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Capital of Idaho, U.S.
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Boise is the capital and largest city of Idaho. Boise offers numerous recreational opportunities, including extensive hiking and biking in the foothills to the immediate north of downtown. Boise is a regional hub for jazz, theater, and indie music, and is home to several museums.
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If you are bold, you can ring the bell at the foot of the Capitol steps. The Capitol underwent extensive renovation and in early 2010 reopened amidst much fanfare after being completely closed (including to government officials) for the better part of two years. Guided tours are by reservation only, but there is an exhibit about Idaho and its government on the ground floor. All exhibits and floors, except for government offices and the legislative chambers during government sessions, are free and open to the public.
The Boise area is home to one of the largest concentrations of Basque populations in the world outside of the Basque Country. The museum, in a part of downtown known as the "Basque Block," is a great place to visit whether or not you are of the Basque descent. Chock full of enriched heritage and even a bar to hang out at. A must see if you are in the Boise area.
This Olmsted-esque urban park contains many of the downtown attractions in Boise. It sits across the Boise River from Boise State University. Located within its confines are Zoo Boise, the Rose Garden, Boise Art Museum, a scenic railroad, and the Idaho Black History Museum.
A great contemporary art at a very reasonable price. This museum is planned out beautifully and much more than most would expect from a town the size of Boise. Great local pieces as well as other western art. Free and open later on the first Thursdays of the month.
History of Idaho from prehistoric days to now. Includes exhibits on Native Americans, Basques, pioneers, and Chinese history. Due to renovations, a small temporary exhibit is at 214 Broadway Ave and open M-F 11AM-4PM.
An interactive science museum that offers educational programs sensory exhibits designed to make the sciences, technology, and math tangible.
Park with reflecting pools, waterfalls, and a statue of Anne Frank. "Never Again," a moving tribute to the Dutch hero and all those who struggle to advance the dignity of us all.
Housed in the historic St. Paul Baptist Church building and located in Boise Julia Davis Park. Tours are by appointment only.
One of the most popular attractions in Southern Idaho as well as a living science facility that is home to over 201 animals from 83 various species. On Thursdays there is discounted admission. The zoo built an extension themed around the Gorongosa National Park in 2019, as part of its 20-year improvement plan, which is still ongoing.
On the Greenbelt, the museum and stream-walk present a glimpse of Idaho's wildlife. The walk also includes viewing windows giving a glimplse of life in the river.
A great sight to see. This gem is a museum set in the Old State Penitentiary where guests can sit in old prison cells, solitary confinement, and explore the inner workings of this supposedly haunted prison.
A truly serene place to visit. The gardens have been the site of many weddings and performances because of its beautiful setting of vibrant flowers and other vegetation. At no cost, it is a superb setting for a picnic. If you happen to be visiting in the month of December, you will find the gardens decked out in an impressive display of holiday lights.
Historical museum includes photos and exhibits from the earliest days of mining in Idaho. Also there are displays of the geological treasures of the state.
A local favorite. The Ada County Barber Park is in Southeast Boise and is a refuge for various wildlife, including: deer, elk, bald eagles, hawks, various birds, salmon, trout, and many more. Barber Park is also the starting point for a summer tradition in Boise: floating down the Boise River.
BSU
BSU is the largest university in Idaho with over 20,000 students. The campus includes the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
History of Idaho's military. Includes the World War II Farragut Naval Training Station and the Air Force Gowan Field.
The name explains itself. A fascinating place to visit, many birds of all types constantly in your line of sight. Many hawks, eagles, and other big birds of prey.
Home to over 250 species of marine life including sharks and manta rays. Also look up for reptiles like chameleons and bearded dragon in the tree canopy of the exhibits, and feed lorikeets from your hand in the aviary.
Since 1997, Boise Contemporary Theater has been Boise's premiere professional contemporary theater. Located in downtown Boise, BCT creates, produces, and presents vibrant and dynamic professional theater that illuminates enduring themes while exploring contemporary issues and ideas. BCT has had several world premieres, including Last of the Breed by Maria Dahvana Headley (author of The Year of Yes) and No.You Shutup, a one-woman show starring former Daily Show correspondent Lauren Weedman.
Of course, this is why you come to Boise. During summer, shows are performed at the theater at the base of the Boise foothills.
Just like it says, on the first Thursday of every month there are a variety of events including a gallery stroll, live music, and in-store entertainment.
Held in the Student Union on the BSU campus, this March event benefits the Gene Harris Scholarship Endowment.
Boise's largest farmer's market. Held every Saturday from April to December, the local producers offer a wide variety of produce alongside local artists and live music.
Every Wednesday evening is the summer concert series that also features food, beverages, and the Grove Plaza fountain.
Held every August, the Hyde Park Fair is in the North End of Boise at Camel's Back Park. It houses various indie rock bands and various hippie cultured events, clothing, and accessories.
September Art in the Park features artists from across the nation. There is live entertainment, food, children's activities, and a pub.
