22 Unique Things to Do in Denver Colorado From a Local

Since moving here, I’ve discovered so many unique and fun things to do in Denver every day. This isn’t your normal best-of list (no AI here!); you’ll find things that aren’t listed on any other list of Denver activities.



I don’t like to follow the crowd – and giving you a list of things to do in Denver that is the same as every other one out there on the interwebs…what fun is that? Instead, I picked things that I like to do in Denver. You’ll find a mix of Denver experiences and great food and drink around the city.



In addition, I’ll take you to some of the Denver suburbs and the small foothill towns so you can get a real feel for the entire Denver area. After all, Denver isn’t just about downtown. And I’ll even give you some active adventures you can have in Denver if you want to move more!



I have personally done all of the things on this list. I’m constantly updating my list of the best things to do in Denver as I discover more places, so check back often. Last update March 2023.







I have also included a list of places to stay in Denver. These are places that I have personally stayed at or experienced. I try to pick ones that are more unique and also ones that support smaller local businesses rather than the big chains.




What to do in Denver Colorado



Denver’s Big Blue Bear – a City Mascot



1. Discover Denver Through Street Art in RiNo



There are a lot of great neighborhoods in Denver with snazzy New York City-esque names like LoDo (lower downtown Denver), LoHi, RiNo, and Uptown. I honestly can’t remember what they all stand for, but I am starting to somewhat know their general direction. So, when I heard about a Denver Graffiti Tour through the RiNo neighborhood I figured this would be my chance to learn about a new neighborhood.







I love street art , and I find its transformation fascinating. It went from being a plague on cities in the past to something that cities welcome and commission. It’s as if suddenly the Coyote became best friends with the Road Runner and started to pay him to hang around. Denver has one of those stories for sure, and you’ll learn a bit about it on this cool 2-hour walking tour.



Not only will you learn about the evolution of street art around the world and in Denver, but you’ll also learn about the evolution of the RiNo neighborhood into an art district. RiNo is like the ‘Lower East Side’ of Denver; it’s where all the grit and crime were years ago and has now slowly transformed into a hip area. 



Old warehouses are now home to breweries, cool bars, start-ups, galleries, and markets, and the whole neighborhood is covered in street art. On the tour, you learn the story behind street art and graffiti based on the guide’s research and interviews with the street artists personally. It’s a nice inside look into the street art culture.





























What started years ago with alley walls as a canvas has moved out to all the main buildings and establishments of RiNo – street art was everywhere. Some of it still represented the roots of the graffiti culture, and much of it was commissioned work. I recommend anyone visiting Denver to check out a Denver Graffiti Tour and then hang out in the RiNo neighborhood for brunch or local beers!





2. Smell the Flowers and do Sunrise Yoga in the Denver Botanical Garden



I had passed by the Botanical Gardens in Denver more times than I could count. I even went to it last winter for their Holiday lights, but I had never been to the Botanical Gardens in the summer (or in the daylight!) to actually see the flowers and plants…until recently. 



The Botanical Gardens exceeded my expectations in every way. I thought it might be sort of boring, but the grounds were lovely and vast. They have several outdoor areas/gardens with different types of plants as well as indoor gardens. The whole area was so relaxing and beautiful that I became a member!





























And if you are looking for things to do in Denver that are more active, they even offer yoga classes in the botanical gardens during the summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It’s such an incredible place to practice yoga among the flower, birds, and water installations.  It’s the best sunrise yoga in the city and it’s open to anyone who wants to get a ticket!





Get a Denver CityPASS to Explore More of the City
Denver CityPASS Information: Tickets include one-time admission to any 3 of the following attractions: 1. Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus 2. Downtown Aquarium 3. Denver Art Museum 4. Denver Botanic Gardens 5. Denver Museum of Nature & Science 6. Denver Zoo 7. History Colorado Center 8. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Buy A Pass here!





3. Get High In Denver At Rooftop Bars



Sorry – not that kind of high… I’m talking about height. 



I went to the opening of 54thirty rooftop bar and I must admit it sort of made me miss NYC for a hot second. I normally wear pretty casual clothes around Denver – you’ll often find me in flip-flops. However, this is one time when I felt like I should get properly dressed up.



Situated on the top floor of the Le Méridien Hotel is the swanky rooftop bar 54thirty. You can sip fancy drinks in tiny glasses, sit on modern couches, and watch the sun go down over the Rocky Mountains on one side while being wowed by downtown Denver’s big city lights on the other side – all while listening to a hip DJ – sitting outside!













