1 Day in Denver: Where to Stay & 3 Stops You Just Can’t Miss

From my experience, 1 day in Denver is all you need to really get a feel for the city.

Any more and you’ll end up outside of Denver. And let’s be honest – most people visiting Denver are there to explore its surroundings, more specifically the Rocky Mountains.

That’s why 1 day in Denver is more than enough to get to know the sprawling city before heading out into the mountains.

Lala and I stayed in Denver a few days during our Colorado road trip and would never have explored the city if some local friends hadn’t taken us.

It turned out to be an awesome day in a city we didn’t expect to be that awesome. So, I want to share my itinerary with you to make the most of your time there.

This 1-day Denver itinerary covers:

• 2 destinations you can’t miss in Denver
• How to spend a few hours in downtown Denver

As usual, this city itinerary is short so you can get out into nature for the real adventures!

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Getting around Denver for 1 Day

There’s a reason I said Denver is a sprawling city – it’s BIG.

Denver can be really far away from… Denver.

So, getting around the city takes big chunks out of your day, which we didn’t love (another reason to only spend a day there).

Plus, getting around a big city is always annoying. I’m calm, but trying to parallel park in any downtown area with traffic behind me makes me SO anxious.

So here are my tips for stress-free driving and parking:

1. First, you’ll most likely need to rent a car, as much to explore Denver as to go to the mountains. (If I catch you visiting Denver and not going to the mountains, so help me…)
2. When going downtown, park a little far and then walk to downtown. It makes it SO much easier. I’ll explain where to park for this itinerary below.
3. Denver has an OK public transportation system. You can get around on a bus or the rail system, especially downtown.
4. If you really are just visiting the city of Denver, you can take the rail line from the airport to downtown for $10. From there, you can take public transportation or Uber.

Where to Stay in Denver

Now, if you’ve read this blog before, you know I rarely stay at hotels in the USA.

I always try to find free camping when I’m outdoors and stay with friends and family when I’m in a city.

And I did both in Denver (or, near Denver, for the camping)!

But the camping isn’t ideal because if Denver is far from Denver, then the mountains are even farther! And not everyone has friends to stay with in every random city.

You can check out where I camped for free near Denver during my Colorado road trip on my free car camping map.

But if you’ll be staying at a hotel in Denver to explore the city, which I understand and recommend, I’ve got you!

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Denver

What are the best neighborhoods to stay in Denver for this itinerary?

The following places are ideal because they’re popular, which means there’s lots to do. But they’re also very close to the activities in this itinerary.

Less travel time in Denver is always a plus!

• Highland: just north of downtown, Highland is a walkable neighborhood. It’s also very trendy. This is where my afternoon in downtown Denver began, so you’re right where you want to be for a city tour.
• Cherry Creek: a little further from downtown, Cherry Creek has upscale shopping and dining, if you’re into that. Apart from the amenities, it’s right by the Botanic Gardens and 15 minutes from downtown.
• Belmar (Lakewood): said to be a lively area in my favorite Denver suburb, there’s no way it’s as lively as the two options above. But Lakewood is a lot quieter, not as busy, and closer to the mountains (and the first destination, Red Rock Amphitheater).

What’s important to me when searching for a hotel, more than the things to do around it, is for it to be central to my plans.

For this itinerary, I would want it to be close to most of the stuff I’m doing (so, downtown-ish). Otherwise, I would want it to be on my way out so that I can be on my way into the mountains the next day.

Here are some options for the neighborhoods I mentioned above!

• Hampton Inn in Highland
• 11^th Avenue Hostel
• Fairfield Inn in Lakewood

The Complete Guide: How to Spend 1 Day in Denver

1-Day Denver Itinerary MAP

I created a custom Google Map of my Denver itinerary with every stop and accommodations in this post.

This interactive map is perfect for visualizing your trip through Denver. Whether you’re hiking in Red Rocks Amphitheater or exploring downtown, it’s the perfect way to get your bearings.

👉 Open the full map in Google Maps or see it embedded below. Tap the icon on the top left of the map to see the whole menu.

Stop 1: A Feat of Nature and Architecture

Surprise, surprise! The first stop on my 1-day Denver itinerary is in the mountains.

Red Rocks Amphitheater has to be the coolest venue in the world. The amphitheater itself is completely natural, and it was developed into a venue that has hosted some of the biggest names in music.

The area around the amphitheater is Red Rocks Park, with a bunch of trails and beautiful views. It reminded me of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

So, why go in the morning?

Of course, if you choose to go to a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, do that at night and visit downtown in the morning.

But the amphitheater is open to the public for FREE every morning, so you can experience it without having to pay for a concert.

However, they close earlier some days to prepare for an event or concert. That’s when you have to get there in the morning – and it’s better anyway!

Red Rocks Amphitheater opens every day 1 hour before sunrise because the sunrise from the amphitheater is so amazing. The venue faces east, so you can watch the sunrise illuminate the red rocks around you to start your morning.

But if you aren’t there for sunrise (I understand), try to get there before 10 a.m.

The one day I had to visit the Red Rocks Amphitheater, I got there at 11 a.m. and it was already closed. That is one serious regret because the place is so iconic.

In my opinion, it’s THE coolest place to visit in Denver.

Oh, well! Lala and I made the most of it and hiked around the area, which is beautiful.

