Vail sits along I-70 about 100 miles west of Denver, stretched for several miles along Gore Creek. Most visitors stay in or near its two car-free base villages, Vail Village and Lionshead, each with a gondola up Vail Mountain and a 10- to 15-minute walk apart. A free town bus connects the rest of Vail, so once you arrive you rarely need a car.
On this page: The areas · Where to eat · What to do · Where to stay · Getting around · When to come · Events
- Town elevation: 8,150 ft. The summit of Vail Mountain is 11,570 ft.
- Ski season 2026–27: opens Nov 13, 2026, subject to conditions. Seasons typically run into April.
- Summer lifts: mid-June to late September (2026: June 12 to Sept 27).
- From I-70: exit 176 for Vail Village and Lionshead.
- Nearest airport: Eagle County Regional (EGE), about 30–35 miles west.
Arriving soon? Read Visitor Essentials for airports, I-70 winter driving, parking and altitude.
The areas of Vail
Vail Village
The center of town and where most first-time visitors spend their time: pedestrian streets of shops, restaurants and lodges, with Gondola One at the top of Bridge Street. The Vail Village Parking Structure and the Vail Transportation Center are on the Frontage Road just north of the village. ECL’s first-time visitor’s guide to Vail Village covers it in detail.
Lionshead
The western base village, closed to cars and buses, with the Eagle Bahn Gondola rising from its center and an outdoor ice rink in winter. Lodging here leans toward hotels and condos with kitchens. The Lionshead Parking Structure and Dobson Ice Arena are close by.
Golden Peak
A short walk east of Vail Village and home to Vail’s main ski and ride school, its primary beginner learning area and a terrain park. The Riva Bahn Express lift starts here.
Cascade Village
A quarter mile west of Lionshead, with its own lift (Cascade, #20) and a cluster of hotels and residences beside Gore Creek.
Ford Park
East of Vail Village: the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, and playing fields, an easy walk from the village.
East Vail and West Vail
East Vail, about four miles east of Vail Village, is mostly condos and townhomes, which can cost less than lodging in the villages, though rates vary by property and season. The Booth Falls trail is nearby. West Vail straddles I-70 and has the town’s two supermarkets, both with pharmacies, plus rental shops and condos. Both are on free town bus routes.
Where to eat
These are a starting point covering different needs and budgets, not a ranking. The price symbols, from $ to $$$$, are general budget indicators based on each restaurant’s published menu, not verified per-person prices; “See menu” means we could not establish pricing. Many Vail restaurants close or cut hours between seasons (roughly late April to May and mid-October to mid-November), so check the restaurant’s own site before you go.
Breakfast and casual
Big Bear Bistro
Breakfast and coffee
Vail Village
At Bridge Street and Hanson Ranch Road, close to Gondola One. Breakfast burritos, omelettes and bagels are served all day, along with sandwiches and coffee drinks.
Best for: Quick breakfast before the lifts, families
Season: Year-round; check hours in the off-season
Time needed: Under 1 hour
Price: $
Last checked: October 2026
The Little Diner
Breakfast
Lionshead
A Lionshead breakfast spot near the Eagle Bahn Gondola, serving made-from-scratch breakfast all day, with lunch after 11:30 a.m. in winter and summer. Its building is due to be redeveloped from May 2027, so check its website for plans beyond this winter.
Best for: Sit-down breakfast near the Eagle Bahn Gondola
Season: Year-round, daytime only; check off-season hours
Time needed: About 1 hour
Price: See menu
Last checked: October 2026
Vendetta's
Pizza and Italian
Vail Village
A Bridge Street fixture since 1983, with pizza by the slice or whole pies, pasta and an après bar. Useful when a group wants something casual and quick.
Best for: Groups, casual dinner, late lunch
Season: Year-round; short closures in the off-season
Time needed: 1 to 1½ hours
Price: $$
Last checked: October 2026
Westside Cafe
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
West Vail
On the North Frontage Road in West Vail, serving breakfast and lunch daily and dinner Monday to Saturday. Worth knowing if you are staying outside the villages; at busy times it runs a waitlist.
Best for: Breakfast or dinner outside the villages
Season: Year-round; dinner pauses briefly in the off-season
Time needed: 1 hour
Price: $$
Last checked: October 2026
Après and dinner
Pepi's Restaurant & Bar
Après and Austrian dinner
Vail Village
A restaurant inside Hotel Gramshammer, near Gondola One; the hotel has been owned by the same family since 1964. The menu is Austrian and European (schnitzel, goulash), and the heated, covered patio is open year-round.
Best for: Après, a traditional Vail dinner
Season: Winter and summer; closed for part of the off-season
Time needed: 1½ to 2 hours
Price: $$$
Last checked: October 2026
Sweet Basil
Fine dining
Vail Village
Seasonal New American cooking on Gore Creek Drive since 1977. Reservations open a month ahead and the restaurant strongly encourages them; there is a children's menu for 12 and under.
Best for: A special-occasion dinner
Season: Year-round; closed for part of the off-season
Time needed: 2 hours
Price: $$$$
Last checked: October 2026
Staying outside the villages? The West Vail supermarkets are the easiest way to stock a condo kitchen.
What to do
On the mountain
Vail Mountain
Skiing and summer gondola
Vail Village and Lionshead
5,317 skiable acres, including the seven Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Gondola One leaves from Vail Village and the Eagle Bahn Gondola from Lionshead; Golden Peak is the main ski and ride school base. In summer the gondolas serve hiking, biking and family activities at Eagle's Nest.