Located in the Idaho Botanical Gardens, this event is held every November through January. This holiday festival of lights includes a special visit by Santa and a train ride.
A great place for a walk, rollerblading, biking, or just walking the dog. The greenbelt is a walkway follows the Boise River through beautiful trees, through golf courses, and brings you through downtown. It is one of the more popular and beautiful walks that Boise has to offer.
This is something of a local tradition, with the floating season starting in the summer dependent on river conditions. The put-in site is at Barber Park. Floaters may bring their own tubes or rafts, or rent them at the put-in site. The 5 mi float takes around three hours, and ends at Ann Morrison Park. There you can take a shuttle bus back to your car at Barber Park.
Take a trip to Table Rock, directly above downtown Boise, to see the spectacular view overlooking the city and the entire valley. You can see herds of deer and elk frolicking through the rolling hills. You can drive up the winding roads to the summit or climb up the relatively rounded hill, a short and low grade fifteen-minute hike.
A great opportunity to explore Idaho. Very good for hiking, biking, sightseeing, and taking the dogs.
Hundreds of miles of trails throughout the foothills on the north side of the city. The Ridge to Rivers organization manages paths throughout the area including those on Table Rock and Hull's Gulch.
About 10 mi east of Downtown on Warm Springs Ave to Highway 21 you will come to Lucky Peak State Park. A huge reservoir that residents love to wakeboard, water ski, tube, hang out, camp, and even cliff dive. A great day trip for the summer.
Major regional ski resort with two peaks, multiple lodges, and almost 100 runs. In the banner image of this article, Bogus Basin is visible as the tallest shaded mountains to the middle left of the image.
Affiliated with the Colorado Rockies, the Hawks have been member of the Class A Short Season Northwest League since 1987.
The school's sports teams are huge in Idaho, especially the football team. Boise State football entered the national consciousness after busting the Bowl Championship Series and completing a stunning upset of perennial power Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl – which ranks as one of the most iconic moments in Idaho sports history – and triumphant returns to the same venue in 2010 and 2014. The most famous landmark on campus is Albertsons Stadium (formerly Bronco Stadium), best known for its unique blue artificial turf. Albertsons Stadium is also home to the December college football bowl game classic, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Don't forget about the basketball, tennis, track, and other teams!
An NHRA dragstrip offering a full season of racing and shows.
Public rink offering skating lessons, figure skating, and hockey.
ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars.
Professional soccer team in the Boise metro. They play in USL League One. Remember to book your tickets.
All-ages arcade, venue, lounge, and bar. Features free play pinball, retro arcade games, imported Japanese games, consoles, and more with admission payment. Frequent live music from local and touring acts, especially of the electronic, metal, and punk variety. Karaoke every other Wednesday. Check the schedule for other special events.
Large waterpark with many rides. Opens in May.
Bowling, miniature golf, go-karts, laser tag, bumper boats, batting cages, etc. Next to Roaring Springs.
Pizza and beer in a patio setting snuggled into the Harris Ranch area of East Boise. A great place to go on a warm summer evening. Smoking is allowed on the patio.
Possibly the best pizza in the Northwest. They have a great selection of beers which can be delivered (along with the pizzas themselves). A summer-only promotion is the habanero pizza which is definitely not for the timid - the heat equivalent of pounds of jalapenos. Flying Pie and their habanero pizza have been featured on the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food. The "Pie" also has locations on State Street, Broadway, and in Meridian.
Not to be outdone and with a national reputation in its own right, Big Juds offers quite possibly the biggest hamburgers in the state. They have one-pound burgers, and yeah, they do doubles.
An amazing place to eat. With its specialties in American and Caribbean foods, it is one of the most popular places to eat in Boise. Whether you're going on a date or just want a nice night out, you can't go wrong. Reservations recommended.
A great selection of Thai cuisine. The lunch bento specials are a nice sampling of various dishes. Dinner runs on the pricier side.
Home grown, cut and made fries, "with a burger on the side." Choose your type of potato, the cut, and size and then fry them to order. Get a Bison burger to go along.
Red Feather Lounge
Very busy local independent downtown hangout, rustic northwest food & beer. Focus on local organic products and 30 beers on tap from small batch regional brewers. The above standard "pub grub" fare is also vegetarian friendly.
Sibling of next door's watering hole Bittercreek, these two bars/restaurants share a bathroom and a patio, but just about nothing else. Red Feather is a swanky, low-lit lounge with an amazing three story, award winning wine selection. Red Feather's menu emphasizes products that thrive in the southwest Idaho region. Both have freshly made cocktails and share an outdoor see-and-be-seen patio on the pedestrian friendly 8th street corridor.
Bardenay, the first restaurant in the nation to include a distillery, features hand crafted cocktails of the finest ingredients. Bardenay distills rum, vodka and gin and uses them all in their drinks. This bar has an outdoor patio and a cool, laid-back vibe. Happy hour from M-6PM
A friendly neighborhood bar on the Bench which tends to get livelier as the night progresses. McCleary's also has a location on State Street towards Eagle.
