29 Things to Do in Butte, MT (Summer + Winter)

Wondering what to do in Butte – or if Montana’s most infamous city even has anything worth seeing? Believe us, it does, and this post covers it all!

Start a conversation without just anyone in Butte, MT, (better known as “Butte, America”) and they’ll gladly tell you it’s the greatest city on Earth. Butte’s residents love their town, and many of them are willing to throw down should you denigrate their beloved home. But if we’re being honest, most of Montana doesn’t share the love. 

It’s not for lack of things to do in Butte, but more because most have never taken the time to explore the city. They know there’s a giant hole next to it (the Berkeley Pit), and that’s pretty much the extent of their knowledge.

We want to change that, because Butte is our favorite Montana city. And because it’s incredibly historic. The entirety of Butte , along with adjacent Walkerville and the town of Anaconda 20 miles to the northwest, are a National Historic Landmark District, and it’s the largest in the U.S. Unlike other cute, historic towns, though, Butte doesn’t have a Disney-fied feel. It’s just a working class town that’s made an effort to respect its history.

But we also love Butte because everytime we go back, we find something new to enjoy. Hopefully we can spread some of that excitement by telling you what to do in Butte on your next Montana vacation.

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Best Things to Do in Butte, Montana (Year-Round)

We may be in the minority on this, but we think Butte is just as good in the snowy months as in the sunny ones. There’s always something to do here, though for many of the attractions, weather is a factor. But these are the best things to do in Butte, no matter the season!

Wander Uptown Butte.

The city’s heart is on its hill, which is why we call downtown Butte “Uptown.” Walking through Uptown is like stepping into the past. The northern half of the city, built onto a steep hillside, has colorful Victorian mansions, classic billboard ads painted on the side of brick buildings, a myriad of rowdy bars, and historic headframes around every corner. 

Isle of Books, Second Edition Books, Paper Cranes, Butte Stuff, and 5518 Designs are all worth checking out while you’re in Uptown, and you can find them all on our custom map of Butte.

Explore the Clark Chateau.

A logical first stop in Uptown would be at the Clark Chateau, built by one of Butte’s most legendary characters, Copper King William A. Clark, who helped make Butte the world’s largest producer of copper at the end of the 19th century.

The chateau was built for Clark’s son, who only lived there a few years before abandoning Montana for California. The house changed hands a few times over the next several decades, to other wealthy industrialists, a Montana senator, and the local Shriners group, before becoming a museum in the ‘70s. 

The mansion is now open to the public for guided ($10) and self-guided tours ($7), which allow you to marvel at the stained glass windows, grand piano, and cavernous dance hall on the top floor, while learning more about the history of Butte. It’s only open four days a week, Wednesday through Saturday, during the summer , and just Friday and Saturday the rest of the year. 

Meet Butte’s goodest boy.

Any city that sees fit to memorialize their favorite dog in statue form is a-okay in our book, and Butte’s most celebrated canine was a Puli named Auditor. He made a home for himself near the Berkeley Pit and Workers called him the Auditor because he showed up only on the rare occasion, usually when he was least expected. They fed him, built him a dog house, and in his later years, added aspirin to his food when arthritis set in.

Auditor is the perfect representation of the Butte spirit. He lived to the ripe old age of 17, at the very least. Analysis of his fur revealed all manner of heavy metals, including arsenic, at levels 100 times higher than would normally be found in a dog. Nothing keeps a Butte dog down.

Today, Auditor is memorialized with three statues spread across the city. These aren’t the most famous Butte attractions, but they’re some of our favorites! Try finding them on your own, or look up their location if you love dog statues as much as we do and want to make sure you don’t miss one. 

Dive into Butte’s sordid past on a walking tour.

Butte was at one time referred to as the “Richest Hill on Earth,” and unsurprisingly, with all that wealth came crime and debauchery. Booze, gambling, prostitution, corruption – Butte had it all in the late 19th and early 20th century. 

