Things to do in Denver

Culture · Morrison, 30 minutes west

A natural amphitheatre between two 90-metre sandstone monoliths, and among the best-regarded concert venues in the world.

Local tip: Free to visit and use on non-event days — locals run the stairs as a workout at dawn. Check the schedule before driving out; on show days the park closes to casual visitors.

Nature · 90 minutes north-west

415 square miles of alpine tundra, glacial valleys and elk, with Trail Ridge Road crossing above 12,000 feet.

Local tip: Timed-entry reservations apply in peak season and sell out — book the moment they release. Go on a weekday; Bear Lake on a summer Saturday is a car park with a view.

Landmark · LoDo

An 1881 station restored into a working transit hub with a hotel, bars and restaurants in the great hall.

Local tip: The A Line train from here to the airport takes 37 minutes and costs a fraction of a taxi — the single most useful thing to know on arrival. The Terminal Bar was the old ticket office.

Culture · Golden Triangle

A Daniel Libeskind-designed wing beside a Gio Ponti tower, with the largest Indigenous American art collection in the country.

Local tip: Free for under-18s always, and the Indigenous Arts of North America galleries are the reason to come rather than the architecture everyone photographs.

Neighborhood · River North

A former industrial district covered in large-scale murals, with breweries, galleries and the food hall scene Denver does well.

Local tip: The murals change constantly — the Crush Walls festival repaints much of the district each September. Walk Larimer and the alleys off it rather than following a list.

Nature · Morrison, 40 minutes west

Foothills trails past the ruins of John Brisben Walker's castle and an abandoned 'summer White House' foundation built for presidents who never came.

Local tip: Most newcomers drive straight past to the famous trailheads and queue. Mount Falcon has the same foothills views, genuine ruins, and a fraction of the people on a Saturday.