1. Have a fun day at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

Take the entire gang to Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, one of the happiest places in Denver. It features gigantic pools with long, winding water slides, along with several thrill rides, movie houses, arcades, boutiques, and restaurants. Your kids will surely appreciate you buying them an all-seasons pass. The park follows protocols for ride requirements such that those extreme loops remain off-limits to youngsters, thereby putting your worries to rest. Meanwhile, you can grab some popcorn and watch a fun movie. And if you schedule your visit accordingly, you shall witness one of Elitch Gardens’ spectacular firework displays.

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

Address: 2000 Elitch Cir, Denver, CO 80204, United States

Website: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

Price: From 9 USD

2. Explore Larimer Square

Nightlife in Denver’s oldest block - Larimer Square - is never dull. This historic, now vibrant block is happily lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and beauty and wellness services that draw in locals and tourists alike. It’s a good destination for retail therapy, too. At daytime, stroll through Larimer Square’s alleys and find the fashionable pants you’ve been eyeing. Better yet, buy souvenirs for your loved ones. At night, dine at a chef-driven restaurant and grab your favorite margarita at the bar next door. If you’re not too tired yet, you can dance for a few hours in a club.

Larimer Square

Address: 1430 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202, United States

Website: Larimer Square

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 9pm; Sun: 11am - 7pm

3. Learn about the history of money at the Money Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Kansas City’s Federal Reserve Bank maintains the small but fascinating Money Museum in Denver. In a quick self-guided tour (about 30 minutes), you’ll see for yourself different American currencies used across time, learn a little about the country’s financial history, and acquire the practical skill of spotting fake bills. If you haven’t seen what $30,000,000 looks like in person, at Money Museum, you get to see it on display - how cool is that? Plus, you get to bring home a bag of shredded bills for free.

Money Museum

Address: 1020 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202, United States

Website: Money Museum

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

Price: Free

4. Browse through the mindblowing exhibits at Denver Museum of Nature and Science

From IMAX videos to various events, there is so much to explore at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science! Do you want to see dinosaur fossils and martian canyons? Do you want to visit a planetarium and the Space Odyssey area? Then the Denver Museum of Nature and Science should be on your list of things to do in Downtown Denver. To check out the event schedules and the list of exhibitions which are on display during your visit, check out the website.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Address: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205, USA

Website: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 19.95 USD

5. Encounter marine life at Downtown Aquarium

Whether you are visiting Denver with your family or friends, you have to head to Downtown Aquarium. This state-of-the-art aquarium has over 500 different species of aquatic life! You are basically going to be surrounded by this never-ending floor-to-ceiling aquarium and you’ll get to view these various species in their natural habitat. There is also a really interesting shark cage experience which you must go for when you visit. Also, don’t forget to check the schedule for the mermaid show before you visit!

Downtown Aquarium

Address: 700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211, USA

Website: Downtown Aquarium

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 9:30pm

Price: 22.99 USD

6. Reignite your love for art at Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, as the name suggests, is THE museum for fine art in Denver. This museum actually houses the original studio as well as the art school building of the famous Vance Kirkland. This museum has three principal collections, which are the international decorative arts collection, the regional Colorado collection, and the Kirkland retrospective collection. If you’re a fan of mid-century artwork, then you must head here.

Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Address: 1201 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204, USA

Website: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 5pm; Sun: 12pm - 5pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 10 USD

7. Marvel at the stunning architecture of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is basically the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Denver of the Roman Catholic Church. What makes this cathedral special is the French-style Gothic architecture! If you notice carefully, the cathedral building itself is in the shape of a Latin cross. This cathedral is known for its beautiful stained glasses and all-white interiors. It is an architectural gem–it doesn’t matter if you have any interest in architecture or not, this place should be on your list of things to do in Downtown Denver.

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

Address: 1530 Logan St, Denver, CO 80203, USA

Website: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

8. Have a good time at Civic Centre Park

Civic Centre Park is the main park in the Civic Centre area of Denver. This park is known for its intricate statutes, various fountains and one big Greek amphitheatre. This park is also a popular spot for music festivals and other such concerts! Fitness events, food events, and musical events take place at this famous park – do check out their Facebook page to know more about the events which are taking place during your stay. Don’t forget to grab a bite from one of the many food trucks parked around.