But don’t be like me – get up early and get to know the Red Rocks Amphitheater!

Stop 2: A Garden in the Heart of the City

My second stop during my 1 day in Denver was the Botanic Gardens right by Cheesman Park.

We’re getting close to downtown now.

But before exploring the urban jungle, the Botanic Gardens is worth a stop because it is SO complete.

The gardens have several distinct areas separated by themes.

My favorite BY FAR was the bonsai tree pavilion, followed by the Japanese garden. The bonsai trees are just so beautiful and artistic, while the Japanese garden is the most manicured, curated part of the entire Denver Botanic Gardens.

Plus, you can see plants and trees from all over the world.

Do note the Garden will have more or less beautiful flowers depending on the time of year. I went in early September, and there was LOTS to see, but less flowers than there were earlier in the year.

Want more of an Urban Denver experience?

If you want more of an urban experience or just don’t love botanic gardens, Denver has a bunch of city-things to do.

The first thing that comes to my mind is museums, and Denver has lots of them.

• 2 normal museums you might like are the Denver Art Museum and Clifford Still Museum.
• The Meow Wolf Convergence Station is an immersive, mind-boggling… place. I don’t even know what to call it. Look at pictures and you’ll know what I mean.
• The street art in Denver is a whole experience by itself, and Visit Denver has a full guide on their Denver graffiti tour.
• Denver Pavilions, a giant mall right in downtown.

Visit Denver also has a huge list of things to do in Denver. Feel free to replace the visit to the Botanic Gardens with any of those awesome activities!

Stop 3: Downtown Denver like the Locals

Downtown Denver is where the real magic happens.

Well, maybe not – it’s hard to beat that early morning in Red Rocks Amphitheater.

But I do have to say I LOVED and was happily surprised by downtown Denver.

It’s walkable, but it has a free bus. It has a TON of things to do but you can enjoy it for free, just walking.

Here’s exactly what I did with my local friends in one afternoon in downtown Denver:

1.Park & Eat in Highland

We parked a few minutes from downtown and it was definitely easier, but not free.

And before a beautiful walk into the heart of Denver, we grabbed a bite to eat.

There’s lots to choose from, but we opted for a taste of Latino deliciousness and went to Maria Empanada to eat Argentine empanadas. They were spectacular!

We also got a delicious ice cream at a shop that’s now permanently closed.

From there, we walked to 16^th Street and started walking towards downtown.

You get to cross the Highland Bridge, walk through Commons Park, and finally cross the Denver Millenium Bridge.

That walk by itself is an absolute blast, and the highlight is the Denver Millenium Bridge.

It feels like the gateway to downtown Denver, with a view straight down the 16^th Street Pedestrian Promenade.

2. The 16^th Street Pedestrian Promenade

The Pedestrian Promenade is the best way to explore downtown Denver.

You get to walk a little over a mile from the Millenium Bridge all the way to the Civic Center and Colorado State Capitol.

The thing is, pretty much everything you might want to do in downtown Denver is accessible from 16^th Street:

• 42 different cafes (our friend told us it’s a big thing in Denver)
• Lots of museums
• A famous mall with 12 movie theaters
• Anything from fast food to really fancy restaurants

Here’s what we did on 16^th Street:

We walked down all the way, people watching and enjoying the architecture.

Then, we did something very unlike our travel style!

We actually went up to a rooftop bar called 54thirty Rooftop. It was not our vibe at all, but it was awesome being there and, of course, we timed it perfectly for the sunset. It was gorgeous!

Then, it was a quick visit to the Colorado State Capitol and the parks around it and we headed back to the car.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to walk all the way back.

3. Enjoy the Public Transportation

The 16^th Street Pedestrian Promenade has free shuttle buses called the 16th Street FreeRide. It passes all the time, going up and down 16^th Street, and you don’t need tickets or anything.

When it passes, you can just get on!

You definitely could take the FreeRide up and down 16^th Street, but downtown is best enjoyed by foot.

By riding the bus back to the Millenium Bridge, you can finish off 1 day of exploring Denver by NOT walking yet another mile.

Where next?

Speaking of exploring, let’s talk long-term.

Denver is the perfect start and end destination for a Colorado road trip. And my huge road trip all around Colorado is the only reason I spent time in Denver anyway (thankfully).

So, what is there close to Denver (think day-trip distance) that’s so great?

1. Rocky Mountain National Park: one of the most spectacular national parks out there, in the middle of the mountains but pretty close to Denver.
2. Mt. Blue Sky: one of the easiest 14ers to hike, this epic mountain is about an hour from Denver. You can also drive all the way to the peak, but that highway is closed until 2026.
3. Fourth of July Trail: This trail to Lake Dorothy is one of the most popular trails near Denver for good reason. It’s one of my favorites!
4. Flatirons: these are a series of gigantic, slanted rock formations outside of Boulder. There’s lots of hiking to do, as well as climbing!
5. Explore towns: Denver has some cool towns around it, like Boulder, Golden and even Breckenridge (a ski resort) that are beautiful and a lot calmer than downtown Denver.

Did I convince you to plan an awesome 1 day in Denver? I hope so! If you have any questions about what else to do in Denver or even Colorado in general, please comment below!

If you like this guide, you’ll enjoy my personal vault of travel resources!