The Native’s Information to Denver Colorado in 2024

Positioned within the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, Colorado is a fast-growing metropolis attracting guests from close to and much. Every of Denver’s neighborhoods is exclusive in its personal manner, whether or not it’s the hip and concrete RiNo (River North) Arts District or the charming inexperienced area often called Wash Park. 

within the arts, delicacies, or craft beer? Denver has all of it. And the most effective half? You’re prone to get up to sunshine and clear skies virtually on daily basis! 

Other than its distinctive array of neighborhoods, you’re only a brief drive from among the most well-known mountains within the nation. Climbing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and snowmobiling await. 

As somebody who has lived in Denver for years now, I can attest to the town’s heat and friendliness, so distinctive and exquisite it’s laborious to seek out elsewhere. There’s actually one thing for everybody within the Mile Excessive Metropolis!

PRO TIP: Earlier than we get going, do not forget that the elevation in Denver is a lot increased than you’re doubtless used to! I’d suggest giving your self at the very least a day or two to acclimate earlier than doing any strenuous actions or hikes. 

Finest Areas in Denver

Downtown Denver

Downtown Denver is probably the most handy place to remain by way of comfort and issues to do in a single central location. It’s residence to the town’s Union Station, which serves as a hub for Amtrak and Denver RTD. 

Trains and buses run by right here, making it simple to get round. There’s even a simple prepare from the airport to Union Station, with a 37-minute journey costing simply $10.50 a technique. The world additionally presents handy entry to standard mountain locations like Vail, Breckenridge, and Winter Park. Within the winter, Amtrak presents separate weekend entry to and from Winter Park. 

Moreover, downtown Denver presents sports activities stadiums equivalent to Empower at Mile Excessive for soccer and reveals and Coor’s Discipline for baseball and concert events. 

You’ll discover a plethora of eating places, bars, and outlets lining each avenue, with quick access to close by enjoyable areas like LoHi and RiNo.

Downtown Most Common Points of interest: 

• Coor’s Discipline Baseball Stadium 
• Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive Soccer Stadium
• Meow Wolf
• Sightseeing like Mile Excessive Steps, Large Blue Bear, and Larimer Sq.
• Eat on the Milk Market 

LoHi (Decrease Highlands) 

Foodie paradise! A quaint little city only a mile from downtown Denver, LoHi is the proper spot for {couples} and younger adults in search of a walkable neighborhood just a little farther from downtown. 

It’s a nifty residential space with loads of leases and some accommodations. Fashionable bars and upscale eating places await! 

Can’t Miss in LoHi

• Flip your frown the other way up at Completely satisfied Camper! 
• Discover the Avanti Meals Corridor
• Style wine at Postino
• Take pleasure in licks at Little Man Ice Cream 

RiNo (River North) 

RiNo, also called River North, is Denver’s most artsy neighborhood. This Artwork District is crammed with hip breweries, hidden dive bars, and eccentric eating places – together with a bar that serves sizzling canine with caviar. 

That is the place to be if you’d like infinite nightlife choices and love native brews. 

RiNo’s Most Common Points of interest

• Go for a hole-in-one on the Puttshack 
• Hit the breweries
• Style one thing new at Stem Cidery 
• Take a look at the road artwork 

Capitol Hill 

One of the crucial historic Denver neighborhoods, Capitol Hill, was residence to Titanic survivor Molly Brown. Capital Hill comes with a wealthy historical past – actually and figuratively. It was residence to Denver’s wealthiest residence, which used to reside on Millionaire’s Row. 

Historic properties and museums will be discovered all through the realm. Capitol Hill can also be residence to many festivals, such because the Cinco de Mayo and Pleasure parades. 

The downtown sixteenth Road free bus begins in Capitol Hill, making it a simple journey to and from downtown. 

Capitol Hill’s Common Points of interest

• Denver Artwork Museum 
• Broadway Market
• Brown Home Museum

Issues to Do in Denver

Most Common 

1. Sightsee by downtown’s main sights

Assume: Larmier Sq., standing one mile excessive on the Colorado State Capitol, Large Blue Bear, stroll by artwork museums, and Union Station. Sightseeing by downtown is definitely walkable. There’s additionally a free sixteenth Road bus that may transport you round! 