Civic Centre Park

Address: Colfax and Bannock, Denver, Colorado 80202

Website: Civic Centre Park

Opening hours: 5am - 11pm (daily)

Price: Free

9. Breathe in some fresh air in the lush greenery of Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens are huge public botanical gardens which are spread out in 23 acres (9.3 hectares). With plants from all corners of the world, very distinctive theme gardens with distinct levels and separate sections as well as a sunken amphitheatre, these gardens should definitely be on your list of things to do in Downtown Denver! From water lilies in full bloom to a Japanese garden, you will feel like you’re getting a botanical tour of the world! Check out their website to know about the various events that take place here.

Denver Botanic Gardens

Address: 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206, USA

Website: Denver Botanic Gardens

Opening hours:Tue - Thu, Sat - Sun: 9am - 8pm; Mon, Fri: 9am - 3pm

Price: 12.50 USD

10. Spend a relaxing afternoon at Denver Beer Co.

Denver Beer Co. is a famous local brewery which is visited frequently by locals and tourists alike. This brewery serves only premium artisan ales and lagers - so you know the beer here is first class! Here, you can have some of their old tried and tested beers or you can surprise yourself by trying one of their new concoctions! Make sure you try their beer samplers to figure out which beer you’re going to be drinking all day long while chilling in the beer garden. They also conduct some interesting beer and workout workshops – check these and other such events out on their website!

Denver Beer Co.

Address: 1695 Platte St, Denver, CO 80202, USA

Website: Denver Beer Co.

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 12am

Price: 5 - 10 USD

11. Discover the colossal Denver Art Museum

Denver Art Museum is another great museum that you should visit while you’re staying here. Located in the Civic Centre, you can head to this museum after you’ve had a relaxing day at Civic Centre Park – the museum building is something you just cannot miss. This museum has works of over 70,000 world-renowned and local artists! This museum has different exhibitions that are setup regularly so make sure to check their website to know about the exhibitions that will be on display during your visit. Let your kids explore their inner artists with the Free for Kids program where they have free access to thousands of artwork!

Denver Art Museum

Address: 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204, USA

Website: Denver Art Museum

Opening hours: Sat - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri: 10am - 8pm

Price: 10 - 13 USD

12. Catch a spectacular game of baseball at Coors Field

Coors Field is a baseball park in Denver, the home field for the home team Colorado Rockies! This baseball park was opened in 1995. Since Denver is filled with baseball fans, it is but obvious that you should go catch a game of baseball here! You can easily check the baseball schedule online and even buy tickets for the game from the website! PS, you can even rent a party space here if you decide to have a fun party after a good game.

Coors Field

Address: 2001 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205, USA

Website: Coors Field

Opening hours: Depends on event

Price: Depends on event

13. Witness power-packed performances at Colorado Convention Center

Colorado Convention Center, as the name suggests, is a multipurpose centre right in the heart of Downtown Denver. It s actually one of the largest convention centres in the USA – the 12th largest! It has ballrooms, a tech centre, a garden centre, various meeting rooms, and the famous Bellco Theatre. Events like wellness festivals, college programs, live shows, music nights, and various concerts also take place here. You can check the list of events online and even book the tickets for the same on the website. PS, don’t miss the famous blue bear statue outside the centre.

Colorado Convention Center

Address: 700 14th St, Denver, CO 80202, USA

Website: Colorado Convention Center

Opening hours: Depends on event

Price: Depends on event

14. Go for a scenic bike ride around Sloan’s Lake Park

Sloan’s Lake Park is the second-largest park in Denver – so of course, this park should be on your list of things to do here! This park has a lake where you can happily spend your afternoon boating. You can also enjoy a scenic bike ride here, find a nice shady spot to enjoy a family picnic, or get a quick workout with a jog at the park. Spread across 177 acres (71.6 hectares), you can happily spend a lazy afternoon at this beautiful park.

Sloan’s Lake Park

Address: 1700 N Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80212, USA

Website: Sloan’s Lake Park

Opening hours: 5am - 11pm (daily)

Price: Free

15. See the spectacular Colorado State Capitol

Colorado State Capitol is the home of the Colorado General Assembly. This building houses the governing body, the Denver senate, and the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. Here, you can easily access public information related to the Colorado state or simply just enjoy a free tour of the place. Don’t forget to take part in the fun scavenger hunt that starts here at 9am every day!

Colorado State Capitol

Address: 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203, USA

Website: Colorado State Capitol

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

Price: Free

What’s on your list?

Talk about all the fun things to do in Denver! You can spend a lazy afternoon at a park, go catch a baseball game, watch a live concert, or spend your day interpreting art at one of the famous art museums. Here’s hoping you manage to check off everything on this list of things to do in Downtown Denver!