With so many vibrant places and activities, it takes little effort to spend most of your paycheck exploring this city. Luckily, you don’t need to empty your wallet to enjoy your time here. As much fun as many of the expensive activities are, Denver also offers a flurry of fun outings that don’t cost a dime. Follow along as we cover the best free things to do in Denver.
Now that you’re saving money while exploring these free activities, you might find yourself looking for even more deals. With the right timing and expert insight, you can find jaw-dropping deals on luxury apartments all over Denver. Reach out to AptAmigo to get your own personal apartment expert who can help you find discounts on your next home. Learn more about how it works.
Related: Best Studio Apartments in Denver
Explore Denver’s Parks
On any given weekend, you can find most Denverites in one of the city’s many green spaces. In fact, 90% of Denver locals live within a 10 minute walk of a park. You can visit a total of 314 parks sprinkled throughout the Mile High City, but a few local favorites include Wash Park, City Park, and Confluence Park.
Locals enjoy walking their dogs through green spacious fields and picnicking on blankets with loved ones. Speaking of dogs, Denver has a lot of them. Consequently, our love of parks and dogs lead to our position in the 70th percentile of dog parks per 100,000 people compared to other top US cities. Whether for a day of lounging, grass volleyball, or Jazz in the Park, spending time outside probably ranks as the most popular free Denver activity. Locals get their fix of sunlight, exercise, and social interaction all by heading over to their local park.
Interested in living near some of Denver’s most popular parks? Check out our neighborhood guides covering the vibe, top spots, and things to know about popular park-centric neighborhoods, especially Washington Park, City Park, City Park West, Cheesman Park, and Platt Park.
Outdoor Fitness
The many free opportunities to stretch your body and get some exercise in Denver corroborate the city’s reputation as an extremely active city. So, lace up your sneakers and head outdoors to burn some calories before you earn them back at the local breweries.
Red Rocks Amphitheater
Head southwest to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for sprints up the elongated steps surrounded by striking red stones.
Red Rocks also hosts Yoga on the Rocks, an early morning yoga class with hundreds of participants. At $15 per ticket, it isn’t technically free, but it is popular enough that we still wanted to include it.
Downtown/Urban Trails
Many public paths within Denver and in the surrounding areas offer exercise opportunities for people of all experience levels. The Cherry Creek Trail runs through downtown Denver and provides a calming oasis of flowing water, wildlife, and colorful artwork.
Additionally, Confluence Park, located in LoDo at the joining of Cherry Creek and the Platte River, always fills up with dogs frolicking in the water, people working out, and lots of picnics.
Hikes Near Denver
There are dozens of great hikes within a 45-minute drive of downtown Denver. We recommend the AllTrails app, which will give you pictures, maps, ratings, and information on nearby trails. With varying degrees of difficulty, you can get a high-intensity workout, or simply stretch your legs.
Regardless of the weather, people take advantage of the spectacular trails around Denver year round, although you will definitely experience more crowds on one of Denver’s 300+ days of sunshine.
When you itch for some outdoor energy or can’t motivate yourself on an indoor treadmill, Denver’s trails provide a wonderful space to get your heart rate up while enjoying nature.
Free Tours
Who doesn’t love an informative tour at no cost? They give you an opportunity to learn something new and witness some behind-the-scenes insight. Here are a few of our favorites.
Hammond’s Chocolate Factory Tour
At Hammond’s Chocolate Factory, you can see how they make lollipops and other candies. During this complimentary tour of the candy factory, you’ll learn all about their history in Denver and get an up-close and personal look at the process that goes into making their world-renowned candy, the same process they’ve used since 1920. Visitors see firsthand the labor-intensive pulling, twisting, and shaping that goes into making their delicious goodies. You’ll even leave with a free delicious treat fresh from their bakery!
Coors Brewery Tour
Arguably one of Denver’s most popular tours, the Coors Brewery tour hosts visitors from all over the world. Learn about the malting, brewing, and packaging process that goes into creating the iconic Coors beer, and enjoy free samples.
This up close and personal brewery experience will provide entertainment at zero cost. Although technically located in Golden, about 15 minutes from downtown, the Coors Brewery tour makes for an exciting and easy day trip. Golden’s quaint and charming downtown area contains great food and local boutiques.
Street Art
Use our guide to Denver’s best street art to create your own self-guided tour. Encounter the different styles and statements of local artists as you absorb the creativity behind this city’s rich culture.
Related: Best Sports Bars in Denver
Take a Scenic Drive
Located just 20 minutes from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, some amazing scenic drives surround Denver. So many, in fact, that we wrote an entire article on it. You’ll find picnic benches, scenic overlooks, and little mountain towns along the way. You might even find a nice hike on the AllTrails app. Pack up some hiking shoes, a picnic basket, and your dog, and explore the mountains for a day.
Find Your Dream Denver Apartment
We hope you enjoy the many free activities in and around Denver. If you’re looking to move to this beautiful city, reach out to AptAmigo, and we will help you find a place with zero stress and VIP service. We love Denver, and we know you will too!
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*The original version of this article was first published on April 28, 2020.
Heather was a Content Marketing Associate at AptAmigo. When she isn't creating and designing content, you can find her sipping on crafty cocktails at local Denver bars, thrifting for the best vintage items, or hitting the slopes in Breckenridge.
