Stand on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol and you are standing exactly one mile above sea level — the words "One Mile Above Sea Level" are engraved into one of the steps out front. Look west and the Rocky Mountains rise beyond the city; look east and the High Plains run flat to the horizon. Denver began here as a gold rush town at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, and its older neighbourhoods still reward walking, with wide flagstone sidewalks, flowery front gardens and big, shady trees.
Denver suits travellers who want museums and historic homes in the morning and neighbourhood wandering in the afternoon, with mountain views as a backdrop throughout. The city is compact enough that a single day covers a great deal, and its cultural institutions are unusually varied — from a collection of Black Western history to a museum built around one abstract expressionist's entire life's work.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, ordered roughly by how much they reward a visit, followed by a plan for a single day and answers to common questions.
Top things to do in Denver
1. Denver Art Museum
A huge museum with art from all over the world, housed on West 14th Avenue Parkway. Give yourself several hours to properly explore the place — this is not a quick stop.
It is open Wednesday to Monday 10AM–5PM and Tuesday 10AM–8PM. Adult admission is $27, rising to $30 on weekends and holidays, with discounts for seniors, students, teachers, veterans and Colorado residents; those 18 and under are free. Pair it with the Clyfford Still Museum and the Kirkland Museum, both a short walk away on Bannock Street.
2. Colorado State Capitol
A gorgeous domed building at the southern edge of Downtown, at 200 E Colfax Ave. The big attraction for visitors is standing above the words "One Mile Above Sea Level" engraved into one of the steps out front — the marker of the city's official elevation.
Free tours start at the visitor information desk every hour Monday to Friday 10AM–3PM, and the building is open Monday to Friday 7:30AM–5PM. Come on a weekday, since the tour schedule does not run at weekends.
3. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Exhibitions, a planetarium and an IMAX theatre on Colorado Boulevard. Highlights include extensive geological specimens and a lovely view of the mountains with a diagram identifying which peaks are which.
It is open every day of the year except Christmas Day: Saturday to Thursday 9AM–5PM, and Friday 9AM–9PM. Adult admission is $25.95, with lower rates for seniors 65+ and youth. The Friday evening opening gives you a quieter alternative to the daytime crowds.
4. Molly Brown House Museum
This restored Victorian at 1340 Pennsylvania St was once home to labour reformist, actress and Titanic survivor Margaret Brown, and now showcases that era of Colorado history through exhibits and special events. Guided tours start on the hour.
The museum is limited to 16 visitors at a time, so purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10AM–5PM, with a late Thursday opening until 7PM; last admission is one hour before closing. Adult tickets are $22, with reduced prices for the explore-on-your-own option and for Colorado residents.
5. Clyfford Still Museum
Clyfford Still was in the first generation of US abstract expressionist artists of the early-to-mid 20th century, and he pioneered the path which Rothko, Pollock and others followed. He kept most of his own works, and his will called for a city to create a museum to exhibit the whole collection intact. Denver rose to the challenge, and the result is this museum: fascinating architecture with fascinating contents.
The curators are interested not just in Still's work but in the questions it raises, such as how to preserve forever drawings which fade with light and paintings which darken with time. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10AM–5PM and closed Monday. Admission is $18, less for Colorado residents and seniors. It sits on Bannock Street, so combine it with the Denver Art Museum and the Kirkland Museum nearby.
6. Center for Colorado Women's History (Byers-Evans House Museum)
One of Denver's great historic homes, built in 1883 by Rocky Mountain News publisher Williams Byers and elegantly furnished with original turn-of-the-century pieces. You can tour the house or catch featured exhibitions in the gallery.
It is at 1310 Bannock St, open Monday to Saturday 10AM–4PM and Sunday noon–4PM, with guided tours at 10:30AM, 11:30AM, 12:30PM, 1:30PM, 2:30PM and 3:30PM. Adult admission is $7, seniors 60+ $5, and children 18 and under are free — an inexpensive addition to a Bannock Street museum day.
7. History Colorado Center
The centre at 1200 Broadway has many displays and exhibits focusing on historical sites throughout Colorado, covering prairie settlement, mining and Native American life. It is great for families with kids and even adults, and only takes an hour to an hour and a half to take in.
It is open daily 10AM–5PM, with the entrance on Broadway between 12th and 13th Avenue. Adults pay $15 and children under 18 are free, making it an easy stop if you are already downtown.
8. Denver Mint
More U.S. money is made in Denver than anywhere else in the world. Fish a coin out of your pocket and look for the "D" on the face side, usually in the bottom right quadrant — that means the money was minted in Denver.
