Overview
Golden is a city in the Denver Area of Colorado. It sits at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and distance-wise is roughly halfway between the cities of Boulder and Denver. It is the home of the Coors Brewery, the Colorado School of Mines, and the Colorado Railroad Museum.
The city of Golden has a distinct country-western atmosphere due in part to its gold-mining history and in part to its proximity to the front range. A slogan often used to describe the city claims that it's "Where The West Lives". Also, an iconic, antique signboard draped over Golden's Main Street ushers in travelers with "Howdy Folks! Welcome To Golden".
In keeping with the general spirit of the Rockies, Golden is an outdoor, active town. It's not unusual to see kayakers lugging boats around town and playing in the mile long whitewater course that runs through town, or mountain bikers returning from a ride up to the surrounding hills.
6 sights · 5 things to do · 5 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 Golden
Colorado School of Mines
Each building on the compact Mines campus was considered modern architectural design when built, giving the campus as a whole a wide range of styles tied together by the use of the same sandy-colored stone for most façad…
Mines Museum of Earth Science
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
Colorado Railroad Museum
Open every day, excluding holidays, 9AM-5PM. Created in 1959 to preserve the history of Colorado's rollicking railroad era, this museum is now a haven for aficionados of heritage railways, antique cabooses, and steam loc…
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: May and Jul. (climate data from nearby Denver)
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.
- BJC Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Denver — 12 mi away. Directions
- DEN Denver International Airport, Denver — 30 mi away (major hub). Directions
Colorado is on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-07) in the winter and on Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06) in the summer.
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 Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, Mines Museum of Earth Science, Colorado School of Mines
- Lunch Ali Baba Grill
- Afternoon Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden History Park
- Dinner Café 13
- Evening Golden City Brewery
Day 2
- Morning Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Lunch D'deli
- Afternoon Clear Creek Whitewater Park
- Dinner Windy Saddle Cafe
- Evening The Buffalo Rose
Day 3
- Morning Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
- Lunch Woody's Woodfired Pizza and Watering Hole
- Evening New Terrain Brewing Company
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Despite being a college town, a surprising number of Golden's restaurants close early, or are only open for breakfast and lunch. The late night crowd moves to bars (or Denver proper) instead.
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
Golden is a tourist town in summer and a college town the rest of the year.
Golden is not between Boulder and Denver. It is west of Denver and south of Boulder. There are other cities between Golden and Denver, e.g. Lakewood and Wheat Ridge.
Get in
Colorado is on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-07) in the winter and on Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06) in the summer.
By air
Go Denver International Airport (DEN)
One of the ten busiest airports in the world. The airport connects to Golden via the RTD commuter rail A line connecting to the RTD light rail W line.
By car
Golden is served six major highways: Rental cars are available at Denver International Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.
By rail
The Amtrak California Zephyr and Winter Park Express serve Denver Union Station. You can use the RTD light rail W line for the 43-minute ride from Denver Union Station to the Jeffco Government Center Station in southeast Golden.
By bus
Greyhound Lines serve Denver.
Get around
Public Transit
Golden is served by the RTD light rail W line which connects to Lakewood and Denver, RTD bus routes 17 and GS, and the RTD GDFX FlexRide bus service.
Downtown Golden consists of a strip of businesses surrounded by residential neighborhoods. This commercial and business portion of Golden is relatively small, and can be driven or biked through, or even covered by foot, in a short amount of time. In fact, Golden is very alternative-transportation friendly, and groups of walkers or bikers are always seen moving through town. The downtown area is an active hub for area residents. Numerous events are sponsored there throughout the year. One of these is a weekly Friday night street party with music and local restaurants selling tapas and beverages. In August the city sponsors a popular fine arts festival. In 2012 professional cyclists will, for the second consecutive year, begin a day of racing in the middle of town.
See
Do
Activities in Golden are usually split between visiting its historical sites including the Coors Brewery, and doing outdoors activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking.
