Denver is truly a city with endless adventure around every corner! I went in late April and spent 4 days there! From breweries, to murals, to hikes, and everything in between, Denver is a vibrant city that boasts authenticity and self-expression! With that being said, I bring you my Denver travel guide with all my recommendations for Denver! NOTE: all places mentioned below are linked for your viewing pleasure and convenience!
When to Travel to Denver, Colorado
This all depends on what type of weather you want to endure while on your trip. Denver experiences a fairly cold climate during the majority of the calendar year. The warm season is defined as the months from June to October, so if you are looking for higher temperatures, I suggest visiting during this season! The beauty of Denver is that you can find a variation of climates just by venturing a little outside of downtown! Below I will share about how the Rocky Mountains was full on snowing during the trip!
What to Consider when Buying Your Flight
This section of the Denver Travel guide discusses flight prices. If you are traveling from San Francisco, it is about a three hour flight. I would recommend buying your flight 1-2 months ahead of your intended travel. The main airport to fly into is the Denver International airport (DEN), and is located 40 minutes outside of downtown Denver. I got the most amazing flight deal through Skyscanner for $55 roundtrip on Southwest Airlines!!! Prices to Denver are around $200-250 so this was a great deal! As always, I recommend searching flights on Skyscanner and Google Flights to monitor flight price fluctuations. For transportation, I would, however, opt for renting a car for a portion of your stay. Why I only say a portion is because downtown Denver is very walkable and there is a free metro bus that transports patrons on the two main streets of the city! We rented a car for one day through the airport and got a great deal for our time there: $75 for the 24 hour time period! Check the airport rental car providers to see which one best suits your needs! Recommended vendors to check rates are: Budget, Avis, and Hertz.
Where to Stay in Denver, Colorado
I stayed at Le Meridien Downtown Denver! It is centrally located, boasts expansive rooftop views, and offers luxurious accommodations and amenities! I recommend staying at a hotel if you are traveling single or in a couple, but I am aware that Airbnb’s are a bit more affordable and works better in a group setting! Here is a link to Denver Airbnb’s!
Denver Travel Guide: A Day-by-Day Breakdown
This section of the guide is a breakdown of what I did while in Denver! If you do not have as much time as I did, I suggest choosing your most preferred sites and spots to visit prior to arriving.
Friday
- Snooze for Brunch: This brunch menu has everything you could possibly look for in a brunch! There are multiple locations, but I recommend going to the one inside Union Station! The interior is eclectic and artsy, and they had an outdoor heated tent to sit in as well. From their larger-than-life unique mimosa flavors, to their eggs benedict (my favorite), this place is definitely a MUST go!
- Dairy Block: The cutest alley way in all of Denver! It is home to rotating vendors showcasing their works from art, food, music, and more! The street is beautifully decorated and makes the space vibrant and welcoming!
- Union Station: The most iconic building in Denver! Union Station is the train station that takes patrons to and from the city center. There are multiple shops, restaurants, and vendors in the station to browse!
- 16th Street Mall: This is one of the largest outdoor mall I’ve ever seen! From shops to movie theaters, to plenty of restaurants and bars, this mall has it all! The coolest part about it is that the city of Denver operates a free metro bus that takes patrons through the mall, and it runs almost 24 hours a day!
- Tupelo Honey: This is a restaurant that offers Southern style cuisine in a beautiful modern setting. The fried chicken, catfish, mac and cheese, and greens are all fantastic choices for dinner!
- Millennium Bridge: This bridge is located half a block from Tupelo Honey. It is a short bridge, but boasts unique architecture and an innovative design!
Saturday
- RINO District: This district is what Denver is known for! It stands for River North Arts District, and it is a gorgeous area with stunning artwork draping almost every building you walk past.
- Five Points District: This district is next to RINO and has many breweries, such as Ratio Beer Works, along with art venues!
- Denver Central Market: Located in RiNo District, this vibrant market houses multiple vendors, food establishments, shops, and a full service bar (Curio)! The vibe in here is infectious— we listened to their perfectly curated beats while enjoying our lunch and drinks! One of my favorite places on this Denver travel guide!
- Tap Fourteen: My favorite bar in all of Denver! This is an outdoor rooftop bar that proudly serves over 70 craft beers on tap! With that type of selection I looked forward to trying something new each time I went there. They had a talented house DJ who kept the energy of the room upbeat the entire time!
- Coors Field: Even if you aren’t a baseball fan (like me), you can still get enjoyment from catching a Rockies game! The stadium is beautiful, spacious and overlooks the Rocky Mountains! We purchased the cheapest tickets ($25 each) and still ended up getting a great view!
