How many days · Denver · United States
How many days do you need in Denver?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sandersenvie, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Denver, and 2 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Two days covers Union Station, LoDo, the Golden Triangle museums, RiNo and a sunset at Red Rocks. Four days adds Boulder, Golden or Rocky Mountain National Park; a week allows a mountain town such as Breckenridge or a drive to Colorado Springs.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 2 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.4 h (Dec) to 15 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Denver Art Museum, Colorado State Capitol and Denver Union Station |
| 2 days | Good | Denver Union Station, Larimer Square and Denver Botanic Gardens |
| 3 days | Good | Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Clyfford Still Museum and History Colorado Center |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Boulder |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Boulder and Golden |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Denver add up to roughly 23–26 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Denver Museum of Nature & Science (3–4 hours), City Park and Denver Zoo (Half a day) and Denver Art Museum (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre | 2 hours, or an evening for a concert | Morrison |
| Denver Art Museum | 2–3 hours | Golden Triangle |
| Colorado State Capitol | 1 hour | Golden Triangle |
| Denver Union Station | 1 hour | LoDo and Union Station |
| Larimer Square | 1 hour | Downtown and Larimer Square |
| Denver Botanic Gardens | 2 hours | Cheesman Park |
| Denver Museum of Nature & Science | 3–4 hours | City Park |
| Clyfford Still Museum | 1 hour | Golden Triangle |
| History Colorado Center | 2 hours | Golden Triangle |
| RiNo street art | 2 hours | RiNo |
| Coors Field | 3 hours for a game | LoDo and Union Station |
| City Park and Denver Zoo | Half a day | City Park |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 2 days | Focus on Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre and Denver Art Museum |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Denver Museum of Nature & Science |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Boulder and Golden |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.4 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Denver with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | About 596 km | 3 days |
| Sedona | About 807 km | 3 days |
| Las Vegas | About 974 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 2 days enough in Denver?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Two days covers Union Station, LoDo, the Golden Triangle museums, RiNo and a sunset at Red Rocks. Four days adds Boulder, Golden or Rocky Mountain National Park; a week allows a mountain town such as Breckenridge or a drive to Colorado Springs.
+Is a week too long in Denver?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Boulder and Golden.