Denver
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Denver - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. 16th Street Mall
LoDo | Business DistrictOutdoor cafés and tempting shops line this pedestrian-only 18-block, 1¼-mile thoroughfare, shaded by red-oak and locust trees. The mall's businesses...
Outdoor cafés and tempting shops line this pedestrian-only 18-block, 1¼-mile thoroughfare, shaded by red-oak and locust trees. The mall's businesses run the entire socioeconomic range. There are popular meeting spots for business types at places like the Yard House in the Sheraton Hotel; a front-row view of the many street performers and goings-on from restaurants' sidewalk patios; and plenty of fast-food chains. Although some Denverites swear by the higher-end Cherry Creek Shopping District, the 16th Street Mall covers every retail area and is a more affordable, diverse experience. You can find Denver's best people-watching here. Catch one of the free shuttle buses at any corner that run the length of downtown. Pay attention when you're wandering across the street, as the walking area and bus lanes are the same color and are hard to distinguish.
From Broadway to Chestnut Pl., Denver, Colorado, 80202, USA -
2. Brown Palace
LoDo | HotelThe grande dame of Denver hotels was built in 1892, and is still considered the city's most prestigious address. Famous guests have included...
The grande dame of Denver hotels was built in 1892, and is still considered the city's most prestigious address. Famous guests have included President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, and Beyoncé. Even if you aren't staying here, the Brown Palace lobby is a great place to sit on comfortable old couches, drink tea, and listen to piano standards (or harp, during afternoon tea). Reputedly this was the first atrium hotel in the United States; its ornate lobby and nine stories are crowned by a Tiffany stained-glass window.
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3. Children's Museum of Denver
Jefferson Park | Museum/GalleryThis is one of the finest museums of its kind in North America, with constantly changing hands-on exhibits that engage children up to about...
This is one of the finest museums of its kind in North America, with constantly changing hands-on exhibits that engage children up to about age eight in discovery. Fire Station No. 1 is a real fire hall with a pole and kitchen. Children can build a car on an assembly line and send it careening down a test ramp at the Assembly Plant. Or, little ones can enter Bubbles Playscape, where science and soap collide in kid-made bubbles up to 6 feet long. One of the biggest attractions is the Center for the Young Child, a 3,700-square-foot playscape aimed at newborns and toddlers and their caregivers. The museum is in the midst of a major expansion, and some exhibits are closed or moving to make room for new ones; updates are posted on the website through the project completion in late 2015.
2121 Children's Museum Dr., off Exit 211 of I–25, Denver, Colorado, 80211, USA303-433–7444Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9, Weekdays 9–4 (Wed. open until 7:30), weekends 10–5 -
4. Denver Art Museum
Civic Center | Museum/GalleryUnique displays of Asian, pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, and Native American art are the hallmarks of this model of museum design. Among the...
Unique displays of Asian, pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, and Native American art are the hallmarks of this model of museum design. Among the museum's regular holdings are John DeAndrea's sexy, soothing, life-size polyvinyl painting Linda (1983); Claude Monet's dreamy flowerscape Le Bassin des Nympheas (1904); and Charles Deas's red-cowboy-on-horseback Long Jakes, The Rocky Mountain Man (1844). The works are thoughtfully lighted, though dazzling mountain views through hallway windows sometimes steal your attention. Imaginative hands-on exhibits, game- and puzzle-filled Family Backpacks, and video corners will appeal to children; the Adventures in Art Center has hands-on art classes and exploration for children and adults. The museum doubled in size in 2007 with the opening of the Frederic C. Hamilton building, a 146,000-square-foot addition designed by architect Daniel Libeskind that has prompted debate: some say the glass and titanium design has ruined the view, while others think the building is a work of art in its own right. To the east of the museum is an outdoor plaza—you'll know it by the huge orange metal sculpture—that leads to the Denver Public Library next door.
View Tours and Activities100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver, Colorado, 80204, USA720-865–5000Sight Details
Rate Includes: $13, Tues.–Thurs. and weekends 10–5; Fri. 10–8 -
5. Denver Botanic Gardens
Cheesman Park | GardenMore than 15,000 plant species from Australia, South Africa, the Himalayas, and especially the western United States compose the horticultural...
More than 15,000 plant species from Australia, South Africa, the Himalayas, and especially the western United States compose the horticultural displays in the thoughtfully laid-out theme gardens here. They are at their peak in July and August, when garden enthusiasts could spend half a day here; the tropical conservatory alone is worth an hour's visit in the off-season. Spring brings a brilliant display of wildflowers to the world-renowned rock alpine garden, primarily in late May and early June. The OmniGlobe simulates the climate and atmospheric changes on Earth; other environmental attractions include a "green roof" atop the café and an extensive interactive children's garden that covers part of the parking structure. Tea ceremonies take place some summer weekends in the tranquil Japanese garden, and artists such as singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, jazz musician Herbie Hancock, and blues legend Buddy Guy have performed as part of the summer concert series.