Old Butte Historical Adventures dives into that chaotic past with walking tours of Butte, which include a speakeasy, the old city jail, a brothel, and the historic Finlen Hotel. Even though the tours cover some fairly messy subjects, it’s done in a way that’s family-friendly. 

Visit Montana’s coolest rock collection at Montana Tech.

Were you the kid with a rock collection? Was it just a random pile of stones and maybe the old crystal or two you bought at a shop? 

Montana Tech’s Mineral Museum is the grown-up version of your childhood collection, except it’s stocked with two-pound gold nuggets, quartz crystals as big as your leg, and a whole shelf of rocks that glow under black light. Many of the exhibits feature specimens from the Butte area, and the sheer variety of minerals that lie beneath the city is pretty fascinating. It’s free to wander through, and it’s fun even if you’re not a geology nut. 

Hike at Big Butte Open Space.

As in many Montana towns, the hill with iconic whitewashed rock “M” is the place to go for hiking in Butte. The Big Butte Open Space features miles of trails that criss-cross the side of the mountain and offer some of the best views overlooking the city. Do the relatively short switchbacked trail up to the M, or spend a few hours covering all the trails in the area.

Get in touch with Butte’s immigrant roots at the Serbian Orthodox Church.

It might seem out of place in Montana, but the Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church is a vestige of Butte’s immigrant history – and it’s fascinating to see. Its three onion domes are visible from the interstate, and the ceilings are painted with incredibly detailed frescoes, by artists brought in from Belgrade. And if you visit Butte in early August, make sure to sample some delicious dishes like kielbasa, povitica, and baklava at the annual Serb Fest!

Things to Do in Butte, MT: Food & Drink Addition

The Butte dining scene is a little different than places like Bozeman or Missoula. Some of the restaurants are a little grittier, and the local dishes are definitely a bit more unique. But the food in Butte is an important component of the experience, and its dining scene will probably surprise you! These are some of the best Butte restaurants and bars to try on your next adventure to the Mining City.

Perk up with a coffee from Oro Fino.

There aren’t a ton of independent coffee shops in Butte, but you really only need one great one, and Oro Fino serves the best cup while, also being in the middle of Uptown. They serve beans roasted by Revel, a Billings roaster that’s low-key maybe the best coffee in Montana. 

Oro Fino doesn’t have a lot of seating, but what it lacks in space, it more than makes up for with ambiance. With big front-facing windows for people watching and a rotating assemblage of art, there’s always something to look at while sipping your java. 

The building is also home to the Imagine Butte Resource Center, a space for artists to share their supplies, collaborate on projects, and teach creative workshops. Butte’s only two yoga studios, Rooted Tribe Hot Yoga and The Yoga Cooperative, can also be found in the basement. 

Have Montana’s best breakfast burrito at Hummingbird Cafe.

Breakfast burritos, as a rule, are best when served from a truck, preferably with a menu written in Spanish. But Hummingbird Cafe may be the exception to this rule.

It sits just a few blocks down from the Clark Chateau, in an unassuming little storefront that looks as if it may only have space for a table or two. There’s more here than meets the eye, though. 

Make your requisite breakfast burrito order (I like to get mine with sausage, but they’re incredibly customizable), then head to the back and out to the patio – a sunny little oasis where you can enjoy that deliciously plump burrito amidst the historic brick facades of Hummingbird’s neighbors. 

Breakfast burritos are where it’s at, but Hummingbird’s menu is quite extensive and includes plenty of lunch options, too.

Get a milkshake from the Bonanza Freeze.

Every Montana town has one of these classic fast food spots, the kind that’s just a drive-up serving cheap and greasy burgers, sometimes only during the summer months. In Butte, it’s the Bonanza Freeze, thankfully open year-round. While I’m sure their burgers and fries hit the spot, it’s the milkshakes that make this a must-visit restaurant in Butte, even in the winter. 

With over 30 flavors to choose from (and you can combine them), you’ll never run out of ways to enjoy a cup of blended ice cream. I’m partial to the caramel, but feel free to go wild with something like pineapple or whatever “blue goo” is. A Butte adventure should be about getting outside your comfort zone. 

