Looking for the best things to do in Denver? Locals point visitors to Red Rocks (a concert or a morning hike), the RiNo Art District murals and breweries, historic Union Station, the Denver Art Museum and Museum of Nature & Science, and the easy mountain day trips right out the city’s back door. Here’s how Denverites actually spend their time, by district, by night, by budget, and by who you’re with.
Things to do in Denver, by district
RiNo (River North Art District)
Denver’s creative hub: blocks of murals, craft breweries, coffee, and food halls. Best on foot in the afternoon and evening.
LoDo & Union Station
Lower Downtown’s historic brick district around beautifully restored Union Station, plus Larimer Square, Coors Field, and rooftop bars.
City Park & Museums
Home to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Denver Zoo, and big skyline-and-mountain views across the lake.
Red Rocks (just west, in Morrison)
The iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre — a world-famous concert venue set in dramatic sandstone. The park and trails are free to explore when there’s no show.
Things to do in Denver at night
RiNo and LoDo carry the night: brewery taprooms, rooftop bars, and dining on Larimer Square. In summer, a concert under the stars at Red Rocks is the definitive Denver night.
Indoor, rainy-day & winter things to do in Denver
Warm up at the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Nature & Science, Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station, and Union Station. Brewery taprooms and 16th Street Mall shopping keep the weather out.
Free things to do in Denver
- The RiNo murals
- Confluence Park and the river trails
- City Park and its mountain views
- The 16th Street Mall
- Exploring Red Rocks Park and hiking its trails
Things to do in Denver for couples
A Red Rocks show, the Denver Botanic Gardens, RiNo’s breweries and murals, and a scenic drive or foothills hike west of town make a great day-into-night.
Things to do in Denver with kids
Family wins: the Museum of Nature & Science, the Denver Zoo, the Children’s Museum of Denver, the Downtown Aquarium, and City Park.
What Denver locals actually recommend
Which breweries are worth it, the best easy hikes for the season, where to eat away from the tourist strips — that comes from people who live here. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Denver community, real Denver neighbors answer “what should I actually do this weekend?” and share the local spots the guidebooks miss. Join your Denver neighbors free →
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Denver?
Locals send visitors to a concert or sunrise hike at Red Rocks, the RiNo Art District murals and breweries, Union Station, the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Nature & Science, and the 16th Street Mall — with easy mountain day trips just west of town.
What is there to do in Denver at night?
Denver nights center on RiNo and LoDo: craft breweries, rooftop bars, and Larimer Square dining. A show at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the quintessential Denver night out in summer.
What can you do in Denver when it rains or snows?
Head indoors to the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station, and Union Station. The city’s brewery taprooms and 16th Street Mall shopping keep you warm too.
What are free things to do in Denver?
Free Denver: the RiNo murals, Confluence Park, City Park, the 16th Street Mall, and visiting Red Rocks Park itself (the park and trails are free to explore when there’s no concert).
What are the best things to do in Denver for couples?
Catch a Red Rocks show, wander the Denver Botanic Gardens, explore RiNo’s breweries and murals, and take a scenic mountain drive or hike in the foothills just west of the city.
What are fun things to do in Denver with kids?
Family favorites: the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Denver Zoo, the Children’s Museum of Denver, the Downtown Aquarium, and wide-open City Park.