The best seat in Denver’s most famous venue costs nothing on a morning without a show. Climb to the top rows of Red Rocks Amphitheatre at eight o’clock and you share the sandstone with a few runners doing the stairs, with the whole of the plains laid out beyond the stage. It is a fair introduction to the list of free things to do in Denver, which is longer and better than most visitors expect: a gold-domed Capitol with free tours, a federal mint that shows you how coins are made, a museum of aircraft with no admission fee, dinosaur tracks you can stand beside, a bison herd ten miles from downtown, and summer concerts by the dozen.
This guide sticks to things that are genuinely free, not “free with purchase,” and it is honest about the catches: the tours you must book a month ahead, the free museum days that are the most crowded days of the year, and the free places you cannot reach without a car. Hours, booking rules and dates were checked against each operator in September and October 2026. Our main guide to things to do in Denver covers the paid attractions too, and Denver on a budget covers the cheap ones.
Denver’s Best Free Things at a Glance
| Free thing | Where | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre | Morrison, 15 miles west | Needs a car or ride; public access ends mid-afternoon on show days |
| Colorado State Capitol tour | Downtown | Weekdays only, 10am to 3pm |
| Denver Mint tour | Downtown | Book online up to 30 days ahead; Monday to Thursday; ages 7 and up |
| Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum | Lowry, east Denver | None, beyond getting there |
| Union Station Great Hall | LoDo | None |
| Dinosaur Ridge trail | Morrison, next to Red Rocks | Needs a car; the bus tours cost extra |
| Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge | Commerce City, northeast | Needs a car |
| SCFD free days at the big museums | Citywide | Scattered dates and big crowds |
| Levitt Pavilion and City Park Jazz concerts | Ruby Hill Park and City Park | Summer only |
| Free entry for under-18s | Denver Art Museum, History Colorado | Adults still pay |
Free Landmarks and Tours
Colorado State Capitol
The Capitol is the best free hour in the city. Guided tours run on the hour from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, and walk-ins are welcome; booking is only needed for groups of ten or more. The building itself is open on weekdays from 7:30am to 5pm. Inside, the rotunda is lined with rose onyx and murals, and when it is open you can climb the 99 steps above the third floor into the dome for a view over Civic Center Park to the mountains. On the west steps, a marker shows the spot one mile above sea level, which is the photograph everyone takes. Tours are cancelled on some holidays.
The Denver Mint
The U.S. Mint’s Denver facility gives free tours that show how the country’s coins are made, and they are excellent, but they come with more conditions than anything else on this list. Tours run Monday to Thursday only, in six slots a day from 7:15am to 2pm, last about an hour and take up to 50 people. They can be booked only through the U.S. Mint’s online reservation system, not by phone or email, up to 30 days ahead, with new dates released at 1am Denver time and a maximum of five tickets per request. Visitors must be 7 or older, security is airport-grade, and there is nowhere to store bags. Plan a month out, or skip it.
Union Station
The Great Hall of Union Station, a restored 1914 waiting room of tall arched windows, chandeliers and long tables, is open to anyone, with seating that requires no ticket and no purchase. It is the city’s best free room to sit in with a coffee you brought yourself and watch Denver go by.
The Central Library and the Golden Triangle
Next to the Denver Art Museum, the Central Library of the Denver Public Library is a free building worth seeing for its own sake: Michael Graves’s postmodern stack of colored towers and drums, opened in 1995 around the library’s original mid-century wing. Inside, its Western History collection is one of the great archives of the American West. The surrounding Golden Triangle is full of free public art, including Mark di Suvero’s red steel sculpture outside the library.
Downtown’s free sights
- The Blue Bear. Outside the Colorado Convention Center, a 40-foot blue bear, officially I See What You Mean, presses its nose to the glass.
- The Dancers. At the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Jonathan Borofsky’s pair of 60-foot white figures dances in the plaza.
- Larimer Square. The city’s oldest block, strung with lights over restored Victorian storefronts.
- The Brown Palace lobby. The 1892 hotel’s soaring atrium lobby is one of the grand interiors of the West, and there is no charge to look.
- 16th Street. Rebuilt and reopened in October 2025, with the free FreeRide shuttle running its length.
Our downtown Denver guide ties them into a walk, and tip-based walking tours cover much of the same ground with a guide. They are free to join, but the tip is the guide’s pay, so budget for it; our Denver tours guide has the details.