Sample the regional speciality, a pasty!

Brought over from jolly old England by Cornish immigrants, the pasty was ubiquitous in the underground miner’s lunch pail. But what exactly is a pasty?

It’s essentially a single-serving pie, but instead of apples or blueberries, they’re filled with steak, onion, and potatoes. The ideal lunch for a working man as you don’t need a plate or utensils to eat it, just your soot-covered hands…

There are a few places to grab a pasty in Butte, but the most popular spots are Joe’s Pasty and The Pasty Place (formerly Nancy’s Pasty Shop). Locals have strong opinions on which is the best, but you’ll surely be satisfied with either. A more important question is whether to dip your pasty in ketchup or gravy. You’ll have to make that call on your own.

Try the state sandwich at the Freeway Tavern.

Every state has a famous sandwich: the cheesesteak in Pennsylvania, the Italian beef in Illinois, and in Montana, it’s the pork chop sandwich. 

Now that may not sound particularly inspired, and it is a very simple recipe, but the crispy goodness of a perfectly tenderized and breaded pork loin on a bun with a little mustard and maybe a few pickles is something many Montanans like to indulge in from time to time. Butte’s favorite son, Evel Knievel, certainly did, as a frequent patron of the Freeway Tavern and devotee of the “Wop Chop” sandwich. 

There are other places to sample the state sandwich in Butte, mainly Pork Chop Johns, but I recommend the Freeway both for its larger and tastier sandwich and for the dive bar atmosphere that perfectly encapsulates the Butte aesthetic. 

Dine at Pekin Noodle Parlor.

From the sidewalks of Butte’s Main Street, ghostly red neon lights beckon you to climb a set of steep and narrow stairs. At the top, you’re greeted by rows of orange cubicles enveloped by crimson curtains. You’re not sure if the restaurant is empty or completely packed, but dozens of muffled voices suggest the latter.

Welcome to the first Chinese restaurant in the U.S. (and Montana’s oldest restaurant altogether), the Pekin Noodle Parlor, in continuous operation since 1911.

I’m not going to sugarcoat it: the food is not the best thing about Pekin. I don’t think most Butte residents would disagree with me on this; the ambiance and the history is its real draw. But since you have to eat, we recommend ordering an individual entree rather than one of the set multi-course specials. And definitely skip the shrimp.

Pick up fresh pasta from Front Street Market.

Butte’s most known for its Irish heritage, but Italian immigrants made their mark in the Mining City, too. No Italian neighborhood would be complete without a proper deli, with hard-to-find sauces, olive oil from the old country, and all manner of smoked meats. Front Street Market occupies that niche for Butte, and for much of southwest Montana, really.

What I like most about the market, though, is their fresh pasta, particularly the ravioli stuffed with cheese, meat, or vegetables. We pick some up every time we pass through, even if our itinerary doesn’t allow for any other Butte adventures.

Get a flight at Quarry Brewing.

Quarry Brewing is worth a visit just for the ambiance. It’s in the basement of a historic Uptown building,and the walls are covered in old mining maps. Hanging behind the bar are dozens of beer mugs owned by the regulars and often decorated with personal trinkets. There’s a bit of speakeasy vibe, but also free popcorn and games. 

About a dozen beers are on tap at any moment, half of them rotators or seasonals brewed in small batches. Quarry also offers great non-alcoholic options, including house-made root beers and orange cream sodas.

Sample whiskey at Headframe Spirits.

You can’t go to the most Irish place in America and not have a wee bit of tipple. Bourbon, single malt, even a cinnamon rye (if that’s what you’re into) – Headframe Spirits is the place to try any and all kinds of whiskey. It’s also a place to connect with Butte’s past and the history of whiskey in Montana.

Headframe’s interior harkens back to a different era, with a massive mirror behind the bar and vintage posters from Butte’s mining heyday. Their bar was actually rescued from the Rocky Mountain Cafe, a local institution swallowed up by the development of the Berkeley Pit. 

