My Exact 3-Day Denver Itinerary That My Out-of-Town Friends Love

Every time someone visits me in Denver, I give them this exact itinerary. It works every time.

No 5am wake-ups. No death marches. No tourist traps (okay, maybe one). Just the stuff that makes people text me later saying “Denver was amazing!”

Here’s the exact schedule that actually works.

Day 1: Downtown & Getting Your Bearings

Morning (9am-12pm)

9:00am – Union Station

Start here. Get coffee at Pigtrain. Wander around. It’s gorgeous and gets you oriented.

9:45am – Wynkoop Plaza

Right outside Union Station. Check out the fountains, take the obvious photos.

10:15am – Walk to Larimer Square

It’s 10 minutes. Historic block, cute shops, sets expectations for Denver’s mix of old and new.

11:00am – Dairy Block

Hidden gem. The alley with micro-restaurants. Even if nothing’s open yet, it’s cool to see.

Lunch (12pm-1:30pm)

Option A: Mercantile at Union Station (fancy-ish)

Option B: Illegal Pete’s (casual burritos)

Option C: Denver Central Market in RiNo (variety)

I usually do Mercantile first day. Sets a good tone.

Afternoon (1:30pm-5pm)

1:30pm – Walk to Confluence Park

15-minute walk. Where the rivers meet. People watching, maybe see kayakers.

2:30pm – REI Flagship Store

I know, it’s a store. But the climbing wall, gear, and general Colorado-ness make it worth 30 minutes.

3:30pm – RiNo Art District

Uber here if tired. Walk the alleys for street art. Stop at whatever brewery looks good.

Evening (5pm-late)

Dinner: Linger in LoHi

Rooftop views of Denver. Used to be a mortuary. Food is actually good. Make a reservation.

After: Williams & Graham if you want cocktails (speakeasy behind a bookshelf)

Day 2: The Colorado Experience

Morning (8am-12pm)

8:00am – Leave for Red Rocks

25-minute drive. Get there before crowds.

8:30am-10:30am – Red Rocks

Climb the amphitheater stairs. Do Trading Post Trail if feeling energetic. Visitor center if not.

11:00am – Morrison

Tiny town at the base of Red Rocks. Walk main street, get coffee.

Lunch (12pm-1:30pm)

The Fort

Expensive but it’s an experience. Buffalo, elk, rattlesnake. The building is an adobe fort replica. Touristy but good touristy.

Alternative: Ship Rock Grille for normal food.

Afternoon (1:30pm-5pm)

Option A: Golden

15 minutes away. Coors Brewery tour (free, includes beer). Walk Clear Creek. Cute downtown.

Option B: Lookout Mountain

Buffalo Bill’s grave, insane views of Denver. Nature Center has easy trails.

I usually do Golden. People like the brewery tour more than expected.

Evening (5pm-late)

Back to Denver by 5:30pm

Dinner: Avanti Food & Beverage

Multiple restaurants under one roof. Rooftop with city views. Everyone finds something they like.

After: Little Man Ice Cream (shaped like a milk jug)

Day 3: Culture & Neighborhoods

Morning (9:30am-12pm)

9:30am – Denver Art Museum

Even non-art people like it. The building itself is wild. 2 hours is enough.

Alternative: Museum of Nature & Science if you prefer dinosaurs.

11:30am – Civic Center Park

Quick walk through. See the Capitol if you want.

Lunch (12pm-1:30pm)

Sam’s No. 3

Huge portions, Denver institution. Green chili on everything.

Afternoon (1:30pm-5pm)

1:30pm – South Broadway

Uber here. Walk from 1st to Alameda. Vintage shops, weird stores, local vibes.

3:00pm – Washington Park

If nice weather. Huge park, lakes, people watching. Rent bikes if feeling active.

Alternative: Coffee shop hopping if weather sucks.

Evening (5pm-late)

Happy Hour: Denver Beer Co (original location)

Dinner: Root Down or El Five (both have views)

Late night: Depends on the crowd

• Music people: Nocturne Jazz
• Party people: Larimer Street bars
• Chill people: Union Station hotel bars

The Flexible Add-Ons

If someone wants to swap something:

Instead of Art Museum: Meow Wolf (trippy interactive art)

Instead of Golden: Georgetown and the loop railroad

Instead of South Broadway: Cherry Creek for shopping

Add if there’s time: Botanic Gardens, Capitol tour, brewery tour in RiNo

The Altitude Strategy

Day 1: Stay low, drink water constantly

Day 2: Red Rocks is higher but you’re adjusting

Day 3: You’re fine by now

Seriously, altitude is real. I’ve seen tough people get wrecked by walking up stairs day one.

The Food Strategy

Must-try Denver things:

• Green chili (on anything)
• Craft beer (obviously)
• Bison/elk (at least once)
• Mexican food (way better than expected)

Breakfast spots if needed:

• Snooze (expect a wait)
• Denver Biscuit Company
• The Lobby (less crowded)

The Weather Contingency

If it rains:

• More museums
• Union Station exploring
• Tattered Cover bookstore
• Meow Wolf

If it snows:

• Everything looks prettier
• Same itinerary, just slower
• More indoor bars

The Transportation Reality

Get the Uber app. Denver public transit exists but it’s not great.

Consider renting a car for Day 2 (Red Rocks/Golden).

Scooters everywhere downtown. Fun if you’re comfortable with them.

Walking shoes mandatory. You’ll walk more than expected.

What People Always Say After

“I didn’t expect Denver to be so walkable”

“The mountain views from the city are insane”

“Why is everyone so fit here?”

“The food was way better than expected”

“I need to come back for longer”

That last one is the goal. Three days shows them enough to want more.

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What would you add or change to this itinerary? Always tweaking it based on what works.

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