Where should you stay in Denver? LoDo/Union Station ($200-400) for first-time visitors who want walkability. RiNo ($180-350) for food and nightlife seekers. Capitol Hill ($100-200) for budget travelers. Highlands/LoHi ($150-300) for a local neighborhood feel. Cherry Creek ($250-450) for families wanting safety and calm. Pick the wrong area and you'll spend your trip in Ubers. Pick the right one and you can walk to everything.
Denver Neighborhoods at a Glance
LoDo/Union Station — First-time visitors — $200-400/night — Walk Score: 95
RiNo — Food & nightlife — $180-350/night — Walk Score: 85
Capitol Hill — Budget travelers — $100-200/night — Walk Score: 91
Highlands/LoHi — Local vibe — $150-300/night — Walk Score: 78
Cherry Creek — Families — $250-450/night — Walk Score: 72
Downtown/CBD — Skip it (dead at night)
Airport — Only for 5am flights — $89-150/night
Top 5 Neighborhoods for Visitors
1. LoDo/Union Station
Best for: First-time visitors
Price: $200-400/night
Walk Score: 95/100
LoDo means "Lower Downtown." It's Denver's most walkable area. Union Station sits at the center—a beautiful 1914 train station with bars, restaurants, and great people-watching.
What's within walking distance: Coors Field (5 min), 16th Street Mall (10 min), Confluence Park (10 min), RiNo art district (15 min), Denver Art Museum (20 min).
Where to stay: The Maven (modern hotel above a food hall, best value), The Crawford (inside Union Station, historic and pricey), The Oxford (Denver's oldest hotel from 1891, classic luxury).
The catch: Weekend nights get loud. Bars close at 2 AM and crowds spill into the streets. Light sleepers should ask for rooms facing away from Larimer Street.
Safety: LoDo is safe day and night. Stick to main streets after dark. High foot traffic and visible police.
2. RiNo (River North Art District)
Best for: Food and nightlife
Price: $180-350/night
Walk Score: 85/100
RiNo stands for "River North Art District." It's Denver's coolest area right now. Old warehouses now hold breweries, restaurants, and 100+ street murals. The vibe is hip and artsy. Denver Central Market is here—a food hall with local vendors. First Fridays bring art walks with live music and open galleries.
Where to stay: The Source Hotel (connected to a market hall, rooftop bar with mountain views), The Ramble (boutique hotel with a speakeasy, books up fast), Catbird Hotel (colorful design, good cocktails).
The catch: RiNo is more spread out than LoDo. Walking between spots means 10-15 minute stretches through quiet areas. Hotel options are limited—book early.
Safety: Main streets are fine at night. Avoid side streets and areas under highway bridges after dark.
3. Capitol Hill
Best for: Budget travelers
Price: $100-200/night
Walk Score: 91/100
Capitol Hill is Denver's most eclectic area. It's LGBTQ+ friendly, full of dive bars, and half the price of LoDo. Colfax Avenue runs through the middle with vintage shops, cheap eats, and real city character. Downtown is a 20-minute walk. Cheesman Park offers green space for morning runs. This area has the most Airbnb options in Denver.
Where to stay: The Art Hotel (best hotel option in the area), The Warwick (business-class hotel on the edge of the neighborhood), Airbnb (lots of budget apartments here).
The catch: Capitol Hill feels grittier than LoDo. Colfax Avenue has some homeless camps and street drama. This is real city living, not a polished tourist zone.
Safety: Daytime is fine everywhere. Nighttime varies by block. Main streets with bars feel safe. Quiet side streets can feel sketchy.
4. Highlands/LoHi
Best for: Local experience
Price: $150-300/night
Walk Score: 78/100
Highlands is where Denver locals hang out. The food scene rivals RiNo. The vibe is more neighborhood than tourist zone. LoHi (Lower Highlands) has the most restaurants. A 15-minute walk across the bridge gets you to LoDo. But that distance adds up over a weekend.
Where to stay: The Lumber Baron Inn (Victorian B&B, unique but limited rooms), Airbnb (best option for this area, many quality rentals).
The catch: Few hotels. You'll need a car or frequent Ubers to reach downtown sites. Best for repeat visitors who've already done the tourist stuff.