Best for: Skiers of every level; summer views without the climb
Season: Winter from Nov 13, 2026 (subject to conditions); summer gondola mid-June to late September
Time needed: Half a day or more
Price: Lift ticket or pass
Last checked: October 2026
Beginners should look at Golden Peak first: it is the main learning area and ski school base. Lift ticket offices are in Vail Village, Lionshead and Golden Peak. In summer, the gondolas lead to Eagle’s Nest activities including an alpine coaster, a summer tubing hill and children’s activities; check vail.com for summer dates and prices.
In town, year-round
Colorado Snowsports Museum
Museum
Vail Village
Colorado ski and snowboard history, on level 3 of the Vail Village Parking Structure. Admission is free with a suggested donation, and it is open daily.
Best for: Rainy or stormy days, history fans, families
Season: Year-round
Time needed: About 1 hour
Price: Free
Official website · ECL first-timer's guide
Last checked: October 2026
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Botanic garden
Ford Park
High-altitude gardens a short walk east of Vail Village, open dawn to dusk. There is no admission fee; a donation is suggested.
Best for: A calm hour, families, plant lovers
Season: Best late spring to early fall
Time needed: 30 minutes to a morning
Price: Free
Last checked: October 2026
Gore Valley Trail
Walking and biking path
All of Vail
A paved path along Gore Creek from East Vail through Vail Village and Lionshead to Dowd Junction. It makes an easy walk between the villages, and keen riders can continue east up the Vail Pass bike path.
Best for: Easy walks, family bike rides, first-day altitude adjustment
Season: Late spring to fall
Time needed: 30 minutes to half a day
Price: Free
Last checked: October 2026
Winter, beyond the lifts
Vail Nordic Center
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing
Vail Golf Club
Groomed classic and skate track, snowshoe trails and fat-bike trails on the Vail Golf Club grounds, run by the Vail Recreation District.
Best for: A quieter day off the lifts, beginners to Nordic
Season: Winter, once there is enough snow
Time needed: 1 to 3 hours
Price: See rates
Last checked: October 2026
Outdoor skating rinks open in Vail Village (Solaris) and Lionshead in winter, and the Vail Recreation District’s indoor Dobson Ice Arena is in Lionshead. Check current skating times before you go.
Summer and early fall
Booth Falls Trail
Hike
East Vail
A climb into the Eagles Nest Wilderness to a 60-foot waterfall, about 2 miles one way, with Booth Lake 4.5 miles in for strong hikers. There is no trailhead parking: take the free East Vail bus to the Booth Falls stop.
Best for: Fit hikers, summer mornings
Season: Summer and early fall
Time needed: 3 to 4 hours to the falls and back
Price: Free
White River National Forest · Discover Vail trail notes
Last checked: October 2026
Gore Creek through Vail is Gold Medal water, with a fly-and-lure-only stretch downstream of Red Sandstone Creek. A Colorado fishing license is required. In summer, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater hosts the Bravo! Vail Music Festival (late June to early August, with many free concerts) and the free Tuesday Hot Summer Nights series.
More ideas: ECL’s What to do in Vail Village.
Where to stay
Choose the area first, then the property. Everywhere listed below is on the free bus.
| If you want | Look in | Typical lodging |
|---|---|---|
| To walk to Gondola One, restaurants and shops | Vail Village | Ski-in/ski-out lodges, luxury and family-run hotels, private residences |
| Easy gondola access and more condos with kitchens | Lionshead | Hotels, lodges, condos and residences |
| A quieter base with its own lift | Cascade Village | Hotels and residences |
| A wider choice of condos, a short bus ride from the lifts | East Vail or West Vail | Mostly condos and townhomes; rates vary by property and season |
Discover Vail’s lodging search lists properties across town. Before booking, check how close your lodging is to a bus stop, and whether parking is included.
Getting around Vail
- Walk: Vail Village and Lionshead are 10–15 minutes apart along Gore Creek. Both villages are built for walking.
- Free town bus: the in-town shuttle runs between Vail Village, Golden Peak and Lionshead, and outlying routes serve East Vail, West Vail and other neighborhoods. Track buses live at ride.vail.gov. All stops are request stops.
- To Avon and Beaver Creek: Core Transit’s buses connect Vail with Avon, Beaver Creek and Edwards. Most rides are free.
- Parking: the Vail Village and Lionshead structures are paid in winter and summer, under rules the Town of Vail sets each season. See Visitor Essentials for the rules.
When to come
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Winter (mid-Nov to April) | Ski season. Holidays, January and February are busiest, and lodging sells out early. April brings warmer days and fewer crowds. |
| Spring off-season (late April to mid-June) | Lifts closed. Some restaurants and shops close for a few weeks, and lodging deals are common. |
| Summer (mid-June to September) | Gondolas run for hiking and biking, plus festivals, concerts and the Sunday farmers’ market. Plan around afternoon thunderstorms. |
| Fall off-season (October to mid-November) | Quiet. Lifts are closed, and some businesses close or cut hours until the ski season starts. |
Events through the year
| Typical timing | Event |
|---|---|
| December | Birds of Prey World Cup ski races at nearby Beaver Creek (scheduled for Dec 3–13, 2026) |
| January | Vail Winterfest ice sculptures on the Gore Creek Promenade |
| April | Taste of Vail |
| June | GoPro Mountain Games |
| Late June to early August | Bravo! Vail Music Festival |
| Summer Sundays (typically mid-June to early October) | Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show on East Meadow Drive |
| September | Vail Oktoberfest (Lionshead, then Vail Village) and Vail Jazz Festival (Labor Day weekend) |
Use this as a planning guide: timing is based on recent years, and dates are set by each organizer and can change. Confirm with the organizer before you plan around an event. For snow-season news, read ECL’s Vail snow outlook for 2026–27.
Last checked October 9, 2026. See something out of date? Tell us.