- Larimer Square: This is a small strip of street in Downtown Denver that is decked out with aerial flags, music, and vendors lining the streets.
- Ramble Hotel: This hotel is known for its rooftop atmosphere and neon sign, but it is not open to the public until June 2021. The main lobby bar is open and offers a stunning interior setting with a unique and curated menu!
- Colorado Convention Center: It is a multi-purpose convention center, and the 12th largest in the U.S.! The main attraction is seeing the giant blue bear sculpture outside the center!
- Stout Street Social: This is a great place to go to dinner near the main hotel area (also near Le Meridien). The food is American cuisine and reasonably priced!
- 54 Thirty Rooftop Bar: The rooftop bar that everyone talks about! Located atop the Le Meridien is this stunning 360 degree view rooftop, serving food and drinks until 1am most nights.
Sunday
- Denver Biscuit Company: There are a few locations in the city, and I would say the best one based on reviews is the one on Broadway! They have the most unique creations of biscuits, and they are extremely filling (meaning you probably won’t be hungry all day)! I got the classic biscuit and it was super good!
- Red Rock Amphitheater: One of the most stunning place i’ve ever seen and a must-see for your Denver travel guide! If you’ve seen Red Rocks up close and personal, you know they are so gorgeous to look at. Now imagine yourself driving through them and walking into an amphitheater made of these breathtaking rocks?? Seems too good to be true, but this place is honestly well worth the journey! Parking is free for visitors and you should come and stay a while! NOTE: I highly recommend renting a car for this experience!
- Denver Beer Company: There are two locations, but I recommend the one of Platte st! This one is more well-known and has the most beautiful aesthetic! This location also has a gorgeous Denver mural on the side of the building! They offer a range of beers here, including flight options!
- Habit Doughnut Dispensary: The coolest concept cafe and a noteworthy spot on this Denver travel guide! Patrons can choose from multiple unique doughnut flavors, along with a liquor or CBD of their choice to inject into the doughnut!
- Commons Park: This is a beautiful community park in the middle of Denver, connecting the mini neighborhoods divided by the Platte River. It is an ideal park for a weekend stroll and a picnic!
- Empower Field: This is the Denver Broncos stadium! If you’re a football fan you should try to check out a game when they are in season!
- Colorado State Capitol Building: If you’re into historical sites, check out the state building! Although it is not open to the public, it has beautiful architecture which is a treat to look at!
- Giordanos pizza: This is a deep dish pizza establishment was birthed in Chicago, but definitely a must-go to while in Denver! The pizza was made to perfection and I resisted the urge to take some on the plane with me back home!
- View House Ballpark: Gorgeous views of the ballpark while also a full service restaurant and bar! This place to me was an “adult playground” because there was so many free activities it offered to guests!
Monday
- Rocky Mountains: This is a landmark for Denver and sets it apart from most places in the U.S.! One of the U.S. National Parks, this is a beautiful, majestic destination to visit and definitely needed a spot on this Denver Travel Guide! NOTE: I highly recommend renting a car for this experience! The entrance fee per car is $25 and gives you 2 consecutive days of access to return to the park. Keep in mind that the weather is drastically different here than in downtown Denver. It snows at the park until June/July, so prepare yourself! It started snowing intensely when I was there and thankfully the car had snow tires to get through the climate change. The main trail to visit for beautiful, expansive views is Bear Lake to Emerald lake (a 3.5 mile loop).
- Notchtop Bakery & Cafe: This is a small, quaint neighborhood restaurant near by the main entrance of the Rocky Mountains. I suggest coming here to get breakfast or lunch before you head into the park!
- University of Colorado Denver campus: The main University in Denver. The campus spans out for multiple blocks and is in such a gorgeous setting!
- 10 Barrel Brewing Company: A notable brewery in RINO District that has an enormous interior setting, gorgeous wall art, and a great selection of beer on tap! Walk right outside the back of the brewery to find the not-so-secret alley way filled with stunning artwork! Every summer, this street gets repainted so it is very worth the trip to view it!
- Love This City Mural: One of the prettiest murals I saw in Denver! It was the last one I saw before heading home, saying “Love This City, Denver” which truly left an imprint in my mind and heart for this Denver travel guide! Located on Broadway & Park Ave West.
I hope you enjoyed this travel guide and found it helpful for your upcoming trip! Please comment thoughts and questions below, and share with your friends and family! Thank you for your continued support!
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