View Tours and Activities1007 York St., Denver, Colorado, 80206, USA720-865–3500Sight Details
Rate Includes: $15 -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
City Park | Museum/GalleryFounded in 1900, the museum has amassed more than 775,000 objects, making it the largest natural history museum in the western United States...
Founded in 1900, the museum has amassed more than 775,000 objects, making it the largest natural history museum in the western United States. It houses a rich combination of traditional collections—dinosaur remains, animal dioramas, a mineralogy display, an Egyptology wing—and intriguing hands-on exhibits. In Expedition Health you can test your health and fitness on a variety of contraptions and receive a personalized health profile. The Prehistoric Journey exhibit covers the seven stages of Earth's development. The massive complex also includes an IMAX movie theater and a planetarium, where the Space Odyssey exhibit simulates a trip to Mars. An impressive eating-and-relaxation area has a full-window panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains.
View Tours and Activities2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado, 80205, USA303-370–6000Sight Details
Rate Includes: Museum $14.95, IMAX $9.95, planetarium $19.95; $21.95–26.95 for combined pass (any two or all three), Daily 9–5, IMAX and planetarium showtimes vary -
7. Denver Public Library's Central Library
Civic Center | Library/ArchiveA life-size horse on a 20-foot-tall chair and other sculptures decorate the expansive lawn of this sprawling complex with round towers and tall...
A life-size horse on a 20-foot-tall chair and other sculptures decorate the expansive lawn of this sprawling complex with round towers and tall, oblong windows. The map and manuscript rooms, Gates Western History Reading Room (with amazing views of the mountains), and Schlessman Hall (with its three-story atrium) merit a visit. Built in the mid-'50s, the library houses a world-renowned collection of books, photographs, and newspapers that chronicle the American West, as well as original paintings by Remington, Russell, Audubon, and Bierstadt. The children's library is notable for its captivating design and its unique, child-friendly multimedia computer catalog.
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8. Larimer Square
LoDo | Plaza/SquareThis square, on the oldest street in the city, was immortalized by Jack Kerouac in his seminal book On the Road. It was saved from the wrecker...
This square, on the oldest street in the city, was immortalized by Jack Kerouac in his seminal book On the Road. It was saved from the wrecker's ball by a determined preservationist in the 1960s, when the city went demolition-crazy in its eagerness to present a more youthful image. Much has changed since Kerouac's wanderings: Larimer Square's rough edges have been cleaned up in favor of upscale retail and chic restaurants. The Square has also become a serious late-night party district thanks to spillover from the expanded LoDo neighborhood and Rockies fans flowing out from the baseball stadium. Shops line the arched redbrick courtyards of Writer Square, one of Denver's most charming shopping districts.
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9. State Capitol
Capitol Hill | Government BuildingBuilt in 1886, the capitol was constructed mostly of materials indigenous to Colorado, including marble, granite, and rose onyx. Especially...
Built in 1886, the capitol was constructed mostly of materials indigenous to Colorado, including marble, granite, and rose onyx. Especially inspiring is the gold-leaf dome, a reminder of the state's mining heritage. The dome is open for tours weekdays by appointment on the hour and 30 people at a time can go to the top (using a 99-step staircase from the third floor) to take in the 360-degree view of the Rockies. Historical tours and a legislative tour are available. Outside, a marker on the 13th step indicates where the elevation is exactly 1 mile high (above sea level). The legislature is generally in session from January through May, and visitors are welcome to sit in third-floor viewing galleries above the House and Senate chambers.
200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado, 80203, USA303-866–2604-dome toursSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
10. Byers-Evans House Museum
Civic Center | Museum/GallerySprawling and detailed, red and black, this elaborate Victorian went up in 1883 as the home of Rocky Mountain News publisher William Byers...
Sprawling and detailed, red and black, this elaborate Victorian went up in 1883 as the home of Rocky Mountain News publisher William Byers. Restored to its pre–World War I condition, the historic landmark has occasional exhibitions and regular guided tours. Its main appeal is the glimpse it provides into Denver's past, specifically 1912 through 1924; more recently, the Center for Women's History has taken up residence here, which means an enhanced focus on women's studies and free rotating exhibits. The furnishings are those the Evans family acquired during the 80-some years they lived here.
