Fizz’s Top 5 Free Things To Do In Denver

Summer is almost here and your bank account looks like a sad trombone. No worries, I’ve got your guide to five things to do in the Mile High City that cost absolutely nothing — because after what you spent on concert tickets this year, you deserve a financial break.

5. Hammond’s Candy Factory — Hammond’s has been making candy in Denver since 1920, and the free tour ends with free samples. That’s right — free candy from strangers, but the kind your mother would actually approve of. You’ll watch taffy get pulled, lollipops get twisted and your willpower get completely destroyed. Bring the kids. Warn your dentist.

4. Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre — When there isn’t a concert, Red Rocks is completely free to visit. Hike the trails, hit the stairs for a workout or stand on the stage and belt out “Don’t Stop Believin'” to an audience of squirrels and winded joggers. Nobody will judge you. The squirrels have heard worse.

3. Tubing the South Platte River — Grab whatever inflatable you’ve got in the garage — pool float, inner tube, that giant flamingo from 2019 — and hit the South Platte. The most popular section near Confluence Park and through Littleton is free to access; you just need your own tube. The river runs right through the city, the views are gorgeous and you will absolutely lose a flip-flop. It’s tradition.

2. The Colorado State Capitol — Free tours of the gold-domed Capitol let you stand on the 13th step — exactly one mile above sea level — and feel superior to literally everyone in Kansas. The building features stained glass, Colorado rose onyx and enough marble to make an HGTV host faint. Bonus: You can sit in a legislator’s chair and pretend to pass a law making KYGO the official state radio station. Nobody’s stopping you.

1. The Denver U.S. Mint — The crown jewel of free Denver experiences. The free 45-minute guided tour lets you watch millions of dollars get stamped out on production lines and then sends you home with exactly none of it. Tours run Monday through Thursday, all visitors must be 7 and older, and no, you cannot “accidentally” slip a coin into your pocket. The security guards have heard every version of that joke. Every. Single. One. But seriously — where else can you see money being made and still leave broke? Only in Denver, folks. Only in Denver.