Free Museums and Free Museum Days
The museum that is always free
Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum fills a historic hangar at the former Lowry Air Force Base in east Denver with military and civilian aircraft, space exhibits and cockpits you can climb into, and admission is free, funded by the regional cultural tax. It opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm. It is also one of the eight attractions on the Denver CityPASS, which makes choosing it for a CityPASS slot pointless.
Free for anyone 18 and under
The Denver Art Museum admits everyone 18 and under free on every day it is open, and one ticket also covers the Kirkland Museum next door for visitors 13 and over. The History Colorado Center is free for 18 and under too. For a family, that makes two of the city’s best museums cost only the adults’ tickets.
SCFD free days
The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District is a small regional sales tax, one tenth of one percent, that funds Denver’s cultural institutions, and among other things it pays for scheduled free days at the big museums, the zoo and the Botanic Gardens. Each institution sets and publishes its own dates, and they are scattered through the year rather than fixed to a weekday. In 2026, for example, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science held free days on Monday 13 April, on Juneteenth, on Monday 24 August and on a Tuesday evening in September, while the Denver Art Museum, the Botanic Gardens and the zoo each had their own separate dates.
Two catches. Free days cover general admission only, so special exhibitions, planetarium shows and events may still need a ticket. And they are the busiest days those institutions have all year. If you are on a genuine shoestring, take the free day and arrive at opening time. If you can afford it, a quiet paid weekday is often the better visit. Check each institution’s own calendar, or the SCFD’s combined free-days calendar, before you plan around one. Our guide to Denver museums covers what each is like on a normal day.
Red Rocks and the Free Foothills
Some of the best free things near Denver are in the foothills just west of the city. You will need a car, a ride or a tour to reach them, but once there they cost nothing.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
On non-event days, admission and parking are free for the park, the amphitheatre, the visitor center and the Trading Post. The park opens an hour before sunrise and closes an hour after sunset. Walk the 1.4-mile Trading Post Trail loop through the rock formations, climb the amphitheatre’s steps, and visit the Red Rocks Hall of Fame in the visitor center, which opens 7am to 7pm from March to October and 8am to 4pm from November to February. On show days, the public loses access from mid-afternoon, so come in the morning. Our guide to Red Rocks Amphitheatre covers the park in full.
Dinosaur Ridge
A few minutes’ drive from Red Rocks, on the hogback ridge just to its east, Dinosaur Ridge is one of the best dinosaur track sites in the world, and its paved two-mile trail along the ridge is free to walk. Signs along the way point out more than 300 dinosaur tracks, fossil bones and the ripple marks of an ancient shoreline. The visitor center at 16831 West Alameda Parkway opens daily, 9am to 5pm from mid-March to October and 9am to 4pm in winter. Guided bus tours and a hop-on, hop-off shuttle cost extra; the walk does not.
Jefferson County Open Space and Lookout Mountain
The county parks along the foothills are free, with no parking charge: Mount Falcon, with the ruins of a never-finished summer home for presidents; Matthews/Winters, right by Red Rocks; Lair o’ the Bear along Bear Creek; and the Table Mountains above Golden. Up the winding Lariat Loop road, Lookout Mountain gives a sweeping view back over Denver and holds Buffalo Bill’s grave, which is free to visit; the museum beside it charges admission. State parks such as Roxborough and Golden Gate Canyon, by contrast, charge a daily vehicle pass of $10 to $15, so they are cheap rather than free. Our guide to the best hikes near Denver covers the trails.
Free Parks and City Walks
Denver has an unusually good park system, and the city parks are where locals spend their free weekends.
- City Park. The largest of the central parks, with Ferril Lake, the classic view of the downtown skyline against the mountains from near the nature and science museum, and summer concerts.
- Washington Park. Two lakes, formal flower gardens, a lakeside boathouse and a loop path full of runners and cyclists. The most beloved park in the city.
- Cheesman Park. A wide, rolling lawn crowned by a white marble pavilion with a view west to the peaks, right beside the Botanic Gardens.
- Sloan’s Lake. The city’s largest lake, on the west side, and the best place in Denver to watch the sun go down behind the mountains.
- Confluence Park and the South Platte. Where Cherry Creek meets the river, with paths in every direction, kayakers in summer and the old tramway powerhouse that now holds the REI flagship.
- The Cherry Creek Trail. A paved path below street level along the creek, from downtown to Cherry Creek and beyond.
Our guide to Denver neighborhoods covers the areas around each park.