1310 Bannock St., Denver, Colorado, 80204, USA303-620–4933Sight Details
Rate Includes: Gallery free; $8 guided house tour -
11. Civic Center
Civic Center | City ParkA peaceful respite awaits in this three-block park in the cultural heart of downtown, site of the State Capitol. A 1919 Greek amphitheater is...
A peaceful respite awaits in this three-block park in the cultural heart of downtown, site of the State Capitol. A 1919 Greek amphitheater is in the middle of one of the city's largest flower gardens, and in summer, it's the site of free bike-in movies at dusk. Festivals such as Cinco de Mayo, Taste of Colorado, and the People's Fair keep things lively here in spring and summer, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, food trucks offer lunchtime alternatives. The park was born in 1906, when Mayor Robert Speer asked New York architect Charles Robinson to expand on his vision of a "Paris on the Platte." Two of the park's statues, Broncho Buster and On the War Trail, depicting a cowboy and an Indian on horseback, were commissioned in the 1920s.
Bannock St. to Broadway south of Colfax Ave. and north of 14th Ave., Denver, Colorado, 80204, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
12. Clyfford Still Museum
Golden Triangle | Museum/GalleryThough he showed very little of his work and sold even less during his lifetime, artist Clyfford Still has nonetheless been credited as a significant...
Though he showed very little of his work and sold even less during his lifetime, artist Clyfford Still has nonetheless been credited as a significant contributor to the abstract expressionist movement, if not one of the most instrumental in its development. The vast majority of his extensive body of work had been sealed from the public since his death in 1980, but in 2004 his second wife chose Denver as the final resting place for a carefully curated portion—a little more than a hundred works of the more than 2,400 pieces, including paintings, drawings, and sculpture. In late 2011, the austere and easily navigable museum opened in a building designed by architect Brad Cloepfil. The nine galleries reveal Still's progression in chronological displays, and true to Still's wishes, it offers no restaurant. Periodically, the museum refreshes the works on display to present a new side of the artist's vision.
1250 Bannock St., Denver, Colorado, 80204, USA720-354–4880Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Tues.–Thurs. and weekends 10–5, Fri. 10–8 -
13. Daniels & Fisher Tower
LoDo | Notable BuildingThis 330-foot-high, 20-floor structure emulates the Campanile of St. Mark's Square in Venice, and it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi...
This 330-foot-high, 20-floor structure emulates the Campanile of St. Mark's Square in Venice, and it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi when it was built in 1909. William Cooke Daniels originally commissioned the tower to stand adjacent to his five-story department store. Today it's an office building with a cabaret in the basement as well as the city's most convenient clock tower. It's particularly striking—the clock is 16 feet high—when viewed in concert with the fountains in the adjacent Skyline Park.
1601 Arapahoe St., at 16th St., Denver, Colorado, 80202, USA -
14. Denver Firefighters Museum
LoDo | Museum/GalleryDenver's first firehouse was built in 1909 and now serves as a museum where original items of the trade are on view, including uniforms, nets...
Denver's first firehouse was built in 1909 and now serves as a museum where original items of the trade are on view, including uniforms, nets, fire carts and trucks, bells, and switchboards. Artifacts and photos document the progression of firefighting machinery from horses and carriages in the early 1900s to the flashy red-and-white trucks of today.
1326 Tremont Pl., Denver, Colorado, 80204, USA303-892–1436Sight Details
Rate Includes: $6, Mon.–Sat. 10–4 -
15. Denver Zoo
City Park | Zoo/AquariumThe state's most popular cultural attraction, this easily navigated property's best-known exhibit showcases man-eating Komodo dragons in a lush...
The state's most popular cultural attraction, this easily navigated property's best-known exhibit showcases man-eating Komodo dragons in a lush re-creation of a cavernous riverbank. Another popular exhibit is The Edge, a series of overhead yards and bridges that allow the Amur (Siberian) tigers to roam 12 feet above visitors. The 10-acre Toyota Elephant Passage houses elephants, gibbons, rhinos, clouded leopards, and tapirs, along with other animals from the Asian continent. The Conservation Carousel ($2) rotates in the center of the 80-acre zoo, with handcrafted endangered species as mounts. A 7-acre Primate Panorama houses 31 species of primates in state-of-the-art environments that simulate the animals' natural habitats. Other highlights include a nursery for baby animals; seal shows; the electric Safari Shuttle, which snakes through the property as you are treated to a lesson on the zoo's inhabitants; and the usual lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, and monkeys. The exhibits are spaced far apart along sprawling concrete paths, so build in plenty of time to visit.
