KAYAK - Denver, Colorado Travel Guide

Denver Travel

Popular Colorado (CO) Destinations

Nearby Cities

Denver Airports

Denver Vacations

With the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains as its backdrop, the largest city park system in the nation, and a thriving arts and entertainment community, Denver is simultaneously an urban paradise and a nature lover’s haven. Visit the restaurants, bars and galleries of LoDo in the historic city center or enjoy the street performers and shopping at nearby 16th Street Mall. Art fans will definitely want to visit the extensive collection of Native American art at the Denver Art Museum. And for nature lovers, the picturesque trails in the thousands of acres of nearby state parks offer a refreshing escape from Denver’s quick urban pace in the Mile High City.

Popular Denver Hotels

Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
1550 Court Place

Hotel Teatro
1100 14th Street

Hotel Monaco Denver, a Kimpton Hotel
1717 Champa Street

Ramada Denver Downtown
1150 East Colfax Avenue

Loews Denver Hotel
4150 East Mississippi Ave.

Magnolia Hotel Denver
818 17th Street

View more Denver hotel info »«

Top rated attractions in Denver

1.	Larimer Square / 16th Street Mall Opened in 1982 to help revitalize the downtown area after the oil bust of the late 1970’s, the 16th Street Mall is a bustling strip of street performers, vendors and shops with an urban, yet unpretentious feel. A free shuttle transports visitors from one end of the mall to the other. Nearby Larimer Square, situated on what was the city’s first street in the 1860’s, now offers upscale shopping, dining and entertainment within its historic row of Victorian brownstones. Writer Square, also on Larimer Street is a classy group of galleries and specialty stores catering to the art set. Larimer Square – 1400 Larimer Street - http://www.larimersquare.com/ « hide
2.	Denver Art Museum Located in Denver’s Civic Center area, the Denver Art Museum doubled its size with the opening of the beautiful titanium-clad Frederic C. Hamilton building in 2006. Especially known for its Native American collection, the museum also has impressive holdings in Asian, Spanish Colonial and pre-Columbian art. In the Western American Art gallery you can find paintings by artists such as George Catlin, Charles Russell and Charles Deas. The museum generally hosts a good variety of temporary exhibitions, as well. Check website for details. « hide
3.	Casa Bonita Touristy, but also packed with locals, Casa Bonita is a great place to bring the family on a trip to Denver. Strolling mariachis and compete for your attention with flame juggling cliff divers who plunge 30 feet into the cascading waterfalls of an indoor lagoon. If that’s not enough to entertain you, go for a stroll through the caverns or one of the several arcades or shopping areas. This Mexican restaurant is probably not the place for a quiet meal, but its guaranteed to be an interesting experience. « hide
4.	United States Mint Although authorized for production in 1862, the U.S. Mint in Denver did not strike its first coins until 1906. Today, it is the largest producer of coins in the world, with 7.72 billion coins produced in 2006. Denver is one of two mints in the U.S. that offer tours, which are free, but reservations are recommended (see website to reserve a spot). Learn about the craftsmanship that led to the coins we use today and see how they are minted. « hide
5.	Grizzly Rose Denver may be at the “Gateway to the Rockies” but it’s also the end of the Plains, which means that the country music scene here is hopping. The Grizzly Rose has been on the Country Music Association’s list of best country music clubs for six years running. Drawing the biggest of the big name acts like Leann Rhimes, Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson, the 40,000 square foot space is a happening spot, regardless of who’s playing. Watch folks get thrown by the mechanical bull or come on Sunday’s family night to see the teens and adults line dancing. « hide

Top rated restaurants in Denver

1.	Pagliacci’s Claiming to be the oldest Italian restaurant in the Denver metro area, Pagliacci’s has been serving up tasty pastas and classic Italian dishes since 1946. The minestrone is reportedly heavenly. « hide	6.	Café Brazil The exotic dishes at Café Brazil consistently garner good reviews for the fresh, rich flavors and the colorful presentation. Try one of the constantly changing desserts at this intimate escape. « hide
2.	Café Jordano Though there is often a wait, diners at Café Jordano consistently rave about the classic Italian trattoria atmosphere and the great value for the buck. Try the mussels as a starter or one of the buffalo entrees. « hide	7.	Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse With an award-winning wine list, live entertainment, and an after-dinner cigar lounge, it’s easy to get distracted from what diners say is the best part Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse - the steaks and the lobster! « hide
3.	Luca d’Italia If you want to taste authentic Italian food in Denver, Luca d’Italia is the place to do it. The Rabbit Three Ways and the house made sausage are said to transport you to food heaven, but it’s a hard choice with the competing selection of delicious pastas. « hide	8.	Jax Fish House Considered by many to be the best seafood restaurant in Denver, Jax Fish House keeps a lively crowd of business and casual diners happy with its classic seafood dishes and “raw bar” that includes oysters, lobsters and clams flown in daily. « hide
4.	Lola The traditional Veracruz-style Mexican cuisine at Lola has an array of seafood dishes mixed in with a few traditional Mexican favorites. Check the website for the daily food and drink specials. « hide	9.	Coral Room Asian-influenced dishes complement American classics at the modern, yet casual Coral Room. There’s something for the whole family here, including an outdoor patio for people watching and a kids' area called The Little Reef. « hide
5.	Tamayo Serving “Modern Mexican” cuisine in an upscale environment, Tamayo is part of a group of restaurants run by chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval. With an attractive presentation and artful combinations, Tamayo provides a fresh fusion take on Mexican favorites. « hide