Do Coors Brewery
guests over 21 years old offered limited free samples, guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The main tourist draw for the city, the Coors Brewery in Golden is also the largest beer brewing plant in the world on a single site. It is easily recognized for its sheer size and space consumption, and in particular, its plain grey walls and large, red "Coors" sign mural. If you visit Golden, you will undoubtedly notice the distinct fragrance of grains, hops, and alcohol wafting through the air at any point in town, any time of the year. The brewery is a popular attraction mainly because of the guided tours it offers. These tours last about 45 minutes, and guests over the age of 21 are treated to a free sample of the brewery's confectionery.
Do Colorado Railroad Museum
Open every day, excluding holidays, 9AM-5PM. Created in 1959 to preserve the history of Colorado's rollicking railroad era, this museum is now a haven for aficionados of heritage railways, antique cabooses, and steam locomotives. Railfans will want to check out the museum's periodic train ride days, where you could have a wine & cheese tasting on a train, or let the kids meet "Thomas the Tank Engine". Also, the museum is a non-profit establishment that publishes its own books about railroad history. It also has indoor and outdoor model train layouts.
Do Clear Creek Whitewater Park
Along 10th St in Clear Creek. Considered to be the heart of the Colorado kayaking social scene, the mile long course in Clear Creek provides a playspot for both playboaters and slalom kayakers, as well as a plethora of tubers and boogie boarders. Even if you don't want to get in the water, head down to the park to watch kayakers ripping it up in the holes some of the best kayakers in the state practice here on a regular basis. If you want to try kayaking, local kayak school RA Guides provides lessons here regularly during the summer months, or, if you having boating experience, kayaks can be rented from either of the two river stores in town, Golden River Sports or Alpenglow. The park is beginner friendly and folks are more than happy to help out newcomers, as long as you have some common sense and basic courtesy. Look but don't touch others' boats, wait your turn and be safe.
Buy
Eat
Despite being a college town, a surprising number of Golden's restaurants close early, or are only open for breakfast and lunch. The late night crowd moves to bars (or Denver proper) instead.
Eat Ali Baba Grill
Friendly and elaborately-decorated Lebanese restaurant in the northern part of town.
Eat Café 13
Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and other light fare. The locally-made muffins are excellent.
Eat D'deli
One of two adjacent sandwich shops.
Eat Windy Saddle Cafe
Comfortable spot to grab a sandwich for lunch and watch the activity on Washington outside. Kid-friendly.
Eat Woody's Woodfired Pizza and Watering Hole
Family owned restaurant located a block from the Coors Brewery
Drink
Drink Ace Hi Tavern
If one bar is the locals' watering hole, this is it. Music is from the jukebox and the place isn't the prettiest, but on any night of the week this place will be full of college students and old-timers alike. Great place to drop in and get to know the residents of the town. Located on Washington next to Foss Drug.
Drink The Buffalo Rose
A stereotypical biker bar on Washington Ave, with loud and often live music and plenty of Harleys parked out the front. It's big and hard to miss, with a large sign out the front.
Drink New Terrain Brewing Company
Sleep
Several hotels, particularly the chain hotels, that claim to be in Golden are often well outside the city proper – no more than a few minutes' drive away on US-6, but not within walking distance. Addresses on 6th Ave., or any name including "Denver West", are both tip-offs.
Go next
- Take US-6 west to the historic mining towns and casinos of Blackhawk and Central City.
- Take C-93 north to Boulder, Estes Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
- Take C-470 south to Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak.
- Take any highway east into Metropolitan Denver.
- Take any highway west to Idaho Springs, Mount Blue Sky, the heart of the Rockies and Ski Country USA.
Nearby
Lakewood
City / town · 27 listings · 7 mi away
Morrison
City / town · 8 listings · 7 mi away
Arvada
City / town · 49 listings · 8 mi away
Evergreen
City / town · 8 listings · 10 mi away
Westminster
City / town · 12 listings · 12 mi away
Denver
City / town · 177 listings · 12 mi away
Englewood
City / town · 6 listings · 14 mi away
Black Hawk
City / town · 13 listings · 15 mi away
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