Denver

United States of America

United States

English

Estados Unidos

Spanish

Region:

North America

Area:

9 525 067 km²

Ranked 4 out of 195

Population:

331 500 000

Ranked 3 out of 235

Urbanization:

83 %

Ranked 36 out of 194

Capital:

Washington D.C.

Population: 6 385 000

Largest City:

New York City

Population: 21 140 000

Major Cities:

New York City
Los Angeles
Chicago
Dallas
Houston

Economy & Development:

Human Development Index:

Very High

Ranked 17 out of 189

Inequality-Adjusted HDI:

Very High

Ranked 28 out of 189

GDP (PPP) Per Capita:

Very High

Ranked 15 out of 225

Democracy & Freedom:

Democracy Index:

Flawed Democracy

Ranked 25 out of 167

Freedom House:

Free

83 points out of 100 possible

Press Freedom:

Satisfactory

Ranked 42 out of 180

Economic Freedom:

Most Free

Ranked 5 out of 162

National Identity:

Independence Since:

1776

Independence From:

United Kingdom

National Day:

4th of July

What Is Celebrated On The National Day:

The signing of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July 1776 where it was declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer a subject under the Monarch of Britain (United Kingdom).

Facts & Codes:

Driving Side:

Right

Time Zone:

Several

Country Calling Code:

+ 1

Country Code:

ISO 3166

US State

Colorado

English

Region:

Southwestern United States

Area:

269 837 km²

Ranked 8 out of 51

Population:

5 774 000

Ranked 24 out of 51

Population Share:

2 %

Of National Population

Capital:

Denver

Population: 2 967 000

Largest City:

Denver

Population: 2 967 000

Major Cities:

Denver
Colorado Springs
Fort Collins
Pueblo
Grand Junction

Information:

GDP Per Capita::

$73 218

Higher than national average

Climate:

Semi-Arid Climate

Köppen: BSk

Time Zone:

UTC −7 (MST)

Summer: UTC -6 (MDT)

US State Information:

Statehood Since:

1876

Nickname:

"The Centennial State"

Abbreviation:

English:

Denver

Spanish:

Denver

Japanese:

デンバー

Denbā

Chinese:

丹佛

Dānfú

Swedish:

Denver

Flag of Denver

Seal of Denver

Meaning of the Name:

It was named after then Kansas Territorial Governor James W. Denver (1817 - 1892).

Former Names:

Montana City (for a few months in 1858)

Nicknames:

"The Mile High City"

Denver is exactly one mile above sea level.

Demonym(s):

Denverite

16th Street Mall

Pedestrianized Main Street

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Stadium In The Rockies

Golden

Wild West-Themed Town

Denver International Airport

IATA Code:

DEN

ICAO Code:

KDEN

Passenger Volumes:

Distance:

30 km / 18 mi (NE)

Located In:

Denver

Named After:

Information:

The largest airport in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States and the fifth busiest airport in the country (Pre-Pandemic). Denver is a good gateway for traveling too much of the interior Western United States. During 2021 it was actually the third-largest airport in the world.

Transfer To/From:

The airport is located quite far from any other development. It's one of the most remote airports I've been to. The best option, as usual in the United States, is to rent a car. It is possible to get into Downtown Denver by public transportation. By train, you can take the A-line by RTD with departures every 15 minutes and it takes 37 minutes to reach Downtown. There are also buses to Downtown Denver as well as to various ski resorts in western Colorado.

Currency:

US Dollar

Code:

USD

Subunit:

Cent

Symbol:

Cash Or Credit:

Cash is still common in the US, but in recent years cards have become the dominant form of payment and, nowadays, you can survive a trip to the US with only a minor amount of cash in smaller denominations for tips. In 2022 was the first time I was able to go an entire trip to the US without spending a single paper bill.

Good To Know:

Everyone is expecting tips for everything in the United States. It can be a good idea to have some one-dollar bills available, but nowadays it's often possible to give tips on card transactions as well. Only a few years ago that was not the case and even if you paid by card you had to give tip, which was expected, in cash.

Local Language:

English

Language Family:

Germanic (Indo-European)

Writing System:

Latin Alphabet

What About English?

Other Common Languages:

Spanish is not as widely spoken in Denver, and Colorado, as in for example California or New Mexico. It is still a common second language and in most situations you would probably get by with it.

Look for anywhere near the 16th Street Mall to find the most central locations in Denver. However, the hotels in that area are extremely high priced and if you don't want to spend a half fortune on accommodation I would recommend looking across South Platte River to the North-West. There are some more budget-friendly alternatives just across the river but still within walking distance of Downtown.

As with many American cities, Denver has a problem with homelessness and drug use in the Downtown area. During the day it's not a major concern from a safety point of view. It's openly visible so you will see it, but it won't make a difference for you. I wouldn't walk around at night though. If you're visiting Ball Arena (formerly Pepsi Center) for an evening event or going to the 16th Street Mall for a late dinner I wouldn't worry. If you however have a long walk back home to your hotel, then it might be preferred to take the car Downtown or take a taxi home.

Note: My assumption is of the basis that you will always take normal precautions when you're out traveling, just as you would do at home. Even the safest cities have bad elements and no matter how safe you might feel you must always take basic precautions. I'm always aware of my surroundings when I walk around, both with and without the camera. I am however a very typical tourist and it shows so I am a person that will undoubtedly draw the attention of those who targets tourists. If you can you should of course always try to blend in as much as possible, but with my big camera around my neck, it's impossible. That's two things that are good to know when reading my assessment of how it felt from a safety point of view.

Denver is usually not mentioned as the major destination in the United States, at least not from Europe. I would never have thought of visiting if it weren't for my friend who wanted to go there and watch NHL. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much there was to do. And how great the natural surrounding of the city is (which was less of a surprise). I spent a total of eight days in Denver, which is more than I usually spend in one location during my travels. I still feel that I could return and find new things to do!

Do I Recommend You To Visit?

Yes!

Will I Come Back Again?

I hope to be back in Denver soon. It's one of the cities I've visited in the world I am longing the most to come back to.

Weather During My Stay:

Sunny and warm. 25°C (77°F) in late October was a surprise, but not unusual. Weather can change very quickly and between extremes, especially during the autumn and winter months. It can go from +25°C to -10°C in one night. So be prepared for both sunny t-shirt and shorts weather combined with a snowstorm and three layers of jackets.

Best:

Not As Good: