One day 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, Colorado State Capitol and Denver Union Station, 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. Allow 2 hours, or an evening for a concert.

   2. Late morning

      Denver Art Museum

      Start with the Western American art and Indigenous arts galleries, which are the museum's specialities. Allow 2–3 hours.

   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. Allow 1 hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      Denver Union Station

      Grab a drink at the Great Hall bar and watch the trains come and go. Allow 1 hour.

   6. Evening

      Larimer Square

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

Before you go

• Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre: Concert tickets sell out quickly for popular shows; buy from the official site.

If it rains

• Swap in Denver Museum of Nature & Science (City Park): Walk out to the back terrace for the classic skyline-and-mountains view.
• Swap in Clyfford Still Museum (Golden Triangle): It is small enough for an hour; combine it with the Denver Art Museum next door.
• Swap in History Colorado Center (Golden Triangle): Good for families; children enjoy the hands-on exhibits.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–8 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Train. RTD commuter rail runs from Union Station to the airport on the A Line in about 37 minutes, and the W Line light rail reaches Golden.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Denver
• 3 days in Denver
• 5 days in Denver

Questions travellers ask