2. Get misplaced in Meow Wolf

Belief me, you’re going to get misplaced. This convergent station could have all your senses tingling! You possibly can depart a number of hours to wander round this immersive expertise and you continue to gained’t make it by all of it. 

3. Discover the bar above Union Station 

Make your manner up the steps by the Amtrak ticket counter to seek out this hidden gem. Take within the wine and craft cocktail record – it’s one in all my favorites on the town!

4. Steal some laughs on the Denver Comedy Membership

Professional tip: begin your night time with an espresso martini and chuckle till you possibly can’t breathe 

5. Stroll by the Botanic Gardens

Seize a seasonal go should you love metropolis escapes and wildflowers. 

6. Store til you drop at Wash Park or LoHi

Each neighborhoods are crammed with cute boutiques to window store or discover native presents and souvenirs. 

Funds Points of interest 

7. Have a picnic on the parks 

Take a look at the inexperienced area and mountain views from Wash Park, Commons Park, and Metropolis Park. 

8. Catch a ball recreation at Coor’s Discipline 

They’re [usually] not nice, however the tickets are low-cost and the views are spectacular! Ask for the Rock Pile tickets on the counter for the most affordable possibility.

Professional tip: the sunsets from the stadium will blow your thoughts! 

9. Zip down the Cherry Creek Path on a motorbike or scooter 

40 miles of trails?! You learn that appropriately. Denver is a bikeable metropolis, and this is likely one of the finest! Journey alongside the South Platte River. It’s as shut as I can get my Caribbean coronary heart to a seaside downtown. 

Close to Denver

10. Go tenting

You’re 1-4 hours away from dream-worthy dispersed tenting websites. Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, Vail, Rio Grande Nationwide Forest, and Telluride are just some of the coveted tenting locations you need to see to imagine. I wish to camp close to reservoirs and lakes – it’s the closest I can get to feeling like I’m on a seaside in Turks and Caicos in Colorado.

11. Ski and snowboarding in Colorado’s well-known mountain cities 

Winter Park is the closest mountain city to Denver – there’s even an Amtrak prepare that runs to and from the mountain on the weekends within the winter months. 

Breckenridge, Vail, Copper Mountain, Keystone, A-Basin, and Steamboat Springs are all 2-3 hours from the town. There are tons of transportation choices to the mountains from the airport and downtown. 

12. Soak within the sizzling springs 

In search of an Instagram-worthy time out? Steamboat Spring’s Strawberry Scorching Springs is located simply exterior of downtown Steamboat. You can also make a visit as much as the springs or spend the night time in one in all their coveted cabins. 

Professional suggestions: Reservations should be made forward of time. If you happen to don’t have a 4-wheel drive automobile, you should purchase a round-trip shuttle to take you to the recent springs from downtown. 

13. Catch a present at Crimson Rocks

Probably the most visited venue on the earth, Crimson Rock Amphitheater is a excessive bucket record venue for artists from all genres. Catch a wide range of performers right here each summer season, from Large Wild, to Elegant and Sting to Wiz Khalifa.

You possibly can even catch a number of coveted comedy reveals on the historic venue. 

What time of 12 months must you go to Denver?

4 seasons, 4 fully completely different experiences within the Mile Excessive Metropolis! 

Summer season

If you happen to’re a fan of mountaineering, tenting, breweries, and sunshine, summer season in Denver is steadily neglected! The parks in Denver are crammed with inexperienced grass, volleyball video games, and cookouts. 

Eating places open their patios and rooftops so that you can benefit from the each day sunshine. Though it will possibly get sizzling with 95-degree days, there’s little or no humidity – and even higher, little or no rain – which is likely one of the perks of visiting Denver in the summertime.

Whereas the warmth isn’t too dangerous, having a pool at your resort or rental is a superb perk. 

What to pack in the summertime: mountaineering sneakers, lively shorts, and light-weight shirts, raincoats for afternoon showers, sundresses, hats, and loads of sunscreen (the solar hits more durable in Denver!)

Fall

Fall is named a wet season in lots of areas, from the West Coast to the Caribbean. Nonetheless, fall is the very best time to go to Denver! The solar continues to be shining, the warmth is cooling down, and the summer season crowds disappear. 

However the true great thing about fall in Denver lies within the altering aspen leaves – the mountains flip right into a shimmering golden paradise. 