Those historic vibes draw the customers in, but it’s the incredible whiskey and expansive cocktail selection that keeps them coming back. Have it as a shot, on the rocks, or maybe something a little fancier, but choose carefully since Montana’s brewery laws only let you imbibe two ounces at a distillery taproom. It also means they have to close at 8:00pm. 

What to Do in Butte, MT, in Summer

The warmer months are when Butte gets most of its visitors. The city is a popular stopover between Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, plus it’s a time for festivals, and it’s when many of Butte’s seasonal attractions are open. These are the best things to do in Butte in the summer.

Tour the Copper King Mansion.

Unlike the Clark Chateau, the Copper King Mansion was William A. Clark’s actual home. However, it’s not a museum in the typical sense, but rather a functioning bed & breakfast.

Room rates are on the higher end for Butte, but non-guests can tour the mansion for $20 (it’s free for guests) and see how one of Butte’s most famous residents lived. Tours last about an hour, and each of the rooms has been carefully preserved to retain the Gilded Age aesthetic befitting a copper baron.

Go license plate-spotting at the Piccadilly Museum of Transportation.

If you’re looking for free things to do in Butte – and you’re a lover of road trips, history, or cultural memorabilia – head to the Piccadilly Museum of Transportation.

On one hand, it’s a really random collection of transportation artifacts and roadtrip memorabilia. On the other hand, we really enjoyed seeing the extensive collection of vintage signs and license plates and learning the history that went along with them. Plus there was a resident dog when we visited, and it’s right in the middle of downtown Butte. 

Look up at Our Lady of the Rockies (or down from her).

Another unique piece of Butte culture is the 90-foot tall statue of the Virgin Mary looking down from the ridge 3,000 feet above Butte. She’s not all that noticeable from the city, but Our Lady of the Rockies is actually the fourth tallest statue in the U.S. 

There’s no public road, but visitors can take a tour, which includes a short film, a (very bumpy) shuttle ride up to the statue, and access to the inside of it, although the $28 price tag is probably not worth it to anyone who isn’t a devoted Catholic. You can also hike there, but it’s a 14-mile round trip with a few thousand feet of elevation gain – and since the statue is on private land, hikers can get a closer look, but won’t reach the statue. 

Learn about Butte’s Chinese heritage at the Mai Wah Museum.

The small Mai Wah Museum is dedicated to an oft-forgotten piece of Montana history: the Chinese immigrants who settled here in the 1800s. House inside a former Chinese-owned mercantile building, the museum preserves the Chinese community’s tremendous impact on Butte and tells the stories of the hardships they faced.

Stare down into America’s most polluted lake.

The city’s shameful and iconic landmark, the Berkeley Pit is an open pit copper mine that is now one of America’s largest Superfund sites – and one of more unique things to see in Butte (and it only costs a couple dollars).

When mining activity ceased in 1982, the pit began slowly filling up with groundwater contaminated by heavy metals, giving it a pH level around that of beer. 

Today, tourists can look out at the eerie green water from a viewing stand on the edge of the Pit. To add to the otherworldly experience, noise machines regularly emit what I can only describe as UFO noises to deter birds from landing in the toxic water. A sharpshooter is also employed to fire warning shots near the birds should they make a landing. 

Catch a movie at the Silver Bow Drive-In.

Nothing takes you back quite like watching a movie at the drive-in, and Butte has the only one in Montana. The twin screen Silver Bow Drive-In is about six miles west of town and runs movies Friday through Tuesday throughout the summer. This far north, it doesn’t start getting dark until 9:30pm, so most showings go past 11:00pm. 

A concession stand between the screens sells popcorn, candy, and soda, but you can bring in your own food for a $5 fee. The movie’s audio is broadcast over radio, so you can play it through your car stereo, but for another $5, you can have the classic drive-in experience and rent a little retro speaker to listen through. And that’s the way to go if you want to bring chairs or a picnic blanket to lounge on, instead of being cramped in your vehicle.

Take a ride on the Butte Trolley.

