Denver is the capital of the US state of Colorado, built on the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains at exactly 1,609 metres above sea level, one mile high, a height marked by a step on the western stairs of the state capitol. It was founded in 1858 as a gold prospectors' camp and became the trading centre of the mountains with the railway. Today the city of 730,000, with 300 sunny days a year and ski resorts within two hours, is the outdoor capital of America; the 16th Street pedestrian mall downtown, the brick buildings of the old warehouse district LoDo and Union Station are the start of the road to the mountains. Four major professional teams, more than a hundred breweries and the Red Rocks amphitheatre among the red rocks fill the city's evenings.
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See flights to Denver →When to visit Denver
June to September is the best period for the mountains, with days of 28C to 32C in the city and 15C to 20C on the mountain roads, and the high road through Rocky Mountain National Park open in these months. December to March is the ski season, sunny and dry in the city at 5C to 10C with heavy snow in the mountains. Late September and early October are the weeks when the aspens turn gold. April and May are changeable, with 25C one day and snow the next. The altitude can bring a headache on the first day, so drink plenty of water.
Things to do in Denver
Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Set in 1941 between two giant masses of red sandstone 25 kilometres west of Denver, the 9,500 seat open air amphitheatre is one of the best known concert venues in the world for its natural acoustics; everyone from the Beatles to U2 has played here. On days without a concert the park is free from sunrise to sunset: people train on the steps, the visitor centre at the top shows the concert history and trails run between the rocks. On summer mornings there is mass yoga on the steps. It is reached by car or on a tour.
Colorado State Capitol
The dome of the capitol completed in 1894 is covered in Colorado gold and visible from everywhere downtown; the inscription on the 13th step of the western stairs marks exactly one mile above sea level. Free guided tours on weekdays climb to the gallery beneath the dome for the view of the mountain range, and the interior is clad in Colorado rose onyx, quarried nowhere else in the world. Civic Center Park opposite links it to the Denver Art Museum and the library on the same square.
Denver Art Museum
The museum on Civic Center consists of two buildings: Gio Ponti's castle of 1971, clad in glass tiles with 28 faces, and Daniel Libeskind's titanium clad Hamilton Building with its sharp angles, opened in 2006. The collection of Native American art is among the most comprehensive in the world, and Western American painting, pre Columbian works and modern art are the other strong sections. Under 18s enter free. The adjoining Clyfford Still Museum is devoted to a single artist.
Union Station and LoDo
The Beaux-Arts railway station built in 1914 and renovated in 2014 has become the living room of downtown: the great hall has sofas, a bar, restaurants and a hotel, and the airport train leaves from here. Lower Downtown around it, LoDo for short, is the quarter where 19th century brick warehouses turned into breweries and galleries; the lit street of Larimer Square and the Coors Field baseball stadium are a walk away. The free 16th Street bus runs from here to the state capitol.
Rocky Mountain National Park
The park 110 kilometres northwest of Denver is the most visited part of the Rockies, with more than 70 peaks above 3,000 metres, lakes and herds of elk. Trail Ridge Road, at 3,713 metres the highest paved road in North America, crosses above the tree line and is usually open from late May to October. The trails around Bear Lake run from hour long walks to full day climbs. In summer a timed entry reservation is required at the gate, and Estes Park is the gateway town.
Denver Botanic Gardens
The 10 hectare garden founded in 1951 beside Cheesman Park east of downtown is known for the alpine plants of the Rockies and its dry climate gardens; the Japanese garden, the water lily pools and the concrete framed tropical conservatory of 1966 are the other sections. Concerts are held on the lawn on summer evenings and in December the garden is lit with millions of lights. Chihuly glass sculptures have entered the collection permanently. Allow two hours, best in June and September.
Flights from Turkey to Denver
Direct flights to Denver from Turkey leave Istanbul Airport on Turkish Airlines; the route opened in 2024, runs year round with two to three flights a week and takes about 12 hours 30 minutes. Departure is in the afternoon and, thanks to the time difference, arrival is the same late afternoon. Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States by area and lies 40 kilometres east of downtown; the A Line train reaches Union Station from the terminal in 37 minutes, and a taxi or ride hailing car takes 40 to 50 minutes.
Denver FAQ
How many days do you need in Denver?
Two days for downtown, the capitol, the art museum and LoDo, a day for Red Rocks and the botanic gardens and a full day for Rocky Mountain National Park fill four days. Skiing at Vail, Breckenridge or Aspen in winter, or Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods in summer, make it a week; keep the first day light to adjust to the altitude.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Denver International Airport is about 40 kilometres from downtown. The A Line train from the station attached to the terminal reaches Union Station in 37 minutes and runs every 15 minutes; a taxi or ride hailing car takes 40 to 50 minutes. Buses to the ski resorts also leave directly from the airport.
Do you need a visa for the United States?
A Turkish passport needs a United States visitor visa. The application consists of an online form and a consular interview, and appointment waiting times can stretch a long way in some periods, so planning should start months before the travel date. Those who hold the visa need no further permit on arrival.
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