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Published: 4/5/26
What To Do in Downtown Denver, Colorado
Have you ever headed to Denver, Colorado for a long weekend and wondered what the heck you’re supposed to do downtown?
I have.
Admittedly, when I traveled to Denver in March 2026 to attend a hockey game at Ball Arena, I didn’t do much advance planning. Denver is such a well-known American city that I assumed I’d have no problem finding things to do.
But it turns out, when people talk about traveling to the Mile High City, anything within a two-hour drive of the airport is considered a feasible activity. Red Rock Amphitheatre, Loveland Pass, and Rocky Mountains National Park all sounded awesome, but I didn’t have a rental car and I could only devote one day to Denver sightseeing.
What I needed was a specific list of unique Denver activities in the LoDo (Lower Downtown), CBD (Central Business District), and Capitol Hill neighborhoods . . . so I decided to write one. If you’re in town for a game or an event at the Colorado Convention Center, this guide is for you!
While the nearby mountains tend to dominate Denver discussions, I was happy to discover a plethora of fun things to do right in downtown Denver. It’s easy to celebrate Colorado culture in the heart of the state’s capital city with museums, a beer trail, tours, historic buildings like the Federal Mint and Union Station, a propensity for massive art sculptures, and more.
All of the activities I’ve included in this guide are located within walking distance or a short rideshare ride (less than 15 minutes) away from downtown Denver hotels. Read on for my list of best experiences in downtown Denver’s LoDo, CBD, and Capitol Hill areas.
22 Best Things to do in Denver’s Downtown
1) Take a walking tour
I always recommend a walking tour first thing if possible in a new city because it’s the easiest way to get the lay of the land. While I wanted to do a free walking tour of Denver, the times didn’t work with our schedule so we ended up on a small group tour focused on Denver history and hidden gems.
I learned so much about Denver on this tour and really appreciated the deep dive into women’s voting rights in Colorado, including a visit to the Center of Colorado Women’s History. Like many Western states, Colorado was among the first states to give women the right to vote. Don’t get too excited, because western states had low populations, they needed to get women on the voter rolls so they’d get better representation of the U.S. Congress!
There are a wide variety of other Denver walking tours to choose from as well, including ghost tours and Wild West themed walks.
2) Explore the Golden Triangle Museums
Just south of the Denver Capitol Building, in a city district known as the Golden Triangle, you’ll find a heavy concentration of museums including History Colorado Center, Denver Art Museum, The Kirkland, Clyfford Still Museum, and Center of Colorado Women’s History.
We chose the Denver Art Museum and we could have easily spent all day wandering through this massive art collection which spans two buildings connected by a sky walk. While we mostly found ourselves in modern art and design collections, there’s truly every style of art represented here. Don’t worry, I managed to find a depiction of Etretat in the European art section!
Other acclaimed Denver museums located outside of the Golden Triangle area include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.
If you plan to visit multiple Denver museums, be sure to snag a Denver CityPass to save $$$ on admission fees!
3) Pose with oversized outdoor art
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Move over Minneapolis, Denver’s making a name for itself with its collection of oversized object sculptures. From giant hand brooms and dustpans (“Big Sweep”) to massive red chairs with horse figurine (“The Yearling”), these sculptures add whimsy throughout downtown.
Check out this list of Denver’s public art so you can make sure you see at least a couple of these fun art installations during your visit.
Perhaps the most iconic Denver sculpture is the 40 ft blue bear called “I See What You Mean” looking inside the Colorado Convention Center. My favorite was “Big Sweep” located right outside the Denver Art Museum main entrance. There’s a sculpture garden behind the Denver Performing Arts Complex where you can join two 60-ft dancing figurines.
4) Get breakfast at Sam’s No. 3 Diner
One downtown recommendation that all Denver guides could agree on was grabbing breakfast at Sam’s No. 3 Diner. There’s nothing particularly noteworthy about Sam’s, but it has been around a long time. Greek immigrant Sam Armatas founded this Coney Island style restaurant in 1927 which also has locations in Denver suburbs Glendale and Lakewood.