It’s a great place to go for the views and some fun cocktails. Obviously, this is more of a summer place, but the rooftop is open even in the cooler months for the truly hearty.



If you need a place to ‘get’ high in the winter in Denver – then an indoor option is Peaks Lounge on the 27th floor of the Hyatt Regency.  The cocktails are inventive, the small plates tasty, and the view is incredible.  The Hyatt sits above pretty much everything and you can watch the sun go down behind the front range mountains – a great start to your evening in Denver. 





4. Dive Into Denver’s Breweries  



I’ve never lived in such a beer-crazed city; there are 72 breweries in Denver alone. And it’s beer–crazed for good reason…because the breweries and the brewing culture are really phenomenal here.  Denver is on the cutting edge of beer, and the best way to experience this is by going on a beer tour.  I highly recommend the Denver Microbrew Tour .  I went on their RiNO Beer and Graffiti Tour and was blown away by the quality of the tour, the amount of beer we tasted, and the knowledge of our guide. 



RiNo (River North neighborhood), the former industrial/gritty area of the city, has transformed into the happening neighborhood full of breweries, restaurants, and personality. On this tour, you’ll go to 4 breweries and taste 10+ different beers.  

















My favorite thing about Denver Microbrew Tours (and what makes it unique) is not every tour is the same. Our guide asked us to share our favorite types of drinks (not just beer), and from that collection of answers he decided which breweries we visited on the tour. 



In addition, he really pushed us to try everything, even if we didn’t like IPAs, try them because you may like them. I live by this rule – and appreciate pushing people to try new things. The beer was super – I found some new favorites, and found some new street art favs too!  But let’s face it…this tour is mainly about beer. 



They offer a RiNo tour as well as a LoDo (Lower Downtown) tour.  And if you are reading this and 5% off when you use my promo code OTTSWORLD!





5. Learn about History with a Molly Brown House Museum Tour



This little piece of history was right in my Capitol Hill neighborhood and I had no idea! That’s that fun thing about discovering a city – you have all kinds of little surprises. I went to do a tour of the historic Molly Brown house in Capitol Hill and I was pleasantly surprised to learn of this progressive woman and her history with Denver and politics.



Molly Brown was a tough woman, and her home is only a few blocks from my little apartment. Not only that, she was a survivor of the Titanic (played by Kathy Bates in the movie). The tour was interesting, the home was beautiful. 













If you like history and walking – check out other Denver Historic Walking Tours .  It’s a great thing to do in Denver to get some background on the city’s Western and mining heritage.



Explore these Denver hikes for visitors





6. Hang Out and Have Dinner in Larimer Square



It’s only one block, but it’s filled with history and incredible food – make sure you visit Larimer Square.  This area of downtown is lined with historic buildings that have now been converted into restaurants, bars, and a few hip stores. 



If you want to learn more about the history of the block – check out the Denver Historical Society Larmier Square walking tour .



Lights are hung across the block giving it a lovely, warm, welcoming feel. It’s there where you’ll find one of my favorite restaurants – Tamayo Modern Mexican Kitchen and Tequileria . This corner restaurant also has rooftop and outdoor seating in this prestigious block.



My mother and I went to dinner there to try out their Mexican cuisine and I was won over by their unique marrying of flavors like bacon and guacamole, and carnitas with an orange and habanero reduction. All of the dishes had a spicy flare tamed by a sweet fruit of some kind – the flavors were refreshing. 

















 It’s a great way to get a different perspective on Larimer Square – while sipping some tequila! They have a wonderful selection of tequilas and utilize them in some surprising drinks, like my tequila old-fashioned.





7. Don’t Miss This Hidden Gem – Chocolate Lab



Sometimes a girl just needs chocolate. And sometimes a girl just needs a good cocktail. At Chocolate Lab – they have both! 



This small chocolate-centric restaurant and chocolate shop recently relocated to a cute little spot in the Hilltop Neighborhood. It is known for its craft cocktails – and yes – absolutely everything served there (drinks and food) has chocolate in it.  You’ve probably never considered chocolate and lasagna, but it’s incredible!  



Their cocktails are concoctions you won’t find anywhere else.  Beautifully balanced and boozy – half of the fun is watching the mixologist make them! How about a S’moretini (marshmallow vodka, chocolate, coffee, cream, and toasted marshmallow), or a Flaming Queen (Scotch, Rye, maple, blackberry, vermouth, and citrus)? 



They call it a lab because it does feel like a big chocolate science experiment. I never liked chemistry in school, but had I been able to experiment with chocolate in che