Denver is our favorite city and we wanted to put together a quick list of the best Denver Sites to see. We wanted to provide a list of a few FREE places to visit and some paid places to check out. Plus all the locations for nature lovers. And as a bonus, the best instagrammable Denver locations. All within 1-2 hours driving distance of Denver.
Denver has a bit of everything for everyone. It’s the perfect Goldilocks city ideal for foodies, nature lovers, city life, beer and wine guzzlers, night life and four distinct seasons. My husband and I are originally from Southern California from the Los Angeles area, and we both agree that if we were to retire and move out of state, Denver would be our #1 choice. Except, maybe we’ll skip the Winter season.
Denver Freebie Sites
Marvel at the River North Street Art
The River North Art District, also known as RiNo to the locals is a great place to visit that is completely 100% Free. If you like Urban Street Art, then this stroll down an alleyway makes the list for best Denver Sites to see and visit. Bonus – It’s also a great Instagrammable Hot Spot.
How to find it? Use your GPS and locate the street corner of Larimer Street and 26th Street. And park anywhere in this area. The alley is located between Larimer St and Walnut Ave behind store fronts. There are numerous alleys and corners full of these fantastic murals in the whole area. Best time to go is during early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting.
Stop at the Union Station – Denver
The Denver Union Train Station is beautiful and has a very boutique old-world vibe. The interior is stunning with stark white walls, ceilings, crown molding and tall pillars. Plus large chandeliers that give off a turn of the century aesthetic. It also houses the cutest boutique floral stand called “BLOOM” that I personally think is a top instagrammable spot.
It is also free to visit the station. You do not need to have a ticket to be traveling by train anywhere. The interior also has a few shops, restaurants and bars to while away the time.
Hike the Red Rocks Amphitheater
This location is a great concert venue. Similar to the infamous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California. But, you can visit the location during the day when there is no scheduled concert, for absolutely free. The red rock formations are an amazing sight and there are several hiking, biking and jogging trails in the area for the outdoor lovers.
RELATED POST:
If you’re looking for information about the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, make sure to check out my post about some great places to visit in the Rockies. There are beautiful lakes, the amazing Trail Ridge Road and even the haunted Stanley Hotel that inspired the Stephen King’s novel, The Shining. We even heard a bugling elk which was super cool. We have never experienced that before! ~ Patty
Paid Denver Sites
Visit the Beautiful Denver Botanical Garden
We visit different Botanical Gardens in most every city we visit and Denver’s Botanical Gardens has always been our favorite. I believe we have visited at least 4 different times now. It’s a beautiful haven for nature lovers. “The 23-acre park contains a conservatory, a variety of theme gardens and a sunken amphitheater, which hosts various concerts in the summer.” It has beautiful spots for photos, quiet corners to read, and a perfect cafe to grab lunch with your date. It definitely makes our list as a top contender for best Denver sites to see.
Enjoy the Denver Downtown Aquarium
The Denver Downtown Aquarium is a super fun spot for families of all ages. Or if you want to just enjoy it as an adult without any kids. It houses over 500+ marine creatures and educates everyone about the importance of maintaining a clean ocean ecosystem. Plus a pretty cool ocean themed restaurant with viewing windows to a large aquarium and scheduled mermaid swims!
Explore the Museum of Nature & Science
The Nature & Science Museum in Denver is another fun and educational spot for families big or small. With exhibits featuring everything from dinosaur bones to Egyptian mummies, the museum inspires learning in the young and young at heart. It is a great resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region.
Be Amazed by the Butterfly Pavilion
Another great place for kids is the Denver Butterfly Pavilion. It’s a large place and can take you 1-2 hours to walk through depending on how fast you want to go through it. I’ve been to another Butterfly location in Key West, FL and that place was tiny and could walk through the entire place in less than 20-minutes. The Denver location is much more spacious with lots of educational displays, not exclusive to butterflies. There are insects and bugs of all sizes for the folks that aren’t squeamish.
Booking.com
Out of Denver Sites to See
Lunch at Boulder Dushanbe Tea House
Less than an hour north of Denver is the bustling town of Boulder. Hidden there is a lovely Tea House that seemed to have sprouted directly from within Asian Culture. It was gifted to the city of Boulder by their “Sister City” Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. After constructed in Tajikistan, the Tea House was dismantled and shipped to Boulder where it was rebuilt.
Over 40 artisans created the lavish artistic elements of the Tea House. Showcasing intricate floral designs, beautiful repetition of pattern and the Tree of Life. All depicted in the painted ceiling, hand carved plaster walls and external ceramic panels and wooden pillars. It makes for a beautiful instagrammable hot spot.
The Tea House serves up a wide variety of teas and a small Asian ethnic menu. Visit them after 3pm and reserve a table for their special afternoon tea at least 24-hours in advance.
Hike and Explore the Garden of the Gods
Just the name of this location entices your imagination to picture a most magnificent landscape. And your imagination would be correct. The Garden of the Gods is located about 1.5 hours south of Denver in the city of Colorado Springs. It is a registered National Landmark and is comprised of 1,300 acres of amazing 300ft sandstone formations, this park offers a educational visitor center, plus extensive biking and hiking trails. All set against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak mountains and brilliant blue skies.
Be Amazed by Pikes Peak
“Pikes Peak is the highest summit of the southern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, in North America.”
We took their famous Cogway train tram up to the summit back around 2015 but the railway is now under renovations until 2021. However, there are still many awesome things to do and see in the Pikes Peak area. Visit their website for more details.
Adventure at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
“The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are a group of relocated Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and museums located just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 24 in Manitou Springs. The Anasazi Museum was established and the cliff dwellings were built starting in 1904, and were opened to the public in 1907.”
