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Explore Denver

Denver, Colorado, is a walkable, outdoor city with 300 days of sunshine, brilliant blue skies and breathtaking mountain scenery. With a walkable downtown, thriving arts and culture, an award-winning culinary scene, and the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, Denver offers an affordable mix of urban sophistication and outdoor adventure. Founded in 1858 as a gold mining camp, Denver is located at the base of the majestic Rocky Mountains, 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) above sea level – exactly one mile high. Denver offers urban adventures for all ages, spring, summer, fall or winter.

Explore The Mile High City without ever needing a car.

Denver...Fast Facts

  • Denver has 300 days of sunshine a year.
  • There are 200 named peaks visible from Denver.
  • At an elevation of 5,280 feet, Denver is nicknamed the "Mile High City" because it sits exactly one mile above sea level.
  • In Denver, you can attend sporting events for the NFL (Broncos), MLB (Rockies), NHL (Avalanche), and the NBA (Nuggets) all within a three-mile radius!
  • Denver brews more beer than any other city in the nation, with over 200 different beers brewed daily.

Enjoy Urban Adventures

From dinosaurs at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Asian elephant exhibit at the Denver Zoo to a virtual ski jump at History Colorado Center there is no shortage of family fun in The Mile High City, even during the winter.

 

Denver Art Museum is made up of two architecturally stunning buildings – one a fortress-like structure from Italian architect Gio Ponti, the other, a structure that resembles a titanium crystal with peaks and shards designed by Daniel Libeskind. Inside, find the world's greatest collection of Native American art and 68,000 other art objects, including works from European masters, Old West classics and phenomenal traveling exhibits.

 
 
Lions and tigers and bears – and so much more, on lovely grounds make the Denver Zoo one of the most popular zoos in America. Go underwater with polar bears at Northern Shores, or eyeball-to-eyeball with a gorilla in Primate Panorama. Predator Ridge recreates the plains of Africa with a pride of lions, while Tropical Discovery is rainforest teeming with crocodiles and gila monsters. 

 

Eat, Drink, and Play

Denver’s dining scene is heating up in places like Larimer Square where Victorian buildings are now home to boutique shops, wine bars and restaurants, or in historic Union Station which has become a hotspot for innovative cuisine and old-fashioned elegance.

 

Union Station - Sit back, relax and take in the view inside one of Denver's most iconic historic landmarks, Denver Union Station. Located in the heart of downtown Denver, the renovated 1914 Beaux-Arts train station is home to 10 chef-owned restaurants and bars, boutique shops, and the 112-room Crawford Hotel. Union Station is also the transportation hub for The Mile High City, offering access to RTD's front-range bus route, the free 16th Street Mall shuttle, the free Downtown Denver Circulator, the FasTracks light rail line and Amtrak trains.

 

Larimer Square is a trendy block of Victorian buildings is home to chic shopping, dance clubs, a comedy club, outdoor cafes and a dozen of Denver's best restaurants. For 40 years in downtown Denver, it's hip to be at the "Square."

Shop 'Til You Drop

Cherry Creek North is the premier outdoor retail and dining destination with an impressive collection of art galleries, independently owned boutiques, international fashion brands and luxury hotel options. Spend the day walking through 16 charming blocks to find unique fashion, jewelry, home furnishings and art; pamper yourself at one of the many relaxing spas and salons; or treat yourself to a delicious dining experience at one of the neighborhood's many restaurants.

Lined with 200 trees and 50,000 flowers, this festive, mile-long 16th Street Mall has 28 outdoor cafes and offers Denver's best people-watching. Renowned architect I.M. Pei designed the gray and pink granite pathway to resemble the pattern of a diamondback rattlesnake. Hop on the bus – they're free and stop on every corner. After dark, horse-drawn carriages clatter up and down the Mall.

Coors Brewery Tour

"Taste the Rockies!" Coors Brewery, the world's largest brewing site still uses the same Rocky Mountain spring water that Adolph Coors discovered in 1873. The legendary Coors Brewery in nearby Golden can brew up to 22 million barrels and package up to 16 million barrels annually, making it the biggest single-site brewery in the world. Take a free 30-minute, self-paced tour of the brewhouse, malthouse and packaging complex to view firsthand how more than 100 work teams make some of the most popular beer in the world.

Red Rocks Park & Ampitheatre
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre's reputation may precede it, but there's no replacement for experiencing this acoustically impeccable, naturally stunning marvel of ochre sandstone yourself. Designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior, the amphitheater is a top destination for Colorado residents and tourists from around the world. It’s an easy 15-mile drive from Denver, or hop aboard the Red Rocks Shuttle, which offers round-trip options departing from Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill at Union Station and Illegal Pete's on Colfax Avenue. So, make plans to see a concert, watch a film, hike, dine or geek out on history. We dare you not to fall for Red Rocks' rare beauty.

DENVER ATTRACTION PASSES

Purchase a Mile High Culture pass or Denver CityPASS for the best way to explore some of the city’s most fascinating attractions at a bargain price. Purchase at the Tourist Information Center or online at www.denverattractionpass.com.  Attractions include the Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo and more. Stroll through the lush oasis of Denver Botanic Gardens; explore the life and work of the abstract expressionist Clyfford Still, considered one of the most influential painters of the 20th century; or, experience the Denver Museum of Nature & Science where you can get as close to a T-Rex dinosaur as you dare.