Overview
Colorado Springs is a city of about 490,000 in the western U.S. state of Colorado. The seat of El Paso County, the city lies 63 mi south of Denver at the foot of Pikes Peak in South Central Colorado.
21 sights · 9 things to do · 13 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods
A series of dramatic sandstone formations, enclosed by a city park. Excellent for hiking and technical rock climbing.
Cave of the Winds
A series of caves near Manitou Springs, offering tours.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
A small, scenic mountain zoo with many exotic animals.
Seven Falls
A privately owned series of falls and nature trails. Fills up quickly on weekends, but you can instead visit neighboring Helen Hunt Falls.
United States Olympic Training Center
Major U.S. Olympic training facility, with an aquatic center, gymnasiums, shooting center, and velodrome. Senior, group and military discounts are available.
United States Air Force Academy
The main officer cadet school for the United States Air Force and Space Force. Founded in 1954, it does not have the same classical-style buildings of some of the other academies, but the campus is nestled in the foothil…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Wettest: Jul and Aug.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- COS City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
- PUB Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo — 42 mi away. Directions
Greyhound runs bus services up to five times per day from Denver and at least once daily from other cities in Colorado and neighbouring states. The Greyhound bus terminal is located at 120 S Weber St in downtown.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Garden of the Gods, Rock Ledge Ranch, Ghost Town Museum
- Lunch Slice420
- Afternoon United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum, United States Olympic Training Center
- Dinner O'sae Sushi Ramen Bistro
- Evening Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.
Day 2
- Morning Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Seven Falls, Helen Hunt Falls
- Lunch Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza & Brewery
- Afternoon Cheyenne Mountain State Park, May Natural History Museum
- Dinner Shuga's
- Evening Bristol Brewing Company
Day 3
- Morning Pikes Peak, Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods Trading Post
- Lunch Biaggis
- Afternoon Rocky Mountain Vibes, Academy Riding Stables
- Dinner Jake and Telly's
- Evening Jack Quinns Irish Pub
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau:
Get in
By plane
Go Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS)
This is a full-service airport, but small enough to be able to get in and out quickly. Free wireless internet. It's a very nice place to wait for an hour or two if you arrive early for your flight. The airlines that serve Colorado Springs are American, Delta, Frontier, United and Southwest.
- Denver International Airport (DEN) - 80 miles north of Colorado Springs. Groome Transportation has hourly shuttle service between Colorado Springs and DEN; it is also possible to take the A Line rail to downtown Denver and then Bustang or Greyhound to Colorado Springs.
By car
- Interstate 25 is the only Interstate, running north-south through the city. Colorado Highway 83 provides a secondary route between East Denver and The Springs. US Highway 24 connects the city with mountain communities to the West and Limon, Colorado on the Eastern Plains.
- Denver is 70 miles north on I-25.
- Albuquerque is about 380 miles south on I-25.
By bus
Greyhound runs bus services up to five times per day from Denver and at least once daily from other cities in Colorado and neighbouring states. The Greyhound bus terminal is located at 120 S Weber St in downtown.
Bustang also runs service from Denver and Pueblo.
Get around
Colorado Springs lies along the foothills east of the Rocky Mountains. It runs north-south along I-25, with the Air Force Academy to the North, downtown to the south, and Pikes Peak rising in the west.
Since 2022 is the public transport in Colorado Springs from June to August free of charge. Outside this period, a single ticket costs USD 1.75, reduced price (from 60 years and up to 18 years) USD 0.85. A free shuttle bus (THE ZEB) runs throughout the city center all year round.
See
See Pikes Peak
The most famous peak in Colorado, inspiring the song "America the Beautiful", dominates over the city to the west. Drive to the top, or ascend by Cog Rail. Feeling fit? Hike up Barr Trail to the summit, especially beautiful in the summer with all the wild flowers. Feeling really fit? Run up during the Pikes Peak Ascent or run up and down in the Pikes Peak Marathon.
See Helen Hunt Falls
A short hike to some great views, within North Cheyenne Cañon City Park.
See United States Air Force Academy
The main officer cadet school for the United States Air Force and Space Force. Founded in 1954, it does not have the same classical-style buildings of some of the other academies, but the campus is nestled in the foothills of the Rampart range with breathtaking scenery, and the Cadet Chapel is widely regarded an icon of modernist architecture. Tours are available year round during regular visiting hours.
See Air Force Falcons
The Academy's athletic program offers college sports action throughout the school year. The best-known program is the football team, long a solidly competitive program. Football games especially offer a unique combination of military pageantry and traditional college sports atmosphere. Ticket prices vary by sport.
See Colorado College Tigers
The Tigers play most of their sports in the non-scholarship NCAA Division III. However, two sports—men's ice hockey and women's soccer—play in Division I. The hockey team, which plays at Ed Robson Arena on its campus as a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, has one of the richest traditions in U.S. college hockey. Its rivalry with the University of Denver is one of the fiercest in the sport.
