Denver

Denver is where we both live! We moved here for the 300 days of sunshine, the incredible access to the outdoors, the fact that we already had friends here, and the endless list of things to do in the city itself.

A lot of visitors use Denver as a jumping-off point for day trips to the mountains, Boulder, Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park, or Colorado Springs, but this post is just about what you can do in the Denver metro area itself. It’s not a complete list, just some of our personal favorites. Enjoy our Denver travel guide!

How we traveled there

Denver International Airport (DIA) is the 3rd busiest airport in North America (behind Atlanta and Dallas) and the 6th busiest in the world. If you fly in, we recommend taking the A-Line train into the city. It’s about $10 and drops you right at Union Station downtown. (Tip: download the RTD MyRide app for tickets and schedules.) Make sure to stop inside Union Station if you take the train there. It’s a Denver icon with shops, restaurants, and a gorgeous historic lobby. 

Driving/ride share is also an option, but the airport is about 40 minutes from downtown with no traffic, so give yourself plenty of time.

And don’t miss saying hi to “Blucifer,” the giant blue horse statue with glowing red eyes at the airport entrance. Make sure to look up it’s history – very creepy!

Where we stayed

Since we live here, we didn’t need a hotel, but Denver has some fantastic places to stay, depending on what kind of trip you’re planning:

• The Thompson Denver – A stylish boutique hotel in LoDo (Lower Downtown), perfect if you want to be right in the middle of the action with great restaurants, nightlife, and Union Station nearby.
• The Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center – Located near the airport, this massive resort feels like a mini city. It’s got a water park, multiple restaurants, a spa, and sweeping mountain views. Great if you’re traveling with family or want a “resort experience” without heading to the mountains.
• The Rally Hotel – Right across from Coors Field, this hotel is all about baseball vibes and downtown energy. With rooftop views, a pool, and 182 rooms, it’s a fun pick if you’re here for a Rockies game or just want to be in the heart of the city.

What activities we did

Here are some of our go-to Denver activities:

• Meow Wolf – an immersive art experience that feels like stepping into another universe.
• Denver Botanic Gardens – especially beautiful in spring and summer.
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre – worth visiting even if there isn’t a concert; the hiking trails are beautiful. If there is a concert, make sure to go in the morning or early afternoon as it will be closed to the public.
• Denver Art Museum & Clyfford Still Museum – both excellent for art lovers.
• RiNo Arts District – colorful murals, breweries, and coffee shops.
• Denver Performing Arts Complex – The Denver Performing Arts Complex is one of the largest performing arts centers in the U.S., second only to Lincoln Center, and ranks among the top three alongside the Kennedy Center. We are lucky to get a lot of amazing shows!
• Puttshack – indoor tech-driven mini golf and drinks.
• Shopping – Cherry Creek (upscale) and South Broadway (vintage and antiques).
• Sports – Denver has teams in every major league, so catch whatever’s in season.
• Tattered Cover – iconic indie bookstore.
• Spicy Librarian – locally owned romance book store
• Rino Country Club – mini golf dive bar  
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science – especially fun if you love space or dinosaurs.
• First Friday Art Walks – monthly gallery nights, especially in the Santa Fe Arts District.
• Parks – our favorites are Cheesman, City Park, Sloan’s Lake, and Wash Park. City Park has swan boats you can rent (pictured below).
• Colorado State Capitol – stop by and you can stand on the official “mile high” step at exactly 5,280 feet.
• Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge – Just a short drive from downtown, this massive urban refuge is home to bison, bald eagles, deer, and more. You can drive the wildlife loop or hike the trails.
• Easy to medium hikes that are close to Denver
  • American Bison Trail
  • Lookout Mountain Trail
  • Rawhide Trail
  • Red Rocks Trading Post
• Tip: Many museums offer free days throughout the year. It’s worth checking before you go.

Where we ate

Some of our favorite bites in Denver:

• Mister Oso – tacos + mezcal cocktails.
• Little Man Ice Cream – the line is long but worth it.
• Linger – global street food in a repurposed mortuary with skyline views.
• Safta – modern Israeli food, amazing hummus.
• Uchi – upscale sushi.
• Watercourse Foods – vegetarian comfort food.
• City O’ City – quirky vegan spot near the Capitol.
• Tommy’s Thai – neighborhood favorite for Thai food.
• Denver Central Market – Trendy food halls with everything from oysters to wood-fired pizza.
• Avanti Food & Beverage – A food hall with rotating restaurant concepts and rooftop mountain views.
• Sushi Den – Consistently ranked among the best sushi spots in the country, Sushi Den flies in fish daily from Japan. 
• Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox – A funky restaurant, bar, and live music venue in a former brothel.
• Somebody People – Upscale plant-based Mediterranean spot.
• Adelitas – Local favorite for authentic Mexican food and strong margaritas.
• Lucina – Cozy, neighborhood Latin-inspired eatery with vibrant flavors.
• Blue Pan Pizza – Mouth-watering Detroit-style pizza.
• Dang Soft Serve – part of Little Man Ice Cream and sells French Fries and soft serve. They have vegan options!
• Bang up to the Elephant – plant-based tropical restaurant 

