Guide to Boise

While I was sitting at the counter at Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro in downtown Boise, I heard two women next to me tell the waiter their girls' weekend plan was to “eat potatoes and go shopping.”

Listen, if those two reasons alone don’t sell you on booking a trip to Boise, I have a load of others. There’s a reason why this mountain town, which is the state capital of Idaho, has seen a boom of new residents.

Boise is a relaxed and walkable city with an average of 210 days of sunshine, an unexpected center of Basque culture and a range of year-round outdoor activities that make it a perfect place for an affordable weekend or family getaway.

When should I go to Boise?

As I mentioned, Boise is a year-round destination – so the question might be, "Do you want the mountain winters or summers?"

Summers in Boise are gorgeous. Though locals find it warm, most people will find it a pretty pleasant experience as the humidity is low.

Head there in winter, and you can go skiing nearby. You can enjoy an amazing visit to Bogus Basin, which is just a 15 minute drive from the heart of the city.

How much time should I spend in Boise?

A four day weekend will probably be long enough to savor a leisurely stay in the city. You’ll be able to pack those days full of great meals, awesome outdoor activities and casual strolls around the downtown boutiques.

Is it easy to get around Boise?

For a western US city, Boise is pretty easy to get around. It takes just 15 minutes to get from the airport to downtown, and an Uber will cost you between $11-20 USD.

Once you're downtown, the area is pretty walkable and there are lots of electric scooters available to rent if you want to get around a bit faster. Outside of downtown, you may need to rent a car or Uber to your desired destination.

Top things to do in Boise

Check Idaho off your state capitol list

Head to the Capitol building. If a tour isnʻt available on the day you visit, make sure to grab one of the self-guided tour brochures at the visitors desk. Don’t forget to check out the top floor, where you’ll get a great view of the rotunda and you'll find a small exhibit dedicated to the state’s historical moments.

Rotunda with lights and a large US flag hanging from the ceiling — **Left:** Rotunda of capitol building in Boise, Idaho. **Right:** One of the exhibits in the Idaho State History Museum. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

A large postcard sign with artifacts on display in front of it — **Left:** Rotunda of capitol building in Boise, Idaho. **Right:** One of the exhibits in the Idaho State History Museum. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Afterward, head over to the Idaho State History museum, which will give you the history of the state, ranging from Indigenous people who have ancestrally called Idaho home, the settlers on the Oregon Trail, and how one of the state’s largest wildfires shaped the US National Forest service. While the Idaho Black History Museum next door keeps irregular hours, it is worth checking out if it's open.

Boise river in foreground with background of mountains — **Left:** View of the Boise River and mountains. **Right:** People float along the Boise River in tubes. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Swimmers in bright red tubes floating along the green Boise river — **Left:** View of the Boise River and mountains. **Right:** People float along the Boise River in tubes. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Play in and along the river

Once the river calms in the summer, it becomes a splendid playground for those who love swimming in the outdoors. Go kayaking or rent a tube or raft and leisurely float down the Boise River. The city also makes life jackets available along the river. Grab at one end and drop it off on the rack at the other end.

Red life jackets hang on a kiosk along the Boise, Idaho. — Loaner life jackets are available along the river in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet

If you’re brave enough to go surfing, there are two spots in the river that are designed to create currents large enough to surf on. If you’re not sure of your surfing skills, it’s still worth taking a walk to watch people navigate the waves.

Wine bottle with blue label with white mountains on it. The white lines outline the shape of a dog's face. — **Left:** You can see the face of the Telaya owner's dog in the label of the shop's wines. **Right:** The Greenbelt as it runs by Telaya Winery in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

The path of the Greenbelt with the patio of Telaya Winery next to it in Boise, Idaho — **Left:** You can see the face of the Telaya owner's dog in the label of the shop's wines. **Right:** The Greenbelt as it runs by Telaya Winery in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Of course, if you don’t want to hop in the river, that’s OK too. Navigate the nearby bike path or head out on your own two feet. When you reach Garden City, you’ll find a food truck park and places like Telaya Wine Co, which has the perfect patio for a sunny day and a tasting room just off the trail, which is ideal for people-watching with a glass of wine.

Fun tip: Look for the face of the Telaya owner's dog hidden in the mountain of the label.

Lonely Planet editor Melissa Yeager stands next to a large pan of paella. — **Left:** Lonely Planet editor Melissa Yeager with paella outside the Basque Market. **Right:** The Basque Center in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet

The Basque Center has timbered architecture and greenery adorning it. — **Left:** Lonely Planet editor Melissa Yeager with paella outside the Basque Market. **Right:** The Basque Center in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet

Basque Block

Boise is home to the largest population of Basque outside of Spain and southwestern France, thanks to waves of immigration from those areas starting in the 1800s. Present day, the city features an entire block filled with Basque restaurants and a museum/cultural center. After learning about the Basque culture, you can taste some of the flavors of Basque food.

