Denver, Colorado is a place I have been to many times, but usually, only spend a few hours passing through to visit my family in Colorado Springs. On this trip, I actually spent time getting to explore more parts of the city and eat at some pretty amazing restaurants. Two days in Denver is the perfect amount of time to explore this fun city and makes for an easy weekend trip from Los Angeles.
US Ghost Adventures is an awesome company that offers a variety of guided tours and haunted experiences across different cities in the United States. Visitors can learn the compelling history and stories of the paranormal and the city’s darker side. Make sure to check out the variety of tours offered in Denver here. They are very affordable too!
Disclaimer: Special thanks to the Clyfford Still Museum for hosting me on my trip to Denver! As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you!
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History of Denver
Prior to the settlement of Denver, various Native American tribes such as the Cheyenne and the Arapharo lived in the area. These tribes were recognized as the landowners until the Gold Rush in 1858. During that time, gold prospectors came to the area and set up mining towns.
After some time, these towns turned into Denver Frontier town. Throughout the late 1800s, the Denver area continued to be a frontier town area as well as having a Native American presence. In the 1860s, the transcontinental railroad was built through Cheyenne, about 100 miles away. Denver created a railroad that connected to it, thus bringing more people to the area.
In 1867, the Colorado Territory was officially established with Denver as its capital and in 1876, Colorado became a state. Throughout the early 1900s, Denver became more of a business center and continued to be built up into the city we know today.
When to Spend Two Days in Denver
Many people opt to visit Denver during the summertime, but the shoulder season (April-May and September-October) are great times to visit as the city will be less crowded and the weather will be warm. I am one of the people who likes to visit Denver in the wintertime as I like the snow and cold weather. If you are into winter sports, you may also want to visit in the wintertime as Denver is close to a ton of ski resorts.
How to Get to Denver
Denver has one major airport -Denver International Airport (DIA). It is one of the largest airports in North America and has flights from all over the United States and many international locations. From California, you can typically find very cheap flights for under $100 on Frontier Airlines. I have even seen some for as low as $40.
Transportation in Denver
If you opt to not get a rental car and stay in Downtown Denver, it is pretty easy to get around to all of the main sites. From the airport, you can catch the light rail to Downtown for $10.50. To get around Denver, you can take buses or the light rail to most of the main locations.
If you plan on exploring more areas outside of Denver, I recommend getting a rental car. I always use Autoslash to find my rental car. Having a rental car will make it easier for day trips.
Where to Stay in Denver
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Denver hotels here!
Denver has so many awesome areas to stay in. The most convenient is Downtown Denver, but you can find some cheaper options right outside of Downtown Denver. If you get a rental car, I recommend staying right outside of Downtown so you do not have to pay for parking. Hotels I have previously stayed at include the Hampton Inn West Federal Center and the Hilton Garden Inn Denver/Thornton.
These are also some great hotel options:
- Hyatt Regency Denver
- Hyatt House Denver/Downtown
- Grand Hyatt Denver
- Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver
- Aloft Denver Downtown
- AC Hotel Denver Downtown
- Le Meridien Denver Downtown
- Hilton Garden Inn Denver Downtown
- Embassy Suites Denver Downtown
What to do During Two Days in Denver
Denver has a variety of activities for all to enjoy and a TON of mouthwatering food options. Depending on which activities you choose, it may be worth investing in a Denver City Pass.
Day 1
Breakfast at HashTAG
Cost: $$
Hours: 7am-2pm
Start your first of two days in Denver with breakfast at HashTAG. This is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Denver as the menu has a ton of delicious options and it also constantly has new things. I also love that they have some amazing breakfast cocktails too. HashTAG’s avocado toast is amazing.
Colorado State Capitol
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5pm
After breakfast, head to the Denver Capitol Building. Visitors can opt to go on a self-guided tour or take one of the guided tours offered pretty much every hour. If you take a guided tour, it does take you up into the dome which looked like a very cool experience. On the very top floor, there is a museum about the history of Colorado and the Capitol called Mr. Brown’s Attic Museum.
Denver Mint
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8am-4:30pm
Although they are not open right now, during normal times, visitors can visit the Denver Mint for free. The Denver Mint is a really fun stop when spending two days in Denver. During the tour, visitors can learn about the process of coin manufacturing as well as about the history of the mint. If you are ever in Philadelphia, you can check out the Mint there as well!