It is a fun and educational visit for all ages. Located only a few minutes away from Colorado Springs.
Overall, Denver and the surrounding areas have so much to see and entertain. Make sure to visit my other blog post about our trip up to the Colorado Rocky Mountains where we reached 12,000ft and encountered a bugling elk.
Where to Stay in Denver, CO
Our Favorite Denver Hotel
Like I mentioned earlier, we go to Denver, a lot. And we have found our favorite hotel that we have stayed in at least 3 times now! I highly recommend the Hyatt House in Lakewood. It is located away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown city area, but it’s still centrally located where you can get to all the sites I listed above. The HYATT HOUSE LAKEWOOD is modern, clean, reasonably priced and has FREE breakfast every morning and it’s GOOD breakfast, not that lame continental stuff. I’m talking fresh omelettes made to order kind of breakfast. Plus a buffet style of other assorted breakfast yummies.
There is also a Hyatt House Denver in Downtown area which is just as great if you like to be near all the city action.
Other Recommended Denver Hotels
For other hotels in the area, check Booking.com for other great deals!
Denver AirBNB Recommendations
2 guests · Studio · 1 bed · 1 bath
6 guests · 3 bedrooms · 3 beds · 1.5 baths
4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 2 beds · 1 bath
3 guests · Studio · 2 beds · 1 bath
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Gorgeous photos! Never been to Denver before, but it sure looks intriguing. Will save this post for whenever I go!
Thank you! I like Denver better than Los Angeles! 😛
I have never ever visited Denver. But it looks such an epic city with so much to do. Especially the Pikes Peak looks really spectacular. That’s another place i’ll need to add to my bucket list!
It’s a beautiful city! I think you might like it!
Great ideas! I am from the Denver area and you covered a lot of great spots! I can’t wait until they bring the Pike’s Peak cograil back!
Thank you! I’m glad an actual Denver resident approves! 🙂
Denver is one of my favorite cities in the US, if not my favorite. My friends live there and I love to go and explore the city and the surrounding area, there’s so much to see and do. Some of these ideas are new to me though so I think I’ve got some good ones for my next visit
Oh which ones are new to you? We’re already planning our next 2020 trip to Denver and where we should venture off to.
Ohhh what a beautiful place!! So much variety of things to do too.
It’s a great city!
I’ve been around Denver but not in it! I know there is lots to do and amazing food, so I really must get into the city on one of my future trips to Colorado!
Oh you must! And yes, the food is incredible!
Your photos are always so beautiful! This is a great guide on a city I’ve never really considered visiting.
Oh thank you. You should definitely check out the city if you ever get the chance.
I didn’t know Denver Botanical Garden is so beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank YOU! The garden is one of my personal favorites.
I was in Denver only briefly a few years ago when I was speaking at a conference. There’s so much that I didn’t see and would love to go back!
Definitely go back! 🙂
Denver looks super fun! Love your photos of it.
Wow so much to do and see in Denver! As someone who hasn’t really been to the US, I didn’t even realise the landscape was like that there.. so beautiful! I hope i can visit one day.
I am totally convinced! I hope to go there soon. Which local food would you recommend?
This looks like SO much fun! Some of that scenery was incredibly! I think I would’ve loved doing something like this when I was a kid!
Oh my goodness, Denver looks fabulous! I’ve always heard good things about Denver but didn’t know too much about the city. That street art looks phenomenal and the tea room looks stunning! The Amphitheatre and Pike’s Peak also look wonderful! I think I need to plan a visit! Thank you for the brilliant guide!
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful. It really is a great place to visit!
Denver is an amazing city. I haven’t spent too much time there and hopefully can go back to visit again. I have hardly done anything on your list which makes me ready to get back there to explore.
We wish we can go again this year like we normally do.
Wow these are really interesting! I’ve lived in Denver for 7 years and have barely done any of these! I’m usually hiking in the mountains but Looks like I need to check out the street art!
No way!!! You’re so lucky to live there!
I finally got to visit Colorado last year for the first time and it’s definitely one of my favorite states! <3 So many cool places to explore! I managed to hit up several of the places you mentioned, but would love to check out the botanical gardens, aquarium, butterfly pavilion, and tea house!
You’ve listed all my top favorites!
We delivered cars across the states and ended up in Denver, and briefly considered moving there because within a couple of hours we’d already started to fall in love with the place. Thanks for our mini trip down memory lane.
Yeah, we basically fell in love with it on our first trip too.
I’m planning a trip with my family to Denver next summer and will be using this as a guide – such unique ideas! I went to Denver as a naive 22 year old when edibles were first made legal. Needless to say, I didn’t get to do much sightseeing and I sorely regret it.
I’d love to visit Denver! I’ve driven through, but never really visited. Will definitely use this when I do!
That street art looks so beautiful! And that tea house looks incredible.
Denver looks so pretty! I love the street art on the walls and the museums sound incredible as well. 🙂
Such an out of this world city! You wouldn’t think this is on this planet haha
I love road tripping in the USA! Colorado has been on my list of states to drive for ages, and when I make this trip I’ll definitely be spending a few days in Denver. I would love to ride the Cogway tram! Thanks for this great guide.
Denver looks amazing! Garden of the Gods would have to be first on my list in the area though!!
I hear Denver has a great brewery and hostel scene too! Have yet to go but I’d like to!
Didn’t know there was so much to see and do! Thanks for sharing!
Stunning photos, really making me miss travel right now. I especially love all that street art
I live in Denver but I’ve never even been to half these places haha! We’re getting our floors refinished this weekend so I need to get my boys out of the house for a while. Can’t wait to try out some of these tourist spots!