Where to Stay in Denver, By an Area Local

9 Best Areas to Stay in Denver

There are technically 78 Denver neighborhoods, far too many to cover fairly in this guide. Instead, I’ll cover the 9 Denver neighborhoods that are most popular with visitors and tourists.

If you’re looking to move to Denver, I’d suggest you instead see my guide to the best Denver neighborhoods to buy, rent, or live.

1. Union Station / Lower Downtown (“LoDo”)

👉 Best Area For First Timers and Tourists | ✨ Best LoDo Hotels: The Maven • The Crawford • The Oxford

Union Station is a historic train station that used to be a hub for railway shipments headed West. Recently renovated, Union Station is now the cultural heart of Lower Downtown (“LoDo”) Denver. If you want to be in the center of it all, Lower Downtown is definitely the area for you.

The surrounding neighborhood consists largely of older warehouse-style buildings and some newer construction. The Union Station area is also home to some of Denver’s best restaurants, boutique shops, bars, hotels, and Coors Field (home to the Colorado Rockies baseball team).

If you can afford it, my top recommendation for first-time visitors is that the Lower Downtown area is the best neighborhood to stay in Denver — specifically, The Maven hotel! You’ll be in the middle of it, all with easy access to transportation options, fine dining, sports and performances, nightlife, and the most vibrant parts of the city.

Pros of Staying in LoDo / Union Station Neighborhood:

• Located in the center of the action
• Tons of restaurants and bars
• Easy to walk to much of the city, a short Uber or scooter ride to the rest

Cons of Staying in LoDo / Union Station Neighborhood:

• Hotels are relatively expensive

2. River North Art District (“RiNo”)

👉 Best Area For Nightlife and Art | ✨ Best RiNo Hotels: The Ramble • The Source Hotel

Just north of Union Station lies the River North Art District (also known as RiNo). The RiNo art district is one of Denver’s most historic neighborhoods and probably the best for nightlife.

Of course, that assumes you can find a place available here. The few quality hotels in RiNo, namely The Ramble and The Source Hotel, book up fast, though you can also find apartment rentals here.

The district is steeped in history owing to the adjacent Five Points area. Five Points was known as the “Harlem of the West,” with discriminatory housing laws in the rest of the city resulting in this neighborhood becoming the focal point of the city’s black community [source]. In recent years, Five Points has been the target of heavy development and gentrification, as the development in RiNo slowly pushes east into Five Points.

Today, the River North Art District is home to a growing number of hot clubs, cool breweries, and fun and innovative dining options. Check out Denver Central Market, where restaurants, a deli, a café, and an ice cream shop all share a single roof, with colorful art in the adjoining alley.

RiNo is a great place to spend your evenings while traveling to Denver. Stay here if nightlife and dining are on top of mind.

Pros of Staying in RiNo Neighborhood:

• Best nightlife area in town
• Solid restaurants, great street art
• A fun and lively area

Cons of Staying in RiNo Neighborhood:

• Nightlife means it can get loud on weekends
• Things are spread out, so walking downtown is a bit of a hike

3. Central Business District (CBD)

👉 Best Area For Business Travel & Conventions | ✨ Best CBD Hotels: Le Meridien Hotel • The Brown Palace Hotel

The Central Business District is the center of Denver’s growing business community. The CBD sports soaring office skyscrapers and a long pedestrian mall along 16th Street. There is even a free shuttle service that runs the entire length of downtown Denver from the Capitol to Union Station along the 16th Street Mall.

The Denver CBD area is also home to the Denver Convention Center, a huge multipurpose space. The Convention Center plays host to a wide variety of conferences and events, including the annual Great American Beer Festival. The Convention Center is also next to the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

If you are traveling to Denver on business or for a convention, the many hotels in Denver’s Central Business District neighborhood make for a convenient option.

But, in my opinion, the CBD area can be a little dull at night (because almost nobody actually lives in this part of downtown Denver). This is really only a suggested area for business travelers, those loyal to a particular hotel chain, or those who plan to spend all of their time at the Colorado Convention Center.

Oh, the one exception is if you’re staying in the Brown Palace Hotel, a fantastic historic hotel that is an iconic experience in itself!

Pros of Staying in the CBD Neighborhood:

• Great for attending conventions
• Close to downtown office buildings
• Lots of Denver attractions within walking distance

Cons of Staying in the CBD Neighborhood:

• Not a residential area, so CBD can feel a little dead at night (especially on weekdays)

4. Cherry Creek

👉 Best Area For Luxury Travel and Shopping | ✨ Best Cherry Creek Hotels: Halycon Hotel • The Jacquard Autograph Collection

The Denver Cherry Creek neighborhood is best known for its high-end residential units, as well as its enormous shopping complex by the same name. There are also a number of dining options in Cherry Creek, though many are of the chain variety. 

Denver’s Cherry Creek is ideal if doing a lot of shopping or if you want a high-end hotel outside of downtown. Otherwise, I’d candidly recommend giving it a pass as it can feel a bit sterile to visitors.

