Things to do in Denver
- Denver sits at an official elevation of exactly 5,280 feet, measured at a specific step on the state capitol building.
- The city operates the largest public park system in the United States, which includes over 14,000 acres of mountain parks located outside the city limits.
- Denver is home to the largest city-owned airport in the United States by total land area, Denver International Airport.
- The city's unique geographic location allows for one of the longest sunshine counts in the country, averaging roughly 300 days of sunshine annually.
- Denver was founded as a gold mining camp in 1858 and was initially known as 'St. Charles City'.
About Denver
Denver serves as the primary economic and cultural hub of the Rocky Mountain region, situated exactly one mile above sea level at the base of the Front Range. The city balances a significant urban core, anchored by the Denver Art Museum, with immediate proximity to outdoor recreation. Cultural and sporting life centers around major landmarks like Coors Field and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Residents and visitors alike utilize the city's integrated parks, such as Confluence Park, which serves as a nexus for the city's trail system.
Highlights of Denver
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Venues
This ballpark features a distinct row of purple seats to mark the exact altitude of one mile above sea level.
Museums
The museum houses a renowned exhibit on prehistoric life, including high-quality fossil displays from the Rocky Mountain region.
Museums
The museum's iconic Hamilton Building is designed with jagged, titanium-clad angles inspired by the peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
Zoos
Visitors can walk through a subterranean glass tunnel surrounded by sharks and sea turtles in the heart of downtown.
Venues
This venue is famous for its steep seating bowl architecture, which creates an intense, loud environment for professional football.
Parks
This park serves as the meeting point of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, acting as the primary hub for the city's extensive urban trail network.
Venues
This large performing arts center is one of the biggest of its kind in the United States, housing multiple stages for Broadway tours and local theater.
Top things to do in Denver
The 99 highest-rated places in Denver, ranked by travellers.
1
Venues
Coors Field is the home stadium of the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball team, located in the LoDo district of Denv...
2
Zoos
Denver Zoo is a 80-acre nonprofit zoological facility located within City Park in Denver, Colorado. It serves as a conse...
3
Museums
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a premier research and educational institution located in City Park. Contrary t...
4
Zoos
The Downtown Aquarium in Denver is a multifaceted entertainment complex featuring a public aquarium with over a million...
5
Museums
The Denver Art Museum is home to an extensive collection of Western and regional art housed across two distinctive build...
6
Venues
Empower Field at Mile High serves as the primary home stadium for the NFL's Denver Broncos. The stadium is located at an...
7
Amusement parks
Elitch Gardens is a dual-concept amusement park and water park situated in downtown Denver. It features over 50 rides, i...
8
Parks
Sloan's Lake Park is Denver's second-largest park, featuring a 177-acre lake at its center. The area provides a 2.6-mile...
9
Venues
The Denver Performing Arts Complex spans four city blocks and 12 acres, making it one of the largest performing arts cen...
10
Venues
The Paramount Theatre is a historic Denver venue that originally opened in 1930 as a movie palace. Designed in the Art D...
11
Venues
The Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre serves as the primary proscenium stage within the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Designe...
12
Parks
Confluence Park serves as the functional meeting point of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek in downtown Denver. It...
13
Venues
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is a 18,000-seat soccer-specific stadium serving as the home pitch for the Colorado Rapids of...
14
Museums
The History Colorado Center is a state-run facility featuring interactive, multi-sensory exhibits focused on the geograp...
15
Museums
The Molly Brown House Museum is the historic Denver residence of Margaret Brown, a social activist and survivor of the 1...
16
Parks
Paco Sánchez Park is a 30-acre urban park in Denver, Colorado, centered around a unique 'Game City' themed playground. T...
17
Temples
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a French Gothic Revival church completed in 1912, characterized b...
18
Places of interest
The Big Blue Bear, officially titled 'I See What You Mean', is a 40-foot tall sculpture by Colorado-based artist Lawrenc...
19
Venues
The Bellco Theatre is a multi-purpose indoor venue situated within the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. It...
20
Museums
The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver) is a non-collecting institution, meaning it does not hold a permanent...
21
Amusement parks
House of Immersions is a multi-sensory art experience located in Denver's Santa Fe Arts District. The venue features rot...
22
Parks
Central Park in Denver's Central Park neighborhood serves as a massive 80-acre recreational hub designed for diverse out...
23
Parks
Huston Lake Park is a 63-acre municipal park located in the Ruby Hill neighborhood of southwest Denver. The park centers...
24
Museums
The Clyfford Still Museum houses approximately 95% of the artist's total lifetime output, including paintings, works on...
25
Places of interest
The Denver Millennium Bridge is a 200-foot-long cable-stayed pedestrian bridge connecting the Central Platte Valley to t...
26
Museums
The Kirkland at the Denver Art Museum houses the Vance Kirkland collection, which serves as a cornerstone of Colorado’s...
27
Museums
The Denver Firefighters Museum is housed in the historic Fire Station No. 1, constructed in 1909 and listed on the Natio...
28
Zoos
Bluff Lake Nature Center is a 123-acre urban wildlife refuge located on the site of a former municipal airport in Denver...
29
Parks
Fred Thomas Park is a neighborhood green space in Denver featuring a dedicated sand volleyball court. The park provides...
30
Parks
Sunken Gardens Park is a historic urban green space in Denver characterized by its deliberate lower-elevation design, wh...
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Denver on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Denver
September to October, when the summer heat dissipates, the weather is stable, and the fall foliage becomes visible in nearby mountain areas.
3-4 days to experience both the metropolitan museum district and the local park networks.
The city features a comprehensive light rail system (RTD), though many central areas are walkable or easily accessible via bicycle-sharing programs.
LoDo (Lower Downtown) is ideal for walkability to stadiums and nightlife, while Cherry Creek offers a more upscale, retail-focused experience.
Mid-range; while public transit and park access are affordable, lodging and dining costs in the city center reflect its status as a major regional hub.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 99 curated attractions in and around Denver, ranked by traveller ratings.
Coors Field is the highest-rated place to visit in Denver right now.
The largest category is parks, with 32 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Boston.
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