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Denver
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain

7 Days · in Denver

7 Days in Denver: City, Mountains & Boulder

A week in Denver lets you combine the city with the mountains. The first five days cover downtown, the museums, Red Rocks, RiNo and LoHi, and City Park. Day six is a full-day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, and day seven explores Boulder and the Flatirons. A car makes the last days much easier, and permits may be required for the national park.

7 days
Things to DoRestaurantsHotelsPhoto SpotsTravel TipsItinerariesLandmarks

Day 01

Union Station, LoDo & the Capitol

Denver's historic core, from the restored train station to the gold-domed Capitol.

  1. Morning

    Union Station

    Start with coffee in the restored Great Hall of Union Station, then step outside to admire the Beaux-Arts facade and its Travel by Train signs.

  2. Late Morning

    LoDo & Larimer Square

    Walk through Lower Downtown's brick warehouses to Larimer Square, Denver's oldest block, and browse its shops and galleries.

  3. Lunch

    Dairy Block

    Have lunch at the Denver Milk Market food hall in the Dairy Block, or at one of the restaurants around its lively alley.

  4. Afternoon

    Colorado State Capitol

    Walk along the 16th Street corridor to Civic Center Park and the Capitol. Find the mile-high markers on the west steps and join a free tour on weekdays.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Brown Palace Hotel

    Stop at the Brown Palace for afternoon tea in the atrium, or simply admire the stained-glass ceiling and grab a drink at the bar.

  6. Evening

    Coors Field or Larimer Square

    In baseball season, catch a Rockies game at Coors Field; otherwise, have dinner under the lights of Larimer Square.

Day 02

The Golden Triangle & Capitol Hill

Art, history and a Victorian mansion in Denver's museum district.

  1. Morning

    Denver Art Museum

    Spend the morning at the Denver Art Museum, focusing on its Western American and Indigenous art galleries and the dramatic Hamilton Building.

  2. Late Morning

    Clyfford Still Museum

    Next door, explore the powerful canvases of Abstract Expressionist painter Clyfford Still in a light-filled building.

  3. Lunch

    Golden Triangle

    Have lunch at a cafe or restaurant in the Golden Triangle, near the museums.

  4. Afternoon

    History Colorado Center

    Learn the story of Colorado, from Indigenous peoples and the gold rush to skiing, through interactive exhibits.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Molly Brown House Museum

    Walk to Capitol Hill for a guided tour of the Victorian home of Margaret Brown, the Titanic survivor and activist.

  6. Evening

    Colfax Avenue

    End the day with dinner and a concert at one of the historic music venues along Colfax Avenue.

Day 03

Red Rocks & Golden

Sandstone giants, dinosaur tracks and a mountain town at the foot of the Rockies.

  1. Morning

    Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

    Drive to Red Rocks early, on a non-show day, and climb the amphitheater's rows for views of the plains. Walk the Trading Post Trail among the rock formations.

  2. Late Morning

    Dinosaur Ridge

    Stop at nearby Dinosaur Ridge to see dinosaur tracks and fossils preserved in the rock.

  3. Lunch

    Golden

    Continue to Golden for lunch on its historic main street.

  4. Afternoon

    Clear Creek & Coors brewery

    Walk along Clear Creek and, if you like beer, tour the Coors brewery.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Lookout Mountain

    Drive up Lookout Mountain for views over the plains and visit the grave of Buffalo Bill Cody at the summit.

  6. Evening

    Concert at Red Rocks or dinner in LoHi

    In summer, return to Red Rocks for a concert; otherwise, head back to Denver for dinner in LoHi.

Day 04

RiNo, the River & LoHi

Murals, breweries, the confluence where Denver began and rooftop views.

  1. Morning

    RiNo Art District

    Walk the streets and alleys of the River North Art District to see its large, colorful murals.

  2. Lunch

    Denver Central Market

    Have lunch at the Denver Central Market food hall on Larimer Street.

  3. Afternoon

    RiNo breweries

    Visit a couple of the neighborhood's brewery taprooms, or browse its galleries and shops.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Confluence Park

    Walk to Confluence Park, where Denver was founded, and visit the REI flagship store in a historic power plant nearby.

  5. Evening

    LoHi rooftop

    Cross the pedestrian bridge to LoHi and watch the sunset from a rooftop bar such as Linger.

  6. Dinner

    LoHi or Highland

    Have dinner in LoHi or Highland, two of the city's best dining neighborhoods.

Day 05

City Park & the Botanic Gardens

Dinosaurs, animals, gardens and the classic skyline view.

  1. Morning

    Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    Explore the dioramas, dinosaurs and space exhibits, then step onto the terrace for the skyline and mountain view.

  2. Late Morning

    Denver Zoo

    Walk next door to the Denver Zoo, one of the city's most popular attractions.

  3. Lunch

    City Park

    Have a picnic or a simple lunch in City Park.

  4. Afternoon

    Denver Botanic Gardens

    Explore the themed gardens and the tropical conservatory at the York Street gardens.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Cheesman Park

    Walk to the Cheesman Park Pavilion for sunset views.

  6. Evening

    South Pearl Street

    Have dinner on South Pearl Street, for example at Sushi Den.

Day 06

Rocky Mountain National Park

Alpine lakes, high peaks and wildlife on a full-day trip into the Rockies.

  1. Morning

    Drive to Estes Park

    Leave Denver early for the drive of about two hours to Estes Park, the gateway town to the national park. Check timed-entry permit requirements in advance.

  2. Late Morning

    Bear Lake area

    Hike one of the short trails around Bear Lake, with views of the surrounding peaks.

  3. Lunch

    Picnic in the park

    Bring a picnic and stop at one of the park's picnic areas.

  4. Afternoon

    Trail Ridge Road

    When open, usually from late spring to fall, drive part of Trail Ridge Road for alpine views and possible wildlife sightings.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Estes Park

    Stroll the town of Estes Park and look for elk in the meadows nearby.

  6. Evening

    Return to Denver

    Drive back to Denver for a late dinner, or stay overnight in Estes Park.

Day 07

Boulder & the Flatirons

A college town, mountain trails and a lively pedestrian street.

  1. Morning

    Chautauqua Park

    Drive about 45 minutes to Boulder and hike a trail at Chautauqua Park beneath the Flatirons.

  2. Late Morning

    University of Colorado campus

    Walk the campus, known for its distinctive sandstone buildings and red tile roofs.

  3. Lunch

    Pearl Street Mall

    Have lunch on the Pearl Street Mall, Boulder's lively pedestrian street.

  4. Afternoon

    Pearl Street shops

    Browse the shops and watch the street performers.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Boulder Creek Path

    Walk or bike along the creek path through town.

  6. Evening

    Return to Denver

    Head back to Denver for dinner, or stay in Boulder for the evening.