Denver travel guide

About Denver

Denver, officially the City and County of Denver, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Officially a consolidated city and county, it is located in the South Platte River valley on the western edge of the High Plains, and is just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains (Rockies). Denver is the 19th-most populous city in the United States and the fifth-most populous state capital, with a population of 715,522 at the 2020 census. The ten-county Denver metropolitan area, with 3.1 million residents, is the 19th-largest metropolitan area in the country and functions as the economic and cultural center of the broader Front Range Urban Corridor.

Cheap flights to Denver

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $740 from Dublin, travelling 23 Nov – 11 Dec. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

• LHR London to Denver21 Apr – 27 Apr · DEN from$911
• DUB Dublin to Denver23 Nov – 11 Dec · DEN from$740
• EDI Edinburgh to Denver16 Jan – 25 Jan · DEN from$1,250
• PRG Prague to Denver1 May – 14 May · DEN from$1,301
• CPH Copenhagen to Denver13 Nov – 3 Dec · DEN from$1,046
• MAN Manchester to Denver24 Dec – 28 Dec · DEN from$814
• HEL Helsinki to Denver10 May – 22 May · DEN from$1,244
• GLA Glasgow to Denver11 Jan – 18 Jan · DEN from$1,255

Cheapest month to fly

Airlines travellers compared most often: Finnair, Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 12 Oct and 11 Nov 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

Places to visit in Denver

1. 

   Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

   Entertainment · 13 mi from centre

   A concert venue carved between giant red sandstone monoliths in the foothills west of Denver. Even without a show, visitors can explore the trails, the amphitheater and the visitor center.

2. 

   Denver Art Museum

   Museum

   Known for its angular titanium-clad building, the museum holds strong collections of Indigenous American and Western art along with European, Asian and contemporary works spread across two connected buildings.

3. 

   Larimer Square

   Historic

   Denver's oldest block, with Victorian buildings strung with overhead lights and home to restaurants, bars and boutiques. It is a good starting point for exploring nearby LoDo.

4. 

   Denver Union Station

   Landmark · 1 mi from centre

   A restored Beaux-Arts rail station that serves as a transit hub and social space, with a grand hall lounge, restaurants and a hotel, plus direct trains to the airport.

5. 

   Denver Botanic Gardens

   Park · 1 mi from centre

   Themed gardens near Cheesman Park featuring plants from the Rocky Mountains and other dry regions of the world, a Japanese garden and a tropical conservatory.

6. 

   Denver Museum of Nature and Science

   Museum · 2 mi from centre

   Set in City Park, this museum features dinosaur fossils, wildlife dioramas, a gem and mineral hall and a planetarium, with mountain views from its back terrace.

7. 

   Colorado State Capitol

   Landmark

   The gold-domed capitol offers free tours, and one of its west steps marks exactly one mile above sea level. Civic Center Park stretches out in front.

8. 

   Coors Field

   Entertainment · 1 mi from centre

   The ballpark of the Colorado Rockies in LoDo, where a row of purple seats marks the mile-high line. Stadium tours run on many days when games are not scheduled.

Top experiences in Denver

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 10 available.

Tickets & Attraction Passes

Denver CityPASS C® Ticket

• 7 days
• Free cancellation

From $53 per adult

Shows, sports and special events

National Hockey League: Colorado Avalanche Ice Hockey Game at Ball Arena - Ticket

• 3 hours

From $213 per adult

Tickets & Attraction Passes

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

• 1 day

From $52 per adult

Where to stay in Denver

Popular hotels in Denver, out of 384 properties you can book.

Holiday Inn Express Denver Downtown

• Downtown
• 8.03 reviews

From $104 per night

Courtyard Denver Cherry Creek

• Cherry Creek - Glendale

From $102 per night

The Curtis Denver - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

• Downtown

From $142 per night

Hilton Denver City Center, CO

• Downtown

From $132 per night

The Maven Hotel at Dairy Block

• Downtown

From $241 per night

DoubleTree by Hilton Denver Cherry Creek

• Cherry Creek - Glendale

From $89 per night

Hyatt Place Denver Airport

• Denver International Airport

From $101 per night

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown

• Downtown

From $181 per night

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver

• Central Park
• 10.06 reviews

From $91 per night

Wyndham Denver Tech Center

• Greenwood Village – Tech Center

From $70 per night

Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center

• Downtown

From $141 per night

Residence Inn Denver City Center

• Downtown

From $179 per night

Best time to visit Denver

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Denver is September to October, when average daytime highs are around 71–82°F and rain falls on about 5 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Denver weather forecast

• Wed 11 Nov 64° 35° 0%
• Thu 12 Nov 65° 35° 0%
• Fri 13 Nov 64° 50° 0%
• Sat 14 Nov 53° 44° 17%
• Sun 15 Nov 48° 42° 19%
• Mon 16 Nov 53° 38° 1%

Know before you go

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English

Calling code

+1

Driving

On the right

Time zone

America/DenverUTC−7

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

• Wed 11 NovVeterans Day
• Thu 26 NovThanksgiving Day
• Fri 25 DecChristmas Day
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day
• Mon 18 JanMartin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mon 15 FebPresidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Denver

These are the airports closest to central Denver. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• BFK Buckley Space Force Base13 mi (20 km) from the city centre
• APA Centennial Airport14 mi (22 km) from the city centre
• DEN Denver International Airport19 mi (30 km) from the city centre

Getting around Denver

Denver has a system of toll roads. There are two types, the Express Lanes and full toll roads. The Express Lanes take a lane on existing highways and are divided from regular traffic by double white lines. Crossing over these lines will be subject to a fine of up to $250 from 1st January 2025. Make sure to use the designated entry and exit zones if you choose to use them.

Renting

If you plan to go outside of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods, car rentals are the most convenient form of transportation. Local companies tend to offer better prices, but national chains might be more convenient as far as return policies and hours. Rental companies include most major car rental chains.

Parking

Meters are free on Sunday and run until 10PM on weekdays. After 10PM at many of the meters cost $1.00 per hour from 10PM until 8AM at the smart meters. The meters say "overnight parking allowed" but you are still required to pay during this time, or you will get a $25 parking ticket. In the downtown area near Coors Field, the Ball Arena, and LoDo, there is pretty much no free parking on weekdays.

Union Station

The area around Union Station is frequently inundated with pedestrians, particularly between Chestnut Place and Wewatta Street, and especially when trains have just arrived and passengers have just disembarked. During daylight hours, there is rarely a break in the action, and that especially goes for days when Rockies home games or other downtown events are taking place.

Denver travel FAQ