6 Big Mistakes People Make When Visiting Denver For The First Time

Visiting Denver for the first time and don't know what to expect? These Denver travel tips will help you avoid some common, big mistakes that too many people make when they visit Colorado. From how to get around, where to eat, and what to do in Denver, plan your visit to Denver by knowing what not to do here.
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:50 Where not to stay
2:08 What not to eat
3:50 Transportation
5:43 How not to navigate
6:38 The place everyone says to go
8:24 Biggest planning mistake
In case you're doing some more research before your trip, here are a few more videos I've made to help you have an awesome trip to Denver:
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Places to take your kids in Denver: • Things to Do in Denver...
Things to know before visiting Denver: • Things to Know Before ...
Best pizza in Denver: • Best Pizza in Denver: ...
Find things to do in Denver: • Proven Ways to Never H...
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The Farmer's Dog: Get 50% off your first box of fresh dog food thefarmersdog.otegtm.net/dave...
Viator: Discounts on things to do in Denver shrsl.com/3r8l5
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#denver #travel #visitdenver #colorado #traveltips #travelguide

[@scoott360]

For me, the best part of visiting Denver, was visiting Boulder. [so much so that I moved here]

[@calvin394]

Wrong about Red Rocks. See a concert but its also good to see it when there’s not a concert. Its an easy drive to see amazing nature with stunning views. While you’re there check out Buffalo Bill’s Grave and museum, Mother Cabrini Shine, Coors Brewery and the town of Golden. A fun and easy day trip😊😊

[@majorchutzpah7265]

Good spot for a workout!

[@helenbogaard7292]

Becareful people. Watch your stuff and your back 😀😂😀

[@borty1262]

Thank you for the tips, your videos are very helpful. I’m flying into Denver next weekend and can’t wait to try the food and see downtown. Cheers.

[@davechung]

Thanks so much for watching, Borty! Have a great trip here!

[@mike1989libra]

Come visit

[@OreoMaker]

Thank you for the tip! I’m traveling to Denver Colorado later this month for a concert! and this will be my first time out of state and on a plane and I’m super excited but also nervous

[@davechung]

You’re so welcome! Have a great time here!

[@inakchung]

Another great video, Dave! My favorite is the reminder that Colorado is a big-ass square. Couldn’t have said it better!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@davechung]

Thank you so much for watching! 🙌

[@user-sr1ds9zd7n]

(Smiling): … and in that square lives a lot of Colorado natives who are squares.

[@Karalyn90]

Thank you for this! I’m flying in next week! Even though I’m stay in the Springs, I want to do the first day in the city!

[@davechung]

Thank you for watching! I hope you have a great time!

[@ENODER16]

A detailed, organized and complete explanation thank you so much sir. I will be in Denver after 2weeks and following only you is a must now 😉

[@davechung]

Thank you so much!

[@Bett3r]

Thanks for sharing! I'm heading to Denver next week for Heilung @ Red Rocks. Now I'm prepared!

[@davechung]

Have fun! Concerts at Red Rocks are totally worth it!

[@anothername2730]

Great tips! Thanks. Gonna watch the restaurant recommendations video after I finish this one!

[@davechung]

Thank you so much for the love!

[@xsshreporter]

nice sharing! I will go there for the conference.

[@davechung]

Thank you! I hope you have a great time!

[@kt9166]

I grew up in Denver (Lakewood), and worked at the old Stapleton Airport for a time. I also was very fond of the North part of town, and loved the great Italian restaurants like Roxy Carbone's and the Three Sons. I'm sure they're long gone by now. Also, since Denver always had a huge Mexican migrant population, you could get the best authentic food. YUM! I used to go to Larimer Square and see movies at The Flick, which is also long gone, and sometimes ate at the Spaghetti Factory, just because I liked sitting in a trolley car to have dinner. Also worked at the Paramount Theatre when it showed actual movies.

[@davechung]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing. It has changed a lot for sure, but I still love this city.

[@minnesotaphatfoodies]

Hello! Thank you for your video! Do you have a video on hanging lake trailhead? Or glenwood springs?

[@davechung]

Thanks so much for watching! 🙏 I don’t have a video on those yet!

[@minnesotaphatfoodies]

@@davechung No problem. We heading there in May and want to try a natural hot spring but they all seem so far from Denver. Thank you! Your videos are great help!!