2300 Steele St., Denver, Colorado, 80205, USA720-337–1400Sight Details
Rate Includes: Nov.–Feb. $15, Mar.–May $17, Jun.–Oct. $20 -
16. Downtown Aquarium
Jefferson Park | Museum/GalleryOn the north side of the South Platte across from Elitch Gardens, this is the only million-gallon aquarium between Chicago and the West Coast...
On the north side of the South Platte across from Elitch Gardens, this is the only million-gallon aquarium between Chicago and the West Coast. It has four sections that show aquatic life in all its forms, from the seas to the river's headwaters in the Colorado mountains. The 250-seat Aquarium Restaurant surrounds a 50,000-gallon tank filled with sharks and fish. Other highlights include an expanded stingray touch pool, a gold-panning area, animatronic creatures, and an interactive shipwreck. The aquarium also has a lounge with a weeknight happy hour, and the truly adventurous can learn how to scuba dive or snorkel in the tanks.
700 Water St., off Exit 211 of I–25, Denver, Colorado, 80211, USA303-561–4450Sight Details
Rate Includes: $18.99, Sun.–Thurs. 10–9, Fri. and Sat. 10–9:30 -
17. Elitch Gardens
Auraria | Amusement Park/Water ParkThis elaborate and thrilling park was a Denver family tradition long before its 1995 relocation from northwest Denver to its current home on...
This elaborate and thrilling park was a Denver family tradition long before its 1995 relocation from northwest Denver to its current home on the outskirts of downtown. The park's highlights include hair-raising roller coasters and thrill rides; for younger kids and squeamish parents there are also plenty of gentler attractions such as bumper cars and tea cups. Twister II, an update of the classic, wooden Mister Twister, is from the original Elitch Gardens, as is a 100-foot-high Ferris wheel that provides sensational views of downtown. A 10-acre water-adventure park is included in the standard entry fee. You can spend a whole day at either the water park or the main park. Locker and stroller rentals are available; discounted tickets are available online.
View Tours and ActivitiesI–25 and Speer Blvd., Denver, Colorado, 80204, USA303-595–4386Sight Details
Rate Includes: $45.99 unlimited-ride pass, June–mid-Aug., daily; Apr., May, and late Aug.–Oct., Fri.–Sun.; hrs vary -
18. Forney Museum of Transportation
Globeville | Museum/GalleryInside a converted warehouse are an 1898 Renault coupe, Amelia Earhart's immaculately maintained "Goldbug," and a Big Boy steam locomotive,...
Inside a converted warehouse are an 1898 Renault coupe, Amelia Earhart's immaculately maintained "Goldbug," and a Big Boy steam locomotive, among other historic vehicles. Other exhibits in this eccentric museum consist of antique bicycles, cable cars, and even experimental car-planes. This trivia-laden showcase is outside of the downtown loop: Go north on Brighton Boulevard; the museum is adjacent to the Denver Coliseum on the south side of I–70.
4303 Brighton Blvd., Denver, Colorado, 80216, USA303-297–1113Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9.75, Mon.–Sat. 10–4, Sun. noon–4 -
19. History Colorado Center
Civic Center | Museum/GalleryThe three-story, interactive History Colorado Center serves as the state's de facto historical society. Rotating lobby exhibits welcome visitors...
The three-story, interactive History Colorado Center serves as the state's de facto historical society. Rotating lobby exhibits welcome visitors with hands-on, offbeat snippets of state history. In addition to revamped versions of the previous collections depicting state history from 1800 to the present, current exhibitions combine technology, artifacts, and multimedia presentations. Milk a life-size replica of a cow, drive a Model T Ford on the plains, or try a virtual ski jump, and then see what you would have looked like in a classroom in the late 1800s.
1200 Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80203, USA303-447–8679Sight Details
Rate Includes: $14 -
20. LoDo
LoDo | Business DistrictOfficially, the Lower Downtown Historic District, the 25-plus square-block area that was the site of the original 1858 settlement of Denver...
Officially, the Lower Downtown Historic District, the 25-plus square-block area that was the site of the original 1858 settlement of Denver City, is nicknamed LoDo. It's home to art galleries, chic shops, nightclubs, and restaurants ranging from Denver's most upscale to its most down-home. This part of town was once the city's thriving retail center, then it fell into disuse and slid into slums. Since the early 1990s LoDo has been transformed into the city's cultural center, thanks to its resident artists, retailers, and loft dwellers who have taken over the old warehouses and redbricks.
View Tours and ActivitiesFrom Larimer St. to South Platte River, between 14th and 22nd Sts., Denver, Colorado, USA
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