The 12 Best Things to Do in Coeur d'Alene Idaho

[Updated May 2026]

I’ve been visiting Coeur d’Alene since I was young, and it’s one of those Idaho towns that always feels special to come back to. Plus, I have quite a few friends who live here, so over the years I’ve gotten to experience it beyond just a quick weekend trip, and honestly, I think it’s one of the best lake towns in the Northwest!

You get the beauty of being right on Lake Coeur d’Alene with all the perks of a bigger town, like great restaurants, cute coffee shops, resorts, hiking trails, and plenty to do year-round.

Coeur d’Alene is located in North Idaho directly on Lake Coeur d’Alene, which is the second deepest lake in Idaho after Lake Pend Oreille. Summer is definitely the most popular time to visit, thanks to the boating, beach days, and sunshine, but it also gets busier. Winter brings snow sports and cozy lake vibes, while spring and fall are perfect if you want fewer crowds and cooler temperatures.

CDA (as the locals call it) is also close to Hayden Lake, Fernan Lake, the Spokane River, the St. Joe River, and the Coeur d’Alene River, so if you love being around the water, this area is kind of a dream. Plus, Schweitzer Mountain Resort near Sandpoint is only a couple of hours away if you want to add skiing or snowboarding to your trip.

Want to turn this into a full North Idaho road trip? Check out my itinerary here!

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Best Things to Do in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

WHERE TO STAY IN COEUR D’ALENE

One Lakeside – I recently got the chance to stay here and loved how easy the downtown location made everything. You’re within walking distance to the lake, Tubbs Hill, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, and the marina, so it’s a great home base for exploring Coeur d’Alene without constantly driving around. The rooms feel much more like modern condos than standard hotel rooms with full kitchens, living areas, balconies, and spacious one or two-bedroom layouts, which makes it especially great for families, girls’ trips, or longer stays.

The rooftop deck was definitely a highlight for me, with panoramic lake views, a hot tub, fire pits, grills, and lounge seating that made it such a fun place to hang out at sunset after a day exploring. It’s also dog-friendly and has an on-site fitness center, which adds even more convenience if you’re road tripping through North Idaho. See current prices here.

Coeur d’Alene Resort – If you want to stay in the most iconic place in Coeur d’Alene, this resort offers the full experience. It’s top-rated and centrally located on the lake, with a great infinity pool, golf course with a floating green, award-winning spa, and hot tubs. See current prices here.

Airbnb Vacation Rentals– I highly recommend booking a lake house if you can find one close to the lake or close to town. There are some beautiful homes, downtown apartments, and cabins in great locations. The last time I was in Coeur d’Alene, it was just Jack and I, and we LOVED our cute little cottage near downtown (it’s no longer listed), but here’s a similar one!

WHAT TO DO IN COEUR D'ALENE

Take a walk through the quaint downtown Coeur d'Alene

There are so many fun restaurants and shops in downtown Coeur d'Alene, and you could spend hours just walking around! I love how it's so close to the water, so you can spend an afternoon walking around downtown and then go to the lake. You can also follow the cute little Mudgy & Millie Moose Trail that wanders through town. Some fun shops are: Figpickels Toy Emporium, Into the Woods, or CDA Idaho Clothing.

Go on a Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruise

One of the best ways to experience Coeur d’Alene is from the water, and I recommend taking a lake cruise if it’s your first time visiting. The standard scenic cruise is about 90 minutes and gives you incredible views of the lake, surrounding mountains, waterfront homes, and downtown Coeur d’Alene from a completely different perspective. They also serve drinks, cocktails, beer, wine, and light snacks onboard, which makes it feel like such a fun and relaxing activity, especially on a summer afternoon. We took my 1-year-old daughter on it with us, and she loved it!

If you want to make more of an experience out of it, they also offer brunch cruises and dinner cruises throughout the year, which can be really fun for a date night, girls’ trip, or special occasion while visiting CDA.

This is a great way to get a lay of the land and get incredible views of the lake and mountains surrounding Coeur d'Alene. Book here.

Visit the Coeur d'Alene City Park and Independence Point

This is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon in Coeur d’Alene and a spot I always end up coming back to when I visit. The park has about 16 acres of green space right along the lake with a sandy beach, walking paths, picnic areas, playgrounds, and beautiful views of the water and surrounding mountains. Independence Point is especially pretty at sunset and is a great place to sit by the water, watch the boats come in, or grab an ice cream and walk along the shoreline. It’s also super easy to access from downtown, which makes it a nice stop while exploring the area.

