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Colorado, United States

Denver

Give Denver one full day to acclimate to altitude before heading into the mountains; base yourself downtown or in RiNo. We have mapped 3 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Denver with friendsBrowse 9 places
Denver, Colorado, United States
Places
9

3 See · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Colorado Rockies

Best season
Jun – Sep

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

33°C / 92°F avg high

Coolest month
December

7°C / 44°F avg high

Wettest month
July

about 62 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Denver

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Denver across LoDo, Golden Triangle and Morrison. 2 of them are free.

  • Denver Union Station in DenverPhoto: Darkshark0159 at English Wikipedia · Public domain
    See

    Denver Union Station

    Restored 1914 rail hall with bars, shops and a lounge-like Great Hall at the heart of LoDo.

    Tip Grab a coffee in the Great Hall and people-watch before exploring LoDo.

    • LoDo
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Denver Art Museum in DenverPhoto: David Shankbone · CC BY 3.0
    See

    Denver Art Museum

    Strong Western American and Indigenous art collections in a jagged titanium-clad Libeskind building.

    Tip Book timed tickets online on weekends.

    • Golden Triangle
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Weekday morning
  • Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre in DenverPhoto: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

    Concert venue set between 300-foot sandstone monoliths with views back to the Denver skyline.

    Tip On non-show days, walk the Trading Post Trail and climb the amphitheatre steps free.

    • Morrison
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Sunset or summer concert

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Denver.

  • Denver Botanic Gardens in DenverPhoto: Daderot · Public domain
    Outdoors

    Denver Botanic Gardens

    24 acres of themed gardens including a Japanese garden and a high-plains alpine collection.

    • Cheesman Park
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • May–Sep

Eat

3 places to eat across Lincoln Park, Downtown and RiNo, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Buckhorn Exchange in DenverPhoto: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Buckhorn Exchange

    Denver's oldest restaurant (1893), packed with taxidermy and serving steaks and game.

    Tip Try the elk or the Rocky Mountain oysters if you're curious.

    • Lincoln Park
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner
  • Sam's No. 3 in DenverPhoto: Bachi 2Go · Google
    Eat

    Sam's No. 3

    Diner institution since 1927, known for big breakfasts and green chile.

    Tip Order anything smothered in the Kickin' Green Chile.

    • Downtown
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Breakfast
  • Denver Central Market in DenverPhoto: Paul Sableman · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Denver Central Market

    Food hall in a restored RiNo warehouse with pizza, tacos, pastries and a central bar.

    Tip Good group stop when everyone wants something different.

    • RiNo
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch

Drink

1 bar or café in RiNo for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Death & Co Denver in DenverPhoto: Billy Nesbitt · Google
    Drink

    Death & Co Denver

    Serious cocktail bar inside the Ramble Hotel lobby, a short walk from RiNo's mural streets.

    Tip Arrive early on weekends; walk-ins only for much of the lobby.

    • RiNo
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening

Shop

1 shop in LoDo for browsing and souvenirs.

  • Larimer Square in DenverPhoto: Pdubs.94 · CC BY 4.0
    Shop

    Larimer Square

    Denver's oldest block, lined with Victorian buildings, string lights, shops and restaurants.

    • LoDo
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Evening

How to fit Denver into a trip

Denver is stop 1 of 3 on our Colorado Rockies route. Follow it as-is or lift Denver into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Denver month by month

Average daily highs run from 7°C / 44°F in December to 33°C / 92°F in July. July is the wettest month, with about 62 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Denver weather and the best time to visit →

Near Denver

7 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Denver questions, answered

How many days do you need in Denver?

Our route notes suggest 1 day in Denver. On our Colorado Rockies route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Denver best known for?

Give Denver one full day to acclimate to altitude before heading into the mountains; base yourself downtown or in RiNo. Standouts on our list: Denver Union Station (Restored 1914 rail hall with bars, shops and a lounge-like Great Hall at the heart of LoDo); Denver Art Museum (Strong Western American and Indigenous art collections in a jagged titanium-clad Libeskind building); Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre (Concert venue set between 300-foot sandstone monoliths with views back to the Denver skyline).

When is the best time to visit Denver?

Our Colorado Rockies route is best Jun – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (33°C / 92°F), the coolest in December (7°C / 44°F) and the most rain in July (about 62 mm).

What are the best things to do in Denver?

Start with Denver Union Station, Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens and Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Denver?

Our picks: Buckhorn Exchange (Lincoln Park); Sam's No. 3 (Downtown); Denver Central Market (RiNo). Try the elk or the Rocky Mountain oysters if you're curious (Buckhorn Exchange).

What is near Denver?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown Denver & 16th Street (about 1 km / 1 mi), City Park (about 4 km / 2 mi) and Rocky Mountain NP (about 89 km / 56 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Denver with your crew

Open the Colorado Rockies route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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