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Best Tours of Denver

FREE DENVER  TOURS

Dear guests, friends, and family,

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We've updated our operations as a result of the previous pandemic and we do now need to implement a reservation system. This is to help with: 

  • Ensuring group sizes are smaller and within recommended maximums (our pre-pandemic, walk-up, no reservation free tours often had 50+ guests)

  • Scheduling extra guides on busier days to ensure you aren't turned away whenever possible due to the tours filling up

  • Allowing you to e-sign the waiver upon website checkout vs. taking time at the start of the tour and having lots of people touching the pen & paper.

  • To ensure we reach the 4 guest minimum. Tours with fewer than 4 guests will be cancelled and guests will be contacted with alternative options.  

  • Communication: you're sent helpful tour information and your guide will text you the morning of your tour to ensure you have everything you need for a great tour day and our team has a way to reach you if the starting location needs to change due to an event at the Capitol or your guide has an emergency and there's a change to the departure time or a guide change. 

 

While our 10 a.m. Denver downtown tours are operate under a pay-what-you-like tipping model, our third-party ticketing and booking system does have a $2.00 booking fee per guest. Thank you so much for your support and understanding, as this goes to TicketingHub, not Denver Walking Tours or your guide. 

 

Cheers and we hope to see you soon!

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Jill, Matt and the entire DWT team

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Tour Details:

Departure Time:

10:00 a.m.

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Duration:

2-2.5 hours

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May 1-Oct. 31: 7 days/week

Nov. 1-Apr. 30: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays

No tours: Thanksgiving Day, or Dec. 25.

Difficulty:

Easy; flat

1.7 miles; plenty of stops

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Meeting Place:

Front steps of the Colorado State Capitol

Ending Location:

Union Station

1701 Wynkoop Street

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Free Walking Tour Overview:

Join us in exploring Denver the best way possible: on foot and through our unique pay-what-you-wish model! We'll see and experience downtown Denver's unique sights, landmarks and history, plus hear the fun stories behind the landmarks that many locals don't even know. You’ll see and learn more in 2-2.5 hours than you thought possible!


We kick things off at the famous Mile High Steps of the Colorado State Capitol, then hit the streets to wind through the heart of downtown Denver for our walking cultural & history adventure. The tour will include 11 of our favorite sights, while digging into the great culture & history that make our Mile High City so unique. If you're the type that likes a little bit of everything - history, culture, art, & architecture - this is the tour for you! You’ll have plenty of time to chat with your guide, ask questions, take pictures, and learn more about the Mile High City, past and present!

We'll explore Denver's gorgeous Civic Center, hip LoDo (Lower Downtown) and the famous Big Blue Bear, plus Larimer Square - the city’s oldest block, with historic architecture and landmark 19th century buildings. Carnegie Library, the eye-catching Art Museum complex, the Parisian-inspired Civic Center Park, and the famous U.S. Mint, where you'll hear some epic heist stories, are also on our route.


We give great recommendations and, along the way, enjoy plenty of time to chat with your guide, ask questions, take pictures, and learn more about the Mile High City, past and present, than you thought possible in 2-2.5 hours!

After your experience wraps up at the iconic Union Station, you decide how much the experience was worth to you (pay-what-you-wish) via a tip to your guide.

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Additional Tour Info:

Meeting Place:

  • The front steps of the Colorado State Capitol face west, towards the mountains and towards Lincoln St.

  • Be sure to arrive by 9:50 a.m., at least 10 minutes prior to the tour departure time to meet your guide, check-in and introduce yourself. Tours do start and depart on time.

  • State Capitol address: 200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO, 80203. You can use this address to guide you to the Capitol, but your GPS will likely take you to the north side of the building, NOT to the front steps and front of the building, so be mindful to navigate to the front steps when you arrive.

  • Tours still operate rain, snow, or shine and when events are happening at the Capitol or in Civic Center Park, and there are events almost every weekend in our warmer months. ​

  • Your local tour guide will be wearing a neon yellow Denver Walking Tours shirt and in less than ideal weather they may also be carrying a small green Denver Walking Tours sign. 

 

Pricing:​

  • Denver Walking Tours does not charge an up-front price for our 10 a.m. walking tours - we operate on a "pay-what-you-wish" gratuity model. Why? We aim to make experiencing Denver accessible to all guests, regardless of budget, and we think that you should decide how much your Denver tour experience was worth to you and what your guide's time, talent and expertise were worth to you when your tour is finished and that what you choose to give should go directly to your guide.

  • With your local tour guide (Jill, Alyce, Brian, Jimmy, Anthony, or Janine) depending on the day you join us) working for gratuities only, you know we are going to go the extra mile to make sure that you have a GREAT Denver walking tour, enjoy your experience, learn something new, answer any questions you have, and give great local recommendations. If you enjoyed your tour experience, just tip your amazing guide what you feel their time was worth to you! 

 

Ages:

  • All ages are welcome!  Will your kid(s) like the downtown Denver tour and exploring LoDo and other areas of Denver? That really depends on your kiddo(s)! Our Denver sightseeing tours are suitable and designed to be enjoyed by all ages. Your guide is trained and experienced in working with youth. Youth ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

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Odds & Ends:​

  • Wheelchair and stroller accessible.

  • Reservations are required. Reserve your spot here

  • Parties of 7+ guests must book a private, pre-paid Denver tour, as our 10 a.m. tours are designed for individual visitors or small groups of six or less visitors to ensure a safe and engaging tour experience. 

  • There is the Free 16th St. Mall shuttle that can take you back to the start of the historic Denver tour, if needed.  It runs every few minutes.  

  • Don't forget to bring water, wear very comfortable walking shoes, and dress in layers for Denver's ever-changing weather! 

  • Also, see our FAQ page for a ton more info on our walking tours.

  • Touring with a local is a great activity to do on one of your first days in town! Please note that due to the Denver walking tour duration and building regulations, we're only able to go inside Union Station.

  • If you are not feeling well or have any cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home and follow government guidelines for self-isolation and medical care.

  • This walking tour has a four guest minimum in order to operate. Although it's rare, tours with less than four guests will booked will be cancelled and guests will be contacted by 8:30 a.m. the morning of the tour with alternate options.

  • The temperature must be above 20 degrees in order for this walking tour to operate. 

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Tour Itinerary:

  1.  10 am. Start: The Colorado State Capitol & famous Mile High Steps

  2.  The eye-catching Denver Public Library

  3.  The one-of-a-kind Denver Art Museum and Denver's amazing public art

  4.  The European-inspired Civic Center Park

  5.  The striking City and County Building

  6.  Approximately 11 am. The heists of the U.S. Mint

  7.  Snap a photo with the Big Blue Bear at the Denver Convention Center

  8.  The Denver Performing Arts Complex's history & beauty (and restroom break)

  9.  The historic, must-see Larimer Square

  10.  The bustling 16th Street Mall

  11.  12 - 12:30 pm. Free Denver Tours End: The iconic Union Station

Tickets for the free/pay-what-you-wish tours are non-refundable and non-transferrable. 

"

Ruben B. "Our tour guide was Sherry Moon and she was an absolute pleasure! Very knowledgeable and truly loves the city's history. Recommended to all our friends and anyone going as their first event to get familiar with the city and it's little secrets including the free buses for mall street which came in VERY handy! Thank you guys!"​ Read full testimonial.

Denver Tours

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