Where we drank

Denver is known for its craft beer scene, but we also love the cocktail bars, coffee shops, and laid-back pubs:

• Gin Mill – classic dive bar with great music to dance to. 
• Cohesion Brewing – Czech-style lagers (owned by our friends/Michigan State alumni!)
• Deviation Distilling – inventive gin cocktails.
• Bierstadt Lagerhaus – huge beer hall with classic German beers and games.
• Improper City – large beer garden with a lot of seating and food trucks.
• Finn’s Manor – eclectic bar with rotating food trucks.
• Dandy Lion Coffee – cozy neighborhood coffee shop and plant store.
• My Brother’s Bar – Denver’s oldest bar, known for burgers.
• St. Mark’s Coffeehouse – artsy café.
• Wynkoop Brewing Company – Denver’s first craft brewery.
• 54thirty Rooftop – Denver’s highest open-air rooftop bar with killer skyline views.
• The Front Porch – A casual bar known for its “flip night” on Wednesdays (guess the coin toss, drink free) and name night calendar (Find your name and drink for free all night).
• Herbs – Chill dive bar with cheap drinks and live music.
• Number Thirty Eight – Huge indoor-outdoor beer hall with live music and food stalls.
• Secret Garden Bar and Cafe – Bar and cafe tucked next to Cheesman Park, perfect for a relaxed drink after the park.
• ESP – stands for extra sensory perception and, “hints to the feeling for us when all senses, sight, smell, touch, taste and sound are in harmony.’ It’s a very intentionally created space and very special to have in Denver. 
• 99ers – Bar devoted to women’s sports.

What we recommend knowing/preparing

• Denver sits a mile above sea level (the mile high city), so hydrate well and take it easy until you adjust. Altitude sickness is real!
• Weather changes fast: it can be snowing in the mountains and 70°F in Denver on the same day. Pack layers.
• A lot of people don’t know Denver’s winters are very mild (Denver area only, not the mountains). Most days, you can go outside in a light jacket.
• It’s a dry climate (only 11 inches of rain a year). Bring Chapstick and lotion.
• Rush hour traffic is very real on I-25 and I-70. Ski traffic in winter is especially brutal. Leave by 5 am if you’re heading to the mountains.
• Public transit is limited; plan on using rideshares to get around.
• Orientation tip: the mountains are always west.
• Crime is on par with other big U.S. cities; just stay alert.
• Altitude + alcohol – People get tipsy faster here, especially if they just flew in.
• Marijuana tourism – Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, so a lot of visitors ask about dispensaries. Even if you don’t personally use, it can be a fun part of the Denver experience to see a dispensary (and very regulated).
• Car rental – If you’re thinking of exploring beyond Denver (mountains, day trips), note that a rental car is almost essential.
  • If you are driving into the mountains and it is between September 1 and May 31, make sure to rent an All Wheel Drive car or Four Wheel Drive car. Two-wheel drive cars are only allowed on I-70 in the mountains if they have mountain tires or chains.
• The best time to visit Denver is based on what you’re looking for – there are always things going on, but we’d recommend coming in the late spring/summer/early fall if you’re looking to stay in Denver or do day trips. Winter is a little quieter, as most people use Denver as a jumping-off point to go to the mountains for snow activities. 
• Denver has a lot of different neighborhoods, some main ones you will hear are:
  • Highlands – Trendy and residential with tree-lined streets, boutique shops, and some of the city’s best restaurants. Great for rooftop bars with skyline views.
  • RiNo (River North Arts District) – Denver’s edgy, artsy hub. Think colorful street murals, craft breweries, art galleries, and a ton of creative energy.
  • Capitol Hill – Eclectic and historic. Home to the Colorado State Capitol, old mansions, dive bars, coffeehouses, and a very walkable, artsy vibe.
  • Five Points – Known as the “Harlem of the West” for its jazz history. Today, it’s a cultural melting pot with breweries, barbecue, and music venues.
  • LoDo (Lower Downtown) – One of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, centered around Union Station. Lots of bars, restaurants, nightlife, and historic brick warehouses.
  • Cherry Creek – Upscale shopping district with art galleries, fine dining, and a more polished, luxury feel.
  • South Broadway – Quirky street known for antique shops, record stores, and live music venues.
  • Washington Park (Wash Park) – A beautiful residential neighborhood centered around one of Denver’s most popular parks, perfect for biking, jogging, or a picnic.

