History · Denver · United States
7 historic sites to see in Denver
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Colorado State Capitol, Denver Union Station and Larimer Square. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 10–11 hours across 5 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 10–11 hours
- Areas
- Golden Triangle, LoDo and Union Station and Downtown and Larimer Square
Historic sites in Denver
Architecture · Golden Triangle
1.Colorado State Capitol
Free tours visit the chambers and the rotunda, and the dome's observation level has views of the Front Range.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Architecture · LoDo and Union Station
2.Denver Union Station
The plaza has summer fountains that children play in.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Food
- History
Street · Downtown and Larimer Square
3.Larimer Square
Denver's oldest block, saved from demolition in the 1960s, is lined with Victorian buildings, restaurants and boutiques under overhead strings of lights that make it especially pretty after dark.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- History
Museum · City Park
4.Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The back steps give one of the best views of the downtown skyline against the mountains.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Views
- History
Museum · Golden Triangle
5.History Colorado Center
The state history museum covers Colorado's people from Indigenous nations to mining towns and ski resorts, with interactive exhibits and a simulated ski jump.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
Historic site · Capitol Hill
6.Molly Brown House Museum
The Victorian home of Margaret 'Molly' Brown, the Titanic survivor and activist, restored with period furnishings and toured with guides who tell her story and that of Denver's silver-boom era.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Waterfront · LoDo and Union Station
7.Confluence Park
Today the park has a kayak chute, sandy banks where families wade in summer and junctions of the main bike trails.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Triangle | Colorado State Capitol and History Colorado Center | 1 hour + 2 hours |
| LoDo and Union Station | Denver Union Station and Confluence Park | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Downtown and Larimer Square | Larimer Square | 1 hour |
| City Park | Denver Museum of Nature & Science | 3–4 hours |
| Capitol Hill | Molly Brown House Museum | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 4 free, 1 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Denver Museum of Nature & Science; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Golden Triangle and LoDo and Union Station): Colorado State Capitol → History Colorado Center → Denver Union Station, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (LoDo and Union Station and Downtown and Larimer Square): Confluence Park → Larimer Square, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (City Park and Capitol Hill): Denver Museum of Nature & Science → Molly Brown House Museum, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold but often sunny; snow comes in short bursts and usually melts in days.
- November: highs of 11°C (52°F), about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool to cold with occasional snow; ski resorts usually open for the season.
- February: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold with occasional snowstorms; mountain roads busy with skiers at weekends.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- LoDo and Union Station — Restored warehouses, the station hub, Coors Field and sports bars
- Downtown and Larimer Square — Victorian block of restaurants under strings of lights, the 16th Street pedestrian mall and the Theatre District
- LoHi and the Highlands — Restaurants and rooftop bars on a hill with skyline views across the river
- Capitol Hill — Victorian mansions, apartment blocks and dive bars east of the Capitol
- Golden Triangle — Museums, galleries and the civic centre south of downtown
More of Denver
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Denver?
Colorado State Capitol. The Capitol's dome is covered with real Colorado gold leaf, and one of its west steps is engraved 'One Mile Above Sea Level'.
+Which of these are free in Denver?
Colorado State Capitol, Denver Union Station, Larimer Square and Confluence Park.