Visit Denver, the Mile High City in Colorado

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 22 March 2026

During a trip to the United States, we spent a day to visit Denver, the capital of Colorado.

Denver is nicknamed the “Mile High City” because of its unique location in the Rocky Mountains. In fact, the city is situated at an elevation of one mile (1,609 meters). 

So, Denver is a popular destination for those seeking a blend of vibrant city life and easy access to nature. Whether you’re exploring the surrounding mountains or discovering the city’s culture and history, Denver offers a variety of exciting experiences. For us, Denver was just a stopover to break up the long train ride on the California Zephyr between Chicago and San Francisco. 

However, during my research, I hadn’t really come across many reviews or much information about Denver, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

So in this article, I invite you to discover what to do in Denver. Here are some suggestions for places to see and things to do in the Mile High City in just one day—without a car. It’s one of my fondest memories from my trip to the U.S.! 

Check out Kiki the Cowboy’s review at the end of the article.

Visit Denver and Union Station

Let’s start with Denver’s Union Station, where we arrived at 7 a.m. from Chicago after an 18-hour ride on the California Zephyr.  

We were immediately charmed by the Denver train station. It’s a beautifully restored historic building that now houses restaurants, shops, and a hotel. Even if you’re not traveling by train, be sure to take a look around—it’s absolutely stunning. 

While we were waiting for our train to Salt Lake City, we enjoyed spending time in that beautiful waiting room.

Explore Denver by strolling down 16^th Street 

16th Street in Denver is an iconic pedestrian street located in downtown Denver. It is also a shopping district, so you’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafés. It’s a great place to stroll, shop, and soak up the city’s lively atmosphere. 

Unfortunately, the street was under construction when we were there. Even so, Denver has a peaceful atmosphere. After spending two days in Chicago, where I found the city stressful, I found the vibe in Denver much more laid-back.  

In fact, to make it easier to get around 16th Street, the MallRide service offers free buses that run regularly. You can hop on and off at various stops along the street to explore the attractions and shops.

Explore the Civic Center neighborhood 

Denver’s Civic Center is an iconic neighborhood located in the city center. 

In this neighborhood, it’s impossible to miss the Colorado State Capitol, built in 1894. 

This magnificent neoclassical building is distinguished by its golden dome. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you look closely at the stairs, you’ll find yourself exactly at an altitude of 1 mile!

The State Capitol houses the offices of the Governor of Colorado, members of the state legislature, and other state government agencies, including the State Treasurer’s Office. It is where legislative sessions are held and where important policy decisions are made.

You can also go up to the observation deck to enjoy a panoramic view of Denver. You’ll be able to admire the city’s skyscrapers and the surrounding mountains.

In addition, guided tours of the building are available so you can learn about the Capitol’s history and architecture. However, you can also explore the building on your own. It’s magnificent!

In addition, the Civic Center features a beautiful park with lawns, shaded paths, fountains, and well-maintained gardens. It’s a great place to take a walk, have a picnic, or simply relax outdoors. In fact, we spent quite a while watching one couple take wedding photos and another playing Frisbee. 

You can take it all the way to the Denver City Council.

Take a picture of the Denver Blue Bear 

The “Blue Bear” is an iconic sculpture in Denver. Officially known as “I See What You Mean,” the sculpture depicts a standing bear that appears to be looking through the building’s window.

It’s right next to the Convention Center. In fact, we happened to walk by just as some American students were celebrating their graduation in their smart uniforms. It was touching to see the parents and grandparents so proud of their children. 

Explore Denver by visiting the historic Larimer Square neighborhood

Larimer Square, a neighborhood in downtown Denver, is my favorite spot! You can spot cowgirls there. I absolutely love this street with all its American flags. 

Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest neighborhood and retains much of its original 19th-century architecture. It has a rich history and has been the site of many significant events in Denver’s development.

In fact, Larimer Square is known for its charming architecture, featuring brick buildings, historic storefronts, and cobblestone streets. It’s a picturesque place to stroll and soak up the neighborhood’s unique atmosphere.

You’ll find plenty of boutiques and designer shops. They offer an eclectic selection of clothing, accessories, home goods, jewelry, and much more. It’s the perfect place to shop and find unique items. Need a cowboy hat? You’ll find it here!

Larimer Square is also known for its lively nightlife. There are trendy bars, dance clubs, and concert venues. The neighborhood is also home to a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars. 

