Visiting Denver on a budget?
Here are FREE things you can take advantage of in the Mile High City!
Free Things to Do in Denver
#1 Tour the State Capitol
The Colorado State Capitol , modeled after the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., is a stunning spectacle embellished with stained glass depicting events and people inherent to Colorado, coupled with gorgeous Colorado white granite, rose onyx and yule marble. To see if you’ve got what it takes to adjust to the altitude, climb the 99-step spiral staircase to an open-air deck affording jaw-dropping views of the city skyline and Rocky Mountains. The Corinthian-styled building, famed for its gold-plated dome rising 272 feet above the ground, offers temporary exhibits, visitor galleries and complimentary tours, Monday through Friday.
#2 Visit the US Mint in Denver
Denver is home to one of only two mints in the United States.
To see where your currency is conceived, follow the money trail to the Denver U.S. Mint .
The free, 45-minute tours are led by knowledgeable guides and provide a fascinating look into the history of coinage. Both kids and adults will love getting up close and personal with the shiny pocket change that streams off the production lines. Tours are available Monday through Thursday (excluding Federal holidays). All visitors must be 7 years and older. See the mint’s latest policies.
#3 Take a Tour of the Hammond’s Candy Factory
The Hammond’s Candy factory has been making candy since 1920!
It’s about a 20 minute drive from Downtown Denver. Tours need to be booked online and they are totally free!
At the end of the tour, you’ll get a free candy sample and exit into their fun candy shop where you can buy goodies to take home! We recommend checking out the discounted bags of candy!
(@alex.goes.global)#4 Walk Around the Red Rocks Amphitheater
Carved from towering red rock monuments, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is one of the world’s most renowned concert venues.
When a concert is not in session you can visit the amphitheater. Inside the Visitor Center you can peruse a museum and Performers Hall of Fame.
Outside, you can hike the various trails that take you around the colorful red rocks.
#5 First Friday Art Walk
Every first Friday of the month, the Art Walk happens along Santa Fe.
Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District neighborhood brims with more than 30 art galleries and artists’ studios showcasing the innovative wares of nationally renowned talent and regional up-and-comers. First Friday Art Walk, a shuttled gallery tour that takes place the first Friday of each month, is a terrific way to tour art marts like Walker Fine Art . The Golden Triangle art galleries are bordered by Speer Boulevard, Colfax Avenue and Lincoln Street. Shuttle tours begin at the Osage Street Light Rail Station.
#6 See a Free Concert
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is the second-largest in the United States.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts – home to the Newton Auditorium, Temple Buell Theatre, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Garner Galleria Theatre and a wealth of smaller stages – hosts several free performances throughout the year. There are rules, of course: No advanced reservations are accepted; seating is general admission; children under six years old are not allowed; and tickets are only available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the performance. Despite the regulations, it’s worth braving the lines to experience some of the best theater in the country.
#7 Check Out Art in the Park in Aurora Highlands
We went to check out the art park in the Aurora Highlands and can confirm that it’s worth a visit!
If you are renting a car, we highly recommend visiting at the beginning or end of your trip before you head back into or out of the airport.
#8 Dikeou Collection
Did you know you can see a pair of inflatable, 16-foot-tall rubber bunnies right here in Denver?
The Dikeou Collection is one of The Mile High City’s most fascinating art venues. It’s a private collection of contemporary art, with photography, drawings, sculptures and installations by more than 25 artists from around the world.
The exhibit is free and open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.
#9 Explore the Denver Central Library
Denver Central Library has an impressive art gallery on the seventh floor. The library is best known, perhaps, for its Western History Collection, which covers the earliest explorations, Spanish land grants, Native American history, the gold rush era and the present day with a particular focus on the Rocky Mountain West.
#8 Attend a FREE Event
Denver never ceases to amaze us!
There are always free events that you can attend and we help you find these awesome events!
Examples of events include the Cherry Creek Arts Festival , held every summer, or the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival in Sloan’s Lake Park in July.
Follow us on Instagram at @DenverforFree to view our roundup of Denver’s monthly free events!
