Jake FosterAre you eager to photograph iconic landmarks or an outdoor adventurer ready to scale the Rocky Mountains? Whichever it is, the Mile High City is bursting with breathtaking possibilities!
After spending your morning browsing the bustling local markets or perhaps unwinding with some engaging art classes, stepping outside for a professionally guided excursion is the ultimate way to elevate your vacation.
I’ve explored the vibrant downtown streets and rugged alpine trails to uncover highly rated tours in Denver. Read on to know which options suit your specific travel style!
How much do local tours cost in Denver?
The tour costs in Denver highly depend on the sightseeing itinerary, ranging from affordable historic strolls to premium mountain escapes.
| Tour Type | Cost Expectation |
| Guided Walking Excursions | Budget-friendly (Often under $50) |
| Downtown Brewery Trips | Mid-range pricing |
| Full-Day Nature Excursions | Premium rates due to transport |
1. Explorer Denver Tours
Website: denver-tour.com
Address: 1600 N Broadway Suite 1600
Contact: (720) 556-6164 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday 8:00AM-6:00PM
Navigating downtown traffic before a big trip can really drain your energy, but Explorer Denver Tours fixes that by offering free pickups for private outings.
If you’re traveling with younger kids, you’ll definitely appreciate that they provide car seats at no extra cost. This saves you the massive headache of lugging heavy safety gear through the airport.
It’s important to note, however, that children under eight aren’t allowed on standard public tours. If you’re traveling with little ones, you’ll need to book a private reservation instead.
As for their fleet, they offer clean, high-end SUVs that are built to handle the rugged Rocky Mountain terrain without breaking a sweat.
To keep things personal, their local guides limit public groups to just 14 people. It’s a great way to see the sights without feeling like you’re part of a massive crowd.
Customer Reviews
The private tour was excellent from pickup to drop-off and well paced. The family had a great time. Brian, our guide, was top notch with his insights to the history of Colorado and showcased the beauty of the Foothills. This tour definitely made our trip to Denver memorable. We got some fantastic photos and videos. I feel like an another trip to Denver is a must now to explore more of the surrounding areas. I definitely recommend the tour.
- Shibu Sleeba | Google Reviews
Brian is an excellent guide. He was very kind and attentive, always clear with his explanations and genuinely gentle at all times. The tour was a 10/10, amazing selection of stops and spots. I would definitely travel with you again.
- Melisa Velarde | Google Reviews
2. Denver Local Tours
Website: denverlocaltours.com
Address: 1701 Wynkoop St
Contact: (720) 778-1170 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday 8:00AM-6:00PM
Stepping onto the bustling sidewalks immediately sparks a craving for authentic stories, which is exactly what you get when exploring with Denver Local Tours.
They focus on giving you a real resident’s perspective, skipping the general tourist facts to reveal what the city is actually like.
Plus, their commitment to the neighborhood also helps boost the local economy, as they partner with independent restaurants and shops throughout their routes.
To make sure everyone can hear, they provide specialized audio technology so you don’t miss any details over the downtown noise.
Beyond their regular walking routes, the company also works as an event planner that can handle the logistics for corporate retreats and large group outings.
While their digital check-in makes starting your tour easy, you’ll need to be on time. Guides follow a strict schedule and don’t offer refunds for latecomers.
You’ll also need to leave your pets at home, as animals aren’t allowed on their standard tours.
Customer Reviews
If you’re wondering if you should sign up for this tour, DO IT! Our tour guide, Will, is remarkable! His knowledge of Denver history and whiskey, bourbon, scotch, and spirits is unmatched! The tour was only a few hours, and he took us around to several parts of the downtown historic area, we stopped at a fantastic bakery for a snack, and a couple of bars and a distillery. The tour is one million percent worth doing and recommended for couples, friends, and adult families.
- Suzanne N | Google Reviews
As a first one visitor to Denver, I took this tour to become familiar with and to get acclimated to the city. Will clearly enjoyed being our guide and had great stories and anecdotes about Denver and its history. He also provided lots of recommendations for dining and other things to do. Highly recommended!
- Florida Gal | Google Reviews
3. Discover Denver Tours
Website: discoverdenvertours.com
Address: 963 Corona St
Contact: (720) 372-3849 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday 10:30AM-2:30PM
Budget-conscious travelers often struggle to find engaging ways to sightsee without draining their wallets, making Discover Denver Tours a fantastic option.