[@LatishaBlayne]

Glennwood is about a 3 hour drive. There are other hot springs that may not be as fancy bit are cute small town type places. Idaho springs is just 30 minutes out of Denver. ​@@minnesotaphatfoodies

[@minnesotaphatfoodies]

@@LatishaBlayne Thank you!

[@LatishaBlayne]

@@minnesotaphatfoodies There are lots of pocket neighborhoods that you would enjoy too. The Highlands neighborhood aka the North side of town has lots of restaurants as it was an old Italian neighborhood with Victorian homes that are now refurbished mansions and lots of newer architecture. Chrck out Happy camper acrosx the street from Avanti's. We also have the most parks than any other state intentionally for kids and grown ups. There is also a Mexican Asian neighborhood that has kept its authenticity with mom and pop shops and a whole Far east center with grocery stores stores and restaurants. Rhino district has lots of art murals on each building & restaurants. There is an apartment going up in that area that has a garden waterfall going through the side of all mirror building. Lots of restaurants have roof top dining that overlook the city. Most of all "wait 10 minutes and the weather will change" it can snow rain and then sunshine all in one day. So dress in layers! Enjoy beautiful Colorado!

[@johnbarredojr2223]

Would be visiting Denver around late January through early February, this is winter and any recommendations for a packing list and what to do? Will be there for work for three weeks.

[@AHouseDivided1998]

However, if you stay at the Hyatt Peña Station by the airport, the train station is literally across the street from it. It’ll take you right into downtown’s Union Station and Larimer Square. Saves you money on rental cars and Ubers. Plus it’s a really cool place to stay. Enjoyed your video! 😀

[@davechung]

Great tip, Barbara! 😀 thank you so much!

[@lesbokilla7]

denver is really trashy and stinky

[@marktheaardvark7208]

If the train doesn’t break down you’ll get to Union station where you’ll get mugged 😂

[@noondayshadow]

Very solid video but I would also say to checkout Hot Springs if you have a free half day or more. Hot Sulphur Springs late morning and Winter Park or Granby for lunch

[@davechung]

Great suggestion! I definitely agree if you’ve got a half day free. Thanks so much for adding it!

[@shanna9650]

I have to concur that Red Rocks is worth visiting without an event. The rocks are crazy impressive to visitors, and the drive is awesome. The Museum at the rocks adds a lot. I work in the music industry and have worked red rocks years ago. My husband, who is a music writer, never has been to red rocks. We visited during a time when a show wasn't happening. We both enjoyed it. The beauty is worth the effort, and driving out there is part of understanding the vastness of the west.

[@MiguelGonzalez-nj1gd]

I have the same shirt! Got it 3 years ago in a playoff game of the nuggets

[@davechung]

Let’s go, Nuggets!! 🏀

[@davisaliback]

We also have Turo daily car rentals so you can grab a car for the day!

[@joseagarcia6799]

Thanks for the tips, just a question, is better take a Uber from downtown Denver, to red rock ??

[@davechung]

Since Uber prices can be crazy for Red Rocks, if you’re going for a concert, a lot of people do the shuttle instead: redrocksshuttle.com/ If you’re just going just to go without a concert, you’ll probably need to Uber, but getting that ride back to Denver can be tricky!

[@joseagarcia6799]

Thank you for tell me appreciate, I will go next weekend to Denver,

[@michaelgeiser5693]

Tour the homeless tents on Colfax in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

[@TheDJRoqone]

😅😅😅

[@hitney9183]

Dave, I watched your video and it's very helpful! Thanks for the tips I have a question😊 I'm going to visit Denver in August for a week and I have 14months old baby. Do you think I should avoid visiting high altitude spots? Do people in Denver bring 1 to 2yr old baby to Garden of Gods? I was kinda worried after booking this trip😅

[@davechung]

Hi Hitney! Thanks so much for checking out the video! We have a 2-year-old and a 1-month-old (they were both born here, of course), and I think you'll be fine! Depending on where you're coming from, almost everywhere in the area might be considered high altitude, and I wouldn't worry too much about it. We have friends with small children who visit us all the time, and the kids seem to adjust better than the adults. We used to bring our son to Garden of the Gods when he was in a stroller, and when he first started walking (~1-year-old). The paths are pretty smooth, so I think you'll have no problem bringing your baby there. The stroller wheels might get a little dirty, but nothing crazy 😀 Have a great time here!

