The 22 best things to do in Denver

Along with the architecture of internationally renowned visionaries Giò Ponti and Daniel Libeskind, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) is perhaps best known for its holdings in Native and Western American art. Though the DAM might lean heavily on its Rocky Mountain roots, its collections cover the entire spectrum. Seek out, for instance, Monet’s Waterloo Bridge and Sandy Skoglund’s startling large-scale installation Fox Games, which depicts a fantastical dining room. The Denver Art Museum also now encompasses the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Arts, which adds to its renowned collection of decorative arts, with a specific focus on Colorado artists.

Time Out Tip: Check out the Art Hotel Denver, which is just steps from the Denver Art Museum, and hosts a range of enlightening events over the summer, including sunset sessions at the rooftop restaurant, FIRE, as well as weekly “yappy hours” there each Sunday (2–4pm) from May through August. 

With dozens of horticulturally distinct collections set indoors and out on 20-plus acres, the Denver Botanic Gardens is an oasis in what is, after all, the high desert. Here you can peruse thousands of plant species from across the globe, from cacti to rainforest orchids. It’s also a cultural and educational center, regularly hosting art exhibits, plant shows and gardening classes. As you explore, take a breather and check out glass wizard Dale Chihuly’s Colorado, which graces the pond in the Ellipse Garden.

Time Out Tip: The Denver Botanic Gardens hosts a dreamy summer concert series at the UMB Bank Amphitheater in the heart of the gardens, with big-name artists like Melissa Etheridge and Andy Grammer. It’s a chance to listen to some legendary tunes in a unique venue after it’s closed to the general public, for a more intimate experience.

The ever-so-dramatic sweep of its rugged sandstone formations has made Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre a beloved venue for concerts of all stripes since its inauguration in 1941. In 1983, a still-on-the-rise Irish band happened to film a performance at what you might call nature’s own music hall—and the rest, as U2 fans know, is rock history. Of course, it also serves as one of the world’s most breathtaking gyms, where runners get super-sweaty tackling the seemingly endless staircases, and hikers hit the dog-friendly trails through the surrounding 868-acre park. 

Time Out Tip: Don’t miss this summer’s “Yoga on the Rocks” series, which takes place every Saturday morning from May 31 to August 9 (skipping July 5). These special, spiritual sunrise events combine the natural beauty of Red Rocks with a community-focused wellness experience you won’t be able to have anywhere else.

The Platt Park stretch of South Broadway (SoBo) has long been known as Antique Row for its wealth of dealers in everything from folk art to furniture. The eclectic shopping experience only gets funkier as you head north into the Baker District. Check out shops like Goldmine Vintage or La Lovely Vintage for fun and unique finds. 

Time Out Tip: During the summer from July 25 to 27, this is where you can experience Denver’s premier indie festival, the Underground Music Showcase (UMS), which hosts more than 200 local and national music acts performing in more than a dozen venues across three days.  

Founded in 1996, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) moved into its permanent and larger home (27,000 square feet) in 2007. With works displayed across five galleries, a shop, a library, and a rooftop cafe, the space is as pretty as a picture (although we can’t guarantee that all the pictures will be pretty). Comical, creepy, racy, relentless… Whatever else they may be, exhibitions at the MCA are always provocative.

Time Out Tip: During the summertime, don’t miss MCA Denver’s range of warm-weather events including rooftop DJ parties and “Cinema Saturday” movie screenings.

After a historic redevelopment, LoDo’s turn-of-the-century terminal is once again a destination for architecture buffs, scenesters, foodies and rail riders. Absorb the Beaux Arts aura of the majestic, barrel-vaulted Great Hall while sipping local craft beers in the retro-toned Terminal Bar or cocktails on the mezzanine of the glamorous Cooper Lounge. Visit Mercantile, which opened in 2014 and is helmed by James Beard-award-winning chef Alex Seidel, for American cuisine and modern takes on classic comfort food dishes. There’s also Olive and Finch, a casual, counter-service spot that serves scratch-made bites in a trendy setting. And Snooze an A.M. Eatery prepares brunch with a kick—offering legendary menu items such as “pancake flights,” burritos the size of your head and ample gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions.

Time Out Tip: Plan a staycation at the attached, recently revamped Crawford Hotel, which has been a part of Denver’s history for more than a century. This swanky spot balances sophistication and a laid-back welcoming Denver attitude; it’s a great place to stay within Union Station itself, and it boasts easy access to many of the Mile High City’s best attractions in LoDo.

This epicurean food hall has been a Denver landmark since it opened over a decade ago. There’s a dream team of vendors, and the food and drink are top-notch. It’s hard to pick just one favorite spot to eat here. That said, an order of brisket nachos at Smok and a croissant churro with dulce de leche from Reunion Bread Co. are among the absolute musts.

Time Out Tip: Don’t miss a newer addition, Safta—an upscale restaurant that serves the Mediterranean flavors of Israel, Bulgaria, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, Turkey and Greece.

