It’s no surprise Boulder is ranked the No. 1 college town in America (American Institute for Economic Research, 2017). On campus you’ll be able to grow your community, explore inventive thought and turn your ideas into reality. The local scene allows you to balance your studies with community. From the Rocky Mountains to our engaging downtown, Boulder offers something for everyone.
Explore Boulder and get to know our community.
With beautiful views and people walking, running and biking the path, you’ll get a good sense of what this town is about.
Just a short walk from campus, Pearl Street is home to shops, art galleries, live music and more than 280 restaurants.
Many students live on The Hill across from campus. With a small main street, you can explore the shops and enjoy the college vibe.
A local favorite, the hiking trails provide amazing views and great elevation gain. Don’t forget to bring lots of water!
You can rent red Boulder B-cycle bikes all around town for just $8 a day. Bike from south Boulder, through campus, into downtown and up to north Boulder to experience the city in full.
The Center for Community (C4C) is our extensive on-campus dining hall with 10 micro-restaurants featuring cuisine from around the world.
Our first building, Old Main, was built in 1876 with donations from our generous community. It houses the CU Heritage Center, which showcases our history and campus in LEGOs-form.
This makerspace is a place for students, faculty staff and community members to convene around innovation and entrepreneurship. Resources like coworking tables, 3D printers, VR stations, and art supplies are available for everyone to use so they can grow their ideas.
CASE (Center for Academic Success and Engagement) is filled with classrooms, study nooks and a coffee shop. It’s a great introduction to what it means to Be Boulder.
The University Memorial Center (UMC) is a place where students hang out, relax, eat and meet friends. Visit The Connection for bowling, billiards and games.
The place for all things athletic, our Rec Center is home to fields, courts, an ice skating rink and four swimming pools (with one shaped like a Buffalo).
Fiske Planetarium offers a range of immersive experiences, from films and star talks to laser sky shows and concerts. Fiske even hosts special gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
The Library, named after the university’s fifth president, George Norlin, has more than 11 million volumes and items across its five branch libraries. Students can also take advantage of the 24-hour learning commons, research center, team technology rooms and the coffee shop.
Macky Auditorium Concert Hall is a multi-disciplinary venue which serves the campus and the region by entertaining, educating and challenging audiences with high quality local, national and international performances and events.
This complex houses two buildings: a studio in the west building and the CU Art Museum in the east building. The museum has a permanent collection of more than 5,000 works of art, and both building showcase public and student art.
A popular student hang-out, Farrand Field is a great place to take a break in between classes, watch the CU Marching Band practice or play a pick-up game of Ultimate Frisbee. It also has an amazing view of Boulder’s iconic Flatirons.
This is where the Buffaloes roam. Cheer on our PAC-12 football team and watch our renowned mascot Ralphie run like the wind.
Traveling by bus is a popular way for students to get around. Easily explore the area on one of RTD’s local buses or the university’s Buff Bus. All CU Boulder students receive an RTD College Pass, which gives them free access to all local and regional bus routes, as well as downtown Denver Light Rail trains.
The best way to take in our beautiful city is on foot. Boulder is one of only 13 Gold-level Walk Friendly Communities in the U.S. Many students use the Boulder Creek Path to get around town.
Do as the Boulderites do and explore one of the most bike-friendly cities in America. With more than 300 miles of dedicated bike routes and rentable bikes around town, it’s a great way to travel.
Get in your daily exercise while exploring the city and all it has to offer. Enjoy the many trails, sidewalks and paths around town.