Larimer Square is the perfect place to spend some time and experience the true spirit of Denver.

Enter the Brown Palace Hotel

The Brown Palace Hotel is a famous historic hotel that opened in 1892 and is located in the heart of Denver. With its Neo-Romanesque style, it is an iconic example of late 19th-century architecture. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In fact, it is considered one of the city’s most prestigious landmarks, with a sandstone façade and a sumptuous interior adorned with marble, wood paneling, and stained-glass windows.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy afternoon tea at the Brown Palace Hotel, featuring a selection of teas, pastries, and sandwiches in an elegant, historic setting.

Visit Denver and its museums

Denver is home to many interesting museums, including the Denver Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 

We had planned to visit the Colorado History Museum. Unfortunately, we were too tired to go. However, when I returned to Denver, I was able to visit the Colorado History Museum, and I highly recommend it! It’s fascinating and very well done.

How do you get around Denver?

To get around downtown Denver, you can choose from two completely free bus routes:

• Free MallRide: This bus runs along the 16th Street Mall. It connects Union Civic to Union Station via Larimer Square.
• Free MetroRide: This bus line connects downtown to the financial districts (18th and 19th Streets to Union Station).
• For other trips in Denver, you must pay to ride RTD (Regional Transportation District) buses.

You can leave your car in the parking lot, but it costs $25 a day.

Also, if you’re coming from Denver International Airport, there’s a train that takes you from the airport to Union Station in 37 minutes. The ticket costs $10. I tried it during a previous trip to Denver, and it works perfectly. Otherwise, you can take an Uber for about $55.

Where to eat in Denver?

We were really lucky because we went to a bakery in the morning for coffee, and the pastries were delicious. Then we had lunch at a Japanese restaurant and had some soup that was excellent. 

We ended the day at Hopdoddy, a classic American restaurant. It was the best burger of our trip to the U.S., served with cheese-topped French fries. A real treat in a great atmosphere! 

Also, during my second trip to Denver, I took a food tour to explore Denver’s best restaurants and learn about the city’s history.

Sports in Denver

Denver residents are passionate about sports. In fact, the city is home to several professional sports teams, including the Denver Broncos (American football), the Denver Nuggets (basketball), the Colorado Rockies (baseball), and the Colorado Avalanche (ice hockey).

In fact, we held out hope until the very last moment that we’d get to see the NBA Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. If it had been just two days earlier, we could have been there in person or at a bar watching the game! If you’re in Denver on game day, head to McGregor Square. Grab a beer and soak up the atmosphere! By the way, Denver is home to dozens of craft breweries. Blue Moon Brewery is even based in Denver!

Where to stay in Denver? 

For our stay in Denver, we booked the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Union Station, which is located behind the train station (a 10-minute walk). 

After arriving in Denver, we were just looking to settle in, but we were able to check into our room at 8 a.m. at no extra charge. We really appreciated that, especially after spending 18 hours on a train. We loved how comfortable the room was.

We also enjoyed the pool. 

Finally, we were pleasantly surprised by the breakfast. You can help yourself to the buffet, but you can also order a dish for an additional $2. 

After a wonderful night at the hotel, we left Denver with a heavy heart to board the California Zephyr bound for Salt Lake City, where we planned to visit the national parks of the American West, such as Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, and Capitol Reef. Personally, I would have loved to stay longer in this vibrant, lively city that truly charmed me. 

That’s actually why I returned to Denver for a week during my latest trip to the U.S. I invite you to check out my article on things to do around Denver, including the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Kiki the Cowboy’s review of his visit to Denver 

You should know that just before visiting Denver, Kiki spent a few days in Chicago. And Chicago was simply amazing! Then Kiki arrived in this “little town”: no hustle and bustle, no traffic on Sunday morning, and no people on the streets—a truly peaceful place.

In Kiki’s imagination, Denver was supposed to be a city straight out of the “Wild Wild West.” But where have all the cowboys gone? When Denver was founded, the city consisted mainly of saloons, gambling halls, and brothels. Today, it’s a modern city full of friendly, open-minded people. Still, Kiki was a little disappointed by Denver when he was treated to two totally unexpected surprises: the visit to Larimer Square (so many people were wearing cowboy hats!) and the Hobdoddy Burger Bar: what an incredibly good burger! And you can always win Kiki over with good food. So it was with a certain sadness that Kiki had to leave Denver after just one day.