Denver Is the Ultimate Locals' Playground, Staycation Spot

Who says you have to leave town to feel like you’ve gotten away? A staycation in downtown Denver is your chance to break out of the everyday without packing a bag or booking a flight. You already know how vibrant and beautiful this city is, but when was the last time you gave yourself permission to enjoy it like a visitor?

There is always something happening in Denver. From street festivals and pop-up events to new restaurants and live music, the city stays active every day of the week.

Browse the ideas below for fun ways to explore downtown with family, friends or visiting guests. Check back often. This list is updated regularly to help you plan your next outing.

Looking for weekend-specific picks? Visit our weekend blog post, updated every Monday. And if you are ready to turn your plans into a full staycation, check out these hotel deals.

You do not have to go far to make the most of your time off.

Ideas for Getting Out in Denver Any Day of the Week

Cultural Festivals
Live Music
Outdoor Recreation
Museum Exhibitions
Performing Arts
New Dining Spots
Hotels and Spas
Things You Didn't Know About Denver
Fun and Games

Cultural Festivals

Some of the most popular summer festivals are about to get underway. 

Mark your calendar for these events that are coming soon.

A quintessential annual event for foodies, the Denver Food + Wine Festival (Sept. 3–6, 2025) is a multi-day extravaganza of food, wine and spirits events. Need we say more?

Celebrate Asian culture with food, shopping, art and thrilling dragon boat races across Sloan’s Lake at the 25th Annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival  (Sept. 6–7, 2025).

And from keg bowling to stein hoisting, live music and more, there’s something here for everyone at the Denver Oktoberfest (Sept. 19–21 and Sept. 26–28, 2025). So grab your stein, throw on your lederhosen and join in the fun over two weekends!

Live Music

Music will fill the city with pitch-perfect notes floating across stunning views.

What began as a “celebration of community” in 1986 in the City Park neighborhood has grown into a summer highlight. The free City Park Jazz (June 1–July 27, 2025, on Sundays) is back with a new lineup of top talent along with food trucks in a family-friendly atmosphere. 

Enjoy live music at your very own public gathering spot, The Outer Space, at 16th and Welton streets. Upper DownTUNES (June 4–Aug. 29, 2025) will feature a full roster of talent in various genres. Check it out from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Friday. 

Don’t miss 200-plus national and discovery acts playing live from South Broadway on multiple outdoor and indoor stages at the Underground Music Showcase (July 25–July 27, 2025).

And see a concert like no other as Beck (July 27, 2025) performs with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre. 

Outdoor Recreation

There are endless excuses for enjoying Colorado’s blue skies. Here are a few more.

Strike a pose at one of the world’s most awe-inspiring venues. All you have to do is get up early and grab your yoga mat. There’s nothing like Yoga on the Rocks (May 31–Aug. 9, 2025, at 7 a.m. on Saturdays).

See a summer movie in the great outdoors. 

The city has more than 250 individual urban parks. How many have you been to? Having a picnic in Cheesman Park, watching the sunset at Confluence Park or taking a morning or evening stroll around Sloan’s Lake are great ways to unwind. Also, check out these lesser-known, hidden-gem parks or go for an urban hike.

Take your dog for a walk in a different neighborhood. The city is constantly evolving and you’ll be surprised at what you discover, which will delight the other end of the leash. Mountain and skyline views pop out in unusual places and there’ll be a striking corner cafe or bistro you never knew existed.

Museum Exhibitions

Denver’s renowned cultural institutions have some inspiring stories to tell you.

Here’s what’s going on as we speak.

The Deeper Dive: Titanic Tour will offer an in-depth tour in the home of Titanic survivor Margaret "Molly" Brown as you explore new artifacts in the "See Justice Done" exhibit. Tours are available on Aug. 7, 28; and Sept. 18, 2025. 

MCA Denver is presenting a selection of artworks from the acclaimed New Orleans-based international art triennial Prospect.6. The Future is Present, The Harbinger is Home (thru Aug. 24, 2025) features more than 60 newly commissioned artworks by nineteen artists in the mediums of sculpture, painting, drawing, video and large-scale installations.

And Denver Art Museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its Indigenous Arts of North America collection, showcasing 8,000 square feet of artwork and artifacts, plus the special exhibition Kent Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors (thru Aug. 17, 2025). 

See more must-see art exhibitions.

Performing Arts

These performers have spent years honing their craft, many local but some from afar.

Take a pause and admire the beauty. Or be prepared for the unexpected.

See a spectacular performance combining poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics and technology that explores the delicate balance between people, animals and the world we all share at Cirque du Soleil ECHO (July 12–Aug. 17, 2025, on select days).

For 10 weeks, larger-than-life sculptures will illuminate the night across 12 acres at Four Mile Historic Park. The event is a collaboration with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., the largest producer of Chinese lantern festivals in North America. Bright Nights at Four Mile opens on July 23, 2025.

