The 2024 airport statistics were released recently, and Denver has jumped up the list quite substantially; it’s now the 6th busiest airport in the world and #3 in the United States, with over eighty million passengers last year!
Every time I’m there it’s a mess, so I know it’s a busy place. I wouldn’t have guessed it was quite that high on the list, though; I’ve definitely always chalked up the chaos and crowds to the never-ending construction. Since we’ve lived in Colorado, the Denver airport has never not been under construction.
Lucky for all of you, I’ve decided to spare you the full version of my airport rant (it was designed so poorly, good grief) and, instead, put together a list of some of the highlights both in and around Denver.
It’s a big enough city that there’s something for everyone and there will always be new places to discover. I didn’t want to include anything on this list that I haven’t done myself, so this is far from complete. But hopefully it will provide some ideas of things to see and do for anyone who might be planning a visit to the area.
Table of contents
- Tour the Colorado State Capitol
- Tour the Denver Mint
- Visit a museum
- Immerse yourself in the city’s art scene
- Visit one of the city’s outdoor attractions
- Attend a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater
- Sample a local beer
- Enjoy a non-beer beverage
- Sample the local cuisine
- Pick your own food at a local farm
- Nourish your inner child
- Attend a sporting event
- Visit the Denver Christkindl Market
- Explore the suburbs
- Watch the sunset
- Explore the urban trails
- Visit a state park
- Cool off with water sports
- Drive the Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
- Visit a National Wildlife Refuge
- Head into the foothills for a hike
- Visit a mountain town
- Head up into the mountains
- See the world from 14,000 feet
- Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
1. Tour the Colorado State Capitol
Visible from many areas in and around downtown Denver, the Colorado State Capitol was constructed in the 1890s and designed to be reminiscent of the US Capitol. It’s easy to see the resemblance, with the enormous white granite facade and large gold dome made from locally-sourced rocks and minerals. Inside the building, you’ll find floors of white Colorado marble as well as adornments made from Colorado Rose Onyx, a pink shade of marble that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world.
(To be clear, I don’t just mean that it’s found only in Colorado; I mean it literally can’t be found anywhere else because the entire supply of it was used in this building.)
The capitol building is open Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm (except holidays). Both guided and self-guided tours are free and advanced reservations are not available. Note that there are capacity limits on guided tours so it’s important to arrive 15-30 minutes in advance of your desired tour time to secure a spot.
2. Tour the Denver Mint
The Denver Mint has been in operation since 1906, one of only two mints in the US that makes circulated coins (the other being Philadelphia, which mints all coins put into circulation east of the Mississippi River while Denver mints all coins for the west). About 40% of the coins produced in Denver are pennies, though they make nickels, dimes, and quarters as well.
It was so fascinating to watch the coin-making process, and to learn all the things I didn’t know I didn’t know about how the mint operates. The tour lasts a little over an hour and is one of the most interesting tours I’ve ever taken.
Photos are not allowed inside the building, so I don’t have any pictures from the tour itself. Here is more information on what to bring (and not bring) on the tours.
You can read more about my tours of the Capitol and the Mint here.
3. Visit one of Denver’s many museums
We’ve barely scratched the surface on museums. There are a lot of them. Which is good, because that means there’s something for everyone. History, art, aviation, animals, science, nature, a children’s museum, other more obscure things… you name it, Denver probably has it. So far, we’ve visited Wings Over the Rockies and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS). Wings Over the Rockies is small enough to see in one day, but the DMNS is not. Three years and multiple visits later, I think we’ve finally managed to make it through all the permanent exhibits (and most of the temporary ones).
Right: the temporary Ancient Egypt exhibit was the best one by far!
Through DMNS, we’ve also been able to attend some wonderful events, including a viewing of the annular solar eclipse and a speech by Jane Goodall!
4. Immerse yourself in the city’s art scene
I’m not all that into art – something I know I’ve said before. We’ve only been to a couple art exhibits and we haven’t spent much time in the River North (RiNo) art district. But if art is your jam there are plenty of options in Denver, ranging from murals and art museums to festivals and performances, and probably plenty of other things I’m not aware of. You can also find temporary or traveling exhibits, such as the Immersive Van Gogh experience we attended a few years back.
5. Enjoy Denver’s many outdoor attractions
Denver is home to a zoo, botanic gardens, and many city parks and open spaces. The city is frequently advertised as receiving 300 days of sunshine per year and, due to the altitude – it’s called the Mile High City for a reason – the sun is intense even in the winter, meaning most days are nice enough to spend some time outside. While the Denver Botanic Gardens (which I don’t seem to have a photo of despite having been there) are best visited in late spring or early summer when everything is in bloom, the Denver Zoo is a better option for spring or fall when it’s moderate enough for the animals to hang around outside.
