Where to Stay in Vermont (2026)

Top tips for Vermont

The Quick Answer

• The best towns and neighbourhoods for a mini break: Manchester Village, Wilmington, Brattleboro, Stowe, Woodstock, Burlington
• Vermont's best towns for outdoor adventures: Manchester Village, Wilmington, Brattleboro, Stowe, Woodstock, Burlington

Table of Contents

Vermont’s landscape is what folks write home about: the incredible colours of the leaves in fall, the endless vistas of fields and farmland, lakes like huge mirrors, and the dark or snowy peaks. Outdoors folk are more than spoiled for choice in this state, with hiking and biking trails; kayaking, canoeing and white-water rafting rivers; and summits to scale. But Vermont has plenty of picturesque man-made sights to see too, including pretty villages, stylish ski resorts, and towns and cities ripe for a short break. And the real headline is that Vermont will charm in every season. 

A Visitor’s Guide to the Towns and Neighbourhoods of Vermont

Via Google Maps

Among the towns and neighbourhoods most favoured by our Gurus are Manchester Village, which is ideal for anyone looking for historic charm in a luxurious setting and Woodstock, if you’d like somewhere smaller. Woodstock has the New England charm in spades too, but in a peaceful, walkable format, and with more inns than resort-style hotels. If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, consider Stowe or Wilmington, and if you’re all about the ski slopes, then West Dover is even better. Brattleboro is ideal if you want to get out on the water, but it’s also an arty town, with a great food scene. The most popular “little bit of everything” destination is probably Burlington, which is close to Lake Champlain, but has plenty of historic charm, plus great galleries and breweries.  

Manchester Village

Manchester Village is an historic neighbourhood, picturesquely positioned below Mount Equinox and the Green Mountains.  As well as lovely views, the village has loads of historic charm in the shape of plenty of Federal and Georgian architecture, a very impressive arts hub and centre, the historic Equinox House hotel, and Hildene, the Lincoln family’s summer estate.  Manchester Village is also a good base for walkers and hikers: the Equinox Preserve is 900 acres of beautiful, protected green space, with some fantastic trails, and great fly-fishing. Just up the road is Manchester Centre, which is a more commercial centre, with both outlet stores and local boutiques, plus lots more places to eat and drink.  

Wilmington

Part of Wilmington is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Wilmington Village Historic District. But there's more to this place than its history; it’s also stunningly positioned in the Green Mountains’ Deerfield Valley. Some of the town’s highlights include art galleries and antique shops, a beloved local diner called “Dot’s”, and a brewery. The location, halfway between Brattleboro and Bennington, but higher, puts Wilmington close to the ski slopes of Haystack Mountain and the Mount Snow Resort. If it’s not the season for snow, Wilmington is well positioned for hiking routes (trails start from the centre of town), and for swimming, fishing and water-sports on Lake Whitingham, or you can explore local Molly Stark State Park.  

West Dover

Image by Don Johnoghue from Pixabay

West Dover is a historic village even closer to the Mount Snow Resort than Wilmington, so it’s ideal for spill-over skiers, or hikers and mountain bikers, or anyone who prefers to stay in an historic centre (and inn), rather than a resort. In the season, there’s a shuttle up and down the mountain, so it’s barely an inconvenience. What West Dover offers over the resorts of Mount Snow is its historic district, the West Dover Historic District, which is listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The highlights are probably the inn and the Congregational Church, which was built in 1858, but there are plenty of other charming buildings, many in the Federal and Greek Revival styles, plus some lovely little galleries and boutiques.

Brattleboro

Brattleboro is another town with oodles of historic charm, especially its downtown, which is cut through by the Connecticut River. Main Street and Flat Street are the best places to admire the brick buildings in Federal architectural style; the same buildings have been converted into galleries and boutiques, and cafes and restaurants. There’s a lively arts scene here, and a rich literary scene too. For visitors, this means there’s often a festival or events happening. Brattleboro’s position on the Connecticut River made it a key historic town for Vermont’s trade and development; there used to be mills along the river, and the mills brought in other industry, including bookbinders, something the town is still proud of today. The further you stroll from the centre of town, the more suburban Brattleboro gets, with larger plots and more suburban shopping options, before you get to the farms and the forests. Fort Drummer State Park and Retreat Farm are the green spaces best set up for visitors, but there are plenty of lovely forested areas and miles and miles of walking and hiking trails nearby. 

Stowe

Stowe offers a number of New England’s quintessential charms, including incredible fall foliage, fresh air and open spaces, access to the slopes, historic architecture and an arty atmosphere. There are two major strings to Stowe’s bow: its historic core, which is sometimes referred to as Stowe Village, and Stowe the mountain resort, beloved by skiers, and connected to Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont. Stowe’s varied charms are far from new, Stowe has been a resort destination since the mid 19th century. In the early days, it attracted most of its visitors in the summer season; people loved the mountain scenery, but in the 1920s people started to get a taste for downhill skiing, and Stowe became one of America’s earliest ski resorts. Some of the trails and runs from the very earliest days are still popular. Stowe’s other notable landmarks include the white-spired Stowe Community Church and the Von Trapp Family Lodge — yes, that Von Trapp family from The Sound of Music! If you prefer walking and hiking, the Stowe Recreation Path and Cady Hill Lodge will be of interest. Stowe is an excellent base if you’re interested in luxurious or boutique accommodation, but there’s plenty of choice.

Woodstock

This guide is something of a list of charming and historic Vermont villages, and Woodstock is not an exception. This classic New England destination offers rows of historic architecture, including a notable covered bridge in the middle of town; green and pleasant views; and galleries, boutiques and restaurants with bags of visitor appeal. Expect farm-to-table food and local produce in all the delis and general stores. People might opt for Woodstock because of its proximity to the Marsh-Billings-Rockerfella National Historic Park, which is the only national park in Vermont, and for Sleepy Hollow Farm, but it’s also worth popping by Billings Farm, which is a working dairy farm-cum-museum of dairy farming, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. If you’re looking for proximity to ski fields, you’ve got Saskadena Six.

Burlington

Image by Michelle Maria from Pixabay

Burlington is a much larger centre than the historic towns and villages already recommended; it's the largest city in Vermont, which means it’s got more in the way of galleries and museums, and restaurants and shopping, but it’s still got fantastic access to outdoor fun because it's positioned right by scenic Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. In summer, Burlington hosts a number of significant regional festivals and arts events, as well as being a great place for paddle boarding and other lake sports. The lake has beaches too. And the farmers' markets are excellent. In Winter, Burlington is close to a number of ski fields, with good transport links. Fall is one of the most popular times to visit Vermont, generally, and Burlington is no exception, but at this time of year you definitely need to book your accommodation in advance. Burlington’s centre is walkable and charming, despite its larger size. The centre is pedestrianised and known for its independent shopping and ‘university town’ feel.