What makes it special? Turns out people really like diners. (I mean, just ask Ottawa.) Over the decades, it’s become a Denver institution. With its Greek immigrant connections, it reminded me a little Cincinnati’s Skyline Chili.
The menu is 16 pages long (woof!) but happily they do highlight favorite menu items to help with analysis paralysis. I was very pleased with my choice of Spero’s Burrito which is a classic breakfast burrito smothered in green pork chili.
5) Take in the mile high view from the Colorado State Capitol Building
Denver really does sit one mile (5280 feet) above sea level, but you’ll need to climb up the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building to reach this height. (I’ll never not giggle about the fact that residents of Santa Fe, New Mexico – which sits at 7000’ – just go about their day without ever mentioning the altitude.)
Over the years it’s been widely contested where the 5280’ marker should be on the steps and if we know one thing for certain, it’s that the step that “One Mile Above Sea Level” is chiseled into definitely isn’t 5280’ above sea level. (It’s actually two steps down – although for a while, it was believed to be three steps up, which is why you’ll see a small bronze marker on that step.)
Regardless of the official “Mile High” mark is, the capitol steps make an excellent Denver photo op. You can also enjoy a great view across Civic Center Park to the Rocky Mountains rising behind the Denver City and County Building.
While you’re there, you can take a free one-hour tour of Capitol on weekdays, which are available on the hour on a first-come, first-served basis.
If the weather’s nice, you might like to relax with a book in peaceful Civic Center Park which might reminds you a little of Chicago’s Grant Park. That’s because the two public parks used the same designer, Edward Bennett. Bennett loved Beaux-Arts design and tended to give all the North American cities he helped plan a slight Parisian feel. (You’ll also find his fingerprints in Ottawa, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Portland, Oregon.)
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6) Tour the Federal Mint
In the mid-1800s, gold prospectors coming into Denver from the Rocky Mountains with their pockets full of gold dust wanted to turn their profitable finds into coins they could actually spend. To meet this need, a private mint was opened which the federal government bought out two years later to establish the United States Mint at Denver.
While the Colorado Gold Rush is a thing of the past, the U.S. Mint at Denver is still producing coins to this day. You can see the mint in action on a free guided tour. Tour slots become available 30 days in advance and tend to fill up quickly, so plan ahead!
7) Visit Meow Wolf
Denver is home to one of the five Meow Wolf locations. I’d been to the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe and my friend had been to the Meow Wolf in Las Vegas, so checking out Denver’s Convergence Station was at the top of our Denver to-do list.
If you’ve never been to a Meow Wolf before, they’re a little hard to describe, but highly memorable! Essentially, it boils down to a modern art immersion experience that blends storytelling, stunning visual effects, and hands-on exhibits. At Meow Wolf Denver, you feel like you’ve been thrust into 1990s sci-fi film.
Since this was my second Meow Wolf experience, I think we did a little better job of finding the Easter eggs hidden throughout the exhibits that help make (some) sense of the experience. Every door you open could lead you into a completely different setting . . . or you could end up walking in circles.
There aren’t too many places where you can throw yourself into the idea of Earth getting included in an intergalactic public transportation system, so I definitely consider Meow Wolf one of the most unique things to do in Denver!
8) Explore Larimer Square
Essentially the birthplace of Denver, Larimer Square is a cozy plaza in the heart of downtown has a collection of mid-range shops and restaurants.
You can catch a stand-up show at Comedy Works, enjoy ice cream or coffee al fresco, or score your next second-hand steal at Garage Sale Vintage. We were very keen to visit Little Blue Pigeon bookstore, but sadly we were a couple weeks too early.
9) Go to a game
Whether you like hockey, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, or rugby, Denver’s got a team for you to root for.
