3-Day Family-Friendly Itinerary for Denver, Colorado

  • Day 1: Downtown Denver
    10 minutes (1.3 miles) from Denver Zoo

    Start your day by exploring the heart of Denver. Take a walk through the historic Larimer Square and Union Station, where you can experience the intricate architecture of Denver's iconic buildings. Visit the Denver Art Museum, which boasts a collection of over 70,000 artworks from around the world, and the Colorado State Capitol, where you can take a free guided tour of the interior.

  • Day 2: Denver Zoo and Denver Aquarium
    15 minutes (6.1 miles) from Downtown Denver

    Spend your morning at the Denver Zoo, where you can admire over 4,000 animals from 600 different species. Next, head to the Denver Aquarium, which houses a stunning display of over 500 different species of marine animals in over a million gallons of water. Afterward, take a drive to the nearby Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre for a scenic view of the beautiful mountainous landscape.

  • Day 3: Denver Museum of Nature and Science and City Park
    5 minutes (1.3 miles) from Denver Zoo

    Start your day by visiting the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which has a collection of over 1.5 million artifacts showcasing the natural wonders of Colorado and the world. Afterward, take a scenic stroll through City Park or visit the Denver Botanic Gardens, which has over 24 acres of beautiful and exotic plant life. End your day by experiencing some of Denver's best food and beverages at the local food trucks or breweries located throughout the city.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Downtown Denver (2-4 hours, free)
  • Denver Art Museum (2-3 hours, $10-$13 per person)
  • Colorado State Capitol (1 hour, free)
  • Denver Zoo (3-4 hours, $14.50-$20.50 per person)
  • Denver Aquarium (2-3 hours, $20.50-$29.50 per person)
  • Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre (1 hour, free)
  • Denver Museum of Nature and Science (3-4 hours, $16.95-$21.95 per person)
  • City Park (1-2 hours, free)
  • Local Food Trucks and Breweries (varies, $5-$15 per person)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $76.90-$115.90 per person

Transportation

Denver is a relatively small city and is very walkable, making walking, cycling, or using a scooter a convenient and inexpensive means of transportation. If you're planning on traveling outside the city or across town, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) provides an inexpensive bus and light rail service that travels throughout the greater Denver area, with tickets starting at just $3.00 per day.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, add a visit to the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, which offers stunning views of the mountains and is located an hour's drive from the city. Additionally, if you have less time, prioritizing the Denver Zoo and Aquarium and the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre are must-see attractions that can be completed in one day.

Airports

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the primary airport serving Denver and is located approximately 28 miles from the city center. It is the fifth busiest airport in the United States and offers a variety of transportation options to and from the city, including taxi and ride-sharing services, car rentals, and a direct light rail service that takes approximately 37 minutes to travel to the city center.

0