The 7 best neighborhoods in Denver

Are you thinking about moving to Denver? If so, you’re not alone. The secret to a seamless move to Denver — whether you’re relocating from another state or another country altogether — is to choose the best neighborhoods for your apartment hunt.

The Mile High City is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the US. More than 3 million people currently live in the city, and the population is expected to swell to 3.6 million by 2030.

All in all, Denver has 78 neighborhoods.

Each of these areas has its own distinctive character. Where you decide to live depends on how much space you need, whether you’re commuting to school or work, and various other factors.

We’ve put together this list of some of our favorite neighborhoods in Denver to help you narrow down your search. (For even more to do in Denver, see our guide to a perfect weekend in the Mile High City.)

Of course, any move is a little easier if you don’t have to pack and transport furniture and other bulky items.

Every Blueground apartment in Denver is individually designed and fully furnished. Our turnkey homes in Denver have everything you need to cook for yourself, work from home, and even entertain a few guests.

Are you ready to start your apartment search?

Here are some of the best neighborhoods in Denver.

1. Berkeley

This cute Denver neighborhood is an easy walk from both West Highland and thriving Downtown Denver, yet retains a small-town feel of its own.

Above all, Berkeley is packed with bars, cafes, restaurants, and trendy boutiques.

You’ll also find a number of art galleries in the Tennyson Street Cultural District.

Each June the neighborhood hosts a weekend-long outdoor arts and music festival.

Berkeley is also great for nature lovers. Berkeley Lake Park and Rocky Mountain Lake Park are lovely open spaces where you can bring a picnic or relax next to the water with a good book.

2. Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill, the area surrounding the Colorado State Capitol building, is known for boho mansions that date back hundreds of years.

By day you can meet for brunch at one of the neighborhood’s trendy restaurants or shop for books at Capitol Hill Books.

The nightlife scene includes both chic cocktail spots and rollicking bars, as well as plenty of late-night coffeehouses. Capitol Hill is also home to the Molly Brown House Museum.

At the museum, visitors can learn all about the life of the famous Denver resident, Titanic survivor, and philanthropist.

3. Highland

This lovely neighborhood just north of Downtown Denver has wide avenues boasting stately old homes.

Thanks to its great location and thriving food scene, Highland is popular with young and old alike. Head to Highlands Square to experience some of Denver’s coolest bars, restaurants, and shops.

The neighborhood’s eclectic dining scene includes Trattoria Stella, an Italian restaurant that opened more than 20 years ago, and St. Kilian’s Cheese Shop, where you can buy delicious cheeses and charcuterie.

You can also cross the Highland Bridge to visit the 25-acre Commons Park and walk along the riverside trails.

4. LoDo

LoDo is just a shorter way of saying “Lower Downtown,” which aptly describes the location of Denver’s oldest neighborhood. The wide avenues and quaint Victorian homes give certain blocks an old-world feel.

Highlights of the area include the 16th Street Mall and always-hopping Larimer Square, home to a variety of restaurants and boutiques and illuminated by string lights after dark.

There’s also historic Union Station, which hosts events throughout the year, including concerts and a weekly farmer’s market.

LoDo is home to Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies baseball team plays.

5. LoHi

Another great Denver neighborhood for trendsetters is LoHi — short for “Lower Highland.” The area has an appealing mix of older homes and new construction, not to mention an abundance of places to eat, drink, and play.

Walkable Highland Bridge is an attraction unto itself, and a great place to take in the panorama of Denver’s skyline or head into lovely Commons Park for a picnic.

LoHi has everything from upscale cocktail bars to down-home craft breweries, as well as stylish restaurants with rooftop dining.

One neighborhood favorite is Little Man Ice Cream, a 28-foot tall small-batch ice cream stand that’s shaped like a giant bottle of milk.

6. RiNo

RiNo (pronounced “rhino”) is an abbreviation for River North, easily one of Denver’s coolest areas.

This hip neighborhood is set along the banks of the South Platte and is known for its abundance of former industrial spaces reimagined as concert venues and contemporary art galleries.

RiNo is one of the best neighborhoods in Denver to see colorful murals by local artists.

There’s even a graffiti tour of RiNo on Saturdays and Sundays! The neighborhood is home to several notable craft breweries, including Bierstadt Lagerhouse and Our Mutual Friend Brewery, making it the perfect place for a pub crawl with friends.

7. University

Even if you consider yourself too cool for school, there’s a lot to love in University. The laid-back neighborhood surrounds the University of Denver, the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region of the US.

There’s no shortage of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, many of which cater to students and stay open later than in other neighborhoods.

You can even visit the world’s first Chipotle restaurant on Evans Avenue.

University is located several miles from Downtown Denver, but it’s only about a fifteen to twenty-minute drive in normal traffic.

There’s also a light rail line that runs between the University of Denver campus and downtown.

Now that you know more about the best neighborhoods in Denver, you’re ready to begin your search for a new home.

Are you still renting the old-fashioned way? Why commit to a year-long lease and worry about transporting everything you own when you could choose a flexible short-term rental instead?

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