Denver Insider tips

1.	Take a Day Trip! Denver is a great city, but one of the best things about Denver is its proximity to the Rocky Mountains and nearby parks, geological formations, and quaint mountain towns. Explore the striking scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park, just two hours away from Denver, or the quaint college vibrancy of Boulder, a half an hour from the city. Fort Collins, home of University of Colorado and the Anheuser Busch Brewery, is just an hour from Denver, as well. Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak… the list goes on. Check website for details. « hide
2.	Altitude Sickness Denver is called the Mile High City because it’s official altitude is exactly one mile above sea level. Although generally travelers don’t have problems with altitude sickness, it’s a good idea to take precautions. Drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration, use plenty of sun block (higher altitude means you are closer to the sun) to prevent sunburn. The higher elevation also means less oxygen, so if you start to feel lightheaded, slow down and take a rest. If you feel nauseous, dizzy, have difficulty breathing or start to vomit, see a doctor immediately. « hide
3.	Weather Contrary to popular belief, Denver does not receive frequent heavy snow, but because of the higher altitude, it can snow later in Spring and earlier in the Fall than most places. A blizzard in April is not uncommon. Also, the weather changes quickly, so be sure to wear layers. As the sun goes down, the temperature drops quickly. Lastly, if you’re planning on visiting the mountains or the foothills, remember that the temperature drops quickly as you climb in elevation, and it sometimes snows in the mountains and foothills, even in the summer months, so be prepared! « hide
4.	Areas to Avoid Denver is generally a safe city, but be cautious when walking alone at night. The 16th Street Mall area is safe in the daytime, but later at night, it can get a little dicey, so stay alert, walk like you know where you’re going, and don’t speak with strangers if approached. East Colfax Avenue is also said to be generally safe, but sometimes sketchy at night, so also keep your guard up when walking in this area. « hide

Denver nightlife

1.	Wynkoop Brewing Company The first brewpub in Denver is still hopping with a mix of college kids, pool players and businessmen. The main floor is a bar and restaurant with a good variety of house-brewed beers. Upstairs is a pool hall and in the basement is a theater that hosts everything from comedy clubs to open mike night. « hide
2.	My Brother’s Bar One of the older bar and grills in Denver (Beat writers Jack Kerouac and Neil Cassady drank here) also caters to a mixed all ages crowd. The delicious burgers and personable service get great reviews. Rustic, laid-back atmosphere is a good place to actually have a drink AND a conversation. « hide
3.	The Church Set in a renovated church, with three different dance areas and even a sushi bar, this long-running Denver night club is still said to be one of the best places to dance the night away to top notch DJ’s in Denver. Step up to the rooftop patio for a great view of the city. « hide
4.	Vinyl This four-floor dance club holds up to 2000 people who can choose from four unique dance environments. Some of the world’s biggest DJ’s spin for the young crowd at this trendy LoDo hangout. The waterfalls and fire pits on the partially –enclosed patio are said to have some amazing views of the city and mountains. « hide
5.	Slim 7 Fairly new to the Denver nightlife scene, Slim 7 already often has a line of people waiting outside in the nondescript alley it calls home. With a specialty drink menu based on the 7 deadly sins and a sophisticated, psychedelic urban vibe, this spot is hot with the 20’s and 30’s professional crowd. « hide
6.	Funky Buddha Lounge This uber-trendy nightspot is a play space for see and be seen Denverites. Leave the casual attire at home, as dress code is enforced. The downstairs is more cozy and low key, the upstairs patio area (Ginger Bar) more lively. Come 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays for a happy hour break on the steep drink prices. « hide
View more Denver attractions » « View less Denver attractions

Cheap Denver Flights

These are the cheapest* flights to Vail found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours. Use the links to see if you can get a better flight deal.

From £138 Flights New York (NYC) - Denver (DEN)
From £153 Flights Washington (WAS) - Denver (DEN)
From £121 Flights Boston (BOS) - Denver (DEN)
From £138 Flights Atlanta (ATL) - Denver (DEN)
From £132 Flights San Francisco (SFO) - Denver (DEN)
From £77 Flights Los Angeles (LAX) - Denver (DEN)
From £93 Flights Chicago (ORD) - Denver (DEN)
From £121 Flights Minneapolis (MSP) - Denver (DEN)
From £153 Flights Washington (DCA) - Denver (DEN)
From £93 Flights Chicago (CHI) - Denver (DEN)