Denver: Walking Tour with Scandals, Art & 16th Street Mall

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.95 (177 reviews) 97% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/27

Duration2h 20m

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Denver’s stories, scandals, and local flavors on foot

You’ll walk Denver’s streets with a small group and a local host who tells stories you won’t find in guidebooks—from scandals at Alma Temple to quirky art outside the museum. There’s time for snacks (not included), laughs over mispronounced names, and real glimpses into city life along 16th Street Mall. It’s not polished—but it sticks with you.

2h 20m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Denver's landmarks and culture

Start at Alma Temple
Visit Colorado State Capitol
Walk through Civic Center Park
See World Trade Center piece
View Denver Art Museum
Snack at local deli
View Vance Kirkland art museum
See curved civic building
View Denver Mint exterior
See historic home exterior
Visit Fire Station No. 1 inside
Photo at Curry-Chucovich house
Walk 16th Street Mall
Tour historic hotel interior

The Experience

I almost missed the group at Alma Temple because I was busy squinting up at those “KPOF” letters, trying to guess what they meant (spoiler: our guide explained it, but I still can’t remember). The place felt kind of haunted in the morning chill—someone in the group joked about ghosts. Our guide, Jamie, just grinned and promised we’d hear weirder stories before lunch. I liked that she didn’t rush us; we lingered outside while she told us about old scandals and why this building gets people talking.

We walked toward the Colorado State Capitol—honestly, I didn’t expect to care much about a government building, but standing on the “mile high” marker made me feel like a proper tourist. You can see the Rockies from there if you look past the traffic and squint through the sunlight. Civic Center Park had this faint smell of grass and food carts warming up for lunch. Jamie pointed out statues I’d never have noticed on my own. At one point she asked if anyone wanted to try saying “Chucovich”—I botched it so badly she laughed out loud.

The Denver Art Museum stop was quick but memorable; I still think about that giant broom sculpture (Big Sweep) and how weirdly cheerful it looked against all that concrete. We didn’t go inside most places, but somehow it didn’t matter—I got more out of Jamie’s stories than staring at exhibits alone. The snack break at a local deli was perfect timing; their cookies are as good as promised (not included in the tour price—worth it anyway). Someone spilled coffee and nobody cared—it just felt easygoing.

By the time we hit 16th Street Mall, my feet were tired but I didn’t want to peel off yet. The mall is noisy—buses humming by, buskers playing off-key guitar—and full of people who actually live here, not just tourists like me. We finished near an old hotel where presidents used to stay; Jamie said Teddy Roosevelt probably ate better than any of us did today. Maybe next time I’ll come back for that part alone.

What’s included

Your day includes all taxes and fees plus a friendly escort or host guiding your small group through Denver’s landmarks and stories—just bring comfortable shoes for the walk and some cash if you want to try local snacks along the way.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Best Tours of Denver LLC