Denver

Colorado's capital and largest city, a base for downtown culture, Red Rocks concerts and day trips into the Rockies.

Find a room in Denver Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Denver

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Denver is the capital and largest city of Colorado. It sits in the South Platte River valley, just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, on the edge of the High Plains. Its official elevation is one mile (1,609 m) above sea level, which is where the Mile High City nickname comes from. Expect thinner air on arrival and take the first day slowly. The metro area has about 3.1 million residents.

Most trips combine downtown, the parks and a day in the mountains. LoDo has galleries, restaurants and bars, and the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Denver Performing Arts Complex are major cultural stops. The city has more than 200 parks, and Red Rocks Park, known for its scenery and amphitheatre, is one of its mountain parks. Denver is known for New Mexican-style cooking with green and red chile sauce, and it has many breweries. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, so plan outdoor walks for the morning.

Denver in five

Take the A Line from the airportDenver International is about 23 miles out, and the A Line train reaches Union Station in roughly 35–40 minutes. Taxis and rideshares cost far more and often take as long in rush hour.Where to stay in Denver
Go easy on day one at altitudeThe city sits at 5,280 feet (1,609 m), so drink water, limit alcohol and skip a big hike on arrival. The mountains above 8,000 feet feel it more.Denver in 3 days
Plan Rocky Mountain National Park aheadThe park is one of 11 with the $100 nonresident fee for visitors 16 and over, and it has used timed-entry reservations in peak months. Check the park's site before you drive up.Rocky Mountain National Park
Base in LoDo or RiNo and skip the carUnion Station, LoDo and RiNo are walkable and well linked by light rail and buses. Rent a car only for the mountains, and for just the days you need it.Where to stay in Denver
Compare Denver with Colorado SpringsDenver has the airport, the museums and the nightlife; Colorado Springs has Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. Many trips use Denver as the base and visit Colorado Springs in a day.Denver or Colorado Springs

Things to do in Denver

See all attractions in Denver

Park · DenverConfluence ParkPlan a daytime visit; use caution around the water and supervise children closely.

Museum · DenverDenver Museum of Nature & ScienceAllow time to choose your galleries; there is more to see than fits comfortably into a short stop.

Museum · DenverClyfford Still MuseumChoose a weekday or an off-peak time for a quieter visit.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to DenverPut the places you like in Denver on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Denver International (DEN); A Line train to Union Station in about 35–40 min
Getting around: Light rail, buses and walking downtown; a car for the mountains
Best base: LoDo and Union Station, or RiNo
Time needed: 2–3 days for the city; add 1–2 for Rocky Mountain National Park
Elevation: 5,280 ft (1,609 m)

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryClear5 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-8°Cold, ski trips
FebruaryClear5 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh6°Low-7°Cold, sunny
MarchClear8 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh11°Low-3°Spring snow
AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh16°Low1°Spring, rain
MayRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh20°Low7°Mild, green
JuneClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low14°Warm, patios
JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh31°Low17°Hot, storms
AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Hot, storms
SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh27°Low12°Clear, mild
OctoberClear5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh19°Low4°Fall color
NovemberClear5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low-1°Cool, quiet
DecemberClear4 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low-5°Cold, lights

Average daily high and low in Denver, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Sep Great American Beer Festival · Oct Great American Beer Festival

Right now in Denver

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 66%
Wind: 21 km/h
Chance of rain: 54%

Denver

01:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-7

Today12°6°54%Monday: Rain. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 54%.
Tue13°3°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 8%.
Wed15°2°31%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 31%.
Thu17°8°16%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 16%.
Fri17°9°6%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sat17°9°5%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 5%.
Sun18°8°3%Sunday: Clear. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.

Updated 10:13 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Denver

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

Sep–OctGreat American Beer FestivalDenver

Day trips by train

Before you go to Denver

Car for the mountainsRent for park days onlyCompare cars

Hotels in LoDo and RiNoWalk to rail, bars and foodCheck availability

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USAMedical cover for US visitsRead the guide

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Rules for Denver, checked

Travelers from visa-waiver countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, and check your nationality's status there first.Source
Adults 21 and over may possess less than an ounce of marijuana in Denver, but public use is not allowed. Check the Colorado Department of Revenue rules before you buy, carry or use it.
Rocky Mountain National Park has used timed-entry reservations for vehicles at busy times. Check the National Park Service page for Rocky Mountain before you drive there.Source

All Denver guides

ItineraryDenver in 3 days: downtown, Rocky Mountain and Red RocksChecked Oct 1, 2026

Head to headDenver or Colorado Springs: which base for a Colorado trip?Checked Oct 1, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Denver: LoDo, RiNo, LoHi or Capitol HillChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Denver

Rocky Mountain National Park

The $100 fee and timed entry

Read the guide ESTA explained

Who needs it and how to apply

Read the guide All of the USA

Parks, cities and road trips

Read the guide

Denver FAQ

How many days do you need in Denver?

Two to three days covers the downtown core, a museum, a brewery or two and Red Rocks. Add a day for Boulder and one or two for Rocky Mountain National Park if the mountains are the point.

Is Denver worth visiting?

Yes, as a relaxed city with strong food, beer and music and quick access to the Rockies. It is not a sightseeing city on the scale of New York, so most visitors pair it with a park.

Where should I stay in Denver?

LoDo or Union Station for first visits and the airport train, RiNo for breweries and murals, LoHi for restaurants. Capitol Hill is the cheaper, quieter option near the museums.

Do I need a car in Denver?

Not for the city. Light rail, buses and walking cover downtown, and the A Line links the airport. Rent a car only for Rocky Mountain National Park, Red Rocks late at night or other mountain trips.

Can you visit Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver in a day?

Yes, about 1.5 hours each way to Estes Park. Check the park's timed-entry rules for your dates, and remember non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a $100 fee on top of entry unless they hold a pass.