Denver on a Budget

You don’t have to spend much — or anything at all — to see the sights, take in some culture, and enjoy a meal in Denver [1].

Weekday tours of the Colorado State Capitol Building [2] are free.

The Denver Public Library [3] displays a portion of its large Western art collection on the 5th floor at any time, and the 7th-floor Vida Ellison Gallery hosts monthly shows with contemporary local artwork on display.

There is no general admission cost at the Denver Art Museum [4] on the first Saturday of each month.

The Auraria Campus [5] includes the Ninth Avenue Historic Block, the Golda Meir House, and a few historic churches worth seeing. Walking tours of the campus sights are free, though tours of the Golda Meir home must be scheduled in advance.

Centennial Gardens [6] in the Platte River Valley is free to anyone who wants to stroll among the manicured gardens.

The SAME Café [7] only asks that diners pay what they can afford for a meal, or work off their bill doing dishes.

At many of the galleries that participate in the First Friday Art Walk [8], free appetizers and drinks are offered.

McCormick’s Fish House and Bar [9] in the Oxford Hotel [10] has the best happy hour menu in town with $1.95 eats.

Music store Twist & Shout [11] frequently hosts free concerts.

The 16th Street Mall shuttle bus is free and takes passengers just over one mile from LoDo to Capitol Hill.