We were in town specifically for a sporting event (the PWHL Takeover Tour game between the Minnesota Frost and the New York Sirens) but even if you have a completely different reason for visiting Denver, Denver has so many sport teams that you can almost certainly dovetail a game into your visit.
All three of Denver’s main sports venues – Ball Arena, Coors Field, and Empower Field – are located downtown so there’s no excuse to not get to a game. If we had wanted to, we could have gone to Ball Arena every day of our visit, for the PWHL game, a Nuggets game, and an Avalanche game.
10) Shop 16th Street Mall
Denver’s 16th Street is a mile-long pedestrian friendly street that runs from Union Station to Broadway. The street is lined with shops and restaurants, with everything from large chains like Target and Rock Bottom Brewery to independent boutiques and cafes. You’ll find the Denver Pavillions mall at the street’s southern end.
It’s the perfect spot to pick up your Colorado souvenirs. You’ll often find buskers performing along the street and the turf-covered Outer Space area at 16th Street and Welton often hosts live music.
One of the most notable landmarks along 16th Street is an Italianate clock tower replica of St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice. The clock tower was once part of the Daniels and Fisher department store and now houses a cabaret. A FreeRide bus cruises up and down 16th street all day and is an easy way to get across town quickly for the low price of nothing.
11) Have afternoon tea at Brown’s Palace
Brown’s Palace is one of Denver’s most historic hotels, opening in 1892. Even if you’re not a guest, you’re welcome to poke your head in to enjoy the hotel’s Gilded Age elegance which includes murals, stained glass, and wrought iron railing.
The very best way to experience this historic hotel is to enjoy their afternoon tea service in the Grand Atrium.
12) Learn about Denver’s connections with ocean liners (seriously . . .)
For a landlocked city, Denver sure has a lot of connections with the ocean liner era of the early 20th century!
One of Denver’s most famous residents was the Unsinkable Molly Brown. This famous socialite rubbed elbows with the likes of the Astors and devoted herself to philanthropy and advocating for women’s rights. She even ran for one of Colorado’s U.S. Senate seats.
As a passenger of the Titanic, she famously (and unsuccessfully) urged her lifeboat to return to the wreckage to rescue more survivors. You can tour her Victorian mansion just east of the Colorado Capitol.
After you’ve made your respects to the indomitable Molly, you can head to the Cruise Room at the Oxford Hotel for a cocktail. This art deco lounge is modeled after one of the lounges on the famous Queen Mary ocean liner.
13) Make some stops on the Denver Beer Trail
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When we searched for a good place to grab a beer after a game, Rhein Haus topped the list. Although both the interior and food menu are very Germanic, they feature beers from around the world, including local brews. Since it was nearly St. Patrick’s Day, I had to have a Smithwick’s. There’s a bocce ball court right in the center of the restaurant, which is one of the most unique bar games I’ve ever seen offered!
If you want to make beer a central part of your Denver visit, you can hit some stops on the Denver Beer Trail. Downtown beer trail businesses include Wynkoop Brewing Company and Denver Chophouse and Brewery.
14) Bike (or hike) on Cherry Creek Trail
Cherry Creek runs along the edge of downtown Denver and a 42-mile multi-use trail follows the creek from Confluence Park (where Cherry Creek and the South Platte River meet) into the southeast suburbs. The trail is especially popular with cyclists, but is open to walkers, dogs-on-leash, and even horses!
The trail provides a peaceful urban walk. It’s a great way to access Sunken Gardens Park. If you’re biking, you could head all the way out to Four Mile Historic Park and Cherry Creek Shopping Center. And yes, this trail is a good spot to catch cherry blossoms and other flowering trees in early to mid-April.
You might hit up the Cherry Creek Trail on a tour with Mile High Bike Tours. If you don’t want to go on a tour, you can rent a bike through Mile High Bike Tours by appointment only.
