How to get around Denver, the gateway to the Rockies

25.07.2023 - 11:41 / lonelyplanet.com / Rocky Mountains

Denver is an easy-to-navigate midsize city, located at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Though Colorado’s capital is primarily car-centric, it has a robust light rail and bus network that makes getting around without a vehicle a breeze.

Walking and biking are also great alternatives, especially in Denver’s core downtown neighborhoods – though be forewarned, Denver is called the Mile High City for a reason. It’s situated at 5280ft above sea level, and until you get used to the altitude, you may find yourself huffing and puffing if you choose to go with a human-powered option. Scooters and ride-share vehicles are also abundant.

Planning a trip to Colorado soon? Here’s what you need to know about getting around in Denver.

Denver’s public-transit system is clean, efficient and easy to use – and perhaps more importantly, it can get travelers to and from most of the Mile High City’s biggest attractions. The Regional Transportation Department (known locally as RTD) operates the metro area’s light and commuter rail routes and buses, plus the free MallRide shuttle service on the otherwise pedestrian-only 16th Street Mall. 

Public transit can take travelers all over Denver as well as to suburbs and adjacent cities, such as Arvada, Boulder and Golden. You can even take the light rail from Denver International Airport to downtown and vice versa, which makes it an easy choice to skip the rental car.

The simplest way to chart a course via bus or light rail is to use RTD’s free trip-planning platform, Next Ride. Fares start at $3 for local trips, $5.25 for regional journeys and $10.50 for airport rides, and RTD also offers an array of multiride ticket books and day passes if you’re planning to do a lot of traveling.

With shady, tree-lined sidewalks and bike paths, many of Denver’s neighborhoods are walkable. Not only is walking free and environmentally friendly, but it also provides travelers with an up-close view of the city’s historic buildings and houses, some of which date back to the Gold Rush days of the mid-19th century. Another bonus: if you’re walking west, you’ll likely be able to see the snowcapped Rocky Mountains in the distance too. 

Lined with restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues, the car-free 16th Street Mall is one of the most popular places to walk in Denver. Renowned architect IM Pei designed this mile-long pedestrian promenade, where you can also catch a ride on a horse-drawn carriage.

Biking is a popular and safe mode of transportation for Denverites and visitors alike. The city has more than 850 miles of paved trails, plus 137 miles of on-street bike and scooter lanes.

While you’re in town, you can take short point-to-point trips on electric bikes and electric scooters via Denver’s shared