Enjoy the Farmer’s Market

If you’re visiting during the summer, I definitely recommend checking out one of the local farmers markets. The Wednesday night market in downtown Coeur d’Alene is a fun way to experience the local community with produce, flowers, baked goods, handmade items, live music, and food vendors all set up downtown. There’s usually a really lively atmosphere in the evenings during peak summer. There’s also a Saturday market in nearby Hayden from May through October from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., which is another great option if you want to support local farmers and small businesses while visiting North Idaho.

Enjoy lake activities

The lake in the summer is epic. Take advantage of activities like parasailing, boat rentals, jet skiing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Most of these activities can be rented by the water or at places near the resort, like Kayak Coeur d'Alene and Coeur d'Alene Water Sports. You can even take a seaplane on a scenic flight with Brooke's Flights!

Zipline through the forest with Timberline Adventures

If you’re looking for a more adventurous activity in Coeur d’Alene, Timberline Adventures is a good option, especially in the summer and fall. You’ll zipline through the forest canopy with views of the mountains and trees while guides lead you through multiple lines and suspension bridges along the course. My friend Sam, who lives in Coeur d’Alene, says this is one of the most fun things to do in the area and a great activity for families, couples, or groups visiting North Idaho.

Visit Midtown for Restaurants + Shopping

Midtown Coeur d’Alene has a more local feel compared to the waterfront downtown area and is worth spending a little time exploring while you’re in town. You’ll find vintage shops, thrift stores, coffee shops, local boutiques, and some really good restaurants tucked throughout the neighborhood. It’s a fun area to walk around for an afternoon, especially if you like shopping small and finding more unique local spots. I’d definitely recommend stopping into Midtown Home & Vintage Market if you love home decor, antiques, or vintage finds.

Visit the Silverwood Theme Park

Silverwood is the largest theme park in the Northwest and honestly makes for such a fun summer day if you’re visiting Coeur d’Alene with kids, teens, or even a group of friends. The park has roller coasters, rides, live entertainment, and a huge water park section called Boulder Beach that becomes especially popular during the hotter summer months. It’s located about 30 minutes north of Coeur d’Alene and is one of those classic North Idaho summer activities that a lot of locals grew up going to.

Hike Tubbs Hill

Tubbs Hill is probably the most iconic hike in Coeur d’Alene and one of the best ways to get lake views without having to drive far from town. You can access the trails directly from McEuen Park near downtown, which makes it really easy! The Main Loop Trail isn’t very hard and gives you beautiful views of Lake Coeur d’Alene the entire way. In the summer, people swim and cliff jump along parts of the shoreline, while winter is actually a good time for bald eagle viewing. I recently did this hike with my baby in a front carrier, so it’s definitely doable for most people. If you want another nearby hiking option, Mineral Ridge is also really popular and is a little over 3 miles of trail with great lake views.

Go golfing

There are a ton of golf courses in CDA. One of the main public courses is Coeur d'Alene Public Golf Course. Other courses include CDA Resort, famous for its floating green, Avondale, Highlands, and Circling Raven at the CDA Casino.

Take kids on the Coeur d'Alene Carousel

This carousel is a hand-carved carousel built in New York. It used to be on Lake Coeur d'Alene as part of Playland Pier from 1942 to 1974 and was restored in 2017! Cost to ride is $2.50 each. The carousel is open weekends in May & September and 7 days a week when school is out, approx. first week of June through end of August.

Bike along the North Idaho Centennial Trail or the Hiawatha Trail

The Hiawatha Trail is one of the most fun things to do near Coeur d'Alene, as it spans 15 miles and takes you through 10 train tunnels and several tall trestles! The best part? It's mostly downhill and great for all ages. It's technically about an hour from CDA, and the start is in Montana. You'll want to rent your gear and get a bus ticket at Lookout Pass. On the other hand, the Northern Idaho Centennial Trail is a 23-mile pedestrian path with some of the Coeur d' Alene area's best views.

Take a trip to an alpaca farm

You're in Northern Idaho, after all. Check out Seven Stars Alpaca Ranch to meet these cute animals.

Learn Coeur d'Alene history

Check out Fort Sherman, the oldest church, library, school, and meeting hall in Coeur d'Alene, or visit the Museum of North Idaho to learn about the area's unique heritage.