[@hitney9183]

@@davechung Thank you so much Dave!

[@vierycastro3016]

Thank you for this!!!

[@davechung]

You’re so welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@gabyhall2720]

Wondering about the parking situation when visiting some of your suggested spots like Union Station, Avanti, the parks? Thank you! I have really enjoyed your videos.

[@davechung]

Thank you so much for watching! Union Station can be tough, as is the 16th Street Mall, but you can find parking in a lot using an app like SpotHero. Avanti has free valet parking at night, but I usually park on nearby street. You should be able to find street parking for the parks pretty easily too! 🙂

[@gabyhall2720]

@@davechung thank you!

[@rickmoreno7166]

Good advice here, especially in regards to how far away things are. It blows my mind when I go to the East Coast that one can drive from say NYC to Philly or Boston in just 3 hours or so. Out here, it's 2 hours to Cheyenne, six hours to Albuquerque, 8 hours to Topeka, and six to seven hours to Salt Lake. Things don't look far on a map, but one can easily drive for six hours and still _NOT LEAVE THE STATE_. And yes, the airport is far away, by design. If one is working in or visiting Aurora, staying by the airport may not be so bad, but otherwise, fugheddaboutit!

[@davechung]

Thanks for checking out the video, Rick! Right? The east coast can do multiple states in the time it can take for us to leave ours 😂

[@rocioiribe5841]

i visited Denver for the first time last year and i arrived after sunset. and as we were going in for landing i just kept thinking "where the hell am i?" b/c it was so dark, there were zero lights and it wasn't' until flying out a couple days later in the morning that i saw how out in the middle of nothing the airport is haha

[@davechung]

😂 so so true! It’s pretty shocking if you were expecting to land in a city!

[@charlottehammond8975]

also: dont overdrink when you first go to altotude

[@davechung]

Ooh great suggestion - I should’ve put that in the video! Thanks, Charlotte!

[@charlottehammond8975]

@@davechung thanks! brainstorming -- there is a reason we have breweries. stick to beer. and you can find them anywhere, even in the dead zones. especially in the dead zones. -- avoid acronyms because we make very strong beer. -- youll pee more at altitude, so double your water intake when drinking alcohol -- low oxygen means your brain is stupid. consider this when drinking

[@mike1989libra]

Idaho springs manitou springs Colorado Springs shit grand lake is so dam beautiful

[@mike1989libra]

I can tell you a lot of the food scene here in Denver a lot of older places have gone to sad

[@davechung]

Absolutely on the older places.

[@rj_ny]

Cool. We should hang once im there. You can show me around

[@tonyfelices]

3:54 you'll need a car, and please remember the left lane is for passing. get into the left, pass, then get over.

[@Zzslayr]

As someone who lives in Denver, I was curious about what you would have to say and to see if I knew these things as well (of course I did). You nailed it haha. My hot take is that, while Denver is great, the best parts of Colorado are seen in nature. I just got back from a 3 day camping trip, just me and my partner, up in Red Feather. It was absolutely beautiful out there. Nothing like it!

[@davechung]

Appreciate that! 😀 and I agree - even though I’m admittedly a city person, Colorado itself has so much to offer!

[@Addicteddtochaos]

Buying blues

[@Addicteddtochaos]

Or black

[@deanx0r]

If you stay at a hotel by 16th St. you will realize that the best thing about Denver is that it is so close to Colorado.

[@davisaliback]

We have scooters to gat around also!

[@mikejones3849]

Couldn't disagree with you more on red rocks... Totally worth seeing regardless of seeing a show.

[@davechung]

I respect that! I think it’s just such a big detour when people are staying in the city.

[@calvin394]

@@davechungwrong😎

[@seanivery]

Are there hip hop clubs there?

[@davechung]

Kind of, but not really in the “this is all we play” way. It’s more common for clubs to have different floors or theme nights.

[@TheDJRoqone]

Simply No.....Just Top 40 Rap

[@peleni1]

Safest time to be in Denver is 7am to 3pm. After that, you're on your own.

[@azizsyammach2812]

This is literally not true. WTF are you talking about lmfao

[@mike1989libra]

Don’t forget about sloans lake

[@davechung]

Was just there this weekend!