The Butte Trolley tour is a fun way to learn some history and get the lay of the land at the same time. Tours last about two hours and pass many of the top Butte attractions, including the World Museum of Mining, Clark Chateau, Berkeley Pit, and Copper King Mansion. As you ride around town, the guides will regale you with historical facts, interesting anecdotes, and fun stories about Butte (of which there are many!). 

Go underground at the World Museum of Mining.

Easily one of the best museums in Montana, the World Museum of Mining occupies 22 acres of Butte’s original Orphan Girl silver mine. You could spend half a day going through all the exhibits, including a replica Butte neighborhood and a mining headframe, so be sure to budget your time properly to get the full experience. 

Most importantly, you’ll want to book the underground mine tour, which takes you 100 feet beneath Butte to see where men from all over the world toiled in near darkness. The shafts are mostly flooded, the groundwater seeping through when humans stop working to hold it back, but most of the equipment is still there – along with what many say are the ghostly sounds of souls lost to tragic accidents. 

Live it up at Music on Main.

Butte is a musical city, with the Montana Folk Festival and An Ri Ra bringing in hundreds of thousands of attendees. Fortunately, you need not visit the city on its busiest days to get an earful. The Music on Main street party takes place every Thursday in the summer, and you’ll also find food trucks, kids’ games, and even a mechanical bull to keep the whole family entertained.

What to Do in Butte, MT, in Winter

Montana’s colder months are often considered a time to hunker down, but in Butte, this would be a mistake. The town is known for its winter sunshine, and a blanket of fresh snow makes for some of the most fun things to do in Butte. So bundle up, and cross these things off your Butte bucket list this winter.

Channel your inner Olympian at the High Altitude Speed Skating Center.

One thing you certainly don’t expect high up in the Rocky Mountains and in the middle of Montana is an Olympic-quality ice rink. But Butte’s mile-high elevation actually makes it the perfect training ground for athletes hoping to improve their performance in an oxygen-poor environment. 

And for a couple of decades starting in the ‘80s, the outdoor oval at the High Altitude Skating Center drew in competitive speed skaters from around the world. Its popularity as an Olympic training ground died down when speed skating eventually moved inside but it’s still a great place for us normies to enjoy an evening of skating under the big sky.

The quarter-mile lighted track feels spacious, even with hundreds of skaters whizzing past. Admission is entirely free, and skate rentals are only $5. Plus, unlike most rinks, they have speed skates available for rent, just in case you’re wondering if you have what it takes to go for the gold.

Shred some gnarly pow at Discovery.

If ever there were a Montana ski hill that could be deemed “underrated,” it’d be Discovery. It’s about an hour west of Butte but the route along the picturesque Pintler Scenic Highway makes for a quick journey.

Discovery is similar in size and vertical drop to Bozeman’s much-adored Bridger Bowl, but without all those pesky college students getting in the way. There’s never a long wait for the lift, and its variety is truly excellent for all levels, with beginner runs encircling the lodge, intermediate and advanced pistes trickling down from each summit, and a dozen seriously steep double blacks on the backside.

While the lodge grills a solid burger, it’s the famous cookies that keep everyone coming back season after season. These puffy chocolate chip-laden delights are baked fresh on the mountain, and are more like a scone than your typical cookie. Maybe it’s the crisp air or the elevation, but Discovery’s cookies just hit different. 

Discover the joy of Nordic skiing at Homestake Lodge or Mount Haggin.

Downhill is certainly what most visitors think of when we talk about skiing in Montana, but the cross-country scene near Butte is just as impressive. Homestake Lodge and Mount Haggin Nordic Trails are both within a half hour of the Mining City and offer hours of cardiovascular-heavy winter fun. 

Homestake is one of Montana’s best Nordic centers, with a massive complex of trails to explore, from easy groomers perfect for easing into the sport, to steep runs that’ll challenge the most experienced skiers – some of which are dog-friendly. Lessons are available (which we highly recommend for beginners), they rent both classic and skate skis, and you can even go night-skiing. There’s also on-site accommodations, and concessions are available on weekends.