(I’m not entirely sure the holiday Zoo Lights event was worth the cost of admission, though.)
6. Attend a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater
I haven’t actually done this one, and I don’t know that I ever will because tickets are typically expensive and sell out within minutes. I also just don’t really prioritize going to concerts. But who knows… maybe someday. When there isn’t a concert happening, though, Red Rocks – which, for anyone not familiar with it, is a naturally-occurring red rock amphitheater – is open to the public. You can hike the trails, walk through the amphitheater, or attend one of the many non-concert events that take place throughout the year, such as yoga or a movie screening.
We have, however, attended a concert at a different venue, and there are many other venues throughout the metro area, both indoor and outdoor, that attract a variety of artists.
7. Sample some local beer
Colorado has the fourth most breweries per capita of any US state, and Denver ranks second in this category as compared to all US cities. This includes small local breweries with just a few beers on tap to large nationally-distributed brands such as Breckenridge, Coors, and Blue Moon. I’ve given up on the goal of visiting every brewery in the Denver metro area; there are just too many of them, and new ones seem to pop up all the time. Long story short, regardless of your favorite type of beer you’ll find plenty of options here.
8. Enjoy a non-beer beverage
Don’t like beer? Fear not! You’ll find plenty of non-beer options as well, including distilleries, wineries, and plenty of establishments that serve cider, hard seltzer, and nonalcoholic drink options. Plus, of course, there are dozens of coffee shops.
9. Sample the local cuisine
As with any big city, there is no shortage of food options in Denver. Admittedly, we don’t eat out that much so I don’t have any specific recommendations here. But there are hundreds of restaurants in the metro area (including some newly-designated Michelin star ones), not to mention a seemingly endless array of food trucks. Due to the generally mild climate, most places have outdoor seating available; even better if you can find a place with a rooftop patio and views of the mountains!
10. Pick your own food at a local farm
At the recommendation of a coworker, my husband and I went to a fall harvest festival this past October. Much of the land east of Denver is farmland and some of the farms allow you to visit during certain times of year and pick your own food. We started our visit with a walk through the corn maze and then spent the next two hours on a tractor ride out to the fields where we picked over a dozen types vegetables for what turned out to be a very reasonable price. We will absolutely be returning this year!
Platteville, Colorado
11. Nourish your inner child
Admittedly, these are things you could do in most cities. But if you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day, or just searching for some silly fun, there are plenty of options. Visit Elitch Gardens amusement park, for example (though I’ve heard it’s actually not that great) or one of the many smaller water parks. For indoor options, consider paintballing or axe throwing, bouncing around at an indoor trampoline park, or trying your hand at an escape room. And as I look back at what I just wrote, I’ve realized half of these don’t really fall into the ‘child-friendly’ category, but my inner child had fun with them anyway.
12. Attend a sporting event
Denver is home to professional football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey, and lacrosse teams, in additional to multiple college teams. No matter what sport you enjoy watching, you can probably find it in Denver. Admittedly, I don’t regularly watch most sports. I don’t keep up with the leagues or the teams or the players. (Don’t believe me? Name a team and ask me what sport they play… there’s probably a 50% chance I’ll get it right.) But we did attend a Colorado Rockies game with my in-laws a few summers back, and we’ve also been to a Colorado Rapids game.
13. Visit Denver’s Christkindl Market
Named one of the best German Christmas Markets in the US, this has become an annual outing for us. The Christkindl Market runs from mid-November through Christmas Eve in Civic Center Park downtown. In addition to beer and traditional German food, you’ll find other food options, locally-produced goods (which make for great Christmas presents!), and holiday music and decorations.
14. Walk around the quaint suburban downtown areas
As with any big city, Denver has many suburbs of varying sizes. I haven’t been to them all, of course, so this isn’t a complete list, but the downtown areas of Golden and Arvada stand out to me. Golden, in particular, has a very old west vibe to it, and I remember being very surprised by this the first time I ever drove into town.
15. Watch the sunset over the Front Range
As someone who grew up in a place where I could watch the sun set every day, this will forever be one of my favorite things. No matter where you are along the Front Range, if you’re able to see over (or between) the surrounding buildings, you’ll be able to see the sunset.
Or, for an even better view, book a tour at FlyteCo – the old Denver Airport air traffic control tower turned restaurant/brewery. They give sunset tours of the tower once a week. We visited in October, right as all the leaves were changing, and it was a really beautiful evening!
16. Go for a walk, jog, or bike ride on an urban trail
With the South Platte River, Cherry Creek, and numerous lakes and reservoirs, Denver has done an excellent job – far more so than many big cities – of designating green spaces. Multiple long urban trails span the metro area and connect to various local parks and trail systems. Most are open to pedestrians, bicycles, and leashed dogs (and rollerblading… I always seem to see at least one person on rollerblades).