See more performing arts events. 

New Dining Spots

A slew of new restaurants have opened, heating up Denver's already hot dining scene. 

What's your next favorite spot?

Michelin-starred Chef Johnny Curiel has opened Alteño at The Clayton Hotel. Curiel’s newest creation pays homage to his Jaliscan Highland roots and traditions, incorporating a mix of heritage flavors and rustic preparations that spotlight the cuisine and culture of the iconic Los Altos de Jalisco.

The Mediterranean-inspired and local favorite Leven Deli Co. has opened a new concept called Leven Supply, a counter-service restaurant, grocery and gift shop in the Wash Park Supply retail center, and coming soon is the full-service Leven Downtown in the Central Business District, which will offer lunch and dinner options.

Craving Italian? Several new spots have you covered, such as Bar Amorina, Little Johnny B’s Woodfired Pizza and Johnny Bechamal’s. 

If you’re in the mood for Asian, Kizaki, serving up sushi, has opened on South Pearl Street, Magna Kainan, a Filipino restaurant, has landed in the River North Art District (RiNo), and Kawa Ni is a lively izakaya (Japanese-style pub) in the heart of Lower Highland (LoHi) housed in a historic firehouse.

And named after the 1999 U.S. women’s national soccer team that won the FIFA World Cup, the 99ers Sports Bar is the city’s first sports bar designed specifically for women and those who don’t feel comfortable at traditional sports bars. Go there and feel empowered!

See more must-try restaurants. 

Hotels and Spas

With some of the most exciting hotels in the country to choose from, go for a retreat and try out these unique amenities for couples, families and dogs. 

From the gilded-age charm of the Urban Cowboy Denver to the eco-friendly Populus at Civic Center Park, you can live in the past or future. Either way, you’ll experience the utmost in luxury. The Kimpton Claret Hotel, offering a stunning rooftop bar—along with Populus—are true gems that are blazing new trails in the city.

While Denver has several Michelin-starred restaurants, under the company’s new hotel-rating system, three hotels made the exclusive cut and received the prestigious “keys,” denoting “a very special stay”: Clayton Hotel and Members Club, Four Seasons Hotel Denver and The Crawford Hotel.

If you’re looking for something truly unique, reserve the Beatles suite at the Brown Palace Hotel & Spa by Marriott where the iconic band hung out in 1964.

Denver has a multitude of accommodations to choose from whether you’re looking for a romantic, family-friendly or pet-friendly (no need for a boarding facility) stay. And on those warm summer days, you can’t beat these hotels with rooftop pools and bars. And anytime is a good time to nab a hotel deal.

Why not combine a hotel stay with a spa treatment for the ultimate in renewal? The Oxford Hotel has every kind of massage, body and skincare treatment you can imagine. The Oakwell Beer Spa, meanwhile, has a central location and combines a day spa with a craft beer bar. Yes, you can soak in a bubbly beer bath infused with hops, barley and seasonal herbs, which will give you a natural glow. What could be more Denver than that?

Things You Didn't Know About Denver

Take a plunge and learn something new about the city.

What’s the oldest working thing in Denver? Who invented the cheeseburger? Where can you find the rare black-footed ferret? Get the answer to these and more questions via our only in Denver blog series. 

Another great way to discover a different side of the city is through a guided tour. They’re not just for tourists! The Denver Graffiti Tour will teach all about the evolving street art scene on a two-hour stroll. Learn about the craft beer process by booking a tour at Wynkoop Brewing Company or Great Divide (original brewery and taproom on Arapahoe Street). Or impress your friends at the next party with your cocktail knowledge by touring Mile High Spirits or The Family Jones Spirit House.

Fun and Games

Playing games is a great way to bond or reconnect with friends and family members.

And you know you want to win, right?

Keep the good times rolling at Lucky Strike, with 12 full-size bowling lanes.

It’s all about teamwork at these Denver escape rooms. At EscapeWorks Denver, you’ve got one hour to band together with your group of two to twelve people to escape from a clue-filled room. And Escapology is the first and only live-action Denver escape room that combines games, a bar and a restaurant. The 6,100-square-foot location features neo-Victorian steampunk décor, seven themed live escape rooms and the Solutions Lounge and Restaurant.

Holey Moley is the city's first and only indoor miniature golf course. Located in the 130-year-old City Cable Railway Building, Holey Moley’s two high-tech nine-hole courses are decked out with thousands of LED lights, motion sensors and sound effects. 

Denver has lots of craft breweries, but only one of them also boasts Denver’s largest pool hall. Head to Wynkoop Brewing Company and belly up to one of the 15 tournament-sized billiards tables on the second floor for a game or two. 

And you better bring your A-game when you show up at Ace Eat Serve. This Uptown eatery dishes up dim sum, bao buns, fried rice, ramen and other Asian cuisines, along with a heaping helping of competition when you challenge your dinner companions to a few rounds of table tennis. 

See more indoor fun and games.