Pros of Staying in the Cherry Creek Neighborhood:

• Large, clean, expansive streets that are great for walking
• TONS of shopping options
• The most high-end/luxury part of town

Cons of Staying in the Cherry Creek Neighborhood:

• It’s far from everything – you’ll definitely need a car or frequent Ubers

5. Capitol Hill

👉 Best Area For Budget Travelers | ✨ Best Capitol Hill Hotels: The Art Hotel Denver

Home to the Colorado State Capitol and the Molly Brown House Museum, Capitol Hill is a blend of residential housing (largely townhomes and low-rise apartment buildings) and gritty but more affordable nightlife and dining options.

Denver’s Capitol Hill is also home to some of the more interesting stretches of Colfax Avenue, which Playboy once called “the longest, wickedest street in America.” Along Colfax you can find tattoo parlors, marijuana dispensaries, and run-down liquor stores nestled between trendy craft breweries and value restaurant options.

Capitol Hill is where to stay if you’re the kind of traveler who likes Williamsburg when staying in NYC or Silverlake when staying in LA. Capitol Hill also could also work if you are looking for an affordable but central alternative to the city’s more expensive neighborhoods.

Despite its grit, the range of affordable accommodation means Capitol Hill is a good area to stay if you are on a tight budget but still want to be central.

Pros of Staying in the Capitol Hill Neighborhood:

• Some of the city’s most affordable accommodation
• Relatively central location
• Lots of restaurants and bars

Cons of Staying in the Capitol Hill Neighborhood:

• While I personally feel safe in Capitol Hill, safety might be an issue for some. Read our article on safety in Denver to make sure this area is within your personal comfort zone.

6. Lower Highlands / LoHi

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best LoHi Hotels: Life House • Fairfield Inn & Suites

LoHi was my home for many years and is still one of the hottest residential locations in the city. Highlands — as the name suggests — is located up a bit of a hill that gives many spots stunning vistas of the downtown Denver skyline.

The southern part of the Highlands neighborhood, often called “LoHi,” is home to high end restaurants and bars. I recommend checking out the ever-trendy Linger, which is set in a former mortuary. There is also a stretch of cool bars, restaurants, and shops further north in Highlands along Tennyson Avenue.

The LoHi neighborhood is a great base for those looking for a quieter scene, as LoHi tends to calm down a bit after sunset. There are a number of larger apartment rentals on VRBO available here. You’ll also find some mid-market hotels fronting Speer Avenue that may offer value given their proximity to downtown.

A good budget option in LoHi is the Fairfield Inn & Suites, conveniently located off Speer Boulevard.

Oh, and don’t miss ice cream at the iconic Little Man, where servers scoop up the good stuff from a building shaped like a milk can.

Pros of Staying in the LoHi Neighborhood:

• Amazing restaurants
• Reasonably close to downtown
• Lively but still quiet at night
• Has a great residential ambiance, with lots of greenery, parks, and fewer cars

Cons of Staying in the LoHi Neighborhood:

• The hill makes the walk back from downtown a bit of a chore

7. Uptown / North Capitol Hill

👉 Best Area For Longer Term Stays | ✨ Best Uptown Hotels: The Warwick

The smaller Uptown residential neighborhood is a quick walk away from Denver’s CBD, and a good value option for those visiting on business or looking to move to Denver. I lived in Uptown for years and even bought my first home in this area of Denver.

Though Uptown is not as lively as the surrounding neighborhoods, there is a mini-stretch of dining and nightlife along 17th Avenue that can still “Uptown funk you up.”

If you’re looking for a cheap but central hotel, check out the budget The Warwick hotel in Uptown. It’s not new, but it’s affordable and very central.

If you want to hang out on Colfax without having to actually stay on Colfax, or if you need to be downtown but want a little more character in your neighborhood, Uptown could work for you.

Don’t miss Ace, where modern Asian food, stylish but affordable cocktails, and ping pong (yes, ping pong!) all combine in an unexpected mix that works much better than it sounds.

Pros of Staying in the Uptown Neighborhood:

• Plenty of affordable apartment rentals in Uptown
• Uptown is a very residential area with lots of locals
• Pretty centrally located

Cons of Staying in the Uptown Neighborhood:

• Fewer hotels to choose from (pretty much just The Warwick)

8. Baker / South Broadway

👉 Best Area For Young Professionals | ✨ Best Uptown Hotels: Towne Place Suites by Marriott

In recent years, the area along South Broadway has become the hip spot for Denver’s younger professional set. The anchor attraction of “SoBo” is Punch Bowl Social, a huge complex that includes a restaurant, several bars, a bowling alley, a shuffleboard, and an upstairs game room.

You’ll also want to check out the rest of the many smaller, hip joints that dot South Broadway from 1st Street down to Alameda Avenue.

From swank restaurants to cheap eats, there are plenty of places to grab a bite on South Broadway. And if you’re in a shopping mood, skip the chain stores and check out the many incredible boutiques. If you want a fun area outside of downtown, this is it (along with RiNo).

Note that most of the accommodation in the SoBo area is apartment rentals, are there aren’t a ton of hotel options. The one exception is the Towne Place Suites by Marriott which is a decent budget option if you’re looking for a cheap stay.

