When to Go
Best Time to Visit
May–October, December–March. Spring + autumn for hiking; winter for ski-resort day-trips to Vail and Aspen.
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$85/day
Mid-range
$200/day
Luxury
$480/day
Reasonable mid-range hotels in LoDo; ski-week weekends push the top tier.
With Kids
Family Travel
Denver Zoo, the Museum of Nature and Science, a Red Rocks evening concert under the stars.
Together
Couples Travel
A Red Rocks sunrise hike, a Larimer Square dinner, a Rocky Mountain National Park day.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
Walkable LoDo, RTD light rail to airport, brewery-crawl culture welcomes solo travelers.
Food
What to Eat
- Green chile (Colorado-style). Pork stewed with Pueblo green chilies — over burritos or as a soup.
- Bison burger. Lean ground bison from local ranches — Buckhorn Exchange does the historic version.
- Rocky Mountain oysters. Battered bull testicles — Western frontier specialty, divisive but iconic.
- Craft beer. Denver has more craft breweries per capita than any major US city — Great Divide for the IPAs.
Transportation
Getting Around
RTD light rail covers the city and reaches DIA airport; rideshare for the suburbs and mountain trailheads.
Acclimatize a day at 5,280 ft before driving to Vail / Aspen — altitude sickness hits fast.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- LoDo. Historic downtown — Union Station, Larimer Square, the central restaurant scene.
- RiNo. River North arts district — murals, breweries, food halls, the hippest blocks.
- Capitol Hill. Residential side east of downtown — coffee shops, dive bars, Cheesman Park.
What to Know
Safety
Generally safe in tourist neighborhoods. Watch for altitude headaches; downtown homelessness has uptick near Civic Center after dark.