Denver's art world is booming, and thanks to the city's walkability, visitors can experience some of the best fine art attractions on foot in a single day, from the world-class collections at Denver Art Museum to the otherworldly realms at Meow Wolf Denver. 

This 3.5-mile tour starts at one end of downtown, works its way through the heart of the city to the northeast, then turns toward the south in an L-shape. Sure, you could spend all day at any one of these museums, but this itinerary is about getting exercise and stimulating your mind. If you need to rest, there are public transportation options along the way.

 

Breakfast Options

The major museums don't open until 10 a.m., so you have plenty of time to get a bite to eat in and around the Golden Triangle Creative District. For some homemade goodness, head to Leven Deli Co. for breakfast biscuits, burritos and sandwiches. Or try the corned beef hash and the waffles smothered in sautéed fruit at Syrup or the famed Denver omelet at The Delectable Egg.

 

First Stop: Denver's 'Most Interesting Museum'

 

 

Kirkland Institute of Fine & Decorative Art

Kick off the day at the funky ​Kirkland Institute. Take in the museum's collection of 20th-century decorative arts in the 38,500-square-foot facility on 12th Avenue and Bannock Street. On display are more than 3,300 works of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Glasgow Style, Wiener Werkstätte, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern and Pop Art. Additionally, a major survey of Colorado art history documents more than 170 artists represented by some 700 works, with a strong focus on the first three-quarters of the 20th century. Also, be sure to view the retrospective of Colorado's distinguished painter Vance Kirkland (1904–1981) in his original painting studio.

Time Spent: 1 hour

 

Second Stop: Abstract Expressionism at Its Finest

 

The Clyfford Still Museum

Clyfford Still is considered one of the most important American artists of the 20th century and an originator of the Abstract Expressionism movement. With more than 2,500 artworks in the collection, the Clyfford Still Museum houses the life's work of this visionary artist. Located next to Denver Art Museum, the Clyfford Still Museum lets you experience magical large-scale works the way the artist intended.

Time Spent: 1 hour

 

Third Stop: Denver's Largest Art Museum

 

Denver Art Museum

Just past the Denver Public Library looms Denver Art Museum's (DAM's) stunning Hamilton Building, designed by Daniel Libeskind and a total standout, with its bold, jagged angles and metallic exterior. Libeskind's design was inspired by the nearby Rocky Mountains and is clad in titanium and glass. During daylight hours, the building positively shimmers. Take some time to walk the perimeter of the Hamilton Building — it's worth seeing from every possible angle. Near the entrance of the Hamilton Building are several pieces of giant-sized artworks, including the monumental sculptures "Big Sweep" (a 30-foot-tall broom and dustpan) by Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg, and "Denver Monoliths" by Beverly Pepper. The similarly huge and absolutely charming "Scottish Angus Cow and Calf" by Dan Ostermiller is located just south of the Hamilton Building.

It would be tough to take in everything the DAM has to offer in just a few hours. Plan ahead by exploring the museum's comprehensive website, picking and choosing from the extensive collections.

Fans of Western American art will be thrilled to find that the DAM houses one of the largest collections of American West–themed art in the world, including work by masters such as Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, John Mix Stanley and others. The crown jewel in the institute's collection is Charles Deas' "Long Jakes, Rocky Mountain Man," the single most influential image in Rocky Mountain iconography. Time-travel even further back in the pre-Columbian art collection, which features pieces from nearly every major culture in Mesoamerica, Central America and South America. Or explore the DAM's extensive selection of Indigenous art.

Those looking for art of a more recent vintage should head to the Hamilton Building's third and fourth levels, where DAM's modern and contemporary collection lives. Marvel at more than 4,500 works in a wide variety of media, with an emphasis on both internationally known and emerging artists. Particularly striking is Sandy Skoglund's "Fox Games," which depicts an invasion of foxes, sculpted in clay and cast in polyester resin, within a restaurant. The foxes prowl on and around red tables in an entirely red room. It's humorous and eerie all at once.

Time Spent: 2–3 hours

 

Lunch Options

 

This would be a good time to take a lunch break at DAM's Café Gio, a more casual experience, or The Ponti, an upscale experience. Both dining spots have indoor and outdoor seating. 

 

Fourth Stop: Cowboy Culture 

Western Art in Civic Center Park

Cross West 14th Avenue and enter Civic Center Park, a two-block oasis filled with flower gardens and Old West art, located a stone's throw from Colorado's gold-domed Capitol Building. Check out Allen True's murals (located in the park's Greek Theater), depicting pioneers in the wilderness, and the two Western-themed bronze statues, "Bronco Buster" and "On the War Trail," by Denverite Alexander Phimister Proctor. Not exactly Western-themed, but certainly worth a look, is the delightfully eye-catching sculpture outside of the Denver Public Library. "The Yearling," by Donald Lipski, features a pinto pony perched atop a 21-foot-tall red chair, sure to give even the most jaded among us a sense of childlike wonder. 

