Locals’ favorite things to do in Breckenridge, Colorado

Taking a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado? Breckenridge is such a fun mountain town to visit any time of the year, whether you’re here for outdoor adventures, a ski trip, or a fun mountain getaway.

I’ve been lucky enough to call Breckenridge home for the last 14 years and love to share all of my Breckenridge favorites from a local perspective. There’s no shortage of fun and unique things to do in Breckenridge for groups of all sizes, abilities, and ages.

Breckenridge is dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and also a perfect spot for couples or groups looking for a mountain getaway.

What to Know Before Visiting Breckenridge

• Altitude: Breckenridge sits above 9,600 feet. Stay in Denver a few nights to get acclimated slowly, drink extra water, and plan lower-energy activities early on.
• Weather: Weather can change quickly in the mountains. Pack layers year-round, even in summer.
• Transportation: Breckenridge has a free town bus system (Breck Free Ride) that runs frequently and makes getting around town much easier than parking.
• Seasonal closures: April–May and late October–mid-November are considered mud season, with fewer crowds but some business and activity closures.
• When to visit: Plan for larger crowds during major events and holidays. Book ahead of time and make reservations for popular restaurants.

Best Things to Do in Breckenridge Year-Round

Ride the Breckenridge Gondola (Free)

Riding the Breckenridge Gondola is a must-do when visiting town, and it’s completely free. It takes you from downtown Breckenridge to the base of Peaks 7 and 8, with beautiful mountain views along the way.

Peak 8 has restaurants and seasonal activities, as well as Peak 7, but Peak 7 is a little quieter. The gondola is closed during mud season in May and October.

The activities can be a little overpriced, but I love grabbing a coffee and walking around or grabbing a Bloody Mary at Robbie’s.

Walk Around Main Street

Breckenridge Main Street is super cute with lots of places to pop in for shopping, grabbing a drink, or trying a local restaurant. Ridge Street nearby also has great food options and pretty views of Breckenridge resort.

Visit the Breckenridge Troll (Isak Heartstone)

Isak Heartstone is a life-size troll sculpture tucked away on a short trail near downtown Breckenridge. It’s a short hike (5 minutes), and it’s a fun thing to do in Breckenridge when we have visitors.

Parking can be limited, and the town recommends taking the Breck Free Ride bus to the Ice Rink Lot or walking from downtown.

Check Out the Breckenridge Distillery

The Breckenridge Distillery is one of my favorite places for a cocktail or food in town. It’s worth popping in for a Breckenridge souvenir, their Distillery tour, or for a happy hour and amazing cocktails.

There’s also a tasting room on Main Street if you’re short on time.

Spa Day at The Infinity Spa on Peak 8

The Infinity Spa at Grand Lodge on Peak 8 is one of the best spas in Breckenridge. It’s perfect for a treat-yourself day or a relaxing break from outdoor activities. Plan extra time for the grotto with indoor hot tubs, sauna, steam room, and cold plunge.

Instead of driving up, I would recommend taking the gondola up for a fun experience (if you’ll be done before 4, when the gondola closes).

A historic walking ghost tour

A historic ghost tour is such a popular and fun Breckenridge activity! You’ll often see these tours walking around downtown with the guides dressed up in Victorian outfits and sharing spooky tales of Breckenridge’s haunted buildings and ghosts.

Book a guided ghost tour of Breckenridge

Get a crepe

If you see people standing in a long line in Breckenridge, it’s probably for the crepe cart on Main Street! Sometimes the wait can be crazy, but it almost feels like that’s a part of the experience.

Go fly fishing

Fly fishing is such a fun Colorado experience and perfect if you love to fish! Check out any of the fly fishing shops in the county or sign up for a guided trip! This is such a fun way to get out in nature and get a unique Colorado perspective tucked away in nature.

Check out one of the festivals

Breckenridge festivals are so much fun and worth planning your trip around! While they can bring a larger crowd, they are so much fun if you like a good party or are looking for something lively to do!