[@mike1989libra]

@@davechung nice did the dragon race

[@kriswilliamson659]

all you gotta do is get high affff

[@user-sr1ds9zd7n]

Hi, new viewer here. Where is this location at timeline 9:18? Also, could you please not use acronyms without explaining what they stand for. Many of us outside the Denver metropolitan area are not familiar with them. For example, RINO. At first, I thought you said, “rhino”. (Smiling)

[@davechung]

9:18 is McGregor Square! 🙂 While I can’t edit the video after it’s posted, I appreciate that feedback! Most people and publications use the shortened names (RiNo for River North, LoDo for Lower Downtown, LoHi for Lower Highlands) for most neighborhoods, but luckily you can search with the shortened names for most of them since our local publications like Westword and Denver Post use them too!

[@user-sr1ds9zd7n]

@@davechung , thanks for the referral; and greetings from Southern California.

[@Naltddesha]

White pie is good- but what I received for $20+ was a pizza the size of a paper plate- and the pizza itself weighed about as much as a paper plate as well. I’ve legitimately gotten a single cheese slice that was more food than this $20 entire pizza

[@jimb9754]

The airport is not 40 minutes from downtown Denver. You can easily drive to downtown in 20-25 minutes.

[@lukeandjoeyvlog]

Don’t go to denver simple jk

[@mike1989libra]

Stay off coldfax

[@smoove6892]

I've been in Denver since 1976. Personally, I dont get the draw. The town is not that cool. I guess if your a transplant it's ok. But nothing spectacular. Head to the mountains, it's lots better but bring your wallet. Denver is overrated

[@CG-bu3uk]

As a Colorado native, the biggest mistake is going to Denver.

[@rodneyconover4170]

No doubt 😂

[@carlosdelafiguera5904]

So there is actually nothing to be done in Denver. If you compare these cities with European ones is like night and day

[@bradypavlicek2153]

No wdym visit Denver? It’s not a vacation spot, please stop coming here

[@TheDJRoqone]

#FACTS!!

[@angieliyah1484]

You don't own the world people are allowed to visit and our population has been going down. After people see How much dog s*** is all over the ground and the dog nuts out here they'll never want to come back so don't worry.

[@WolfenX4]

We of Charlotte NC feel your pain to the fullest. That's why anytime is see someone with a Colorado plate, flag, or team sport, I salute y'all. These damn New Yorkers are taking over 😂😂😂😂😂

[@suedesweffervescent]

@@WolfenX4New Yorkers have been there for years. I lived there in 2004-2008. Thank the banks for choosing your city to set up shop.

[@suedesweffervescent]

We’re coming to your city. Get over it.

[@1701odin]

6 Big Mistakes People Make When Visiting Denver: 1 - They visit Denver. 2 - They visit Denver. 3 - They visit Denver. 4 - They visit Denver. 5 - They visit Denver. 6 - They visit Denver. Though more seriously, Red Rocks is definitely a cool concert venue, but unfortunately they don't enforce the law there so you have all of the druggies smoking marijuana (and regular cigarettes) there which is illegal to do in public and you have to spend the entire time breathing all that crap and can't enjoy any show.

[@paulcarmi8130]

I’ll make sure that I bring extra blunts next time, weed isn’t a drug 😂

[@1701odin]

@@paulcarmi8130 It's illegal to consume in public. It is most certainly a drug.

[@paulcarmi8130]

@@1701odin if people like yourself had their way, oh man. What a garbage life to lead

[@user-ts4fo9ol9x]

Best advice: Don't go to Denver. Next best: Stay inside after dark.

[@Demondra2]

I hope none of you visit and don't move to denver

[@rodneyconover4170]

Don’t worry about that! I have been to Denver six times and nothing special about it just another big city and arrogant sports fans! Pacific Northwest is much more beautiful than Denver or even Colorado for that matter!

[@danielnogrady9004]

Denver Used to be a great place to live an visit! Then all the california chicago new yorkes showed up running the Prices in crime up! If you like crime and overpriced places you'll love to visit colorado! Legal marijuana attracts very weird people and it's a Sanctuary city!

[@nighthawk5859]

Hi from Austin TX. Looking to visit your city 😊

[@davechung]

Hey hey! Hope you have a great time! We just did a great trip out to Austin 😀

[@Postnghost1234]

Mistake #1 - visiting denver