Lunch at Denver Central Market
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 8am-9pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-11pm
Denver has a plethora of many food halls, so eating at one should be on everyone’s list when spending two days in Denver. The Denver Central Market is one of the most popular options. At the Central Market, visitors have the option of a variety of food stalls to choose from. For breakfast, I recommend Izzio Artisan Bakery and the Local Butcher or Lunch Boxx for lunch.
RiNo Art District
Cost: Free
Right around the corner from the Denver Central Market is a ton of murals known as the RiNo murals. Many of the murals are from 2020, but each year new ones are continuously added. There are really so many awesome ones out there and they make great places for some pictures. You can even take a Graffiti and Mural Tour.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Cost: $15
Hours: 9am-4pm
After lunch, head to the Denver Botanic Gardens. These gardens are a 23-acre park that contains a variety of themed gardens and a conservatory. Although Spring is the best time to visit, even in the wintertime, it is still really pretty to walk around. Throughout the summertime, the gardens also put on special events such as concerts.
Great Divide Barrel Bar
Cost: $
Hours: Sun-Tues: 12pm-8pm, Thurs-Sat: 12pm-10pm
The Great Divide Barrel Bar is a brewery located close to Downtown. Great Divide Brewing Company is pretty popular in this area and they have a large assortment of beers. They have a lot of unique flavors such as a chocolate raspberry and a peanut butter cup. I of course always love all of the sour beers.
Dinner at Safta Restaurant
Cost: $$$
Hours: Mon-Fri: 5pm-10pm, Sat-Sun: 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm
End your first of two days in Denver with dinner at Safta Restaurant. This spectacular Israeli restaurant serves food with influences from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. The dishes are served family-style so keep that in mind when ordering.
Day 2
Breakfast at Denver Biscuit Company
Cost: $$
Hours: Varies by location
Start your second of two days in Denver with breakfast at Denver Biscuit Company. There are multiple locations spread across Denver. They are famous for their biscuits and have a ton of different biscuit breakfast sandwich options. The positions are huge so I recommend sharing.
Clyfford Still Museum
Cost: $10
Hours: Wed-Sun: 10am-5pm
The Clyfford Still Museum is dedicated to the work of Clyfford Still. It was a very unique art museum and I highly recommend adding it to your two days in Denver. Throughout the museum, visitors can see the change in Still’s work from landscape to more abstract ideas. Plan to spend about an hour exploring the museum.
Denver Art Museum
Cost: $18
Hours: Wed-Mon: 10am-5pm, Tues: 10am-9pm
If up for another art museum, head next door to the Denver Art Museum. This museum has a wide variety of art to explore and frequently has some special exhibitions as well. In total, they have 70,000 works across 12 permanent exhibits. I always enjoy the European art section but they have Asian, Ancient American, Latin American, Contemporary and Modern Art as well.
Lunch at Denver Milk Market
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 7am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 7am-12am, Sun: 7am-9pm
The Denver Milk Market is another popular Denver food hall. This one has a more upbeat vibe and a lot of food options. Popular options are Lou’s and Ghost Tortilla. This is a great place for lunch during two days in Denver, especially if you have a larger group so there is something for everyone.
Drinks at 54thirty Rooftop
Cost: $
Hours: Mon-Turs: 3pm-9pm, Fri-Sat: 1pm-11pm, Sun: 1pm-8pm
This afternoon, grab drinks at 54Thirty, Denver’s highest open-air bar and rooftop. It is located at the top of the Le Meridien Hotel and offers awesome views of Downtown Denver. 54thirty does close if the weather is not great, so make sure to check the website for accurate information. Also, it is first come first served, so try to get there when they open to guarantee a spot. Besides drinks, they do have a few light bites to eat. The Burrata cheese made for a great snack.
Catch a Rockies Game at Coors Field
Cost: $20 and up
Hours: Varies by day
If it is baseball season, make sure not to miss a Rockies Game at Coors Field. It has the highest elevation out of all the stadiums in the United States. The playing field is right at about 5200 feet, thus making its nickname “The mile high stadium.”
Dinner at Mercantile
Cost: $$$
Hours: Tues-Thurs: 8am-2pm, 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat: 8am-2pm, 5pm-10pm
This evening, grab dinner at Mercantile at Union Station. Mercantile likes to use a lot of farm fresh ingredients. It was started by Alex Sidel when he combined his two previous restaurants into one. Make sure to make a reservation as Mercantile is a very popular place.