Do
- Hiking, the Pike National Forest to the west, Pikes Peak, and numerous city parks offer ample hiking opportunities.
- Horseback Riding
- Cycling
- Rock Climbing, at Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon (non-marking chalk only, register online first), and in North Cheyenne Cañon City Park.
- Whitewater Rafting on the Arkansas river, about an hour south of town.
- Pets, Colorado Springs is very dog friendly, with excellent areas for off-leash hiking at Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Palmer Park, and Bear Creek Regional Park.
- Skate
- Volleyball
- Card Games
Buy
- The Promenade Shops at Briargate, 1885 Briargate Parkway (Near Briargate Pwky & I-25). Shopping, many restaurants.
Eat
Eat Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza & Brewery
Great gourmet pizzas.
Eat Jake and Telly's
Great Greek food; under $15 for lunch, over $20 for dinner. Sit outside on their second floor patio and enjoy the gorgeous Colorado Springs weather.
Eat O'Furry's
Hole-in-the-wall Irish-style pub, featuring some of the best burgers in Colorado Springs.
Eat Frankie's Bar & Grill
Neighborhood bar/grill since 1984.Burgers and wings. Perfect for watching all the games.
Eat Jun Japanese
Very good Japanese - Popular happy hour
Eat Rico's Coffee and Wine Bar
Wine, chocolate, coffee, tapas, and great music.
Eat Pueblo Viejo
Authentic Mexican food. Run by a family from Jalisco, Mexico who specialize in chile rellenos. Great salsa and atmosphere.
Eat The Airplane Restaurant
Ok diner, and you can eat inside a KC-97 aircraft, lots of aviation decor.
Eat Sheldon's Luncheonette
Awesome breakfast and daily meat sandwiches or plates for lunch.
Eat O'sae Sushi Ramen Bistro
O’sae offers authentic and delicious tasting Japanese cuisine and bistro in Colorado Springs, CO. O’sae's convenient location makes this restaurant a natural choice for dine-in or take-out meals in the Colorado Spring community. The restaurant is known for its variety in taste and choice of meals. Customers can state their personal taste preferences upon arrival and then take delight in the individualized maki, sushi, salad, and ramen creations. A true new way to do your traditional O’sae style meal.
Eat Slice420
Great New York style pizza. Founded by a family of American medical refugees who actively support/donate to American medical refugee causes, HopeKids, The Shandy Clinic, Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, Flowering Hope Foundation, and local businesses and individuals in need. Offers pizza by the slice, full pizza pies, calzones, pizza rolls, salads, desserts, etc.
Drink
Drink Bristol Brewing Company
In an old elementary school. Quite charming and unique.
Drink Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.
Wide variety of excellent brews made on premises. Also serves high quality food for lunch and dinner daily. Brunch is available Sunday only.
Drink Jack Quinns Irish Pub
Great Irish and English beers, decent Irish food. Stay for the Irish band!
Drink Trinity Brewing Co
Great micro brewery! Has 4-6 of their own beers on tap as well as an ever changing selection of 28 Plus other micro beers. Great food. Great crowd. Free Wi-Fi.
Sleep
Stay The Broadmoor
A resort just outside Colorado Springs, covering 3,000 acres with 700 hotel rooms and suites, 15 restaurants, cafés and lounges, three championship golf courses, a tennis club, and world-class spa. Even if your budget won't allow you to stay there, it's worth touring the lavish grounds at the base of Cheyenne Mountain.
Stay safe
The town is about as safe as Denver, though be aware that Colorado has one of the highest death rates via automobile accidents in the US. So just remember to drive defensively and you'll be fine. Colorado Springs is infamous for speed traps also. Watch out for motorcycle cops (around 5 or 6) along with one or more cruisers waiting to catch you speeding.
The southeastern part of town is generally less safe than the western or northern part. Ft. Carson, on the southern edge of town, is a large Army installation bringing in thousands of young, energetic men and women. The businesses that these clients would frequent sometimes attract a rougher crowd. Stay north of Platte or west of Wahsatch, and all should be well.
Go next
- Manitou Springs Small historic town and shopping area west of the city, base of the Cog Rail
- Great Sand Dunes National Park, a national park about 2 hours drive southwest of the city. Trek or slide around 750 ft sand dunes.
- The Arkansas River has rafting, fishing, and the Royal Gorge, about an hour south of town
- Ski, the closest resorts are Breckenridge and Monarch, each about a two-hour drive.
Nearby
Manitou Springs
City / town · 30 listings · 5 mi away
Woodland Park
City / town · 5 listings · 17 mi away
Monument
City / town · 6 listings · 18 mi away
Cripple Creek
City / town · 14 listings · 20 mi away
Palmer Lake
City / town · 18 listings · 20 mi away
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Park · 8 listings · 25 mi away
Cañon City
City / town · 25 listings · 35 mi away
Castle Rock
City / town · 16 listings · 37 mi away
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