PLDI 2026
Mon 15 - Fri 19 June 2026 Boulder, Colorado, United States
PLDI 2026 (series) /

Explore Boulder

Boulder is known as a hub for outdoor recreation while also offering a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown and a wide range of restaurants, coffee shops, and attractions. There is an official Visit Boulder Visitor’s Guide and a section of the City of Boulder’s website that have lots of great information about things to do in Boulder.

PLDI 2026 Boulder Locations

This page and the below map describes some of our favorite activities, but we also suggest browsing the official guides for even more fun ideas.

Museums, Event Centers, and Other Places of Interest

Pearl Street Bands on the Bricks

Pearl Street Mall (0.6 miles from the venue) is a pedestrian-only street that is at the center of downtown Boulder. Along with restaurants, shops, and bars, there are many events. On Wednesday June 17th, consider checking out the farmer’s market from 3:30-7:30pm or music at Band on the Bricks from 5-9pm.

Inside the Dushanbe Tea House

Dushanbe Tea House (0.4 miles from the venue) is a traditional Tajik teahouse which was a gift to Boulder from its sister city: Dushanbe, Tajikistan. We recommend a reservation to sit inside, but without a reservation you can enjoy the self-serve patio. You can find more information about dining options and history about the teahouse on their website.

Some museums in Boulder include the Museum of Boulder (0.7 miles from the venue) and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (0.4 miles from the venue). You can find other museums here.

For shows, check out the Dairy Arts Center (1.5 miles from the venue) for dance, theater, cinema, and more. On the University of Colorado campus, you can visit the Fiske Planetarium (1 mile from the venue) and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Trident (0.7 miles from the venue) is a favorite coffee shop and bookstore for many, which hosts events most evenings, including poetry readings, live music, and more. You can find more live music shows and venues here.

Hiking and Walking Paths

Boulder sits at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills: it is home to the Flatirons alongside notable peaks including Green Mountain, Bear Peak, and Mt. Sanitas, along with 239 miles of trails and multi-use paths. The city has an official list of trails and trailheads and an interactive map of trails and city paths. Another option for finding good hikes is the AllTrails app, which includes user reviews and ratings. Here are some popular starting points for hikes that are close to the venue:

Boulder Creek Path and other multiuse city paths (at the conference venue) Boulder is home to 84 miles of multi-use paths (with over 80 bike and pedestrian underpasses!), which serve as a great way to explore the city. From the conference venue, you can take the Broadway Street path north to the Boulder Creek Path, which runs along the creek. If you head west on the creek path, you’ll reach Eben G. Fine Park. You can also continue north instead of taking the creek path to access Pearl Street Mall - a pedestrian-only street that is the heart of downtown Boulder.

The Flatirons

Chautauqua (1 mile from the conference venue, has BCycle station). Chautauqua (pronounced shuh-TAW-kwuh) is the canonical starting point for hikes in the Flatirons at the base of Green Mountain. It also has a park, playground, pickleball courts, general store with ice cream, restaurant, and auditorium. Trail highlights include the Chautauqua and Bluebell trails loop, Royal Arch, and Green Mountain.

The People’s Crossing / Eben G. Fine Park (1.2 miles from the venue). Eben G. Fine Park is a green space on Boulder Creek at the mouth of Boulder Canyon. It’s a lovely place for a walk along the river or a picnic in the park. Across the street (via underpass) you’ll find the People’s Crossing which provides access to the Red Rocks trails (a shorter hike, about a half mile to a mile), and Anemone (a longer hike, around 4 miles).

Centennial (1.7 miles from the venue). Centennial trailhead is a half mile walk or a one mile drive north of The People’s Crossing. It is the main access point for Mt. Sanitas and many other trails. The most common Sanitas loop is around 3 miles and takes you up the south ridge and down the east ridge.

Panorama Point, Sunrise Amphitheater, and Artist Point (3.5 - 8 miles round trip from the venue). Hike directly west of the venue for some nice viewpoints. We recommend the walk to Panorama Point (3.5 miles round trip) for a view over Boulder. You can then continue on to Sunrise Amphitheater and Artist Point for more views of Boulder and the Front Range.

Hiking Options Further from the Venue

If you are looking to escape the crowds, Shanahan Ridge, South Boulder Creek West and Bobolink Trailhead are a ~20-26-minute bus ride from the venue. They are less busy than the trailheads listed above, but still offer access to many quality trails with excellent views.

Eldorado Canyon State Park

If you are extending your stay or have a half day on a weekend, we recommend exploring Eldorado Canyon State Park. You can travel via a one hour shuttle ride on weekends and the entry fee is four dollars. If you are traveling by car (20 minute drive), advance reservations for a particular time (“timed entry”) are required and the entry fee is ten dollars. Timed entry is not required when using the shuttle.

We also recommend visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. You can travel via a two hour bus ride from Boulder Junction station on weekends. Park entrance fees vary depending on when you visit. If you are traveling by car, advance reservations for a particular time (“timed entry”) are required. Timed entry is not required when using the bus.

The Hessie Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness is accessible by shuttle on weekends and another great option for hiking. The Indian Peaks Wilderness is adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park and is similar in offering hikes to alpine lakes and stunning mountain views. You can get to the Hessie Trailhead via a 35-minute bus (RTD NB2) ride from downtown Boulder up Boulder Canyon to Nederland (every hour) and then via a 10-minute shuttle ride from Nederland High School to the trailhead.

Weekend Boulder Hiking Shuttle

On the weekends, there are hiker shuttles to Chautauqua Park, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and Hessie Trailhead in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. You can find more information about the shuttle schedule and routes here from Visit Boulder.

Boulder Hiker Shuttle

Food Guide

This is a list of some of our favorite places to go nearby to the venue. This is by no means comprehensive, and we encourage you to explore the many options in Boulder. For more options, consider browsing this guide from Visit Boulder, this list from Best of Boulder, or this list from Tripadvisor.

Cafés

  • Aviano
    • Right across the street from the Limelight
  • The Coffee Stand
    • Located two blocks away, this is another option for a coffee. Visit the nearby (crêpe stand) for a snack.
  • Ozo Coffee Roasters
    • Locally roasted coffee, and there are two store locations on Pearl Street.
  • Boxcar Coffee
    • Local roaster with a location on Pearl Street.
  • Alpine Modern Café
    • Great coffee and good toasts and sandwiches.
  • Village Coffee Shop
    • Boulder staple, breakfast café with traditional American breakfast food. Note that it is slightly further from the venue (a ~25-minute walk).

Dining

The Hill

Located just across the street from the Limelight, The Hill offers a variety of great options, including:

Pearl Street

Located .6 mi (1 km) from the Limelight, this street has a wide variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. Some of our favorites include:

Further Afield

These restaurants are a bit further from the venue but still within walking distance (~30 minutes):

Unique Dining Experiences

  • Frasca (Italian)
    • A Michelin-starred and James Beard Foundation Award-winning restaurant on Pearl Street.
  • Flagstaff House
    • Fine dining with views of Boulder atop Flagstaff Mountain. It’s a short 7-minute drive (or hour hike) from the venue.