Safety: Excellent. One of Denver's safest areas. Low crime, family feel, safe to walk at night.
5. Cherry Creek
Best for: Families
Price: $250-450/night
Walk Score: 72/100
Cherry Creek is Denver's upscale shopping district. It's clean, safe, and feels suburban. High-end stores, nice restaurants, and Denver's lowest crime rates. Families with young kids often choose Cherry Creek for the safety and calm vibe. Cherry Creek Trail connects to downtown via 42 miles of paved path.
Where to stay: The Halcyon (Cherry Creek's best hotel, modern with rooftop pool), JW Marriott (solid upscale chain option).
The catch: Far from downtown. No nightlife. You'll Uber to anything fun. The area feels like wealthy suburbia, not urban Denver.
Safety: Excellent. Denver's safest area. Low crime, well-lit streets, very family-friendly.
Neighborhoods to Skip
Downtown/CBD (Central Business District)
Why people book it: "Downtown" address, near the convention center.
Why skip it: Office buildings empty at 5 PM. The 16th Street Mall has struggled—many stores sit vacant. The area feels dead at night.
The Brown Palace Hotel is the exception. It's a historic gem worth the stay. Other CBD hotels are generic business properties.
Better choice: Walk 10 minutes north to LoDo.
Denver Airport Area
Why people book it: $89/night hotels seem like a great deal.
Why skip it: The airport sits 25 miles from downtown in empty prairie. You'll spend $50-100 daily on Ubers. There's nothing within walking distance. No restaurants, no bars, nothing to do.
The A-Line train connects the airport to Union Station in 37 minutes for $10.50. Stay downtown and take the train.
Only stay here if: You have a 5 AM flight and need to leave at 3 AM.
Denver Tech Center
Why people book it: Business meetings in the area.
Why skip it: It's not Denver—it's suburbs. Office parks, chain hotels, chain restaurants. 30+ minutes from actual city life.
Only stay here if: Your work meetings are in DTC and you won't leave the area.
The Bottom Line
Stay in LoDo/Union Station for your first Denver trip. Yes, it costs more. But you'll walk to everything instead of watching Denver pass by in Uber windows.
RiNo works if food and nightlife matter most. Capitol Hill saves money while keeping you central. Highlands suits repeat visitors wanting a local feel.
Skip the airport hotels, Tech Center, and generic CBD properties. The money you save gets eaten by transportation costs and wasted time. Pay for location. Stay where you can walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best neighborhood to stay in Denver?
LoDo (Lower Downtown) near Union Station. It's the most walkable area with the best mix of restaurants, bars, and attractions. You'll pay more ($200-400/night) but save on transport.
Where should I stay in Denver for the first time?
LoDo or RiNo. Both are walkable with great food and nightlife. LoDo is more central. RiNo is hipper with better street art and breweries.
Is downtown Denver safe?
Yes, with normal city awareness. LoDo and Union Station are the safest downtown spots. The 16th Street Mall has had some issues with panhandling but violent crime is rare.
Is it safe to walk around Denver at night?
Most tourist areas are fine at night: LoDo, Union Station, RiNo main streets, Cherry Creek. Avoid empty industrial areas and highway underpasses.
What is the safest part of Denver?
Cherry Creek has Denver's lowest crime rates. Highlands/LoHi is also very safe. For tourists, LoDo works well—high foot traffic means more safety.
What does LoDo mean?
LoDo = "Lower Downtown." It's Denver's historic district near Union Station. Old warehouses turned into bars, restaurants, and lofts.
What's the coolest neighborhood in Denver?
RiNo (River North). Street art everywhere, craft breweries, converted warehouses, artsy vibe. It changes fast with new openings.
What is the most walkable area in Denver?
LoDo scores 95/100 on Walk Score—Denver's highest. Capitol Hill scores 91/100. RiNo scores 85/100 but spots are more spread out.
What should I watch out for in Denver?
Altitude sickness hits many visitors. Denver sits at 5,280 feet. Drink extra water, go easy on alcohol day one, and climb to higher spots slowly. Sun is 25% stronger here—wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.
Should I stay near the airport?
Only if you have a very early flight. Airport hotels are 25 miles from downtown with nothing nearby. The A-Line train connects the airport to Union Station in 37 minutes—stay downtown and take the train.