Denver
Around Denver
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Colorado · 3.1M people
Denver
Locals say Denver metro · “Mile High City”, “Queen City of the Plains”, “The 303”
Denver · Aurora · Centennial · Broomfield · Commerce City
A mile high, full of sunshine, mountains, and craft beer.
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Welcome to the Denver metro! Whether you're here for the mountains or the mile-high city life, you'll find plenty of sunshine and friendly faces. Grab a craft beer and enjoy the view.
Clubs for Denver
No clubs for Denver yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Denver. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Denver. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre An iconic open-air concert venue set between 300-foot red sandstone rocks.
- Denver Art Museum Modern architecture and a vast collection of Native American and contemporary art.
- Denver Botanic Gardens A 24-acre urban garden with themed sections, including a tropical conservatory.
- Coors Field Home of the Colorado Rockies, known for its mountain views and rooftop bar.
- Empower Field at Mile High The Broncos' home field, famous for the mile-high altitude advantage.
- Ball Arena Arena for the Nuggets, Avalanche, and major concerts in the heart of downtown.
- Outdoors Hike at Red Rocks
- Outdoors Bike the Cherry Creek Trail
- With kids Denver Zoo
- With kids Children's Museum of Denver
- Evenings Live music at Red Rocks
- Evenings Brewery hopping in RiNo
- Locals love Breweries
- Locals love Mountain trails
Through the year
- Great American Beer Festival October The largest beer festival in North America, featuring thousands of craft brews from across the country.
- National Western Stock Show January A 16-day western heritage event with rodeos, livestock shows, and a parade through downtown Denver.
- Taste of Colorado September A Labor Day weekend festival in Civic Center Park with food vendors, live music, and family activities.
- Cherry Creek Arts Festival July A juried fine arts and crafts festival featuring over 200 artists, live music, and food trucks.
- Denver Film Festival November An annual film festival showcasing independent and international cinema with screenings and Q&As.
Denver enjoys a semi-arid climate with 300 days of sunshine a year. Winters are mild and snowy at times, summers are hot with afternoon thunderstorms, and the best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal, with mild temps and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “LoDo”
- Lower Downtown, the historic warehouse district now full of bars and restaurants.
- “RiNo”
- River North, an arts district known for breweries and street art.
- “The 5280”
- The altitude (5,280 feet), often used to refer to the city itself.
- “Fourteeners”
- Mountains over 14,000 feet, a bucket list for hikers.
Getaways
- Boulder Hike the Flatirons, stroll Pearl Street Mall, and enjoy a vibrant college town vibe.
- Colorado Springs Visit Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.
- Breckenridge Ski or snowboard at a top resort, or explore the historic mountain town in summer.
- Fort Collins Discover craft breweries, Old Town charm, and the Cache la Poudre River.
Local flavour
Teams
- Denver Broncos NFL
- Denver Nuggets NBA
- Colorado Rockies MLB
- Colorado Avalanche NHL
- Colorado Rapids MLS
- Denver Summit FC NWSL
Also rooting for Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA football), Denver Pioneers (NCAA hockey)
Eat and drink
- Green Chili A spicy pork-based stew, often smothered over burritos or burgers.
- Rocky Mountain Oysters Fried bull testicles, a local delicacy.
- Craft Beer Denver is a top craft beer city with over 150 breweries.
- Bison Burgers Lean, locally sourced bison patties.
Where people go
- Breweries Neighborhood taprooms and brewpubs are a staple.
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre Iconic outdoor concert venue set among red sandstone formations.
- Mountain Trails Hiking and biking paths that lead into the foothills.
- Ski Resorts World-class skiing within a few hours' drive.
- Sports Stadiums Mile High Stadium (Empower Field) and Ball Arena are gathering spots.
Heritage and traditions
Denver is proud of its Mile High status, its blend of Western heritage with a vibrant modern culture, and its welcoming, active community that treasures the outdoors and its diverse ethnic traditions.
This time of year in Denver
- Aspen leaf peeping September-October The mountains turn golden.
- Denver Jazz Festival October Jazz performances and workshops.
