlete and was even the head coach of the US Biathlon National Team! In fact, he spent much of his adult life staying in European B&Bs, so it was only natural that he opened a B&B with his wife, Neringa, when he retired. They were both very warm and welcoming, regaling us with stories of how their family came to Burlington from Lithuania nearly four decades earlier. Algis wanted others to experience the warmth he felt from other hosts, and he made us feel like family.
- Food and drink: Despite them not offering breakfast at this time, Neringa had fantastic suggestions for breakfast options nearby. Moreover, all rooms had a variety of hot chocolate, tea, and Green Mountain coffee, along with a Keurig coffeemaker and a mini fridge.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of four rooms/suites, all of which had spotless private bathrooms, the world’s softest beds, and lots and lots of foot space, which was rare in a B&B bedroom. In fact, the suite even had a separate living space with a pull-out bed, which was perfect for a group of travelers.
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Made Inn Vermont
Hip, historic, artsy, and modern, the Made Inn Vermont is a boutique and urban-chic best B&B in Burlington, Vermont’s Historic Hill district. Did you know that this living museum is the only Burlington B&B that accepts dogs? Yes!
- Meet the hosts: Linda Wolf didn’t intend to be an innkeeper, but she ended up buying a stunning Victorian house that both she and her daughter Shelly loved. That’s how she became the proud owner/innkeeper here. But don’t expect a traditional, pish-posh innkeeper; I mean, who would champion wearing jammies to breakfast? Laidback Linda, however, had a famous pot of “kick your butt” coffee at breakfast that would always wake us up! The best bit? She was very sweet to take us through the history of the B&B and the best places to see and things to do around.
- Food and drink: The seasonal menu, albeit limited from November to April, is delectable and always delightful, we’re told. Where else would we find champagne, mimosas, and bellinis with made-to-order breakfasts? Every morning from 9 to 10 a.m., we’d dig into the truly tasty fare, along with a variety of teas and coffees from Keurig. Not only did they give us afternoon snacks, teas, and drinks, but we also had access to the kitchen to whip up anything and access to a cafe and candy bar 24/7. Did we mention that Linda also accommodated special requests, kiddie food, and even boxed breakfasts for those leaving early? Yes!
- Room type(s): We had the choice of four rooms, all of which came with detached and private keyed bathrooms. What’s more, they all had soft beds, mini-fridges, snack bars, slippers and robes, and Netflix Roku HDTVs. What more could we want?
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Historic Stays
Heart of the Village Bed & Breakfast
Located 14 minutes south of Burlington is the Heart of the Village Bed & Breakfast, an adults-only escape we fell absolutely in love with. The inn sits in a gorgeous 1886-built Queen Anne Victorian and was the home of the Van Vliet family until 1915. Besides the addition of rooms and the carriage barn, the house was elaborate even for its day. In fact, the house apparently had the town’s first flush toilet! Plus, some beautiful features like local wooden blinds and English tiles with historical scenes are well-preserved even today. It finally converted to a B&B after extensive renovations in 1996, with several generations of investor-owners managing it.
- Meet the hosts: Current owners and innkeepers Rose and Anatoly purchased the home in 2015, transforming it into a vibrant and modern historic B&B for the 21st-century traveler. When we arrived, they gave us a tour, helped us settle into our rooms, gave us tips about exploring the region, and even asked about our dietary preferences. Since they stayed on the property, they could take care of us personally.
- Food and drink: Did you know we filled out a menu of what we wanted for breakfast? Yes! In fact, they’re Shelburne’s only B&B that offers individually prepared breakfasts, including vegan and gluten-free options. There was tea, coffee, juices, fruits, maple yogurts, jams, made-to-order eggs (including Eggs Benedict!), pancakes, French toast, quiches, muffins, bread, bacon, sausages, and more. Yum!
- Room type(s): Nine rooms between the main and carriage houses all had private bathrooms with complimentary designer bath products, plush beds, free Wi-Fi, terry bathrobes, and flatscreen TVs. Moreover, the king rooms and suites also had mini-fridges.
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Sinclair Inn Bed & Breakfast
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The Sinclair Inn Bed & Breakfast has a long and storied history. Edward Sinclair, a building contractor and wood craftsman, built the gorgeous Queen Anne Victorian for his bride-to-be Ruth in 1895. While it was one of many Victorian-period homes, few homes were as detailed or exquisite as this one. Moreover, it’s lived former lives as a B&B, a private residence, and a women-only rest haven, with remnants of the past retained even today. Think antique furnishings, stained-glass windows, wainscotting, and hardwood floors.
- Meet the hosts: Currently, Holly and Kyle Velvis are the owners and innkeepers of this property. They’d both worked in healthcare, hospitality, commercial food production, and even event planning before they came to this part of Vermont to run this amazing inn. Whether it was welcoming and giving us a tour of the inn or exchanging travel tales over breakfast, we had a ball with Holly and Kyle – and their bundle of joy, Cassidy!