Cooper Lounge
Cost: $$
Hours: 4pm-12am
After dinner, head to The Cooper Lounge. This speakeasy is hidden on the second story of Union Station near mercantile. You will also want to make a reservation here as it can get quite popular, especially on the weekends.
More Than Two Days in Denver?
If you have more than two days in Denver, make sure to check out these other cool places.
Coors Brewery Tour
Cost: Free-$20
Hours: Mon, Thurs-Sat: 10am-4pm, Sun: 12pm-4pm, Closed Tues-Wed
The Coors Brewery is located in Golden, Colorado right outside of Denver. It is always a fun stop to head to visit the brewery and go on a tour. The tour showcases the largest single-site brewery in the world. It lasts 60 minutes and then you get a chance to try 3 different beers.
Meow Wolf Denver
Cost: $45
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-10pm
Meow Wolf Denver offers an unforgettable, immersive experience that blends art, technology, and storytelling. Known as “Convergence Station,” this interactive exhibit invites visitors to explore fantastical worlds, each with its own unique universe, characters, and mysteries. With mind-bending installations, hidden passageways, and a multi-sensory adventure, Meow Wolf Denver pushes the boundaries of art and entertainment.
It’s a place where creativity knows no limits, and visitors can lose themselves in a truly one-of-a-kind experience. This is a great place for families, couples, or anyone who likes art and hands on places. If you have the time, plan on visiting the other Meow Wolves across the United States in Houston, Santa Fe, Dallas, and Las Vegas.
Day Trip to Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is another super fun place in Colorado. If you plan to visit Colorado Spring, I recommend at least two days there, but a day trip is manageable if that is all the time you have. Make sure to visit Cave of the Winds, Pikes Peak, and Garden of the Gods. The Broadmoor is also fun to walk around and has a great restaurant -the Golden Bee. Also make sure to stop by Ivywild School, a bar in an old school, for a drink!
Rocky Mountain National Park
If you have extra time to add to your two days in Denver, I highly recommend heading to Estes Park and visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. This park is easily one of my favorite National Parks in the United States (and I’ve been to over half of them)! There are some really cool hikes in the park such as the Emerald Lake Trail. If you do not want to drive yourself, check out this tour.
Other Denver Restaurants
If you have more than two days in Denver and want some other places to eat, make sure to check out these places.
Snooze is another popular breakfast place that has the best fun flavored pancakes! I recommend getting the trio of pancakes so you can try different flavors. Snooze also has locations in several other major cities such as San Diego and Phoenix, so you can always catch a meal in those locations.
If you are looking for another fun Denver food hall, you can check out Stanley Marketplace in Aurora. This one is pretty large and has quite a few delicious options. For those craving some good German food, head to Helga’s German Restaurant and Deli. It is located somewhat close to the Denver airport, so it makes for a good last stop out of town.
Total Costs for Spending Two Days in Denver
Airfare: $170/person (but second person free with our companion pass)
Hotel: $235 total or $117.50/person
Rental Car: $115 total or $57.50/person
Total Cost: $520 total or $260/person
Other Options to Add on to Two Days in Denver
If you have even more time, opt to head out on a Colorado road trip and stop in Grand Junction and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. There are so many awesome things to see in Colorado, you can easily spend a week exploring the area. You can also head up to Cheyenne, Wyoming, and South Dakota to explore more of that portion of the United States as well.
12 thoughts on “Two Days in Denver, Colorado: A Fun Weekend in the Mile-High City”
Wow, didn’t know there are so many cool things to do in Denver! I only heard about Colorado State Capitol and some national parks nearby. Great article, saving it for the future!
Yes! Denver is well worth a stop.
These are great suggestions! The light rail is so handy for getting around the city and so cost effective compared to taxis/Ubers. I love the free things you’ve suggested to help stay on a budget as well!
Yes! It is so easy to use and I always love finding free things to do in a place.
Fun to see another’s perspective of Denver. There is so much to explore and do in Colorado especially if you come to visit the mountains.
Yes! Colorado has such a diverse range of activities.
What a great post! I’ve wanted to visit Denver for a while and your post inspired me to get there sooner rather than later!
Yes! You should! And it is such an easy city to get to.
Awesome! I’ll add this to my roadtrip list
Yes! So many fun things to do in the Denver area too.
I just moved to the US and planing some summer trips. Had not considered Denver but this looks quite interesting. Thanks for sharing
There are so many fun spots to visit in the US!