14 Best Free Attractions and Activities in Denver

Ruby Hill Park is a versatile Denver park with far more than a typical playground. Families can use the slides, swings and children’s play areas, while older visitors have access to cycling routes, a dirt-jump bike park, skateboarding areas, baseball fields, walking paths and open spaces for gatherings.

Denver Skatepark is a large, free skatepark with a thoughtfully varied layout for different skill levels and many kinds of wheeled sports. Bowls, roll-ins, snake runs, rails and flow sections give riders plenty to explore, while the open design also leaves room to watch, relax and spend time outdoors. Its scale makes it useful for both a short stop and a longer skating session.

Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park brings together a small open-air museum and a peaceful lakeside landscape near Denver. Preserved historic buildings, farm equipment and explanatory signs turn an easy walk into a compact journey through local history, while the lake adds walking paths, piers, birdwatching and quiet places to pause.

The free setting works well for a relaxed afternoon, a picnic or a short escape from the city.

RedLine Contemporary Art Center is a Denver art center where exhibitions, artist workspaces, public discussion, and socially engaged programming meet. The gallery presents contemporary work in an intimate setting, with resident artists and rotating displays that reward a slower, more curious visit than a conventional blockbuster museum.

Bluff Lake Nature Center is a wildlife refuge in Denver where level, easy-to-follow trails circle wetlands, open water and native habitat. The landscape feels removed from the city without requiring a long journey, with quiet overlooks, creek access and tucked-away spots that provide shade. Birdwatching is a natural focus, and the setting is especially approachable for families.

Cranmer Park gives Denver visitors a broad, open setting for picnics, walks and informal sports. Its grassy spaces accommodate soccer, baseball, softball and volleyball, while benches and picnic tables support slower afternoons with family or friends. Dogs are welcome, adding another reason to use the park for a casual walk or outdoor play.

Dailey Park is a neighborhood green space in Denver’s Baker area, with a playground, basketball court, swings, slides and open room for children to run. The newer, space-themed play area offers varied structures for different ages, making it the park’s main draw for families and birthday gatherings. Picnic tables and a barbecue grill support simple outdoor meals, while dogs are allowed for casual neighborhood visits.

RiNo Art Park is a public park and creative hub in Denver’s RiNo Art District, pairing outdoor sculptures and installations with galleries, artist studios and spaces for performances or community events. Its position near the South Platte River trail makes it easy to fold into an art-focused walk, while the compact grounds suit a short visit between nearby cultural stops.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science Park is a four-acre natural play environment beside the museum, designed to encourage movement, discovery and imaginative outdoor play. Its centerpiece is a large Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep play sculpture, surrounded by crawl-through boulders, climbing features, nooks and spaces to investigate. A winding stream, waterfall, sand area, log bridges and rocks add sensory variety.

Joy Park at Children’s Museum Marsico Campus is built around hands-on, imaginative play for children, with interactive areas that encourage climbing, building, role-play, exploration and discovery. The Adventure Forest climbing course is a standout for active kids, while play zones involving bubbles, fire trucks, hard hats, rope bridges and creative problem-solving keep visits varied and engaging.

The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch is a compact, free museum focused on U.S. currency, money management and counterfeit detection. Interactive displays explain how to examine bills, while videos and educational exhibits make the subject accessible to school-age children. Visitors can also see what a large sum of money looks like and receive a small bag of shredded currency as a memorable takeaway.

Benedict Fountain Park is a small urban green space in Denver’s north Capitol Hill area, with open lawn, a playground and swings. Its maintained landscaping creates a simple place for a neighborhood walk, a short break or playtime with younger children, while larger groups can use the open area for informal activities. Dogs are welcome, making it useful for a quick daily outing as well.

Monkey Island is a small Denver attraction known for its unusual chance to spot monkeys in an urban park setting. The experience is informal and best approached as a brief, curious wildlife stop rather than a structured zoo visit, with children often finding the animals especially memorable.

Conditions can vary: the monkeys may be away or less visible, and visitors should keep snacks secured around them. When present, the unexpected sighting gives this free attraction its distinctive appeal.

Liberty Park is a compact Denver green space with memorials and historical monuments, including a recreation of the Liberty Bell. Its open setting provides a brief urban pause with views toward the Capitol and City and County Building, while the displays invite visitors to spend a little time with local and national history.