Maybe a little what you might expect; Country music, sawhorse tables, peanuts and a mechanical bull that ladies can ride for free. You might not expect that this bar is popular with college kids and is nearly impossible to get into on a weekend night. It's in the basement, so be prepared to walk drunk up a narrow flight of stairs if you plan on spending any time here.
A typical would-be Irish dive bar with a very distinctive, but not altogether unpleasant smell. There's pool, of course, but also airhockey and foosball. And well shots sometimes. It's a great place to enjoy a drink on the patio and people-watch.
Located in the basement of the Idanha Hotel (now apartments) you can experience the relaxed crowd, friendly staff, and charm of a former speakeasy. As long as you don't ask for a 'pint' (only 10 oz glasses are served) you'll be welcome to stay the night. They generally close at 1:30AM.
The stiffest drinks in Boise, bartenders here use a five-count pour, instead of the standard three-count. Arguably the best jukebox in town. The clientele are about as varied as their tastes in music, so nobody is judgmental of anyone else, just what's playing on the jukebox. This is the place for indie rock shows; the biggest bands played here before they played the arenas. Beware, it is always dark at "The 'Lux," despite the big picture window letting in sunlight (they have black blinds for when it's too bright for Rock&Roll).
Boise's Tiki outpost. Along with tasty Pupu's, a good menu and freshly made exotic drinks the Reef has plenty of live music. Rooftop patio with full service outdoor bar.
A Basque restaurant with a good bar and home to a slightly older set than the rest of the downtown scene.
Also home to the slightly older crowd and smoke free. Most nights have live music, usually jazz or alt-country. There are pub quiz and open mic nights.
The most well known LGBT bar in Boise, The Balcony is so named for its wrap around, open-air balcony, right above the pedestrian center of downtown (beautiful view). The dance floor is big and has two separate raised areas for dancing in the limelight, and the latest remix of the latest Gaga song is sure to play twice. The drinks are of average strength, but keep your eyes open for some drag queens you wouldn't believe were "packing" (and some you would).
This place is great for late night college life. It has an old-school feel, with classic video games like Pacman at the tables.
A well-established local hangout in the Bench neighborhood, Quinn's offers a full menu and bar, weekend champagne brunch, live music on Fridays and Saturdays, and some of the best karaoke in town on Thursdays and Saturdays.
A completely non-smoking hotel for business travelers located near Boise Airport and 3 mi away from Boise State University.
A part of the Coast Hotels chain, it's probably the highest end hotel in Boise.
Free breakfast and light dinner. Free high-speed Internet.
formerly, Statehouse Inn
A boutique hotel in downtown Boise.
Built in 1904, former Governor's mansion, near downtown shops and dining, close to parks and historic district. Rooms $70-85, suites $99-110. All have private baths and are furnished in turn of the century antiques. Free wifi. Free gourmet breakfast.
Boutique hotel with tiled spa-like bathrooms, 32" flat screen HDTV, free wifi.
A new hotel within walking distance of much of downtown Boise, including the Idaho State Capitol.
The city's main mall. It is a fairly large mall, mostly due to its lack of competition from any other similarly sized shopping center in the city. Its anchor-stores include Dillard's and a particularly upscale Macy's (formerly the Bon Marche). The mall also has a free-standing MAC makeup store.
The Eighth Street Marketplace is a popular sight to go shopping, have a bite to eat, and go dancing at night. It's all three in one! This area has been revitalized and is often referred to as "BoDo," short for "Boise Downtown."
Along with the Eighth Street Marketplace, you may want to just wander throughout the downtown core. The area of Broad St (between 9th and Capitol) and 8 St (between Front and Myrtle) is home to many fashionable retailers like Urban Outfitters. As well, the area of 9th St. between Idaho and Main, parts of Main Street, areas of Idaho St. around 8th St. are all good areas to walk around and spot a few good shops and restaurants.
A view into Boise's "greener" lifestyle, the Hyde Park district is on the National Historic Register due to its unique architecture and unique environment. Hyde Park sports a great number of eateries such as the 13th Street Pub and Grill, as well as some more "independent" retail stores such as Hyde Park Books and Dunia Marketplace. It's almost like a little offshoot colony of Portland.
By car
By bus
The Airport Bus stop serves as the "Central Bus Station" for regional and long distance buses serving Boise. It is in the outer blue curb outside the main arrivals doors.
By car
Cars can be rented at the Boise Airport from major rental companies including Hertz, Avis, and Enterprise.
By taxi
Taxi service has been decimated by ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. Boise City Taxi is now little more than a network of Uber drivers. Taxis are still common at the airport, though.
By bicycle
The Boise city center is extremely bicycle-friendly.org/parks-locations/parks/greenbelt. For avid bikers and walkers, much of the river and Boise's parks can be accessed this way.
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