Where to Stay in Denver: Best Areas & Hotels
Home to 300 plus days of sunshine, excellent restaurants, friendly people, and a mix of historic and modern architecture framed by the Rocky Mountains, the Mile High City features a number of dynamic neighborhoods.
Downtown, LoDo, and the Central Business District have excellent accommodation perfect for family vacations or romantic getaways. These neighborhoods are also close to most of Denver's sightseeing and sports venues - the city hosts football, baseball, hockey, and basketball teams - making them the best places areas to stay in Denver.
There are options beyond downtown, however. If you're interested in more of an upscale residential feel, with tree-lined streets meant for strolling, and excellent shopping and dining within an eight-block radius, head to the Cherry Creek North neighborhood, which is a few miles to the southeast of downtown and home to some luxury hotels. Many Denver hotels, including luxury properties, are also pet friendly. Whether you're looking for luxury or budget digs, a family vacation, or a romantic getaway, Denver offers something for all types of travelers.
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Where to Stay in Denver for Luxury
Denver has four- and five-star luxury hotels in all styles: from artsy boutique and modern to Old West elegant. The Art, a hotel is one of the city's newest properties. Located in Capitol Hill, and within walking distance to the Colorado State Capitol, Civic Center Park, and the Denver Art Museum, the boutique property resembles a work of art, with its glass-focused design architecture. Rooms are spacious and modern and feature mostly neutral colors, with bold color splashes, like the pillows on the white duvet-covered beds.
For historic luxury, The Oxford Hotel, in LoDo, is a classic choice. Within walking distance of Denver Union Station and Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies baseball team plays, The Oxford has a central location. Rooms are a mix of European antique furnishings and modern amenities, like flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations. The spa here is fantastic, too, with massage options ranging from Thai to Shiatsu and everything from facials to body treatments are on the menu as well.
Inside Denver Union Station, where the airport train arrives, The Crawford Hotel is another boutique luxury choice. Rooms here feature Art Deco flourishes and contemporary decor, along with clawfoot tubs and rain showers in the bathrooms. Suites come with original art, vaulted ceilings, and exposed beams, giving them a Rocky Mountain charm.
One of two five-star hotels in town, the Four Seasons Hotel Denver is another excellent luxury option. Rooms are elegant and chic, with soaking tubs in marble bathrooms, some of which offer panoramic views. The on-site spa is spectacular for relaxing and there is also a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, and gym.
Where to Stay in Denver: Mid-Range
Denver doesn't have many centrally located budget options, but it has a large number of mid-range properties that work well for families or couples looking for a fair deal. For a luxury hotel at a mid-range rate right in the heart of downtown, the Grand Hyatt Denver Downtown is excellent value for money. Located within walking distance of the 16th Street Mall and LoDo, it features stylish, contemporary rooms in a tower-like building. Book a higher floor for the best views.
Just south of some of Denver's hottest residential neighborhoods, Highlands and LoHi, and with easy access to Mile High Stadium, where the Broncos play football, as well as downtown, The Hampton Inn & Suites Denver - Speer Boulevard is another good-value option. Rooms were recently remodeled and are modern and comfortable. The staff is professional and helpful and there is an indoor pool.
If you want to be close to the Cherry Creek North neighborhood, check out the Fairfield Inn & Suites Denver Cherry Creek, which is in a good location about five minutes drive south. Rooms are spacious and modern, and the staff here is friendly. The hotel offers free parking and also has a fitness center on site.
Where to Stay in Denver on a Budget
There are very few quality budget hotels in Denver, and those that do exist, are mostly outside the city center by Denver International Airport, which lies about 30 miles away. But you'll find a few good budget choices in the vicinity of the downtown area. One option is the Mainstay Suites, which is just west of the city center and easily accessible to it. The property is new and quite clean, and rooms come with a kitchenette, which makes it a great choice for families. The staff is friendly and professional.
Outside the downtown area, but closer than the airport, La Quinta Inn & Suites Denver Gateway Park, in the residential Montbello neighborhood in northeast Denver, is another good-value option. The rooms are clean and well-appointed for the price bracket, and the included breakfast is better than average, with some hot selections.
Where to Stay in Denver for Couples
When it comes to a romantic vacation for couples, Denver delivers. For old-fashioned romance, it is hard to beat The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection, located downtown. Built in the 1890s, it is Denver's oldest hotel and has a timeless, elegant vibe. The afternoon tea service in the lobby is a highlight.
Also downtown, right next to the Denver Center for Performing Arts, the boutique Hotel Teatro often runs romance and theater-focused packages. The classy rooms are done up in neutral colors and feature comfortable beds, fine linens, marble baths, and rain showers. Book a suite for a deep soaking tub.
In Cherry Creek, the brand new HALCYON, a hotel in Cherry Creek is a design boutique property that local couples like to book for a romantic staycation, with a side of shopping and excellent dining away from the city center core. The chic and stylish rooms feature original art and retro touches, like vintage record players. The rooftop deck and pool are fantastic in summer.
Where to Stay in Denver for Families
The Maven Hotel is our top pick for a family hotel in Denver. It is in a great LoDo location in the Dairy Block, which is also a stone's throw from Coors Field, where the Rockies play MLB. Children under 13 stay free with parents, and some of the rooms feature bunk beds. The decor is artsy and contemporary throughout, and rooms feel bright thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. Amenities include a restaurant and coffee shop on-site. The hotel also operates a free shuttle to area attractions.
For a swanky family sleep, try The Ritz-Carlton, Denver. The hotel occupies a prime downtown location near Larimer Square. Known for having some of the roomiest accommodations in the Mile High City, the suites come in six sizes but none are smaller than 1,000-square-feet. Decor is contemporary luxe, with marble bathrooms and sweeping city views from the best rooms. On-site amenities include an outpost of football legend John Elway's steakhouse ELWAY'S Downtown, as well as a very good spa and fitness center.
Right downtown by the convention center is the good-value Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown-Convention Center. This all-suites property offers plenty of space for kids to move around, with separate living areas featuring their own TVs and sofa-sleeper. The suites also come with kitchens and dining space. A hot breakfast is included in the rate, and there is even a free light dinner offered Monday through Thursday nights, which makes this a true bargain for families.
Finally, check out the Hyatt House Denver/Downtown, which also occupies prime downtown real estate just a few minutes' walk from the 16th Street Mall. It offers all suite accommodation with a residential vibe, which appeals to families. The suites are spacious and come with separate living space, kitchens, and bedrooms.
Where to Stay in Denver near the Airport
Staying at or near the airport, located about 30 minutes east of downtown Denver, can be very convenient when you have an early flight to catch or arrive in the Mile High City late at night.
Denver International Airport has a hotel attached right to its central terminal. The Westin Denver International Airport is shaped like a glass ship and is a classy affair. The 500 plus rooms and suites feature wall-to-wall windows and either terminal or mountain views. They also come with Westin's signature Heavenly beds and bath products. There is a restaurant on-site, as well as an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, and fitness center. If you are traveling with a pet, the hotel is dog friendly.
The Westin is the only hotel on the airport grounds. All the rest are about six miles away (the access road leading to the airport is 10 miles off the highway). The Baymont by Wyndham Denver International Airport is one such option. It offers clean and comfortable rooms and free airport transport. Kids stay free. Breakfast is also complimentary.
