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Colorado, United States

Downtown Denver & 16th Street

Two nights downtown for the rooftop fireworks, Union Station and Larimer Square. We have mapped 1 sight, 1 activity and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Downtown Denver & 16th Street with friendsBrowse 9 places
Downtown Denver & 16th Street, Colorado, United States
Places
9

1 See · 1 Do · 3 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Shop · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Denver New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

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 for Denver, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Downtown Denver & 16th Street

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

1 sight worth building a day around in Civic Center.

  • Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver & 16th StreetPhoto: Jolly2bjolly · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Civic Center Park

    Park between the State Capitol and the City and County Building, which is lit in color for the holidays.

    Tip One of the two official fireworks viewing areas, with more room than 16th Street for the 9 p.m. show.

    • Civic Center
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • After dark

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look in Central Business District.

  • Do

    Downtown Denver New Year's Eve Fireworks

    Free fireworks launched from downtown rooftops at 9 p.m. and midnight, best seen along 16th Street.

    Tip The stretch between Tremont Place and Arapahoe Street fills first; arrive 45 minutes early for the midnight show.

    • Central Business District
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • 9 p.m. and midnight

Eat

Where we would book a table in Downtown Denver & 16th Street across Larimer Square, Central Business District and Lincoln Park.

  • Eat

    Rioja

    Jennifer Jasinski's Mediterranean restaurant on Larimer Square, open since 2004.

    Tip Ask for an early New Year's Eve seating so you can walk to the 9 p.m. fireworks.

    • Larimer Square
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Guard and Grace

    Troy Guard's high-ceilinged downtown steakhouse at 1801 California Street, a short walk from 16th Street.

    • Central Business District
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Buckhorn Exchange in Downtown Denver & 16th StreetPhoto: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Buckhorn Exchange

    Denver's oldest restaurant, open since 1893, serving steaks and game under walls of mounted trophies.

    Tip It is a 5-minute ride from downtown; book an early table and take the light rail or a car back for the fireworks.

    • Lincoln Park
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Downtown Denver & 16th Street across LoDo and Central Business District.

  • Denver Union Station in Downtown Denver & 16th StreetPhoto: Isaac Kim · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Drink

    Denver Union Station

    Restored 1914 rail station whose Great Hall holds the Terminal Bar and the Cooper Lounge mezzanine bar.

    Tip The Cooper Lounge takes reservations; book for Dec 30 when New Year's Eve is booked solid.

    • LoDo
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Evening
  • Drink

    Ship Tavern

    Wood-paneled bar inside the Brown Palace, pouring drinks since the end of Prohibition in 1934.

    • Central Business District
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Late evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in LoDo.

  • Larimer Square in Downtown Denver & 16th StreetPhoto: Pdubs.94 · CC BY 4.0
    Shop

    Larimer Square

    Denver's oldest block, Victorian storefronts under strung lights with bars, restaurants and shops.

    • LoDo
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Dusk

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Central Business District.

  • The Brown Palace Hotel in Downtown Denver & 16th StreetPhoto: thirdsphoto · CC BY 4.0
    Stay

    The Brown Palace Hotel

    Denver's grand 1892 hotel, built around an eight-story atrium lobby, a few blocks from both viewing areas.

    Tip Afternoon tea in the atrium on Dec 31 is a good slow start before the fireworks.

    • Central Business District
    • $$$

How to fit Downtown Denver & 16th Street into a trip

Downtown Denver & 16th Street is stop 1 of 2 on our Denver New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown Denver & 16th Street into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Denver

Our climate figures for Downtown Denver & 16th Street come from Denver, about 1 km (1 mi) away. 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 for Denver. Denver weather (covers Downtown Denver & 16th Street) →

Near Downtown Denver & 16th Street

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

Downtown Denver & 16th Street questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown Denver & 16th Street?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown Denver & 16th Street. On our Denver New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown Denver & 16th Street best known for?

Two nights downtown for the rooftop fireworks, Union Station and Larimer Square. Standouts on our list: Civic Center Park (Park between the State Capitol and the City and County Building, which is lit in color for the holidays); Downtown Denver New Year's Eve Fireworks (Free fireworks launched from downtown rooftops at 9 p.m. and midnight, best seen along 16th Street); Denver Union Station (Restored 1914 rail station whose Great Hall holds the Terminal Bar and the Cooper Lounge mezzanine bar).

When is the best time to visit Downtown Denver & 16th Street?

Our Denver New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Denver 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 Downtown Denver & 16th Street?

Start with Downtown Denver New Year's Eve Fireworks and Civic Center Park. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 1 sight, 1 activity, 3 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Downtown Denver & 16th Street?

Our picks: Rioja (Larimer Square); Guard and Grace (Central Business District); Buckhorn Exchange (Lincoln Park). Ask for an early New Year's Eve seating so you can walk to the 9 p.m. fireworks (Rioja).

What is near Downtown Denver & 16th Street?

The closest destinations in our guides are Denver (about 1 km / 1 mi), City Park (about 4 km / 2 mi) and Rocky Mountain NP (about 88 km / 55 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown Denver & 16th Street with your crew

Open the Denver New Year's Eve 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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