20 Free Things to Do in Denver (By a Local)

👉 Jump to: Free Things to Do | Cultural Sites | Outdoor Recreation | Cool & Unique Attractions

I’m a Colorado local with a longtime motto: “If it’s free, it’s for me!” In this guide, I share my favorite free things to do in Denver. Discover popular sites, hidden gems, and how to get into a few paid attractions without fees. 

Open to spending a buck here and there? Make sure to bookmark our full list of Denver attractions, which highlights even more budget-friendly activities.

Free Things to Do in Denver

Travel Lemming Meet-Up Events

Connect with passionate local travelers at our free monthly community events!  

📍 Various Locations | Website | Entrance: free | 👉 Register for our next community meet-up here

Want to meet other passionate travelers in Denver? Travel Lemming’s local editor, Abigail Bliss, hosts free monthly meet-ups at fun, casual venues across the city. Learn helpful travel insights, add to your bucket list, and become an extra-valued part of our community. Generally, our groups are intimate but draw a wide audience, from adrenaline-seeking adventure travelers to retirees living their best lives. Conversion comes easy, as we all share a love for seeing the world. Sign up for our next event here!

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre

Hike and enjoy the views at this famous concert venue.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865-2494 | Website | Hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily | 👉 Book a Tour of Red Rocks & Beyond

When there isn’t a scheduled event, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is entirely free to visit. Snap photos of the iconic outdoor music venue, which is flanked by massive red rock formations. 

You can exercise on the amphitheatre steps or take a scenic hike. I especially recommend the easy Trading Post trail for beautiful views of the Front Range. Be sure to stop in at the visitor center to learn more about the park and its fascinating history.

Downtown Denver Ice Rink

Skate under the skyscrapers.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 534-6161 | Website | Hours: Nov – Feb, hours vary | Skate Rentals: $12 adults, $9 kids under 13

Skating around the downtown ice rink is one of the best winter activities in Denver. It’s generally open from November to February. On-site skate rentals do cost, but use of the rink is free if you bring your own skates. The rink also provides free skate rentals to local 4th graders.

16th St Mall

Window shop and people watch along downtown Denver’s pedestrian mall.

📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse 16th Street Mall Tours on Viator

The 16th Street Mall spans from Union Station to Civic Center Park. This bustling mile is lined with retailers, top local restaurants, and fun attractions. Admire the architecture and new features, as this pedestrian strip has undergone major renovations in recent years.  

Tired of walking and lugging around shopping bags? Catch a ride on the free MallRide shuttle, one of the best ways to get around Denver. 

Union Station

Lounge in “Denver’s living room,” a historic landmark in the heart of downtown.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (833) 391-0338 | Website | Hours: open 24 hours, store & restaurant hours vary

Union Station is a great place to shop, dine, and simply people-watch.

Sit on one of the wooden benches and take in the history of the building. Browse the shops inside the train station, including the Tattered Cover bookstore.

Note that Union Station also houses The Crawford Hotel. Its rooms aren’t the cheapest in the city. But its central location and easy access to public transit makes it one of the best places to stay in Denver without a car. 

Tattered Cover

Browse this iconic bookstore chain.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 322-7727 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 8 pm Mon-Sat, 10 am – 6 pm Sunday

The four Tattered Cover bookstores in Denver and nearby suburbs are great places to lose yourself for an hour or longer! 

Comfy chairs invite you to sit and check out local authors or one of the bestsellers recommended by staff at the store. While shopping here isn’t free, there are free events like storytimes and book clubs for a variety of genres.

Civic Center Park

Admire the Capitol from this National Historic Landmark.

📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Book a Denver City Highlights Tour

Civic Center Park is a National Historic Landmark, with the Colorado State Capitol and Denver City Council buildings on either end. It’s a year-round attraction, but especially pretty in late spring and summer when hundreds of flowers are in bloom. Check out Civic Center Eats food truck events and free fitness classes during the warm-weather season, too.

Cultural Sites

Colorado State Capitol Building

Learn about Colorado’s government and admire the gorgeous architecture of this building.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 866-2604 | Website | Hours: 7:30 am – 5 pm Mon – Fri, Closed Sat & Sun

The Colorado State Capitol building is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Free tours are available on weekdays, allowing you to access its iconic golden dome. These guided experiences also highlight local history and the materials used for the building, including gold and rose onyx mined right here in Colorado. 

Free Museum Days

Visit lots of popular Denver attractions for free.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865 3500 | Website

Want to visit Denver museums on the cheap? You’re in luck! Many historic and cultural attractions participate in a program known as the SCFD Free Days. These include the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Denver Art Museum, and more.

Each of these places offer several free days throughout the year, allowing locals and visitors alike to enjoy the facilities without charge. 

👉 Pro Tip: Year-round, you can save up to 43% on admission fees with a Denver CityPASS! It’s a great way to see Denver on a budget, even when free museum days aren’t available.

Denver Central Library

Visit the largest library between Los Angeles and Chicago.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 865-1111 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Sat & Sun, 10 am – 6 pm Mon-Thurs, Closed Fri

Browse millions of books, play games with kids, or settle in for storytime at the Denver Central Library. This recently renovated library has many free classes, events for kids when school’s not in session, access to 3D printers and laser cutters, and other creative spaces. It also hosts community services like lunch programs and legal aid.  