Denver’s long-awaited revamp and revitalization of the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall has finally finished. The entire area from Market Street to Broadway is now pedestrian-only, the so-called “spine that connects all of downtown” from Denver Union Station at one end to Civic Center Park and the Colorado State Capitol at the other. Explore wide sidewalks with outdoor patio seating spaces and a new tree canopy, as well as new outdoor furnishings and play features.

Time Out Tip: There are free shuttles dubbed the 16th Street Free Ride that travel up and down the street every five minutes and stop on every corner. You can hop on and hop off these shuttles to explore further. 

As (more-or-less) casual day trips go, you can’t beat hitting the trails around Golden and Boulder. Whether you choose one of the easygoing loops on Lookout Mountain or rugged climbs in Eldorado Canyon State Park and around the striking sandstone formations known as the Flatirons, you’ll be treated to stellar natural vistas. While you wander amid ponderosa pines and Indian paintbrush, keep your eyes peeled for mule deer and monarchs (never mind rattlesnakes and black bears). 

Time Out Tip: Hiking around the grounds of the legendary Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is free—and stunningly beautiful—and you can always get inside the venue itself without paying a fee, as long as there’s not already an event going on inside. 

The stomping ground of the Denver Broncos, Empower Field made history when it hosted Barack Obama’s acceptance speech during the Democratic National Convention in 2008. Tailgate on the south side, stomp your feet to create “mile-high thunder” and join a chorus of 76,000 yelling “in-com-plete!” to show your support for the Broncos. On a guided tour, learn a bevy of stats while visiting the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Museum and getting a player’s-eye view of the end zone—something even non-fans get a kick out of.

Time Out Tip: Even though it’s not football season, this spot is still open and hosting stadium-size concerts in the summer—so make sure to be on the lookout for your favorite artists coming to town and taking over the field for an enormous and epic show.

Denver is known for its 300-plus days of sunshine, which means summertime is perfect for getting some fresh air with a cold drink in hand at one of the many local rooftop bars. Check out Rare Bird in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, atop Halcyon, a hotel in Cherry Creek. This spot serves contemporary American Fare, cute cocktails, wine and beer. Across town at Populus, the first carbon-positive hotel in the U.S., the rooftop perch Stellar Jay offers views of downtown Denver and the capitol building, all the way out to the mountains and beyond. It almost feels like you’re cozied into a rooftop “nest,” complete with a bird’s-eye view of the city—with tasty cuisine and cocktails in hand. For those seeking something more alternative and edgy, visit Rook, a brand-new rooftop bar and Social Clubhouse located atop the Catbird Hotel in RiNo. It’s a space where classic card games like gin rummy and poker, as well as board games like Scrabble to Risk come to life with a competitive edge, set to a lively soundtrack of DJs spinning tunes like jazz and dance tracks for a buzzy and intellectually stimulating evening. 

Time Out tip: Don’t miss out on ordering the pizza at Rare Bird—it’s cooked fresh in an oven right on the rooftop and is known as some of the best in town. 

Follow the Denver Beer Trail and check out the lineup of awesome locally owned and operated craft brew spots. Visit one of Denver Beer Company’s locations, each of which hosts fun, engaging community events and offers a variety of regular and rotating options. In RiNo, visit Great Divide Brewing Company, which serves an awesome selection of barrel-aged options alongside traditional brews. The intimate taproom in Rino, Our Mutual Friend, feels like sitting in a friend’s garage, and does fun programming and specials like “buy a beer, get a free hot dog” nights. For water views of Sloan’s Lake, visit Joyride Brewing Company, where you can hang out on their 2,400 square foot upstairs rooftop patio in Edgewater.

Time Out Tip: If you want to support local and enjoy a brew like a true Denverite, visit the businesses of the Colorado Brewers Guild—a nonprofit trade association made up of more than 400 members that champions a mission to promote, protect, and educate the public about independent Coloradan craft breweries. 

At the Oakwell Beer Spa, you can soak away your worries and sample a wide variety of Colorado’s craft brews all in one place. (It makes you wonder: If this was made a mandatory part of the working week, everyone would probably be much nicer to each other.) Check out the website for a complete list of what’s on offer. The Beer Spa caters to singles, couples and groups for an exceptionally unique self-care experience.

Time Out Tip: Don’t miss the “Zero Gravity Massage Experience” while you’re there, which can be added on to any of the spa’s existing packages, and is open to walk-ins on a first-come, first-serve basis for a special way to unwind and release tension (right into thin air).

Located between 38th and 46th Avenues, northwest of downtown Denver, the Tennyson Street Cultural District is a collection of small businesses that includes artsy shops, one-of-a-kind restaurants and art galleries in a neighborhood with a diverse heritage. Feel like a Denver local as you explore this walkable area overflowing with culture and plenty of spots to pop in for a bite, or to browse a range of locally made and sourced goodies.

Time Out Tip: The free Tennyson Street Fair is returning for its third year on July 18 and 19—this time bigger than ever, kicking off with the Berkeley Beer Fest (5–8pm) on Friday, July 18. The two-day family-friendly neighborhood event boasts more than 100 Tennyson businesses and other local shops along the famed street, with bites from food trucks and sounds of local live music artists.

