Downtown Denver

Family-Friendly Attractions

Enjoy 70 acres of fun and thrills at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, play a fun round of mini-golf at Urban Putt, meet sea creatures and Sumatran tigers at the Downtown Aquarium, explore the unique interactive exhibits at Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus (newborn through age 8) and learn about the history of the Denver Fire Department with hands-on activities at Denver Firefighters Museum.

Museums

Denver Art Museum's Indigenous and Western art collections are renowned, not to mention its bold Daniel Libeskind architecture and the museum's traveling exhibitions. Next door, Clyfford Still Museum showcases the work of this important Abstract Expressionist artist in a uniquely designed building. Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art features works by its namesake, Vance Kirkland, as well as a collection of decorative art. MCA Denver, designed by David Adjaye, hosts exhibitions throughout the year and features a rooftop café; and the American Museum of Western Art has an impressive collection that spans decades of artists.

Experience the history of the west at History Colorado Center and the Center for Colorado Women's History at Byers-Evans House Museum. The CELL educates, empowers and engages visitors on the role of terrorism. 

Performing Arts

The Denver Performing Arts Complex is the largest performing arts complex under one roof in the country and home to four resident companies: the Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, which offers Broadway touring shows, Tony-winning theater, and cabaret and experimental productions. 

Pro Sports

Denver is Sports Town, U.S.A., with an astonishing six professional sports teams and three downtown venues, including Ball Arena, which is home to the Denver Nuggets basketball team and is also a major entertainment complex. Sports fans can take tours year-round of Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies play baseball, and Empower Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos football team.

Food & Drink

Are you hungry for sophisticated or laid-back? Chez Maggy  is a brasserie in LoDo, which comes via French chef Ludo Lefebvre. Look for foie gras miso soup with fava beans, roasted black sea bass and French wine. The 90-seat signature restaurant can be found in the Thompson Denver  hotel. Blue Agave Grill  on the 16th Street Mall features contemporary Southwestern cuisine with a large margarita selection, house-infused tequilas and homemade sangria. And Bruto, over at Dairy Block, offers Michelin-starred Latin cuisine served omakase-style.

Get a taste of Italy right here in The Mile High City. Attimo Wine is a working urban winery aging, blending and bottling wines from Northern Italy. Take a tour of the winery and discover Attimo's story. 

Denver's reputation as a beer city is second to none. Sip fresh samples at downtown's legendary craft breweries, such as Denver Beer Co.  and Wynkoop Brewing Company  (founded by former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper). Taste other local brews at Tap Fourteen. 

You can also eat, explore and learn about Denver's thriving culinary scene on a downtown food tour with Delicious Denver Food Tours.

Nightlife

Ophelia's Electric Soapbox  is also one of Denver's hottest dance spots. This "gastrobrothel" is housed in the historic Airedale building, which has been, at various times, a brothel, peep-show parlor and adult bookstore. Ophelia's history is celebrated in the sensual decor and on the large sunken stage and dance floor. For some laughs, head to Comedy Works Downtown, a Denver institution, in Larimer Square. You'll see rising local comics as well as world-famous headliners.