If you have your own skis and want a more rustic experience, Mount Haggin’s trails are 35 minutes from town and might be more your style. Runs are a bit shorter and without as much variety, but there are both groomed and ungroomed options, and admission is by donation.

Get lost snowshoeing at Thompson Park.

Snowshoeing is one of the best things to do in Butte in the winter if for no other reason than it’s the easiest to get into. Just strap on a pair, and start walking. You might look a little silly, and it’s more strenuous than most hiking adventures, but it takes no special skill. 

Just nine miles south of Butte, Thompson Park is a winter playground for snowshoers (and the intrepid Nordic skiers who prefer their trails ungroomed). Twenty-five miles of winter wonderland trails wind through the forests, connecting Pipestone Pass on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) with the Butte area. The main rail trail runs along the Milwaukee Railroad, traversing a couple of tunnels and an incredibly scenic trestle bridge that looms 130 feet over the roadway below. 

More Things to Do Near Butte, Montana

• Float the Big Hole River near Wise River. 30 minutes
• Visit the Old Montana Prison Museum in Deer Lodge. 30 minutes
• Plan a day out in Anaconda. 30 minutes
• Make some music at Ringing Rocks. 40 minutes
• Go spelunking at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. 1 hour
• Kayak Georgetown Lake. 1 hour
• Explore a ghost town at Elkhorn or Granite State Park. 1 hour 15 minutes

Places to Stay in Butte, Montana

Unlike Montana’s tourist hotspots of Whitefish and Bozeman, Butte accommodations have remained relatively affordable, even during the summer months – Folk Festival weekend excluded. 

Hotels in Butte

The city has an interesting mix of hotels, with national chains clustered around the interstate and more interesting boutique accommodations located in historic Uptown. Whatever your budget or preferences, there are a variety of Butte hotels to choose from on your next adventure:

Finlen Hotel – Copper King-level luxury that’s still pretty easy on the wallet. Greek columns, ornate chandeliers, and intricate wood accents will have you feeling like a mining baron as you enter the Finlen’s lobby.

Tuscany on the Green – Formerly known as Toad Hall Manor, Butte’s Italian-themed B&B offers elaborate breakfasts, spectacular views of the Butte Country Club, and furnishings that would make the Copper Kings blush.

Homestake Lodge – A bit out of town, Homestake sits at the top of the Continental Divide. Their cabins and yurt are perfect for visitors wanting a rustic experience, but with clean sheets and a hot shower. 

Motel 6 – One of the cheapest places to stay in Butte, it’s a solid option now that Motel 6’s across the country have hardwood floors and new modernist furniture.

Butte Airbnb & VRBO Rentals

Butte is brimming with history, and one of the best ways to experience its glory days is by staying in a unique Airbnb or VRBO:

• 4-Bedroom Penthouse in Historic Uptown
• Apartment in a Converted Historic Church
• City-Chic Oasis in Uptown
• Room in a Beautiful Victorian House Overlooking the City

Camping in Butte

While Butte hotels are a great value, camping is almost always the most budget-friendly option. Nestled between a few national forests and two interstate highways, Butte sees its fair share of RV travelers and tent campers, and has plenty of options to accommodate them, including these campgrounds (summer only):

• Butte KOA Journey – on the southern end of town
• Beaverdam Campground – on the CDT (30 minutes)
• Delmoe Lake – Deer Lodge National Forest (45 minutes)
• High Rye Cabin – Forest Service Cabin (30 minutes)
• Homestake Pass – free year-round dispersed camping (20 minutes)

Map of Butte, Montana

Our custom Butte map shows you where to find all the best restaurants, hotels, and things to do in the Queen City. Most of them are in Uptown, which is fairly walkable, so you may even want to leave your car back at the hotel or Airbnb. Just be aware that its steep hills are killer on the legs.

Click here for an interactive version of the map!

Butte is our favorite city in Montana, and we never shy away from gushing about it. There’s just so much to see, and nobody seems to realize it. So make sure to add Butte to your next Montana itinerary! 

What are your favorite things to do in Butte, MT?

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