Tour times vary by day, and tickets are available from the Tour Information Window on Cherokee Street between Colfax Avenue and West 14th Avenue starting at 7AM each day until they run out. The mint is open Monday to Thursday 7:30AM–3PM and closed on all federal holidays. Check the website for closures and for the list of permitted and forbidden items before your visit. Tours are free.
9. Black American West Museum & Heritage Center
Set in the home of Dr. Justina Ford, Colorado's first Black woman doctor, this museum at 3091 California St is dedicated to the contributions of Black pioneers in the Old West. The 19th-century building was moved 12 blocks to become a museum.
It is open Friday and Saturday 10AM–2PM only, so plan your visit around those two days. Adult admission is $17, seniors $15, and youth 6–17, college ID holders and military ID holders $12; children 5 and under are free.
10. Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art
A fine and decorative art museum at 1201 Bannock St featuring over 30,000 works by more than 1,500 artists and designers. The building itself was moved in 2016.
It is open Tuesday to Saturday 11AM–5PM and Sunday noon–5PM. Because it sits on the same street as several other institutions, it works well as part of a Bannock Street circuit rather than a standalone trip.
11. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Housed in an ultra-modern building downtown at 1485 Delgany St, this innovative museum seeks to engage the community with workshops, films, lectures and a relaxing, open environment. Visit the rooftop deck for 360-degree views of Denver, grab a quick bite in the cafe, and check out the functional public performance space called The Lane.
It is open Tuesday to Thursday noon–7PM, Friday noon–9PM, and Saturday and Sunday 10AM–5PM. Adult admission is $8, dropping to $5 after 5PM; students and seniors pay $5, and children and teens under 18 are free.
12. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
An air museum at the former Lowry Air Force Base with a large aircraft and spacecraft collection, at 7711 East Academy Blvd. Adult admission is $20.
It is open 10AM–5PM. Because it sits away from the downtown cluster, treat it as its own outing rather than something to squeeze between downtown sights.
13. Chamberlin Observatory
Built in 1890, this working observatory at 2930 E Warren Ave is a historic landmark and a pride of the University of Denver. Star Parties and other events are open to the public.
Because public access runs through scheduled events rather than general opening hours, check what is on before you build a day around it.
14. Museo de las Americas
Denver is home to a large and growing Latino population, and this museum at 861 Santa Fe Dr focuses on their art and heritage. Admission is $5.
It is open Tuesday to Friday 10AM–5PM and Saturday and Sunday noon–5PM. The low ticket price makes it an easy addition to a Santa Fe Drive afternoon.
15. Forney Transportation Museum
A transportation museum at 4303 Brighton Blvd. It is open Thursday to Monday 10AM–5PM and closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Adult admission is $17, seniors $14, children 3–12 $9, and children under 3 are free. Note the midweek closures when planning.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Colorado State Capitol, where free tours run hourly Monday to Friday from the visitor information desk, and stand on the step engraved "One Mile Above Sea Level". Walk from there to the Denver Mint on West Colfax Avenue — remember tickets come from the Tour Information Window on Cherokee Street starting at 7AM and run out, so collect yours early.
Afternoon. Spend the heart of the day at the Denver Art Museum, giving yourself several hours, then cross to the Clyfford Still Museum on Bannock Street while you are in the neighbourhood. If time remains, the Center for Colorado Women's History and the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art are on the same street.
Evening. Finish at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, where admission drops to $5 after 5PM and the rooftop deck gives you 360-degree views of the city. If you would rather end the day indoors with natural history, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science stays open until 9PM on Fridays.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Denver Mint?
Go on a weekday between Monday and Thursday, when the mint is open 7:30AM–3PM, and arrive early enough to collect a tour ticket from the Tour Information Window on Cherokee Street — tickets are released from 7AM each day and are gone once they run out. The mint is closed on all federal holidays.
Do I need to book ahead for the Molly Brown House Museum?
Yes, it is worth booking in advance. The museum is limited to 16 visitors at a time, so purchasing tickets ahead is highly recommended. It is open Tuesday to Sunday 10AM–5PM with a Thursday late opening until 7PM, and last admission is one hour before closing.
Which museums are free or cheapest to visit?
The Colorado State Capitol offers free tours, and the Denver Mint tour is free. The Center for Colorado Women's History charges $7 for adults with children 18 and under free, History Colorado Center charges $15 for adults with children under 18 free, and the Museo de las Americas charges $5. The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver is $8 for adults but only $5 after 5PM.
Can I visit several museums in one area on foot?
Yes. Bannock Street concentrates the Clyfford Still Museum, the Center for Colorado Women's History and the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art, with the Denver Art Museum a short walk away on West 14th Avenue Parkway. Downtown, the Colorado State Capitol and the Denver Mint sit close together on Colfax Avenue.
Pick the days that match the opening hours above, note which museums close midweek, and start building your Denver itinerary around the sights that matter most to you.