Denver

Denver, Colorado — The Mile High City — a vibrant outdoor city filled with urban sophistication. With 300 days of sunshine, diverse neighborhoods, a thriving arts and culture scene, chef-driven dining and exhilarating Rocky Mountain adventures, Denver offers affordable exploration in an uplifting, one-of-a-kind travel destination.

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The Denver skyline sits among blue sky mottled with clouds. To the back of the city is the Front Range. In front of the city is a bakehouse, a reflective blue lake and green grass and green trees. — Dramatic mountain views seen from Denver

Denver's Union Station at night. The historic building's red neon sign reads "Union Station" above a clock and below the clock it says "Travel By Train." There are small green trees surrounding a square with a water feature. There are people mingling around the station. And the blue night sky features some high rise buildings behind the building. — Union Station is Denver’s front door

A view of the Denver Art Museum's three buildings on a light-blue skied summer's day. The triangular point of the main building sits above a round glass building with another geometric five-story building behind it. — Denver Art Museum

A person strikes a yoga pose reaching for the blue sky at Red Rocks. Behind them on the stairs many people make the same pose, facing the stage at Yoga on the Rocks. — Yoga on the Rocks

A couple holds hands and walks down the middle of an orange-paver path under a light blue sky at Denver Botanic Gardens. On both sides are green vegetation with yellow flowers. — Denver Botanic Gardens

People sit outside at white tables on an old railroad bridge at dusk. In the background a glass and brick multi-store building hovers over. — Denver is for food lovers

People walk down Larimer Square with a sign that says "Together Starts Here." Twinkle lights are strung up between red-brick buildings and banners with the Colorado flag in the distance. — Dining on Larimer Square

A patio at The Source showcasing a light yellow sky with views of the Front Range. The picnic tables have light-blue umbrellas. — The Source is one of Denver's six market halls

Denver's RTD train moves along the tracks on a sunny day surrounded by green grass — Denver's RTD is perfect for exploring the city sans car.

Situated in the South Platte River Valley, Denver is a modern city draws openness from the Great Plains to the east and features spectacular Rocky Mountain views to the west. Residents of this mile-high landscape (Denver is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level, or 1 mile high; 1.6 km for our metric friends) are noted for their sunny dispositions and can-do attitudes.

Easy Access & Walkability

Getting to Denver is easy, thanks to the efficient Denver International Airport (DEN), one of the largest connecting airports in the world. From there, it’s a short, effortless trip on the airport train to Denver Union Station in the heart of downtown. Arriving at Union Station, visitors are greeted with an opulent and fully restored 1914 Beaux-Arts train station, home to swanky bars, restaurants, shops and a boutique hotel. From Union Station, access downtown on foot, by bike or on the free 16th Street Mall shuttle.

Walk to your heart’s content around Lower Downtown (LoDo) or utilize the city’s many public-transportation routes by either bus or light rail. Explore numerous nearby cultural attractions like the Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum and the History Colorado Center. With more than 12,500 hotel rooms in the downtown area, and more than 58,000 metro wide, there’s plenty to choose from at all price points.

A Foodie Paradise

Denver is also a hub for chef-owned eateries and has 26 MICHELIN-recognized restaurants, ranging from fine dining to more value-oriented and sustainable options. Stroll among the Victorian-era buildings and boutique shops of Larimer Square and take your pick of culinary talent, then indulge yourself with the many offerings from locally sourced products. Denver is at the forefront of the food-hall revolution, including Avanti F&B, where seven rotating casual-dining concepts share space with two craft bars and a patio with spectacular views of downtown; The Source, an artisan market housed in a former ironworks foundry; Zeppelin Station, with street-food vendors, designer goods and apparel, and two cocktail bars; Denver Milk Market, featuring 11 culinary concepts; and Denver Central Market, where visitors will find nearly a dozen providers serving everything from wood-fired pizza and charcuterie to fresh-baked breads and gourmet chocolates.

Read: Must-Try Denver Restaurants

Vibrant Neighborhoods

If you really want to explore Denver, delve into its diverse neighborhoods. The River North Art District (RiNo) is “where art is made,” riding a wave of urban revival with art galleries, craft breweries, restaurants and eye-popping street art on nearly every corner. Cherry Creek, just 5 minutes from downtown, is Denver's premier shopping neighborhood with everything from independently owned boutiques on 16 charming blocks in Cherry Creek North to popular upscale brands in Cherry Creek Shopping Center and the nearby Denver Botanic Gardens. Close to downtown is the trendy Highland neighborhood with Victorian-era homes, hip restaurants, lush gardens, art galleries and a famous ice cream shop in a giant milk can, Little Man Ice Cream. The Art District on Santa Fe is a haven for art lovers with more than 30 art galleries and colorful murals, highlighting the neighborhood’s Hispanic roots. Uptown has a long stretch of cafes, bistros and pubs with outdoor patios near the city’s largest greenspace, City Park, which also houses the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Denver Museum of Nature & Science. And in Five Points, the music of jazz legends transcends local clubs. Now it’s a fusion of old and new with coffeehouses, breweries, museums and beloved barbecue institutions.

Thriving Beer Culture

Denver is also known for something other than its high altitude: beer. With more than 150 breweries and tap rooms in the metro area, there is endless variety from pale ales, one-off firkins and daring ingredients, created by a community of passionate artisans crafting some of the most adventurous beers in the country. The Denver Beer Trail, a collection of Denver’s top breweries, brewpubs and tap rooms, can be your guide to this hoppy heaven.

Famous Music Scene

Denver’s music scene has produced big rock bands like the Fray, OneRepublic and the Lumineers. On any given night, you'll find talented artists playing a vast array of genres in clubs throughout the metro area. And at the top of every music lover’s bucket list is Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, named by Rolling Stone magazine in 2023 as the “Hottest Music Venue in the Country.” Just 15 miles from downtown, see gorgeous sandstone monoliths that buttress the iconic stage and go for a hike on the trails in the surrounding park. While you’re at it, take a moment to enjoy sweeping views of the Denver skyline.

Read: 9 Ways to Experience Live Music in Denver

The Sporting Life

Home to the three-time Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos, the 20230NBA champion Denver Nuggets and the 2022 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, Denver is crazy about sports. Three downtown stadiums for football (Broncos), baseball (Colorado Rockies), basketball (Denver Nuggets) and hockey (Colorado Avalanche) mean you can catch a game and then head out on the town with ease.

Basecamp Denver

With the stunning Rocky Mountains just a short drive away, Denver is a year-round paradise for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Travel + Leisure called The Mile High City their “Favorite U.S. City for a Ski Trip” and Condé Nast Traveler included it in their “Top Summer Destinations” roundup. Other outlets like Kayak, Google and TravelPulse also mentioned Denver as a top destination for summer travel. Enjoy Rocky Mountain National Park, skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, fishing, rock climbing and more during the day, then head back to the city for world-class dining, museums, performing arts, shopping and more.

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