15) Explore Union Station
Union Station is the public transportation hub in downtown Denver. This turn of the century Beaux-Arts train station is one of the most celebrated train stations in America.
While not that many people arrive to the Mile High City via long distance train, Union Station can still be your introduction to Denver if you take the commuter line train from Denver Airport. That’s what we did!
In recent years, Union Station has become known for its collection of high-end restaurants and shops. While we didn’t eat directly in the station, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Jinya Ramen right across the street.
16) Go to a show in the theatre district
There’s almost always a show on somewhere in downtown Denver!
The Denver Performing Arts Complex has fourteen different performance and event venues including a symphony hall, opera house, children’s theatre, and many other stages where you can see a variety of productions and performances.
17) Get drinks at Bedlam
Bedlam Public House is a fun speakeasy style cocktail bar in the heart of LoDo. It’s the sort of place where there’s a mixologist rather than a bartender behind the bar. With its Victorian décor, comfy seats, and tasty specialty drinks, it’s the perfect place for a Denver happy hour.
18) Do a Food Tour
One of the best ways to get to know a city is through your stomach! While I don’t think of Denver as having a particularly distinctive food scene, the various food tours offered throughout the city beg to differ! In fact, Denver was named the Best Pizza City in America in 2024.
With its connections to Mexican cuisine and Wild West culture, as well as Colorado’s modern day prowess in both craft beer and herbal teas, there’s always something tasty to be found in Denver. These downtown food tours let you sample some of the city’s most iconic dishes including pizza, green chili, and wild game, while also learning about Denver history and culture.
If you want to venture a little further afield, you can also do a food and craft beer tour in the RiNo neighborhood, just north of downtown.
19) Chase thrills at Elitch Gardens
For a thrill, head to the oldest amusement park in Colorado: Elitch Gardens. A theme park of this name has operated in Denver since 1890, although it’s only been in its downtown location since 1995.
Primarily an amusement and water park, Elitch Gardens is definitely a warm weather activity. Favorite rides include on the Sidewinder, Mister Twister, and Meow Wolf’s Kaleidoscope.
They are open for some holiday events including a light show, visits with Santa, and a theatre production.
20) Enjoy Mexican food and free tequila shots! (Or just Mexican food . . . )
Despite its obviously Spanish name, I always forget that Colorado was once part of Spain and still has plenty of ties with the Spanish speaking world. As a result, Denver’s is an excellent place to track down the cuisine that Americans broadly refer to as “Mexican” food.
In particular, Denver is known for its green chili – usually made with shredded pork – which they like to smother enchiladas, breakfast burritos, and pretty much anything else with. It reminded me of New Mexican cuisine but with a flare all its own.
We headed to D’Corazon Mexican Restaurant for our first dinner in town where we enjoyed extremely friendly service and tasty, no frills food. St. Paddy Day celebrations were in full swing and we somehow ended up with free tequila shots. When in Rome . . . . For a higher end dining experience, head to Alma Fonda Fina. Illegal Pete’s also came highly recommended.
21) Stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens
Denver Botanic Gardens covers 24 acres just east of downtown. With its various gardens, including children’s, water, ornamental, and ones highlighting Colorado plants, the gardens offer a peaceful change of pace from the downtown business district. You’ll also find sculptures, art exhibits, films, a library where you can hone up on horticulture, and a coffee shop.
Pro tip: Save on your admission to Denver Botanic Gardens with a Denver CityPass.
22) Get a bite at Milk Market
The Milk Market is a food hall located in Denver’s Dairy Block. This hip business district covers a single historic block near Union Station and was once home to Windsor Farm Dairy . . . hence the name.
With 11 different food vendors serving up the likes of ice cream, pizza, cocktails, and Ethopian food, it’s the perfect place to head if you’re traveling with a big group that can’t decide where to eat.
There’s also a game room when you can brush up on your PAC-MAN skills as well as play skee-ball, shuffleboard, and other games.