Visit Silver Mountain Resort

If you're in CDA in the winter, about 40 minutes east of CDA, you'll find Silver Mountain Ski Resort! This is a great spot for skiing in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. See my post with all of the great ski resorts in Idaho.

Visit a state park near Coeur d'Alene

If you want to get out of the city, you can head up to Farragut State Park, about 30 miles away from CDA on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille. If you go during the winter, look out for bald eagles perched in the trees along the shoreline. Another popular state park is Coeur d’Alene Parkway, popular for walkers and bikers.

Visit the Coeur d'Alene Resort

You can walk around the property and get great views of the lake. I recommend eating at the Dockside restaurant or Beverly's and Whispers for a cocktail. Both have great views over the lake. You can also walk over to McEuen Park, a lakeside park with recreation trails and a large playground with a splash pad.

The last time I was here, I got a 50-minute Swedish Massage at the Resort Spa, which was fabulous! I highly recommend it. With the spa treatment, you can access the indoor pool and jacuzzis, fitness center, meditation room, locker rooms, sauna, and valet parking. Book your treatment here.

If you're a guest of the resort, you also will get access to The BLU Infinity Pool & Private Beach, which is gorgeous! You can also take their boat shuttle from the resort to this infinity pool location.

For anyone interested in golf, the Coeur d'Alene Resort has a golf course with a floating green! It's so unique and beautiful. Check out this site to see more details.

infinity pool at the coeur d'alene resort

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN COEUR D'ALENE

Coffee

Vault Coffee - If you need a great cup of Joe and delicious pastries, make sure to stop here!

CDA Coffee Company - Delish coffee stop!

Capy Hour (Capybara Cafe) - Where you can actually book time to hang out and pet Capybaras!! This is on my bucket list for when my daughter is older since it's 5 years and up. Must make a reservation ahead of time!

Evan's Brother's Coffee - Award winning coffee shop!

Best Brunch + Casual Lunch Spots

Honey Eatery and Social Club - Trendy brunch + cute interior.
Ten/6 - Unique themed brunch spot with Cajun-inspired menu.
Hudson’s Hamburgers - This is an old-school hamburger joint, and classic CDA institution.
Café Carambola - This is a family-owned spot that makes delicious homemade Latin American sandwiches, soups & salads. They are only open for lunch on weekdays, but it's worth it!
Dockside Restaurant - Lake views + famous Gooey dessert
Rustic - Cozy breakfast/lunch option downtown

Best Dinner Restaurants in Coeur d’Alene

Terraza Waterfront Café - This is a Latin-inspired restaurant with a beautiful location right on the Spokane River
Cedars Floating Restaurant - A longtime Coeur d’Alene staple sitting directly on the lake with huge windows and beautiful water views. Come here for steak, seafood, and the full “classic lake vacation” experience.
Angelo’s or Tony’s on the Lake - Both great spots for Italian food
Shiki Sushi - Delicious sushi in town.
The Bluebird - This is great farm-to-table grub in Midtown
315 Restaurant and Wine Bar- Martinis, wine and tapas!
Izzy’s Comfort Kitchen - Delicious comfort food and gluten free options!
Crown & Thistle - Go for the sausage sampler and stay for the carmel corn!
Tandoori Grill - Probably some of the best Indian food I've had in Idaho!
Moontime + Porch - Sister restaurants and are loved by locals 🙂

Best Breweries + Casual Drinks

Daft Badger Brewing
Vantage Point Brewing
Crafted Taphouse - Great place to go on a nice day for outdoor seating in the summer.
Crickets (sports bar/game-day vibe)

Wine Bars + Cocktail Spots

La Condesa - Mexico City cocktail bar vibes
Studio 107
Vine & Olive
Wine House
Rivaura Winery

GETTING TO COEUR D'ALENE

Flying:

The closest airport to Coeur d'Alene is Spokane International Airport in Washington (about 40 minutes away). Spokane offers nonstop flights or one-stop access from most major cities in the USA and Canada. After landing, you’ll arrive in less than an hour to the amazing town of Coeur d’Alene. I recommend grabbing a taxi or Uber to the town if you don’t want to rent a car. If you’re flying into Seattle, you’ll be about a 4.40-hour drive to CDA.

Driving:

To get to CDA from the airport, you can either take an uber or easily access it by highway from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, or Canada.

I hope you have a fun time in Coeur d'Alene! It truly is a gem of Idaho and of the United States in general. There's so much to do and there are new activities and restaurants popping up all the time! Let me know if you've discovered any other really fun activities to do there in the comments below!