Free Art and Free Music
Murals and galleries
The River North Art District is the city’s open-air gallery, with murals on nearly every block, many repainted each year during the CRUSH Walls street-art festival. It is free to wander and best in daylight. On Santa Fe Drive, the galleries of the Art District on Santa Fe open late on the first Friday of every month for a free art walk that fills the street.
Summer concerts
Denver is very good at free music in summer. The Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park, south of downtown, ran more than 40 free concerts and community events from May to early October in 2026, on a hillside lawn with views of the skyline. City Park Jazz, a Denver tradition in its 40th year in 2026, holds ten free Sunday evening concerts in City Park from early June to early August, from 6pm to 8pm. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Our Denver events calendar covers the year’s free festivals, including the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in July, which is free to attend.
Free Wildlife: The Bison Ten Miles From Downtown
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, in Commerce City northeast of downtown, is one of the strangest and best free things near Denver. A former chemical weapons plant has become roughly 15,000 acres of restored prairie, home to a herd of American bison, deer, coyotes, prairie dogs and, in winter, bald eagles. A wildlife drive loops through the refuge, and walking trails lead out from the visitor center. Entry is free. Go early or late in the day, when the animals are most active.
The Best Free Views
Denver’s great free spectacle is the Front Range, a wall of peaks along the western horizon, and a few places frame it especially well.
- The top rows of Red Rocks, looking east over the stage to the plains and the distant skyline.
- The west steps of the Capitol, from the mile-high marker across Civic Center Park toward the mountains.
- City Park near the nature and science museum, where Ferril Lake, the downtown towers and the Front Range line up in one frame.
- Sloan’s Lake at sunset, when the sun drops behind the peaks across the water.
- The Cheesman Park pavilion, which was built to face the mountains.
- Lookout Mountain, above Golden, for the whole city laid out on the plains below.
The clearest views come in the morning, before afternoon clouds build over the mountains, and on cold, bright winter days after a storm has cleaned the air.
Free Things to Do With Kids
Families can fill several days in Denver for very little. Everyone 18 and under gets into the Denver Art Museum and the History Colorado Center free, and anyone 19 and under rides RTD free, so a family day in the Golden Triangle costs only the adults’ admissions. Wings Over the Rockies, with its cockpits and spacecraft, is free for everyone and a hit with children. Dinosaur Ridge’s tracks, the bison and prairie dogs at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal refuge, and the rocks at Red Rocks all keep children busy for hours at no cost. The Central Library has a large children’s library, and the playgrounds and lakes at City Park and Washington Park are the city’s backyard. The zoo’s SCFD free days are the cheapest way in, if you can face the crowds. Our guide to Denver with kids has the full family picture.
Free Things to Do in Winter
Winter shrinks the outdoor list but not by much, because Denver’s winters are sunnier and drier than most visitors expect. The Capitol, Union Station, the Central Library and Wings Over the Rockies are all warm, free and open. In December, the City and County Building’s holiday lights glow across Civic Center Park, and the Brown Palace lobby dresses up for the season. Red Rocks stays open and can be beautiful under fresh snow, though the steps get icy, and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal refuge is a good place to look for wintering bald eagles. Several SCFD free days also fall in winter: in early 2026, for example, the nature and science museum held free days on 11 January, 1 February and 9 February, the zoo on 25 January, the art museum on 10 February and the Botanic Gardens on 12 February. Our guide to Denver weather by month explains what a winter visit is really like.
Free Ways to Get Around
- The 16th Street FreeRide. A free shuttle every five minutes or so, seven days a week, between Union Station and Civic Center.
- RTD for young people and service members. Anyone 19 and under, and active-duty military, ride free on all RTD buses and trains.
- Your feet. The center is flat and compact. Union Station to the Capitol is about a mile and a quarter.
Everyone else pays $2.75 for a three-hour local pass or $5.50 for a day pass. Our guide to getting around Denver has the full network.
Free Days Out Beyond the City
A few of the best free things in the region are a drive away, and they make good additions to a longer trip.
- Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs about 70 miles south, where towering red rock fins rise against Pikes Peak. Park entry, parking and trails are free, permanently; only the visitor center’s museum charges.
- Golden, 15 miles west, reachable on the W Line light rail plus a short connection from the end of the line, with a free creekside trail along Clear Creek, a walkable main street and the old “Howdy Folks” welcome arch.
- Boulder, 55 minutes away on the Flatiron Flyer bus, where the Pearl Street Mall and the meadow trails below the Flatirons at Chautauqua cost nothing to enjoy, though parking near the trailheads may be paid in busy seasons.
Our guide to day trips from Denver covers each in detail.
