Best Things to do in Denver

Get outside and stay outside

Denver’s got nature and plenty of it. Ample mountain ranges and an adventurous attitude — paired with the aforementioned 300 days of sun — mean that this is no place to hole up in a hotel room. For starters, try these: 

Experience old-school Denver while you can

Tried and true Denver mainstays are being increasingly overshadowed by trendy mixed-use spaces, apartments and fusion restaurants. The city is growing fast, but with some guidance from a homegrown Denverite (or us), you can still find its history-steeped favorites. 

You have to try a smothered burger

Only the boldest (and/or the drunkest) take on this burger without fork and knife sidekicks. Picture this: one patty, draped in melted cheese and beans, contained by a flour tortilla, then drenched in green chile. That’s a Denver smothered burger, one you’ll find on menus across the city. A good place to start is The Original Chubby’s. It’s predecessor, Joe’s Buffet, was (as tradition has it) the smothered hamburger’s birthplace.

Pass on Rocky Mountain oysters

Some call these Rocky Mountain oysters (fried bull testicles) a local delicacy, something every visitor has to try. But they’re not something you need try. They’re not all that tasty. Pass on the bull balls.

Be a mountaineer

You might, at some point, find yourself sipping an IPA on a flagstone patio and looking out to the horizon when you hear it: the call of the mountains. While Denver isn’t actually in the mountains, it’s near a whole lot of them. And they’re just a short drive away, perfect for day trips. You could spend an entire trip just exploring the Rockies, but don’t forget about the other mountain parks nearby, like Genesee Park, Echo Lake Park and Summit Lake Park. 

Spark your fandom

If you’d rather lose yourself in the pages of a good book, graphic novel or zine than in food or music, no judgment here. Denver’s got something for you.

Knock back some good old-fashioned Colorado whiskey

Craft beer is Denver’s beverage of choice, but the city has some first-rate whiskey too. Stranahan’s is the stalwart, but its tendrils of influence run throughout Denver, leaving spiritual successors like Laws Whiskey House, Rising Sun Distillery, Mythology Distillery and more.

Hit the town

When the sun is cresting the mountains and you still feel like you’ve got a good eight hours in the tank, here’s where to go. 

Lower Downtown (LoDo)

Right next door to Larimer Square is LoDo, a mixed-use district known for its hopping nightlife. Its bars run the gamut from warm mountain-lodge-esque 700-whiskey date spots (Seven Grand) to rooftop hangouts with local beers like Tap 14. 

Dive into modern and contemporary art

Contemporary art is bold, experimental, occasionally abstract and all over Denver. If you want an experimental art hideaway, hit the SPACE Gallery or the Plinth Gallery. In the mood for a full-scale museum experience? Wander the halls at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Clyfford Still Museum or the Denver Art Museum.

Go on a graffiti tour

Here’s the other side of Denver’s art scene, the less-curated-but-equally-talented graffiti, one of the reasons Denver made our list of best cities for street art. These wall-spanning creations are all over the city, but if you want the most bang for your buck (it’s free, but you get the idea), head to RiNo.

Its streets and alleys rife with murals and graffiti that intertwine avant-garde expression with cultural and political dynamism. RiNo’s walls and surfaces are a playground for imaginative artists to create their own kind of living museum. You can wander the streets on your own for the thrill of discovery, or take a guided tour. 

Visit Denver’s other most iconic music venue

Okay, so you did Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Maybe you saw a shooting star during a sick guitar riff. That’s all well and good, but if you want an intimate concert experience, there are other places to jam. 

Traverse the Denver Beer Trail

Every city will tell you they’re the United States’ best craft beer destination, but Denver has a legitimate claim to the throne. We’re talking almost 150 breweries, each with its own unique style. Some local experimental favorites include Wynkoop Brewing Company, Great Divide Brewing Company and Cerebral Brewing Company. But Denver is also home to big names like Blue Moon and Coors if you’d prefer brewery tours with the big-timers.