City overview
Denver pairs a lively, walkable downtown with the Rocky Mountains on its western horizon, so a single trip can take in world-class museums, Red Rocks and a day in the high country. The city sits a mile above sea level and gets plenty of sunshine year-round. Denver has a long-established Orthodox community spread across three neighbourhoods — East Denver around South Monaco Parkway and Holly Street, historic West Denver near Colfax, and Southeast Denver by the Tech Center — each with its own eruv. Scroll K, the Vaad Hakashrus of Denver, supervises the city's kosher restaurants, and a cluster of them sits within walking distance of the East Denver shuls.
Getting Around
Public transit
RTD runs the region's buses, light rail and commuter rail.
A local 3-Hour Pass costs $2.75 and a Day Pass $5.50; the Airport Day Pass, needed for the A Line to or from the airport, is $10. Discounted fares are $1.35 and $2.70. Youth aged 19 and under and active-duty U.S. military ride free. Pay by contactless card with Tap-n-Ride or buy mobile tickets in the RTD app.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft both operate across the Denver area.
At Denver International Airport, rideshare pickups are on Level 5, Island 5, on either the east or west side of the terminal; passengers who need extra help can request curbside pickup on Level 5 near doors 504, 506, 510 or 512 (west) or 505, 507, 511 or 513 (east).
Car rental
A car is the easiest way to reach the suburbs and the mountains.
More than ten rental companies serve Denver International Airport, with shuttles to the rental lots from Level 5, Island 4. For mountain drives in winter, check I-70 conditions before setting out.
Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN) lies northeast of the city. The RTD A Line commuter train covers the 23 miles to Denver Union Station downtown in about 37 minutes, running every 15 minutes from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM and every 30 minutes early and late; board at the Transit Center on Level 1, beside the Westin hotel. Taxis leave from Level 5, Island 1, charge a flat rate that is the same for every company, and take about 30 minutes to downtown. The airport's dining guide lists no kosher outlets, so bring food for the journey.
Good to know
Best time to visit
June through September brings warm, dry days ideal for the mountains, while December to March is ski season with mostly sunny, mild days in the city itself.
Insider tips
Kosher restaurants close early on Friday and stay closed on Shabbos, so plan Friday lunch and Shabbos meals ahead. The East Denver kosher cluster — East Side Kosher Deli, Brooklyn Pizza, L'Chaim, ASLI and Rosenberg's — sits along South Monaco Parkway, South Oneida Street and South Elm Street, close to the East Denver shuls and eruv hotels. Several King Soopers supermarkets have in-store bakeries carrying Scroll K-certified items. The dry air and altitude mean you'll need more water than usual, and the sun is strong year-round.
Safety & emergency
Denver is generally safe for visitors who take ordinary big-city precautions, such as keeping valuables out of sight in parked cars. At 5,280 feet the air is thin and dry: drink plenty of water, go easy on exertion for the first day or two, and wear sunscreen even in winter. Mountain weather changes fast, so check forecasts and road conditions before driving west on I-70. In an emergency call 911 (police, fire, ambulance). For non-emergencies, Denver Police can be reached on (720) 913-2000.
Local time
2:35 AM
+4 hrs from NYC
Plug
Type A/B
120V
Currency
US Dollar
Kosher map of Denver, CO
Pick a place on the map or search an address or hotel to see what is kosher around it.