If you want to experience the city when it is most festive, visit during San Inazio Festival in July or during Jaialdi (meaning Big Festival), which happens every five years. The next celebration will be in 2030.

Self-serve cans of different flavors of fry sauces all in a row — **Clockwise from top left:** A bar of fry sauces and seasoning at Boise Fry Co. Loaded tots at a food truck. Tableside baked potato at Hemlock. Potato souvenir in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Sour cream and chives on top of a pile of tater tots. — **Clockwise from top left:** A bar of fry sauces and seasoning at Boise Fry Co. Loaded tots at a food truck. Tableside baked potato at Hemlock. Potato souvenir in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Potatoes

I couldn’t write this piece without mentioning the famous Idaho Potato. The Snake River Valley has a great climate for growing potatoes, but ever since Idaho businessman J.R. Simplot commercialized freezing potatoes and sold them to McDonald's, Idaho has been the big name in potatoes.

Head to Boise Fry Co after your visit to the capital for your choice of potatoes as well as a bar full of sauces and seasonings to match. Looking for something a bit more luxurious? Head to the steakhouse Hemlock where you can order a tableside baked potato (finished with a torch). Fair warning: the potato is quite large and can probably feed an entire table.

Brewery hop

There's been a boom of local breweries in Boise, and if you want to hit a few of them in an afternoon while also learning more about the history of the city, check out the Craft Beer Tour from Boise Bicycle Tours, which will lead you along the Greenbelt before hopping to three different breweries for a pint.

Two small glasses of beers in front of a bookcase — Flight of Alliteration Ales at Old Speak Bookstore and Brewery. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet

You'll likely need to Uber to get to Old Speak, a women-owned boozy bookstore that features locally brewed Alliteration Ales. Grab a tasting flight and browse their shelves to get a page-turner for your flight home.

My favorite thing to do in Boise

I really loved browsing through the local boutiques downtown. My favorite boutique was Mixed Greens, which has a ton of local art as well as so many interesting home items (a bird statue almost came home with me, but I passed for some local print instead).

**Left:** A berry tart at Sunshine Spice Cafe. **Right:** Owner Narges Sham at the counter at Sunshine Spice Cafe. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Owner Narges Sham at Sunshine Spice Cafe with jars of cookies, coffee cups and syrups all around — **Left:** A berry tart at Sunshine Spice Cafe. **Right:** Owner Narges Sham at the counter at Sunshine Spice Cafe. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Need a coffee to power through your downtown stroll? There are quite a few to choose from along your path, but consider checking out Sunshine Spice Cafe. It’s run by four sisters who came to the US as refugees from Afghanistan as kids, and the cafe serves a variety of American and Afghanistan treats. The saffron latte is one of their most popular items – pair it with the Afghanistan bread.

What is Jaialdi?

Woman using axe to chop log she is standing on — **Left:** Competitive wood chopping at Sports Night during Jaialdi in Boise. **Right:** Performers dance during Festara at Jaialdi in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Women dancers in black and white dresses with red and white flowers over their heads — **Left:** Competitive wood chopping at Sports Night during Jaialdi in Boise. **Right:** Performers dance during Festara at Jaialdi in Boise, Idaho. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

With Boise's large Basque population, you might want to plan your trip around one of the festivals. Jaialdi, which is Basque for “Big Festival,” happens every five years. More than 30,000 people gather from Basque countries as well as from across the United States. With so many people arriving for the occasion, it almost feels like you’re the invited guest to a family reunion.

It’s a week-long celebration of Basque culture, with street food and live events in the Basque Block of the city. The lines will be lengthy at Basque Market as they roll out the large paella pan.

Dancers in white and red outfits using swords during a Festara dance — **Left:** Dancers using swords during Festara performing at Jaialdi in Boise, Idaho. **Right:** At closer view, one of the dancers is standing on the swords. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Dancer standing on a platform of swords created by the other dancers — **Left:** Dancers using swords during Festara performing at Jaialdi in Boise, Idaho. **Right:** At closer view, one of the dancers is standing on the swords. Melissa Yeager/Lonely Planet (2)

Grab a ticket in advance for one of the ticketed performances, which bring in Basque athletes and performers from around the world. At Sports Night, watch athletes test their strength and skill at events like competitive wood chopping. (How do they not hit their feet?!)

Kids and adults alike begin practicing months in advance to perform in Festara, the traditional dance night.