With a thriving arts scene, the perfect mix of city and nature vibes, delicious craft beer, and so much more, Denver is one of the most interesting cities in the country. In this article, we'll share the most fun activities in Denver for adults.
From exploring one of the world’s most diverse botanical gardens and relaxing at a beer spa to enjoying local events and tasting local wines, the opportunities are endless.
Denver is full of fun things to do for young and older adults. From shopping and dining to relaxing and getting active, there’s something for everyone.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best adult things to do in Denver, Co. Below, we’ll share more details.
If you want to explore the heart of downtown Denver, Larimer Square is the perfect place to go. This historic district and vibrant area is filled with dining, shopping, and entertainment.
Larimer Square is also a fun area to hang out at night with delicious restaurants and lively bars. There’s also a popular comedy club, Comedy Works, well worth checking out.
One of the most fun activities in Denver for adults during the day is exploring the Denver Botanic Gardens, which features one of the largest collections of plants in the country.
At Denver Botanic Gardens, you can find picture-perfect themed gardens with countless exotic blooms. There’s also an amphitheater that hosts shows during summer.
Adults who appreciate history love the History Colorado Center. Discover Colorado's history through artifacts, stories, and art. You can also shop for regional food, crafts, and books.
As the US state with the most breweries, Colorado is a beer lover’s paradise. And Denver’s beer scene is one-of-a-kind.
Explore the best of Denver’s craft beer on a Denver Microbrew Tour. There are a couple of tour options – the buzzing Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood or the artsy River North Art District (RiNo).
LoDo is ideal for those who want to learn interesting Denver history, while RiNo boasts some of Denver’s most unique street art.
Tip: You can also do a self-guided craft beer tour. Some of our favorite breweries are Crooked Stave, Odell Brewing, Cerveceria Colorado, and Great Divide Brewing.
One of the most fun activities in Denver for couples and friend groups is rejuvenating with unique spa services and local craft beer at Oakwell Beer Spa. Oakwell Beer Spa is an award-winning day spa where guests can relax differently with beer-inspired spa treatments and a cozy taproom oasis.
There are various packages, including the standard Beer Bath Hydrotherapy session, a date night, and a party experience.
You can book your spa treatment online or walk in to enjoy the taproom and Zero Gravity Massage experience.
If you’re an art lover looking for fun activities in Denver for adults, be sure to check out the Denver Art Museum. This is one of the largest art museums in the United States and showcases more than 70,000 diverse works from across the world.
At the Denver Art Museum, you can find the Indigenous Arts of North America collection and incredible pieces of Latin American Art.
There are also regular events and programs, including creative classes, talks with artists, and artist takeovers.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre is a famous, open-air theater that sits within a stunning rock structure. It’s just outside of Denver and offers an ideal escape from the city.
During spring, summer, and fall, you can enjoy regular live music and comedy shows. Red Rocks Park is also fun to explore and appreciate nature year-round.
Visiting Civic Center Park is one of the most versatile, fun things to do in Denver for adults.
This large green space is surrounded by some of Denver's most iconic sites, including the State Capitol and the Denver Art Museum.
During summer, the park boasts 25,000 square feet of beautiful flower gardens. The park also has summer festivals, concerts, and food trucks.
Enjoy cooking or want to learn a new hobby? A cooking class is ideal.
Denver Cooking Classes brings a fun experience to you at home with seasonal recipes and local ingredients. This is one of the best things to do in Denver alone, with friends, or on a date night.
Union Station, also known as “Denver’s Living Room,” is an excellent place for adults to hang out. Not only is it a cool historic railway station in the lively downtown area, but it’s also home to fun shops, restaurants, and bars.
If you’re visiting Denver, The Crawford Hotel in Union Station is one of the best places to spend the night.
(Only open seasonally)
One of our favorite day trips from Denver is heading to the Mount Evans Scenic Byway to explore outside of the city. This 49-mile winding byway sits 14,000 feet above sea level and is the highest paved road in North America.
Take a drive and enjoy some of the most stunning Colorado views. There are plenty of places to stop along the way to appreciate the scenery and take pictures.
To extend your adventure, you can also head a little further north to check out the incredible Rocky Mountain National Park.
One of the most iconic fun activities in Denver for adults who love sports is seeing the Broncos play at Empower Field.
There are also local events and live concerts year-round. Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran are both performing this year!
Best of all, the stadium is just a few minutes from downtown, so you can explore the city before or after the game.
Another great spot to watch a live show in Denver is the Performing Arts Complex. In fact, this is the largest performing arts center in one building in the entire country.
The Denver Performing Arts Complex has 10 performance spaces to enjoy plays, concerts, and other events. It's also home to the Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and Opera Colorado.
Who says adults can’t have fun too? An escape room is one of the best ways for a group of adults to hang out and do something unique.
Denver has a few escape rooms, including the popular and award-winning HD Escape Rooms. There are several different immersive escape room options with varying difficulty levels to solve a series of puzzles to find your key and unlock the room.
Kick back and enjoy delicious local wine at The Infinite Monkey Theorem. We love this modern-chic winery with cozy indoor and outdoor seating.
The Infinite Monkey Theorem offers a fun wine-tasting experience and often has events like trivia and comedy shows.
Archery Games Denver offers one of the most fun activities in Denver for adults who enjoy adventure.
At Archery Games Denver, you can play dodgeball with a twist, where you play with bows and foam-tipped arrows. Bring a group of four or more friends or join a public game when you arrive.
This is the ideal spot for birthdays, team building, date nights, and bachelor/bachelorette parties.
Another one of our favorite things to do in Denver, CO, for adventurous adults is ziplining through the Rocky Mountains.
Denver Adventures offers Colorado’s longest and fastest ziplines. Choose your adventure with zip lines ranging from 850 feet to more than 1,900 feet long and speeds up to 60 mph and up to 250 feet above the ground.
Note: Denver Adventurers is a 30-minute scenic drive from Denver’s city center. They also offer shuttle pick-up.
Below, we’ll answer common questions to help you enjoy the best of Denver for adults.
Denver is ideal for a vacation. With so many fun things to see and do, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re staying for a day or a week, it’s easy to enjoy your experience.
Our favorite activities in Denver are:
There are many free things to do in Denver, including free days at the Botanical Gardens, hanging out at local parks, and driving along the Mount Evans Scenic Byway.
We hope you found fun things to do in Denver that you're excited about! Denver is one of our favorite cities, and the memorable activities are endless.
Ready to relax at the most unique day spa in Denver? Schedule a spa day at Oakwell Beer Spa.
By: Polly Clover
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