Santa Fe Arts District

See a variety of art forms in the galleries, studios, and other venues.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (720) 773-2373 | Website 

The Santa Fe Arts District shares the work of hundreds of artists within galleries, co-ops, studios, theaters, and museums. There’s also street art along Santa Fe Drive. The year-round First Friday Art Walks are a great way to enjoy an evening of art while grabbing food from nearby restaurants or food trucks.

Outdoor Recreation

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

Enjoy wildlife just miles from downtown.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 289-0930 | Website | Hours: Sunrise – sunset daily

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best day trips from Denver. It’s such a unique place to see wildlife, with skyline and mountain views in the backdrop. 

The park is most famous for its bison herd. However, there are more than 300 different species of mammals, plus birds and fish that live here. You can take a car tour through the refuge, and also hike and fish in the area. 

Cherry Creek Trail

Exercise along a creek running right through downtown.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily

The paved Cherry Creek Regional Trail is roughly 50 miles long It begins at downtown’s Confluence Park and terminates way down in Franktown, which is just east of Castle Rock. Walk or bike past several attractions, including Cherry Creek Mall and Four Mile Historic Park, taking in lots of Colorado scenery along the way. 

City Park

Rose gardens, lakes, and summer jazz make this a treasured spot.

📍 Google Maps | Website | Hours: 5 am – 11 pm daily

City Park is Denver’s largest urban park and home to two local lakes. Take a walk around the water or for a small fee, rent a pedal boat or kayak on-site. This attraction also features miles of multi-use paths, expansive green space, a small rose garden, and fountains where kids can splash when it’s warm out. 

Summer also brings special free festivals and events like the Saturday farmers market and City Park Jazz, where you’ll be treated to concerts by great musicians.

Take a Hike

Enjoy some of the best views in the world for free.

Lots of the best hikes near Denver don’t require a parking pass, meaning accessing them is free. Families with young children should visit the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and take the short hike nearby. 

There are also scenic hikes near Red Rocks and several mountain parks in Littleton, Golden, and beyond. 

📚 Related Reading: They generally cost $10 to enter, but I highly recommend checking out the nearby state parks, too!

Hudson Gardens

Wander through beautifully cultivated gardens.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 797-8565 | Website | Hours: sunrise – sunset daily

Visiting the Hudson Gardens is one of the best things to do in Littleton, and is a quick trip from Denver. 

The attraction hosts paid concerts and events like “A Hudson Christmas.” However, access to the gardens is generally free. You’ll find a rose garden, vegetable gardens, and an outdoor model train area, which is always a hit with kids!

Carson Nature Center

Learn about local plants and animals, then go tubing or ride the bike trail.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: Phone: (303) 730-1022 | Website | Hours: 12 pm – 4:30 pm Tues – Fri, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm Sat & Sun, Closed Mon & holidays

The Carson Nature Center looks out onto views of the foothills. It has displays about plants and animals that are native to Denver and the surrounding area. Kids will love experimenting with the water table in the back room. 

The park next to the nature center is a fun place to look for wildlife, and the nearby Mary Carter Greenway Trail is an 8-mile bike path along the South Platte River. You can also tube this waterway in the summer months! Bring your own inflatable to float for free or catch the cheap shuttle from Breckenridge Brewery, one of the best local craft breweries.

Cool & Unique Attractions

U.S Mint Tour

Tour a historic building and learn about the mint’s importance in Denver and the U.S..

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 572-9500 | Website | Hours: 8 am – 4 pm Mon-Thurs, Closed Fri – Sun

During Colorado’s mining boom, the city needed a place to produce coins from all that gold. The Denver Mint now creates coins for the western half of the country — and far beyond.

Take a free tour to learn about the manufacturing process, as well as the architecture and art within this 1800s building. And to answer every dad who cracks a joke on the tour… Sorry, there are no free samples!

Hammond’s Candy Factory

Channel your inner Willy Wonka with a candy tour.

📍 Google Maps | Phone: (303) 333-5588 | Website | Store Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Mon-Sat, Closed Sun

Hammond’s Candies have been a colorful Colorado treat since the 1920s. Learn how the ribbon candy, candy canes, and other confections are created on a factory tour.

Fair warning: The tour ends at the gift shop and although the tour itself is free, you’ll be sorely tempted to leave with some edible souvenirs. Make sure to take the little ones along, as this is one of the best things to do in Denver with kids.

Geocaching in Downtown Denver

Look for small caches and tiny treasures all over Denver.

🌐 Website

Looking for free date ideas in Denver or a fun way to entertain kids? Register on Geocaching.com, download the app, and start seeking small surprises across the city. 

It’s helpful to know what kind of caches you’re looking for ahead of time. In some cases, you’ll find a small trinket and you’ll want to leave something like stickers or a keychain in return. In other cases, you simply sign a register and add your name to the list of people who discovered the cache. 

🧚 Don’t Miss: Have you heard about the fairy doors hiding along South Pearl Street? See my article on this unique art scavenger hunt in Denver!

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Hopefully, this list has given you plenty of ideas. Leave me a comment if you have any questions. Also, make sure to read our guide on where to stay in Denver next. With so many fun attractions, you’ll want to stay here a while. Trust me! 

– Abigail Bliss contributed to this article