5 days in Denver

Day by day

1. Day 1: Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and Denver Art Museum

   Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum and Colorado State Capitol, then Larimer Square in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

      Climb to the top row for sunset views of Denver and the plains; on concert days the amphitheatre closes to visitors in the afternoon. (2 hours, or an evening for a concert, free).

   2. Late morning

      Denver Art Museum

      Start with the Western American art and Indigenous arts galleries, which are the museum's specialities. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Green chile

      Mexican diners and taquerías across the city, especially on Federal Boulevard and in Northwest Denver.

   4. Afternoon

      Colorado State Capitol

      Look for the mile-high markers on the west steps; more accurate surveys put the true mile a few steps higher. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Larimer Square

      Come in the evening when the lights are on, and look for the lower-level cocktail bars.

2. Day 2: Denver Union Station and Coors Field

   Denver Union Station, Coors Field and Confluence Park, then Meow Wolf Convergence Station in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Denver Union Station

      Grab a drink at the Great Hall bar and watch the trains come and go. (1 hour, free).

   2. Late morning

      Coors Field

      Cheap rooftop tickets are a sociable way to see a game with mountain sunset views. (3 hours for a game, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Smothered breakfast burrito

      Breakfast diners and burrito counters citywide.

   4. Afternoon

      Confluence Park

      Follow the Cherry Creek Trail from here for an easy bike or walking route through the city. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Meow Wolf Convergence Station

      Visit on a weekday and allow at least two to three hours to explore.

3. Day 3: Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Museum of Nature & Science

   Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Clyfford Still Museum, then LoDo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Denver Botanic Gardens

      Visit in June or July for peak bloom, or in December for the Blossoms of Light display. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Denver Museum of Nature & Science

      Walk out to the back terrace for the classic skyline-and-mountains view. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Denver omelette

      Classic diners and breakfast spots.

   4. Afternoon

      Clyfford Still Museum

      It is small enough for an hour; combine it with the Denver Art Museum next door. (1 hour, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      LoDo

      Sports bars, clubs and rooftop bars near Coors Field and Union Station, busiest on game nights.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Boulder

   About 40 minutes by car or 50 minutes by bus each way. Getting there: Car via US Route 36, or RTD Flatiron Flyer bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Boulder

      About 40 minutes by car or 50 minutes by bus (Car via US Route 36, or RTD Flatiron Flyer bus); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Boulder

      A university town at the foot of the Flatirons sandstone slabs, with hiking from Chautauqua Park, the pedestrian Pearl Street Mall of shops and street performers, and an outdoorsy café culture. Best for first-timers, couples and solo travellers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Denver

      Dinner: try Rocky Mountain oysters.

5. Day 5: History Colorado Center and RiNo street art

   History Colorado Center, RiNo street art and City Park and Denver Zoo, then RiNo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      History Colorado Center

      Good for families; children enjoy the hands-on exhibits. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      RiNo street art

      Walk the alleys between Larimer and Walnut Streets for the densest concentration of murals. (2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Rocky Mountain oysters

      Steakhouses and Western-themed restaurants, and at Coors Field concessions.

   4. Afternoon

      City Park and Denver Zoo

      Combine the zoo and the Museum of Nature & Science in one day; they are at opposite ends of the park. (Half a day, low cost).

   5. Evening

      RiNo

      Breweries, distilleries, cocktail bars and music venues in converted warehouses.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and Meow Wolf Convergence Station before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, LoDo and Union Station keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Downtown and Larimer Square ($$$) suits first-timers, couples and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–30 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.4 hours in December to 15 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Denver
• 2 days in Denver
• 3 days in Denver

Questions travellers ask