It’s my favourite time to go tenting and mountaineering, though the nights get tremendous chilly. To prime off the proper climate, there’s virtually no rain within the fall, even within the mountains, making it an unbeatable season in Denver. 

What to pack within the fall: mountaineering gear, light-weight shirts, and pants, 1-2 pairs of shirts for decent days, a lightweight sweater or jacket for cold evenings. 

Winter

Winter is after I want to run to the islands, however is arguably the most well-liked time to go to Denver. 

Relating to mountain cities round Denver, each locals and guests are drawn to the realm’s famend ski resorts. Colorado presents a variety of winter actions equivalent to snowboarding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

It’s value noting that that is the priciest time to go to, with skyrocketing costs within the mountain cities and more and more costly ski passes.

Nonetheless, regardless of the expense, individuals proceed to go to for good cause.

What to pack within the winter: all of your heavy stuff! Puffer coats, hats, gloves, waterproof ski jackets and pants, skis, snowboards, and sweaters 

Spring

The spring air is difficult to beat, however sadly, spring has was Denver’s wet season over the previous few years. 

Whereas it’s nonetheless much less wet than many spring locations, Spring is a giant shoulder season in Denver. When it’s not wet, the climate is heat and nice for mountaineering and strolling round Denver’s neighborhoods. 

Shoulder season additionally means cheaper costs and fewer crowds. Spring is the proper time for exploring the town’s historical past and tradition, bar hopping, and tasting the town’s well-known brews. 

What to pack within the spring: a mixture of cool and heat garments, raincoats, gentle jackets for the evenings, and mountaineering gear. 

Getting Round Denver

Public Transportation

Public transportation is offered to and from the DEN airport to downtown Union Station. The sixteenth Road bus is a free service that can get you round downtown. 

Shuttle Bus Firms and Amtrak

A number of bus corporations have routes to and from a number of mountain cities from the airport and Union Station. These should be reserved forward of time, however are nice methods to keep away from renting a automobile to get to the mountain cities. 

If you happen to don’t plan on staying on the ski resort, cities like Breckenridge have bus companies to get you to the ski resorts from sure areas. 

Rental Vehicles

A necessity should you’re planning on visiting a couple of space or city. Nonetheless, the mountains within the winter require a 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive automobile with snow tires. Maintain this in thoughts when budgeting. 

In the summertime, if you wish to go on hikes, parks, and tenting, you’ll clearly want your individual automobile to get round. 

Ubers, Bikes, and Scooters

Ubers, bikes, and scooters are a simple possibility for navigating round Denver and its neighborhoods. Bikes and scooters, after all, aren’t the best choice within the winter when the roads are slick! 

Visiting Denver FAQ 

What number of days do it’s worthwhile to go to Denver?

If you wish to solely go to downtown Denver and its neighborhoods, I’d recommend visiting for 3 to 4 days. If you wish to go to downtown Denver and its close by outside actions and mountain cities, 5 to 7 days will enable you extra time to acclimate and discover. 

What it’s worthwhile to know earlier than going to Denver

Crucial factor to know earlier than going to Denver is that the elevation and trigger some odd signs and you might want 2-3 days to acclimate earlier than doing any strenuous mountaineering or actions. 

Is it value it to go to downtown Denver?

Sure – it’s completely value going to downtown Denver. Downtown Denver is a central location crammed with sports activities and among the metropolis’s hottest sights, eating places, and bars. It’s additionally the place you’ll need to be for sporting occasions and concert events. 

Is Denver a walkable metropolis for vacationers?

No, Denver just isn’t very walkable. Except you’re staying straight downtown and don’t plan on visiting any surrounding neighborhoods, you’ll want a automobile, scooter, or Uber to get round. 

Abstract: Your Full Information to Visiting Denver

There you might have it! Hopefully, this information offers you all the things it’s worthwhile to know to discover Denver and its magnificence. Whether or not you’re visiting first time or a repeat Denver traveler, there’s a lot so that you can discover.

Denver doesn’t simply cater to skiers and snowboarders. There’s a city and exercise for you whether or not you need nice views, thrilling journey, low-key brunches, historical past, or extra. 

Maintain studying:

Rachel Grenis is enthusiastic about encouraging you to cease ready and begin exploring. When she’s not exploring within the Caribbean, she’s hanging out within the mountains close to her hometown of Denver, Colorado.

She took the pictures for this text.