Some of my favorite festivals:

• Uller Fest
• Dog Parade/Race of the Santas
• International Snow Sculpture Competition
• Octoberfest
• 4th of July

Things to Do in Breckenridge in the Summer

Summers in the mountains are short but incredible. Here are some fun summer activities in Breckenridge to add to your list!

Note that summer starts a little later than the rest of the US and doesn’t really start until late June. April and May are known as ‘mud season’, which can have fewer crowds, but also some business closures and not as many outdoor activities, while the snow is starting to melt.

Free Gondola Ride

The Breckenridge Gondola runs during the summer season and offers scenic rides up to Peak 8. At the top, there is a fun park designed for kids, but there are some activities like the mountain coaster that are fun for adults too!

Hiking Around Breckenridge

There are endless hiking options around Breckenridge for all levels. Alltrails is my favorite app to find a hike in the area I’m in.

I usually will opt for a ‘moderate’ hike. The ‘hard’ ones I save for a day I want to get up early for a big adventure. I usually save the ‘easy’ hikes for fun dog walks or bringing out-of-town family.

Rent a boat or kayak on Lake Dillon

One of my favorite summer activities is spending the day at Lake Dillon. Both Frisco and Dillon have a marina where you can rent a boat or kayak. While the water’s not warm enough to swim (swimming is actually illegal), it’s such a gorgeous spot to spend the day in the sun! You can either rent your own boat at the Marinas or do a guided kayak tour if you want someone to show you around!

Book a guided kayak tour of Lake Dillon

Go for a bike ride

Breckenridge has great bike paths as well as mountain biking trails. There’s a little bit of something for everytone and you can rent mountain bikes, e-bikes, or cruiser bikes. Pro-tip: Be sure to check the elevation gain on Google Maps before committing to a ride.

Ridden in Breckenridge is a great shop for bike rentals and also offers a fat bike beer and distillery tour.

Country Boy Mine

Breckenridge is full of history and was a big mining town in the 1800s, with lots of mining remnants left behind. Country Boy Mine is an old mine founded in 1887 and a short drive from Downtown Breckenridge with lots of cool mining history! They have mining tours and gold mining. It’s perfect for both kids and adults!

Book a guided gold mining tour – includes gold panning

Things to Do in Breckenridge in the Winter

Winter in Breckenridge typically runs from late November through March, with snowstorms sometimes into May. Picture a winter wonderland with lots of unique mountain activities.

Skiing or Snowboarding

Breckenridge Ski Resort is a given during winter, with some of the best skiing, whether you’re a beginner or an expert.

If you plan to ski multiple days, it’s worth comparing daily lift tickets to season passes, which can sometimes be more cost-effective.

Dog Sledding or Snowmobiling

GoodTimes offers dog sledding or snowmobiling in Breckenridge, and easily one of my favorites! The dog sledding is an experience like no other, and I didn’t realize it would come with such a thrill! If you love dogs and get the opportunity to, do it!

Winter Sleigh Rides

Golden Horseshoe in Breckenridge has magical horse-drawn carriage sleigh rides through the snowy trees and hot coco. They are another well-loved local business and one of my favorite Breckenridge activities.

Snowshoeing or Cross-Country Skiing

The Breckenridge Nordic Center has snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It’s a fun way to get outside and try something different without downhill skiing. Another one of my favorites is their snow cat tour.

Sledding

If you’re looking for a classic sledding hill, Carter Park is everyone’s go-to for sledding in Breckenridge. Also, the small sledding hill off Airport Road is a lot of fun! For a little more thrill, Country Boy Mine offers extreme sledding.

Where to Stay in Breckenridge

Breckenridge offers everything from condos and vacation rentals to hotels and lodges. Staying near downtown or close to the gondola makes getting around much easier.

You can also explore nearby towns like Frisco, Dillon, or Keystone, all within a short drive.