A team of passionate residents brings different cultural perspectives to the city’s story, making it an educational experience.
They also make it very easy to get started by offering free walking tours, which let anyone wander the historic streets and soak up the local culture.
If you prefer a more relaxed pace, they also cater to varying mobility preferences by providing scenic driving itineraries in spacious vehicles.
While they guarantee that their tours will happen regardless of rain or snow, there is a catch for solo travelers.
The driving excursions require a minimum number of guests to run. If you’re an individual ticket holder, there’s a risk that your plans could be canceled if not enough people sign up.
Customer Reviews
This was an excellent tour. Free, but please don’t forget to tip your guide. Ours was amazing, full of interesting facts & details of the area. She also gave recommendations of additional sites to see, restaurants & a great speakeasy near Union Station with $5 cocktails!
- Gail Jones | Google Reviews
We absolutely loved our Denver City Bus Tour! Alyce was fantastic — she made us feel welcome right away and kept the group entertained the whole time. We got to see so many highlights, including Union Station, the State Capitol, historic neighborhoods, and incredible mountain views in the distance. Alyce’s stories and fun facts brought the city to life, and the comfort of the bus made it easy to just sit back and enjoy. This tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Denver!
- Marie Wilson | Google Reviews
4. Aspire Tours
Website: aspire-tours.com
Address: 1626 Wazee St. Suite 2A
Contact: +1 (720) 583-0654 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday 7:00AM-5:00PM
Breathing in the crisp mountain air is exhilarating, but the sudden shift in elevation can easily ruin a perfect afternoon if you aren’t prepared.
Fortunately, the guides at Aspire Tours specialize in helping guests safely acclimate to Colorado’s altitudes, ensuring you can hike comfortably.
They also take care of all the paperwork for national park reservations, which lets you just show up and enjoy the view without worrying about entry permits.
Their team is made up of passionate adventurers who chose to make Colorado their home, so you get a very authentic local perspective on every trip.
When my sister visited last summer, we took their full-day mountain trip and were thrilled that they provided a complimentary picnic lunch right on the trail.
While their summer offerings are fantastic, winter travelers should know that meal inclusions scale back significantly during the colder months. Guests booking most full-day winter trips are forced to supply their own food entirely.
Customer Reviews
We scheduled a full day tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Tour guides were prompt and we left on time. Our tour guide, Jerry, was great! Very informative and knowledgeable. The stops we made had incredible views. We had plenty of time at each stop to enjoy the scenery, and take plenty of pictures. Absolutely recommend to anyone planning a trip. Worth every penny!
- Arik Carlson | Google Reviews
My tour guide Aaron was amazing!! He was really good at explaining facts and answering questions. His good energy really set the mood for the whole tour! I had such a blast and I’m definitely coming back again. Best birthday ever! p.s. he’s also a great photographer
- B. B. | Google Reviews
5. Best Tours of Denver
Website: besttoursofdenver.com
Address: Multiple meeting locations across Denver
Contact: (720) 365-9464 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00AM-5:00PM
Organizing a large family outing or a corporate event can get expensive fast, butBest Tours of Denver has a smart way to help with the bill. They use tiered pricing for private groups, so the cost per person actually goes down as your group gets bigger.
If you’re into the supernatural, they even give guests real EMF readers to use, turning a simple evening walk into an interactive ghost-hunting session!
For those looking to explore the city’s nightlife, their bar tours are especially convenient because the ticket price already includes tips for the bartenders and servers.
This is a clever touch that saves you from having to calculate gratuities in a dark bar or at the end of a long night.
However, you should be certain about your plans before you book. Their reservation policy is very strict: they don’t offer any refunds if you have to cancel. If your schedule changes at the last minute, you’ll lose your payment.
Customer Reviews
Heather is a fantastic tour guide and the little nuggets of downtown Denver’s history were so fun, as someone who lives here. We did the holiday lights tour but will definitely be coming back for the ghost tours in the spring or summer!
- Latasha Doyle | Google Reviews
Went on 11/1 and will was our guide. Will was great! Funny, informative and made it a great evening. Learned so much that I had no idea about when I live in the neighborhood. Great tour not only for haunted things but history of cap hill and denver in general. Recommend! Photos are of a few of the buildings you learn about, sadly no ghosts in the photos that I could see
- Alicia Wilson | Google Reviews
