The capital of the US state of Colorado, Denver, is one of the most exciting cities in the USA and one of the real insider tips for a city trip. Away from the well-known metropolises such as New York City, Los Angeles, New Orleans or Miami, you will not only find a melting pot of different cultures, but above all a vibrant metropolis with history and character. With the Rocky Mountains in the background, an exciting nightlife and all kinds of sights, the city has developed into a real hotspot for culture and typical life in the USA in recent years. Both cultural travelers and foodies will get their money’s worth here.
The city of mineral resources – from gold mining village to oil metropolis
As so often in the history of the USA, it was the gold diggers who made sure that Denver developed. At the foot of the Rocky Mountains, first silver and then gold were found, and at some point the loose villages merged to form a city. Over time, new raw materials were discovered in the area from time to time, and most recently it was oil fields in the 1980s that led the already rich metropolis to new prosperity. Around 750,000 people now live directly in the city and well over a million people in the suburbans of Denver in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.
The history of the city and the surrounding area can still be admired today on every corner of the city. In addition to a wide selection of museums, there are many historic buildings that document the construction of the city over the past centuries and are proof of how Denver has developed from a small village into one of the most important metropolises in the USA. Denver is not only interesting for tourists itself, but also various places in the immediate vicinity invite you to excursions and give you the opportunity to discover even more sights.
Discover the must-see attractions in Denver
If you only want to spend time with the most interesting sights of Denver itself, you should definitely take a path to the State Capitol. In addition to being the Colorado state legislature, the historic building is located in the middle of a green area in the heart of the city and also offers guided tours to learn more about the history of the state and the country. With a little luck, you can get a room at the Brown Palace Hotel in the immediate vicinity – it was built in 1892 and is still a striking eye-catcher in the middle of the city and offers some interesting history about the development in the past decades.
The Daniels & Fisher Tower is one of the city’s landmarks and is hard to miss, even in the spectacular skyline. From here you can orientate yourself well and perhaps find your way to one of the most interesting shopping centers in the city. The 16th Street Mall offers a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars and is one of the centers of the city where there is actually something going on at any time of the day or night. By the way, if you want to move around the city, you don’t necessarily have to take a taxi. Especially the free shuttle buses in Denver are a convenience that you don’t want to miss when exploring the capital of Colorado.
Culture and fun in the heart of Denver
If you want to experience a lot of excitement in addition to sightseeing, you should take a trip to the Denver Botanic Gardens. It is one of the largest collections in North America and is also commonly considered one of the most beautiful botanical gardens you can find in the USA. Plants from all over the world have been prepared here in a unique landscape and offer the opportunity to find out more than just about what grows in Colorado. Speaking of plants, marijuana was legalized in Colorado a few years ago and the corresponding shops can be found in many parts of the city.
Visits to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science or the Denver Arts Museum are a great way to learn more about the USA and the city and are also real architectural eye-catchers. So if you are looking for a little education, there are many other variants to choose from in addition to these two museums. At the end of the day, Denver is also a city of museums and education.
A look at the surrounding areas of Denver
If you are planning a trip out of the big city by car, you should definitely stop by Boulder. In recent years, the city has developed into the little brother of the big metropolis, is a little less hectic, but above all offers a lot of good restaurants and a large scene of artists who make their goods available at markets or in small shops.
Another popular excursion point – in addition to the Rocky Mountains, which can be reached quickly from here – is the Red Rocks Amphitheater. The theatre, which was carved into the red rocks, has already been the venue for many famous concerts and the stars regularly come and go. In addition, even on days without performances, it is a great sight to see when visiting Denver.