Annual events to check out:

• February:
  • Denver Restaurant Week – For two weeks every February, Denver’s best restaurants offer special multi-course menus at set prices (usually around $25, $35, and $45 per person). Reservations fill up fast, so book early.
• March:
  • St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Denver hosts one of the largest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the U.S., drawing close to half a million spectators some years, making it the largest celebration west of the Mississippi.
• May:
  • Cinco de Mayo Festival (Civic Center Park) – one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S., with parades, food, and live music.
• June:
  • Denver Pride – A two-day celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with a massive parade down Colfax Avenue, live music, drag performances, food vendors, and a festival in Civic Center Park. Attendance tops 450,000 people, making it one of the largest Pride events in the U.S.
  • Chalk Art Festival – This free festival features professional and amateur artists transforming the streets into colorful murals, drawn entirely in chalk. It’s family-friendly, interactive, and makes for great photos.
• July:
  • Underground Music Showcase (UMS) – Features 400+ local and national bands across South Broadway.
• September:
  • Great American Beer Festival – Hosted by the Brewers Association at the Colorado Convention Center, the GABF is the largest beer festival in the U.S. with more than 500 breweries pouring 2,000+ different beers. Tickets sell out quickly.
• October:
  • Denver Film Festival – Celebrating indie and international cinema.
• December:
  • Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens – Each holiday season, the Denver Botanic Gardens transforms into a winter wonderland with millions of colorful lights, interactive displays, and festive music. You can grab hot cocoa (or bring your own drink of choice in a coffee mug) and wander through the glowing gardens. It’s a Denver holiday tradition for locals and visitors alike. Timed tickets are required, and peak nights sell out in advance.

What we didn’t do but looked into

These are still on our Denver bucket list:

• Stranahan’s Whiskey Tour – A behind-the-scenes look at Colorado’s first legal distillery since Prohibition. Tours include the full production process and, of course, whiskey tastings. Book in advance, the spots fill quickly.
• International Church of Cannabis – One of Denver’s quirkiest attractions. Housed in a historic church, it features psychedelic murals and a light + sound show called BEYOND. You don’t have to be into cannabis to enjoy it.
• The U.S. Mint – Learn how U.S. coins are made on a free guided tour. Denver’s Mint produces billions of coins each year. Advance reservations are a must, and security is tight (no bags allowed).
• Coors Brewery Tour (Golden, just outside Denver) – The world’s largest single-site brewery. Tours walk you through the brewing process and end with samples of Coors and craft brews from their portfolio. Bonus: Golden itself is a charming town to explore.
• Pete’s Kitchen – A Denver staple for late-night eats. Open 24 hours on weekends, serving diner classics and legendary breakfast burritos.
• Butterfly Pavilion – Thousands of butterflies flying freely in a tropical conservatory. 
• Casa Bonita – The infamous cliff-diving, all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant, recently taken over and revamped by the South Park creators. Reservations only.

Remote working tips

Denver is a fantastic city for remote work, with endless coffee shops and creative spaces to set up for the day. Improper City is a local favorite thanks to its huge indoor-outdoor seating and lively vibe. For a more structured option, you can grab a day pass at WeWork, Enterprise RiNo, or one of the many coworking spaces around town. And if you’re after a quieter, more focused atmosphere, the Denver Central Library offers plenty of space and reliable Wi-Fi.

What we packed

We recommend packing – 

• Layers (it can be sunny and snowing in the same week)
• Sunglasses + sunscreen (300 days of sun means year-round protection)
  • 3 oz SPF 30
  • 3 oz SPF 45
  • Tinted face sunscreen SPF 30
• Reusable water bottle (for the altitude + dry air)
  • Hydroflask 24 oz
  • Stanley 40 oz
• Comfortable walking shoes
  • Women’s Hoka Bondi
• Oxygen canister

We hope you liked our Denver travel blog. If you’re interested in other Colorado destinations, check out Aspen, Crested Butte, Ouray, Telluride, and Steamboat Springs.

~Jessica & Elyse