Adults aren’t just babysitters at Denver Museum of Nature & Science, a kid-friendly museum jam-packed with dinosaur fossils, mummies and IMAX 3-D flicks. Naturally, kids go gaga, but plenty of the exhibits and planetarium appeal to all ages—think Dead Sea Scrolls, Russian folk carvings or black holes. If you’re making a day of it, skip the on-site cafe in favor of a lakeside picnic in nearby City Park, also home to the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance.

Time Out Tip: The museum’s current temporary exhibition, “Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep” is on showcase through September 7, 2025—and temporarily transports visitors to a prehistoric land when dinosaurs ruled all.

Believe it or not, downtown Denver contains one of the largest multi-venue performance centers in the world. Ballets, symphonies, operas and touring Broadway shows are all staged at the Arts Complex, but so are locally produced plays and the occasional rock concert.

Time Out Tip: A range of Broadway tours including Mamma Mia! and Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be taking the stage this summer and can be a great way to see a professional theater performance without worrying about the overwhelming crowds of NYC.

Sports fans and curious tourists will find plenty to do at the 76-acre Coors Field, with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. Catching a baseball game isn’t the only thing you can do on the Rockies’ home turf; look for the row of purple seats marking the elevation that gives the Mile High City its name, then wash down some Rocky Mountain oysters (quickly, if you’ve never tried this infamous delicacy) with beer from the on-site brewery, the SandLot.

Time Out Tip: Coors Field will be home to three “Firework Games” this summer, including July 5 and 6 against the Chicago White Sox, and September 7 against the Los Angeles Angels. Also, if you’re a deal chaser, purchase “Standing Room Only” tickets which have access to the Rooftop and include $6 in concession or merchandise credit.

This immersive art experience was created by more than 350 collaborating artists. It’s home to “psychedelic mind-bending art throughout four ’worlds’” across four levels with 90,000 square feet of space—which seemingly transports visitors on a temporary trip to another (alien-inspired) planetary plane. 

Time Out Tip: The special “Phenomenally” exhibit is a summer-only show that runs from June 21 through August 9. Its array of interactive, live performances throughout the Meow Wolf worlds feature special characters, giant puppets and a range of limited-edition merch. 

Situated on Larimer Street between 14th and 15th, Larimer Square is the most bohemian block in town; this is the place to see and be seen. A gentle saunter down this pedestrianized street will allow you to catch up on your window shopping as you gaze through the glass of some swanky boutique stores, and afterward, you could dine at high-end restaurants like Osteria Marco or Rioja. Or, grab a cocktail and shop some unparalleled vintage finds at Garage Sale Vintage, which serves some of the best margaritas in town—alongside authentic secondhand (but second to none) records, clothing, trinkets and other nostalgic goodies. There’s also the new flagship location of Sway Wellness Spa, a first of its kind wellness club in downtown Denver to relax and refresh your mind and body (Denverites: Make sure to look into the membership option).

Time Out Tip: This pedestrian-only section of the street is just a few minutes’ walk from the recently revamped, pedestrian-friendly 16th Street, which means you can enjoy a whole afternoon among Denver’s best shopping and dining options—without ever needing to step foot in a car.

Explore the RiNo Art District and experience creative options for shopping and dining. RiNo is short for “River North” Art District and is a neighborhood where many historic warehouses and factories have been transformed into trendy art shops, bars, brewpubs and working studios. Be sure to check out the Denver Central Market, which is home to 11 vendors showcasing a variety of cuisine ranging from Italian bites, sweet treats and a full bar with indoor and outdoor foodhall-style seating.

Time Out Tip: Don’t miss the monthly “First Friday” events, which happen every month as many RiNo locations open their doors to the public hosting happenings ranging from art openings to live music and more starting at 6pm.

The LoHi hotspot Avanti Food & Beverage sits in one collective space made from modified shipping containers, boasting seven different culinary options as well as an open-air rooftop bar with views of downtown Denver. (Don’t miss Quiero Arepas, which serves traditionally made Venezuelan style arepas, and is great for gluten-free diners. Or, for pizza lovers, the Pizza Bandi is a crowd favorite. There’s also Cafe Avanti, which can also be a relaxing spot to sit and get some remote work done with a coffee and a local pastry in-hand.) The concept was inspired by European markets and food truck roundups, and visitors can explore a range of chef-inspired cuisine—meaning everyone gets to enjoy a bite of what they love. The space also hosts weekly events such as trivia, movie nights and themed brunch parties. 

Time Out Tip: This can be a great place to get together for larger groups who want to enjoy a casual setting where everyone can pick and pay for their own food and drinks. Their weekly events are a fun way to meet other locals. Those who drink alcohol shouldn’t miss ordering their frose—it’s legendary in these parts.

No trip to Denver—especially in the summertime—is complete without visiting Little Man Ice Cream. Stand in line (there’s always a line, because the ice cream is that good) at the OG location in LoHi, which is inside a 28-foot milk can—or, venture out to one of the other locations. Each destination serves an equally tasty range of regular and seasonally rotating flavors that are guaranteed to make your tastebuds sing. 

Time Out Tip: The Little Man Ice Cream Factory in the Sloan’s Lake/West Colfax neighborhood has a slide that’s fit for children and adults alike.