Say it like a local: “going to the mountains” — Refers to the Rocky Mountains, a common weekend destination.
Festivals
- Cinco de Mayo May Celebrates Mexican heritage with music, food, and dancing.
- Denver PrideFest June One of the largest LGBTQ+ festivals in the region.
- Colorado Dragon Boat Festival July Races and cultural performances at Sloan's Lake.
- Denver March Powwow March Native American dancing, drumming, and crafts.
- Denver Chalk Art Festival June Artists transform sidewalks with chalk masterpieces.
- Underground Music Showcase July Indie and local bands across venues.
Landmarks with a story
- Colorado State Capitol Gold dome and the 'Mile High' step on the west side.
- Molly Brown House Museum Home of the Titanic survivor, now a museum.
- Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Historic Catholic cathedral in downtown.
- Temple Emanuel Reform synagogue, one of the oldest in the West.
- Five Points Historic District Historic African American neighborhood known for jazz.
- Byers-Evans House Victorian-era house museum.
Food traditions
- Denver Omelet A diner classic with ham, peppers, onions, and cheese, said to be named after the city.
- Tamales at Christmas A holiday tradition in Hispanic families, often made with pork and red chili.
- Breakfast Burritos A morning staple from local taquerias, filled with eggs, potatoes, and green chili.
- Smothered Burritos A Denver specialty: a burrito covered in green chili.
- Chile Rellenos A stuffed poblano pepper dish, popular in Mexican restaurants.
Music and arts
- Five Points jazz heritage Historic jazz scene, often called the 'Harlem of the West'.
- Denver Center for the Performing Arts One of the largest performing arts centers in the country.
- RiNo Art District River North Art District known for street art and galleries.
- Chicano mural movement Colorful murals in the Santa Fe Arts District.
A little history
- 1858 Denver founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush.
- 1906 The 13th step of the Capitol was marked as exactly one mile above sea level.
- 1976 Denver was awarded the Winter Olympics but voters rejected it, so it moved to Innsbruck.
- Early 20th century Five Points became a hub for jazz and blues in the early 1900s.
- 1995 Denver International Airport opened, known for its tent-like roof and conspiracy theories.
Rivalries
- Broncos vs Raiders An AFC West rivalry with decades of bad blood.
- Avalanche vs Red Wings A historic NHL rivalry from the late '90s that still sparks debates.
- Buffaloes vs Rams Colorado vs Colorado State college football, a friendly in-state showdown.
- Nuggets vs Lakers A recent Western Conference playoff rivalry, especially after the 2023 championship.
- Game day Broncos tailgating
- Game day Mile High Salute
- Outdoors Visit the Denver Mountain Parks
- Outdoors Fish at Cherry Creek Reservoir
- With kids Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum
- With kids Mordecai Children's Garden
Denverites speak a fairly neutral American English with a Western flavor. You'll hear 'y'all' occasionally, but more often 'you guys.' Spanish words like 'green chili' and 'burrito' are common. Locals love to reference the altitude and the mountains.
Only here
- The 13th step of the Capitol marks the exact one-mile-above-sea-level point.
- Sports balls travel farther in the thin air, affecting games.
- Denver International Airport's murals and architecture fuel conspiracy theories.
- The 16th Street Mall is a pedestrian mall with a free shuttle.
New here? A few tips
- Drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness.
- Sunscreen is a must even in winter.
- Learn to pronounce 'Aurora' as 'uh-ROAR-uh'.
- Expect traffic on I-25 during rush hour.
- Carry layers because the weather changes quickly.
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Part of Denver area
Nearby
Every areaBoulderColoradoWhere the mountains meet the mindsGreeleyColoradoA welcoming heart on the high plains.GranbyColoradoWhere the river begins and the stars shine bright.Fort Collins–LovelandColoradoWhere the Rockies meet your glassBreckenridgeColoradoWhere the peaks touch the sky and the town feels like home.Colorado SpringsColoradoWhere the mountains meet the plains and adventure is a way of life.Fort MorganColoradoHeart of the Colorado plainsEdwardsColoradoWhere the peaks meet your soul.
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.