How To Get Around Downtown Denver
Walk
If you’re just going to stay in downtown Denver for your entire visit, I’d just plan to walk everywhere. That’s what we did and we only logged one 20K+ step day.
Rideshare
There are a handful of suggestions on this list that aren’t within what I’d consider realistic walking distance from a downtown hotel. Those include Meow Wolf, the Botanic Gardens, and Molly Brown House. They are all within a 10-15 minute rideshare ride and we had no problem grabbing an Uber or Lyft at whim.
Public transportation
If you end up on one side of town (say Civic Center Park) and want to make your way back to the theatre district or Union Station, just catch the 16th Street FreeRide bus. You can also use the light rail system (the theatre district stop will likely be the closest to your hotel) to access places like Empower Field and Meow Wolf. Bus service is also available.
Getting downtown from Denver International Airport
To reach the city from the airport, your most economical option is to take the Denver Airport Train. This is easily accessed from the baggage claim area and covers the 25 miles (!!) between downtown and the airport in about 35 minutes. Cost is $10 per person and you can transfer onto downtown public transportation at Union Station for no additional cost.
There’s no need to purchase these tickets ahead of time. You can just tap to pay before boarding. Thank goodness for this, because all the ticket kiosks we saw were out of order! Definitely make sure you have mobile pay set up on your phone before arriving into Denver if you plan to use the train.
Where To Stay in Denver
Since downtown Denver is essentially a business district, a hotel will likely be your most convenient lodging option. Luckily, you have many hotels to choose, ranging from lower range options like Hampton Inn and Suites all the way up to the Four Seasons.
Here are some of your best downtown lodging options:
Hotel Teatro – We stayed in this boutique hotel in the heart of the theatre district. With perks like a welcome glass of prosecco, complimentary car service around town, and on-site hotels, it was comfortable and convenient Denver home base. The only downside was that the complimentary breakfast had been replaced with a discount in the onsite coffee shop during our stay.
Oxford Hotel – Another historic theatre district hotel, the Oxford is a pet-friendly hotel that dates back to 1891. It’s especially known for its Cruise Room, a bar modeled after a lounge room on the Queen Mary ocean liner. They also feature a spa and salon.
Thompson Denver – A luxury hotel, the Thompson is a Hyatt hotel offering a collection of rooms and suites. The hotel features a French-inspired restaurant, Chez Maggy, and comfortable common areas.
Conclusion: Make the most of your time in downtown Denver
As you can see from this guide, you don’t have to venture beyond downtown to find must see Denver activities and attractions.
Like many American urban centers, Denver’s downtown saw a considerably decline during the pandemic, but we found plenty to keep us busy during our long weekend. While it’s unlikely you’ll do all of these suggestions in a single visit, I highly recommend including the Denver Art Museum, Meow Wolf, and at least one sporting event on any Denver itinerary.
Of course you can’t skip breakfast at Sam’s No. 3 Diner or grabbing a local craft beer or specialty cocktail at one of downtown’s many watering holes like Rhein Haus or Bedlam. As the Best Pizza City in America, you’ll want to make sure your Denver eats include a slice as well as some pork green chili.
If you’re inclined to do some shopping, check out the 16th Street Mall, Denver Pavilions, and Larimer Square. You can lean into Denver’s “outdoorsy” vibes by taking a bike ride or walk down Cherry Creek Trail. And of course don’t forget your “Mile High” photo op on the steps of the Colorado Capitol.
There are plenty of opportunities to learn about Denver’s pioneering past including visits to the U.S. Mint, touring the Unsinkable Molly Brown’s Victorian mansion, or going to one of the many downtown museums.
I hope this list of unique activities that are actually located in downtown Denver help you make the most of your visit, whether you’re looking for something to do after spending all day at a conference in the Convention Center or to round out a trip into town for a special event like a professional sports game or family wedding.
Feel free to email me at any time if I can help answer questions to help you plan a perfect visit to Denver, CO.
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