Want to see all that Denver has to offer but have limited time? We know the feeling! We have visited Denver multiple times now, but the first time we visited we only had one day. And we made the most of it! So we’re excited to share with you how we did Denver in one day.
We will tell you about the major sites and also give you a couple of different Denver itinerary ideas. At the end of the post, we added other adventures to add if you have more time. We would definitely recommend staying longer if you have the time! Denver is a great city and also a good place to start longer trips.
Important Info to Know Before You Go!
- There is a reason Denver is known as the Mile High City! The altitude here is no joke. If you only have a day, you won’t have time to acclimate if you’re not used to the altitude so just be aware that you will be more out of breath than normal. It helps to stay hydrated!
- Downtown Denver is pretty walkable but there are places and neighborhoods we recommend that aren’t walkable. Denver does have a public transportation system that is decent but we would recommend looking into your transportation plan ahead of time. This way you can route an itinerary that makes the most of your one day in Denver.
Places Worth Seeing if You’re Doing Denver in One Day
Red Rocks Amphitheater
You will need to drive outside of Denver, but it should only take about 30 minutes depending on where you are in the city. Red Rocks is open even on days when there are no concerts.
We had fun looking around the actual venue and checking out the short hiking trails right around the amphitheater. Red Rocks is an iconic spot in the music world and is so worth checking out!
If you are able to plan your trip to see a show here, you won’t regret it! It’s such a great experience. 10/10 would recommend.
Union Station
Union Station is at the heart of downtown Denver and a spot you shouldn’t miss! This historic building is home not only to Denver’s public transportation (there are multiple options to catch here) but also shopping, restaurants, and the Crawford Hotel.
We had a great time walking around and grabbing a bite to eat. You can even find a local farmers market here during certain times of the year! We’d recommend grabbing a coffee at Pigtrain Coffee Co (They also have super cute merch.)
Wynkoop Brewing Co
Right across the street from Union Station is the historic Wynkoop Brewing Co. This is Colorado’s first Brewpub. Known for their historic start and eccentric beers, Wynkoop is a Denver must see. Be sure to see what seasonal drafts they have on tap and look out for some of their more unexpected ingredients.
16th Street Mall
16th Street Mall is a nearly 2 mile long pedestrian friendly stretch in downtown Denver. There are so many shops and restaurants all along this street. It’s the perfect place to visit on your tour of Denver in one day. 16th Street Mall also has a FREE shuttle system! You can jump on and off all along the street, making it easy to check out the hundreds of stores and restaurants located in this area.
If you go around the holidays, this area is covered with Christmas lights and trees! It is beautiful and festive.
Larimer Square
Not too far off of 16th Street Mall is Larminer Square, a historic block in Denver. Larimer Square was once part of the first downtown area of Denver and is now known for delicious eats, boutique shopping, and string lights. This area is a little on the pricier side but fun to just walk around in too. You can’t do Denver in one day without hitting up Larimer Square.
Garage Sale Vintage is a super neat vintage/thrift store with a bar inside. Definitely check it out while at Larimer Square!
River North Arts District (RiNo)
RiNo (pronounced Rhino – a rhinoceros has become this neighborhood’s symbol) is a super trendy young professional area of town known for its murals, street art, and overall chill vibe. It is also home to popular restaurants, food halls, and breweries.
The Denver Central Market is a well known fresh market that also has a bar and food stalls. We would definitely recommend it if you’re in the RiNo neighborhood. It had a great atmosphere and we ate some delicious pizza!
Confluence Park
Confluence Park is an urban park known for its brick industrial buildings and river fronts. Take a dip in the swimming area or watch the local kayakers, maybe even take a float down the river if you have the time! Confluence Park also boasts decent night life if you’re in the area in the evening.
Have more than one day in Denver?
We’d recommend adding these places to your itinerary if you have more than one day in Denver. Or mix and match to find the perfect itinerary for you!
Rocky Mountain National Park
We’d recommend doing Rocky Mountain National Park if you have more time as it is about an hour and half outside the city. We have however taken a trip to Denver where we woke up super early, hit the park, came back and still had time to explore the city. So it’s doable on a day trip, but you’ll definitely be tired!
This park is absolutely beautiful no matter what time of year you go so if you have the time, you should put it on your list!
The Emerald Lake Trail is a favorite of ours and has options to see other lakes including the stunning glacier Lake Haiyaha. This trail is also doable in a few hours leaving time to check out other parts of Denver.
Tattered Cover
An Iconic locally owned Denver based book store that will have book lovers in heaven. This is a super cool store and there are multiple locations in Denver so you can pick the one that best fits your itinerary.
REI
Denver is home to one of the largest REI’s we’ve ever been to! If you’re an outdoor enthusiast and geek out on outdoor gear, it’s worth the stop! Denver’s REI is also located right near Confluence Park so you can check that off your list too.
Denver Biscuit Company
Think BIG delicious biscuit sandwiches. If you’re into breakfast, this place is GOOD. DBC is part of Atomic Cowboy which includes DBC and Fat Sully’s (Pizza). So if you see Atomic Cowboy, you’ll find Denver Biscuit Company too. Frozen Gold (Ice Cream) is also run by this group. The website can be a little confusing but all the restaurants are run by Atomic Provisions.
City Park
Check out this large park in Denver known for its big green space perfect for picnics. Take a stroll on a lakeside trail or visit the Denver Zoo or Museum of Nature & Science.
Itinerary Ideas for Denver in One Day
Itinerary 1
- Wake up and head to Red Rocks Amphitheater (about 30 minutes outside the city) for sunrise or just a morning hike.
- Head to Union Station for a cup of coffee at Pigtrain Coffee Co and maybe a bite to eat at Snooze. (We usually pack breakfast snacks to save money!) Walk through the shops too and be sure to check out Tattered Cover’s Union Station location.
- Check out 16th Street Mall. Walk around all the shops, take a short detour to Larimer Square, and catch a bite to eat!
- Grab an afternoon drink at Wynkoop Brewing Co. Make sure to ask about their seasonal beers!
- Finish the night off in the RiNo district. Take a stroll to see the street art and murals and then stop in at Denver Central Market for food and drinks. There are other breweries in the area too if you want to extend the night!
Itinerary 2
- Start the morning off at Denver Biscuit Company. We’d recommend the biscuit sandwiches but there are other breakfast options too!
- Head to Confluence Park to start the day with a beautiful river view and maybe a dip in the water. You could even take your breakfast to-go and eat at the park. Check out REI that’s right next door if you’re an outdoor lover. It’s huge!
- Next up, Union Station!
- From there, you can hit Wynkoop Brewery and grab a mid day beer and maybe a bite to eat. We’ve only tried the beer there so we can’t vouch for the food. But there are several restaurant options in that area.
- Spend the afternoon shopping and walking around 16th street mall and Larimer Square.
- End your day in the RiNo District!
Ways to Save
Because the length of this trip is obviously short, there’s not a whole lot of places to save, but there are a few!
- Depending on if you’re only going to Denver for a day or using Devner as the starting place for a longer trip, you may want to consider discount airlines. They don’t always have a great rep, but we’ve found they can be great for short trips!
- Check out AirBnb rooms. There are some AirBnb hosts who rent out rooms in their homes and they tend to be a lot cheaper! It can be a little strange, but we found it to be worth the discount. We’ve always had good experiences.
- Have a transportation plan! If you don’t have a car, you’ll be able to save on Ubers or Lyfts and best utilize Denver’s public transportation.
There are so many different ways to do Denver in one day, but we hope these itineraries and info give you some inspiration! It’s a great city with a little something for everyone.
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