- Food and drink: Breakfast was served every morning in the elegant dining room. When we got lucky with the weather, they’d even lay out breakfast on the patio with views of the verdant gardens. Moreover, the buffet changed daily and would have treats like egg bread pudding, pancakes, and home-cooked waffles. If that wasn’t enough, they’d even leave chocolates, cookies, and fruits for us in the lounge area, and we even had fridge access for juices, sparkling water, and sodas.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of six rooms, four of which can sleep up to three people each. One is a cozy one for a couple. The last one is a family room with a queen and a full bed and can accommodate two adults and two children.
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Snow Farm Inn
Snow Farm Inn is on the island of Grand Isle in the middle of Lake Champlain, just half an hour north of Burlington. Part of the Snow Farm Vineyard and earlier known as the Crescent Bay Farm B&B, it is a classic and historic farm stay like no other—but with modern comforts. We loved the 1820s farmhouse setting, which was surrounded by vintage and verdant gardens and even a mini stone garden castle.
- Meet the hosts: Julie and Dave Lane, along with their two sons, Alex and Nick, are the owners and innkeepers of the farm. We’d also see the resident cat, Charlotte, wandering around on the premises. Julie and Dave were wonderfully gracious hosts, and we even learned a few agriculture tips from them about our own kitchen garden. While Julie managed the tasting room and the B&B, Nick and Dave continued their off-farm jobs, too, while spending days at the winery. Alex cares for the grape vines and has been working here since high school.
- Food and drink: We’d enjoy continental breakfasts in the main dining room, by the brick fireplace and beehive baking oven. Think homemade scones and maple syrup, coffee, tea, juices, seasonal fruits, etc., with grab-and-go options, including granola bars, fruit, and juice.
- Room type(s): Staying on the farm was a phenomenal experience, especially since there were just four rooms, making it very intimate. Moreover, they all boasted plush beds, private bathrooms, and amazing views of the vineyard.
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Romantic Stays
New England is romantic, and Vermont is especially so. So, it’s no surprise that its largest city, Burlington, also has many romantic stays. Here are the very best.
Stone Hill Inn
We were looking for a quiet refuge to spend a romantic vacation in Burlington, and what better place than the Stone Hill Inn? After all, it has a lot of awards in its kitty, including being named “Best Romantic Getaway” by Yankee Magazine and was amongst TripSavvy’s “Top 10 New England Inn/Lodging for In-Room Fireplaces.” In fact, Dating News even gave it the “Couples Retreat Editors’ Choice Award!” Check out the amazing romance packages at this lovely inn.
- Meet the hosts: Kristie and Todd Roling, born-and-raised Southerners, have owned and operated the inn since December 2016. Thus, they brought a lot of their southern hospitality to this beautiful Vermont B&B. While Todd was in TV earlier, Kristie had her own business, and they both moved here with their three kids to run this B&B, which they do a fabulous job of. They love talking about the beauty and history of the region and the B&B, along with giving us some much-needed advice on how to explore the region.
- Food and drink: Every morning at 8 am, the table in the dining room is set with delicacies like French herbed scrambled with smoked salmon, pear-brie omelets, orange-pecan waffles, and corned beef hash meats along with bread, tea, sour cream, butter, granola, cheese, coffee, and yogurt, among other things. Sigh.
- Room type(s): All 10 rooms and suites overlooked the wooded greens and boasted plush beds, flatscreen TVs, fireplaces, free Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms. We could also purchase champagne, wine, ciders, and local beer on tap.
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Lang House on Main Street
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Imagine staying in an 1881 Queen Anne Victorian home-turned-luxurious B&B; that’s the Lang House on Main Street for you. Once owned by the University of Vermont founder Ira Allen, the place became a B&B in 2000.
- Meet the hosts: Kim Borsavage has owned and run the Lang House Inn since 2003. Along with her two sons and a wonderful staff, she is kind and welcoming. They made our stay very comfortable and chatted with us about the history of the house and the town.
- Food and drink: Kim and Carter, her son, love to bake and cook. Thus, breakfast, which was served from 7:45-9:15 am, was a delicious, inventive, nutritious, and homemade affair with a seasonally changing menu. We’d gather in the dining room or the sun porch and dig into tea, coffee, juices, starters (smoothie, sweet bread, coffeecake, muffin, or scone), and three breakfast entrées (creative egg dishes like scrambled eggs/frittatas, sweet dishes like crepes, French toast, waffles, or pancakes). Plus, there would even be breakfast meats, fruit, yogurt, and granola. Our favorite bit, though, was the cookies and fresh-baked treats in the afternoon!
- Room type(s): We had the choice of nine rooms in the main house and two rooms in the Carriage House. While all rooms had private bathrooms, some had walk-in showers, and some had shower-tub combos. Our Garden Spa room, though, was the best; it had a two-person jetted tub with body jets right in our room! Did you know they also offered romance packages that included late checkout, robes, breakfast in bed, a cheese plate, and a bottle of prosecco with champagne flutes? Yes!
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Family-friendly Stays
It’s hard to find many family-friendly B&Bs overall, but Burlington seems to be bursting with them! Here are some of the best B&Bs in the town that also welcome children.
Timberholm Inn
The 1949-established Timberholm Inn is recognized by the Stowe Historical Society as one of the region’s very first ski lodges! Nestled into a quiet, wooded hillside, this classic B&B has the air of an era gone by and still remains one of the region’s most popular year-round lodging properties.