Pros of Staying in the Baker / South Broadway Neighborhood:

• South Broadway is filled with lots of fun bars, restaurants, and shops
• Still pretty quiet once you are a block away from South Broadway
• Always a pretty lively area

Cons of Staying in the Baker / South Broadway Neighborhood :

• Fewer hotels to choose from (check out Towne Place Suites)
• Far from much of the rest of Denver

9. Washington Park

👉 Best Area For Families and Outdoors (But no hotels!)

The Washington Park (“Wash Park”) neighborhood is a residential area set around the expansive park of the same name. It is home to many students and families.

Even if you stay in another area of Denver, Washington Park is worth a visit while traveling to Denver — especially during good weather, when Washington Park comes alive with bikers, runners, skaters, basketball players, and more.

Although it is a wonderful Denver neighborhood, Washington Park is a little far out from the rest of the city, so I wouldn’t recommend staying in Washington Park unless you have a car or are willing to spend some time taking Denver public transportation.

The other problem is that there are no hotels in Washington Park, so you’d need to get an apartment rental to stay here.

Pros of Staying in the Washington Park Neighborhood:

• Washington Park is huge and a great place to get outdoors in the city
• Very pet friendly

Cons of Staying in the Washington Park Neighborhood

• Zero hotels to choose from, so you’ll need an apartment rental
• Very far from the rest of Denver (you’ll definitely need a car or bike)

5 Tips for Staying in Denver

👉 First time in Denver? Watch Abigail’s video to learn the can’t-miss Denver attractions:

Tip #1 – Don’t Stay at Denver International Airport

If you are new to Denver and searching for hotels on many booking sites, you may be tempted by relatively good deals for hotels near Denver International Airport (DIA).

Unless you are specifically coming for a conference that takes place in one of those hotels, or unless you are just transiting through DIA, please do NOT stay at or near DIA.

The airport in Denver is very far from downtown Denver. This is because it sits on the other side of the massive Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge. So staying at the Denver airport means being isolated from pretty much anything else in Denver.

👉 First Time in Denver? Don’t miss Abigail’s list of Denver travel tips!

Tip #2 – No, It’s Not Just You, Hotels Are Really Expensive

A lot of people come to Denver thinking the town will make for a great budget vacation destination. That may have been true a decade ago, but these days Denver is one of the most popular business and travel locations in the United States.

Prices for Denver accommodation reflect the city’s popularity, so it’s pretty much impossible to find any true “budget” hotels around Denver.

A “good deal” in Denver these days is pretty much any hotel under $250/night. In fact, there really isn’t even a single neighborhood where you can find truly budget hotel stays, although the Capitol Hill area comes closest.

Denver is the most expensive part of the state by far. If you’re on a budget and have the flexibility to check out other destinations in Colorado, consider visiting one of the many other places to see in Colorado instead. There are a lot of activities to do in Colorado beyond just Denver!

Tip #3 – And You May Save Money by Paying More

A lot of travelers are penny wise, pound foolish when it comes to booking accommodation in the Mile High City.

Don’t get a hotel that is really from downtown Denver just because it cost $20 less per night. You will easily end up spending more than that on transportation costs getting around Denver.

Instead, you can actually end up saving money by staying in one of my recommended areas, even if it means paying a bit more for your hotel, because it will put you in walking or public transit proximity to the city’s attractions.

That’s why my budget pick is the clean and comfortable Hilton Garden Inn Union Station. It may actually be a few bucks more than other budget hotels, but its central location by Union Station is sure to save you more than that on transportation costs.

Tip #4 – The City’s Neighborhoods Use Many Different Names

Note that one confusing thing about Denver’s neighborhoods is that the “official” terms for some of the more popular neighborhoods don’t necessarily align with the terms that locals will throw around.

For example, in recent years the slang “RiNo” (standing for “River North”) has come to be used to describe large portions of the historic neighborhood Five Point (astute travelers will observe that the newer slang terms often correspond to gentrifying areas).

Tip #5 – Denver is a Great Base for Day Trips (Video)

One of the best things about Denver is that there are so many fun day trips from Denver you can explore. Click that link to check out my guide, or watch the video above for some ideas from Abigail, a Travel Lemming Denver local.

FAQs

Is Denver Walkable?

Denver is a somewhat walkable city, with an overall Walk Score of 61 according to WalkScore.com. For tourists to Denver, many attractions are within walking distance, although it greatly helps to have a rental car if you can.

See our guide to getting around Denver for more information.

Where should I NOT stay in Denver?

Areas to avoid staying in Denver as a tourist include anywhere that is too far from downtown Denver, as well as the northern parts of the city between City Park and Five Points (which have some of the higher crime rates in the city). It is also generally inconvenient to stay at Denver International Airport as the airport is located far from the city.

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That’s it for this guide. Be sure to check out all our 100% free Denver travel guides.

If you have any questions or any need personalized advice, feel free to scroll down and leave a comment. You’ll just want to bookmark this page and check back for my response (I try my best to respond within a day).

Enjoy the Mile High City!