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Denver packs a lot into a walkable downtown core plus easy day trips into the Rockies. Most first-time visitors spend a day around LoDo and the museums, a day at Red Rocks and the foothills, and a third day in the RiNo Art District or Cherry Creek. The weather by month guide will help you pick which activities fit your visit dates. Compare areas and hotels in our where to stay guide.
Things to Do in Denver: Museums and Culture
Denver Art Museum
The Denver Art Museum (DAM) anchors the Civic Center cultural district at 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, with the Frederic C. Hamilton Building’s titanium shards designed by Daniel Libeskind as its landmark. The collection covers American Indian art, Western American art, and a growing contemporary wing. It opens 10 am to 5 pm daily except Monday, closed on some holidays. General admission is US$22 for adults, and it’s free for kids 18 and under. Get practical answers in our travel tips guide.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
At the east edge of City Park (2001 Colorado Blvd), this museum is best known for the Discovery Zone for kids, the Gems and Minerals hall, and the IMAX and Gates Planetarium. Adult admission is US$25, and planetarium or IMAX films cost extra. The museum is open 9 am to 5 pm daily, and City Park around it is free to walk, with a view of the skyline over Ferril Lake.
Meow Wolf Denver: Convergence Station
At 1338 1st St, this immersive art experience is a 90,000-square-foot building with four floors of walk-through fantasy worlds. Tickets run US$45 to US$50 for adults and must be booked online for a timed entry, typically 10 am to 10 pm. The self-paced walk-through takes 2 to 3 hours, and it’s a top pick for teens and anyone who wants a screen-free afternoon.
Molly Brown House Museum
The restored 1889 home of Titanic survivor Margaret “Molly” Brown sits at 1340 Pennsylvania St in Capitol Hill, a short walk from the State Capitol. Guided tours run every 30 minutes and last about an hour, and adult tickets are US$17 with reservations strongly recommended. It’s one of the few attractions in Denver that lets you see a preserved Victorian interior.
Things to Do in Denver: Outdoors
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Red Rocks is a natural sandstone amphitheatre 15 miles (24 km) west of downtown at 18300 W Alameda Pkwy in Morrison, with perfect acoustics for its 9,525-seat concert season running roughly April through November. On non-concert mornings, the park and amphitheatre are free to enter from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, and the 1.4-mile (2.3 km) Trading Post Trail winds between the red formations. Check the concert calendar and book tickets in advance; most summer shows sell out.
Washington Park
Locals call it Wash Park. It has two lakes (Smith Lake and Grasmere Lake), a 2.5-mile (4 km) loop for walking and cycling, tennis courts, and a boathouse. It’s free, open year-round from 5 am to 11 pm, and the gardens bloom May through September. It’s the place to go for a morning run or a picnic without leaving the city.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
About 10 miles (16 km) northeast of downtown (6550 Gateway Rd, Commerce City), this 15,000-acre refuge is free and open sunrise to sunset, with a 11-mile wildlife drive where you can see bison, mule deer, and prairie dogs. It’s a quick half-day outing if you have a car, and the visitors center is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Things to Do in Denver: Sports and Downtown
Coors Field
Home of the Colorado Rockies, Coors Field is at 2001 Blake St in LoDo and runs baseball from late March through September. Rockies tickets range from about US$15 for the Rockpile section to US$100 plus behind home plate. The “Rooftop” bar in right field opens for April through September games and is popular for sunsets. The stadium sits at one mile high and is known for home runs, so expect high-scoring games.
Union Station and the 16th Street MallRide
Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop St is both a working transit hub (Amtrak, the A Line airport train, and light rail) and a dining-and-drinking destination with a grand hall, the Terminal Bar, and retail kiosks. From Union Station, the free 16th Street MallRide shuttle runs the 1.25-mile pedestrian mall every 90 seconds or so, connecting to shops and the Civic Center. It’s the cheapest way to see downtown: free.
Things to Do in Denver: Art, Beer, and Neighborhoods
RiNo Art District Murals
The River North (RiNo) Art District stretches along Larimer and Walnut streets northeast of downtown and holds the city’s densest concentration of street art, plus galleries, breweries, and food halls. The murals are free to walk and best visited on a self-guided loop around 27th and Larimer. For a guided route and where to stay nearby, see the neighborhoods guide.
Great Divide, Crooked Stave, and the Denver Beer Trail
Denver has over 100 breweries, and the walkable tasting route starts at Great Divide Brewing Co (2201 Arapahoe St), continues to Crooked Stave (3350 Brighton Blvd, inside The Source food hall), and reaches Our Mutual Friend (2810 Larimer St). Tasting flights run US$8 to US$14 at most taprooms. Most open around 3 pm on weekdays and noon on weekends; check individual hours since they vary. If you’re visiting for a specific weekend, cross-check the events and festivals calendar and the best time to visit windows.