17. Visit a state park
In addition to these local parks and trails, there are a handful of Colorado state parks within a 30 minute drive of the city. Opportunities abound; you can walk, bike, play on the beach, partake in many types of water sports, picnic, and camp. Other features at certain parks include an off-leash dog area, a shooting range, a night-sky program, and rock climbing. Colorado residents can opt to have an annual fee added to their vehicle registration, allowing free entry to state parks for the entire year. Otherwise, it’s $9-10 per car to visit.
18. Find relief from the hot summer sun with various water sports
While we’re on the topic of state parks, most of the parks on the plains are centered around a body of water, providing ample opportunities for enjoying water sports. Whether you like to go boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, or anything else I’ve forgotten to list, you’ll find plenty of places for each. Be sure to do your research, though; some bodies of water don’t allow motorized boats and fishing requires a license. Also, many of these locations get very crowded, and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer months; go early and plan to be off the water by the time the storms roll in.
19. Drive the Lariat Loop Scenic Byway
Located along the western border of the metro area and extending up into the foothills, Lariat Loop is a 40 mile (64 km) scenic byway that connects numerous historic, cultural, and/or scenic attractions, including museums, Buffalo Bill’s Grave, and fossilized dinosaur footprints. We’re still working on completing this one (by which I mean we’ve barely started) but I’ll be sharing an entire post dedicated to it once we finish.
20. See native animals and plants at a national wildlife refuge
Denver is home to two large national wildlife refuges (NWRs), both with interesting – and highly contaminated – histories. Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR is a former arsenal where chemical weapons – including napalm, mustard gas, and sarin gas – were manufactured and stored. Meanwhile, Rocky Flats NWR was a nuclear weapons production site. Both facilities were ultimately shut down, leaving behind a toxic mess.
Thanks to years of cleanup efforts, much of the contamination was removed and native plants and animals began to take over once again, including numerous bird species and endangered prairie grasses. Today, both NWRs are open to the public for free.
21. Head into the foothills for a short hike
If, like me, you prefer nature over cities, you’ll be excited to know that the foothills of the Rocky Mountains are just a short drive away. Here you’ll find dozens of hiking trails ranging from relatively flat to fairly steep. You can walk along a creek, ascend to a viewpoint, climb a mountain (admittedly, these are relatively short mountains by Colorado standards), or visit a waterfall. The public lands in the foothills are a combination of county parks, open spaces, state parks, and national forest. Wherever you decide to go, be sure to familiarize yourself with the fees, rules, and safety concerns, and don’t forget to bring a backpack with food, water, layers, and the rest of the ten essentials. Colorado weather is unpredictable and can change in the blink of an eye.
22. Visit one of the nearby mountain towns
On your way through the foothills, you’ll inevitably pass through one or more of the small mountain towns. While we typically just drive through these towns and maybe stop for a beer or a quick bite to eat, there’s enough to do in most of them that you could make a day out of it. A couple years ago, for example, we spent a day ice skating on Evergreen Lake.
23. Escape to the mountains
There’s a reason so many people choose to visit or move to Colorado, and one of the main ones is for the outdoors. The mountains are just beyond the foothills and they’re full of opportunities! Whether you like to fish, ski, hike, rock climb, kayak, mountain bike, or just sight-see, you’ll never run out of options. Just beware that many of these activities require some advanced planning; permits sell out, campgrounds fill up, parking lots overflow, and traffic on weekends – especially during ski season – is an absolute disaster.
24. See the world from 14,000 feet
Impossible to miss, Mount Blue Sky is the highest point on the horizon west of Denver, rising to an elevation of 14,256 feet (4348 m). This classifies it as one of Colorado’s 58 14ers, and one of only two that can be reached by car (the other being Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs). The Mount Blue Sky Highway climbs almost to the summit, leaving just a short walk to the top. But beware – it’s a narrow, winding road with steep drop-offs that are sure to get your heart pounding. It’s absolutely worth it, though, to see a beautiful lake, mountain goats and bighorn sheep, and the tiny plants and gnarly trees that manage to make a home in this harsh environment. Plus, there’s just something so special about standing on the highest point around and seeing for miles in all directions while breathing in the crisp, cool, fresh high-mountain air.
25. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park
This is admittedly a little further from Denver – it’s about a 90 minute drive – but you can’t really visit the city without setting aside at least one day to head up to Rocky. If you can spare more than one day, even better. Rocky is gorgeous! We visit the park multiple times a year and we’ve never run out of things to see. Whether you prefer to enjoy the scenery from the road or explore on your own two feet, you’ll find something to do in the park. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you plan your visit.
Could I keep going with this list? Absolutely. There are endless opportunities in and around Denver.
But hopefully this gives you a place to start if you’re planning a visit to Denver. And if you have any questions or want some more specific information and suggestions, please let me know in the comments!
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