The Catches, Honestly
- Free is not always easy. The Mint tour books out a month ahead, and the Capitol tour is weekdays only.
- Free days are crowded. The SCFD free days are the busiest days of the year at each institution.
- Free places can cost money to reach. Red Rocks, Dinosaur Ridge, the foothills parks and the wildlife refuge all need a car, a ride or a tour.
- Not every park is free. Jefferson County Open Space parks are; Colorado state parks charge $10 to $15 a vehicle.
- Free tours run on tips. Budget for them.
- Free days do not cover everything. Special exhibitions and shows often need a ticket even on a free day.
Two Free Days in Denver
Day one, on foot
Start in the Great Hall at Union Station, walk through LoDo to Larimer Square, and take the free FreeRide up 16th Street. On a weekday, join the 10am or 11am Capitol tour and climb to the dome. Cross Civic Center Park to the Central Library, then walk past the Blue Bear and The Dancers. In the late afternoon, walk or ride east to Cheesman Park for sunset at the pavilion. Total cost: nothing at all.
Day two, with a car or a ride
Arrive at Red Rocks early, while it is quiet, and walk the Trading Post Trail. Drive around the ridge to Dinosaur Ridge and walk the track trail. In the afternoon, hike at Matthews/Winters or drive up to Lookout Mountain and Buffalo Bill’s grave. If you are visiting in summer, finish at a free concert at the Levitt Pavilion. Without a car, swap the foothills for City Park, Washington Park and an afternoon among the RiNo murals.
Our full Denver itinerary guide mixes free and paid days, and our list of Denver attractions for first-time visitors ranks the paid attractions worth adding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is free to do in Denver?
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre on non-event days, the Colorado State Capitol tour, the Denver Mint tour if you book ahead, the Union Station Great Hall, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Dinosaur Ridge, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal wildlife refuge, the city parks, the RiNo murals, and summer concerts at the Levitt Pavilion and City Park Jazz.
Are there free museums in Denver?
Wings Over the Rockies is always free. The Denver Art Museum and the History Colorado Center are free for everyone 18 and under. The other major museums, the zoo and the Botanic Gardens hold scheduled free days funded by the SCFD; each publishes its own dates.
Is Red Rocks free to visit?
Yes, on days without an event. Admission and parking are free for the park, the amphitheatre, the visitor center and the Trading Post. On show days, access is limited to ticket holders from mid-afternoon.
How do I get a free Denver Mint tour?
Book through the U.S. Mint’s online reservation system, up to 30 days ahead; new dates are released at 1am Denver time. Tours run Monday to Thursday, visitors must be 7 or older, and no bags are allowed.
When are the free days at Denver museums?
Each institution sets its own SCFD free days, scattered through the year and including weekdays, Sundays and some evenings. Check the museum’s own calendar or the SCFD’s combined calendar before you plan.
Are there free concerts in Denver?
Yes, mainly in summer. The Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park held more than 40 free concerts and events from May to early October in 2026, and City Park Jazz holds ten free Sunday evening concerts from early June to early August.
Is public transport free in Denver?
For riders 19 and under and active-duty military, yes, on all RTD services. The 16th Street FreeRide shuttle is free for everyone. Other riders pay $2.75 for a three-hour pass or $5.50 for a day pass.
Related Denver Guides
- Things to Do in Denver: free and paid, with honest verdicts.
- Denver on a Budget: the cheap list and the CityPASS arithmetic.
- Red Rocks Amphitheatre: the park by day and the shows by night.
- Denver With Kids: what’s free for families.
- Best Hikes Near Denver: free trails in the foothills.
- Denver Museums: which to choose and when to go.
- Denver Events: free festivals and the year’s calendar.
- Day Trips from Denver: Garden of the Gods and other free days out.
Photo Credits
Ship Rock at Red Rocks Amphitheatre: photo by Sarbjit Bahga / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Rotunda of the Colorado State Capitol: photo by Daderot / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Central Library of the Denver Public Library: photo by Anne Ruthmann / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Juvenile Stegosaurus footprint from Dinosaur Ridge: photo by James St. John / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Cheesman Park Pavilion at dusk, Denver: photo by Knapp.keith / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bison at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge: photo by USFWS Mountain-Prairie / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Hours, booking rules, free-day dates and concert seasons were checked against each operator’s own website and published sources in September and October 2026 and change without notice. Confirm before you travel.
Denver Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with VISIT DENVER, the City and County of Denver, the SCFD or any attraction listed here.