- Meet the hosts: The new (majorly) owner of the Timberholm Inn is Caleb Connerty, who’s a native of Stowe. He runs the inn with the help of manager and best friend Eric Nicholson, who’s also been born and raised in Stowe. In fact, he’s been Caleb’s best friend and neighbor since childhood! While Caleb focuses on growing the inn’s business, freestyle coach and professional ski instructor Eric is all about the outdoors and told us how to best explore the region. Finally, there’s innkeeper Hannah, whose passion is baking, which we’d see at our breakfast table every single day!
- Food and drink: Our days started off with delicious, homemade breakfasts served by Hannah. They included local coffee, which was their specialty blend, which gave us some much-needed energy to begin our days. What’s more, they also included seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goodies, tea, juices, waffles, pancakes, different types of bread, quiches, and even specialty wraps that Hannah would make every day.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of seven rooms and two wonderful family-style suites, which is where we stayed. Not only did all rooms have private bathrooms, but our two-bedroom suite also had separate twin beds for the kids, a smart TV, a microwave, and a small fridge, as well as a private bathroom with both a shower and a bathtub.
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The Inn at Buck Hollow Farm
We found traditional Vermont warmth and hospitality along with the coziness of a B&B at The Inn at Buck Hollow Farm, which welcomed children older than two years of age. Sitting on 400 spectacular acres of Vermont scenery, it was also one of the very few bed and breakfasts we’ve seen that had a phenomenal 40-foot fenced seasonal pool as well as an outdoor infrared sauna!
“We had a ball staying here with the children, more than we’ve had staying at some hotels across the country!”
WOW Travel
- Meet the hosts: The owners are Jacquie and Brad Schwartz, who fell in love with and renovated this 1790s carriage house with many original elements still in place. They not only gave us a tour of the property but also made our stay at the inn very comfortable.
- Food and drink: Jacquie and Brad would serve us a wonderful breakfast every morning, which included everything from coffee, tea, and juices to types of bread, made-to-order eggs, waffles, pancakes, and the like. What we really loved here was when Jacquie was available, we’d sit by the fire and have the homemade pizza she’d make, along with pasta and even homemade maple ice cream. Between November and April, with some advance planning, they’d even provide a delicious fondu dinner!
- Room type(s): Three rooms and a suite are all individually decked out with flatscreen TVs, queen beds, and antiques. What’s more, they all had private baths, and our suite even had a sliding door leading to a private verandah with wonderful views of the property.
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The Inn at Charlotte Bed and Breakfast
Tucked at the foothills of Mt. Philo, The Inn at Charlotte Bed and Breakfast sat just 20 minutes south of the heart of Burlington. It was another great B&B that welcomed kids and made for the perfect stay for our Vermont vacation. We especially loved the common room, where we could all relax together, mingle with other guests, and even whip up a quick meal in the well-equipped kitchenette. However, the verdant outdoors with the garden courtyard, pergola, hammocks, shade sails, picnic tables, and fire pit were the highlight of our stay. Thanks to the outdoor gas grill, we’d even enjoy alfresco dinners under the stars.
- Meet the hosts: Josephina and Duker Bower, the owners, were very friendly, warm, and welcoming. Duker is an artist who has designed, cut, and painted the inn’s signature pineapple sign. Josephina, too, is very well-traveled and would always be available for a conversation.
- Food and drink: While breakfast is not available at this time, all rooms have kitchenettes with coffeemakers. Moreover, they even supplied us with fresh ground coffee so we could begin our day with a kick.
- Room type(s): We had the choice of four rooms, two of which were larger suites with multiple beds and even a living room. The Family Room, our abode, had king and queen beds, a living area with a TV, and a full kitchen where we could whip up meals anytime the kids wanted. Of course, all rooms had access to the main kitchen, too.
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Where to Stay in Burlington?
While the city has seven major neighborhoods, most of Burlington’s B&Bs are located in three major areas. We begin with the Downtown Church Street and Waterfront districts on the shores of Lake Champlain. These districts not only have some of the city’s best eateries but also some very quaint B&Bs.
That said, the largest cluster of bed and breakfasts lies near the University neighborhood. The leafy streets and boulevards make for the perfect setting for staying in B&Bs, which feel like a home away from home.
The third neighborhood where we found the most B&Bs was South Burlington, which again provided a scenic and majestic setting that was the revived creative arts district. With many distilleries, brewpubs, and breweries, the neighborhood is perfect for us as we wanted to explore the city’s drinking and dining scene too.
What is special about Burlington, Vermont’s B&Bs?
Burlington’s B&Bs are in gorgeous Victorian-era and Queen Anne architectural structures. They date back to the 1800s when Burlington was first established as an important town on Lake Champlain.
Is Burlington, Vermont, a nice place to live?
Yes, this lovely city on the shores of Lake Champlain boasts authentic charm, loads of culture, and stunning views of the Adirondack Mountains.
Is Burlington, VT, worth seeing?
Absolutely, it’s a haven for culture vultures, outdoor enthusiasts, and nature lovers.