Note: Civic Center Park is presently under renovation through 2026, so you might not be able to see what's mentioned above. However, as part of this project, the city will be enhancing the Greek Theater and adding more seating areas as well as public art.

Time Spent: 30 minutes

 

Fifth Stop: Oversized Downtown Denver Icons

 

'I See What You Mean' (a.k.a 'Denver's Blue Bear')

From Civic Center Park, cross West Colfax Avenue and walk about five blocks to the northwest down 14th Street to the Colorado Convention Center just before Stout Street. The Blue Bear, a Denver icon, will be right in front of you. Created by Denver-based artist Lawrence Argent, this delightful, 40-foot-tall sculpture, surrounded by xeriscaped gardens, peers curiously into the building, injecting a sense of fun and playfulness into the convention center experience. Take a photo or two of this only-in-Denver icon. He looks good from all angles.

 

'The Dancers' at Sculpture Park

Next, continue heading down 14th Street and make a left on Champa Street and go past the Denver Performing Arts Complex to Sculpture Park. You'll come across a wide green expanse, highlighted by one of Denver's most striking pieces of public art: "The Dancers" by Jonathan Borofsky. These gleaming, 50-foot-tall, white humanoid figures cavort, symbolizing Denver's love of dance, theater and music. And, speaking of music, if this sculpture gets you in the mood for some dancing of your own, music piped in through speakers in the park provides buoyant accompaniment.

Time Spent: 45 minutes 

 

Dinner Options

Depending on the day of the week, the museum at the sixth stop (below) might be closed by the time you reach it on this tour. One option is having dinner at a must-try restaurant before heading to the seventh and final stop. 

 

Sixth Stop: Cutting-edge Art in a Cutting-edge Building

 

MCA Denver (Museum of Contemporary Art Denver) 

This gem of a museum proves that contemporary art can be thought-provoking and fun all at once. 

MCA Denver's modern and elegant LEED-certified building (designed by renowned London architect David Adjaye) stands out amidst refurbished turn-of-the-century brick warehouses and is easily recognizable thanks to the whimsical pierced-heart sculpture ("Toxic Schizophrenia," by British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster) that stands at the entrance atop a tall steel pole.

Once inside, note the uniquely warm, natural lighting; more than 50 percent of the building's exterior wall is a double-skin façade, with insulating tinted curtain walls and an interior of Monopan©, a translucent, honeycomb-patterned material that allows natural light in without glare.

MCA Denver features five galleries — Photography, Paper Works, Large Works, New Media and Projects — each with rotating exhibits to guarantee that every visit to the museum offers a new experience. Make your way through the inviting stillness, taking time to linger if a piece catches your eye.

Afterward, spend a little time relaxing on MCA Denver's rooftop deck, which boasts 360-degree views of the Denver skyline. The garden, created by local landscape architect Karla Dakin, features several steel-framed plant and flower beds suspended in space, floating above a pool of water. The MCA Café on the rooftop offers beverages, organic and locally grown food, and free Wi-Fi.

Before heading to the next Denver art destination, stop in at SHOP MCA, selling books, DVDs, clothing and limited-edition works of art. It's the perfect spot for an offbeat gift for the art lover in your family.

Note: The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but open until 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and until 5 p.m. on weekends.

Time Spent: 1.5 hours 

 

Seventh Stop: An Experience Like No Other 

 

Meow Wolf Denver

The good news is that the last museum on this itinerary is open late, typically until 10 p.m. or later, depending on the day. Getting to Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station from downtown on foot is a little bit more complicated due to the interstate. One option is to use a ride-sharing service or take the scenic route by walking to Confluence Park, where you can enjoy the beautiful rapids. Then pick up the South Platte River Trail and head south for about a mile until you reach 1st Street. Along the way, you'll pass Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, where Meow Wolf also has a "thrill ride for the mind." The Kaleidoscape takes you on an artist-driven voyage when the park is open during the summer.

Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station is an unforgettable and transformational experience for all ages that will get you in the mood for a day of creative exploration. Discover immersive, mind-bending art across the four alien worlds of C Street, Eemia, Ossuary and Numina. Uncover the secrets within. 

Inside the bustling multiverse transit station known as Convergence Station lies HELLOFOOD, an oasis of combined culinary cultures serving QDOT for 2,500 years and counting! Here, visitors can recharge from their cosmic exploration and find sustenance in tasty treats and bold brews from local vendors.

Time Spent: 1–2 hours