A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Canberra vs. Denver for Attractions, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Canberra or Denver?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Canberra or Denver? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Canberra

Canberra is a cultural, diverse, and under-rated city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food.

Denver

Denver is a park-filled, suburban, and accessible city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the nightlife, hiking, and shopping.

Canberra and Denver: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Canberra or Denver?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Canberra than Denver. While Denver is larger than Canberra, Canberra has more sights and attractions for tourists. Canberra is better known for its museums and food, while Denver is more popular for its skiing. Canberra is well known for its educational museums and the nearby nature reserves. Also, Canberra is famous for the Australian War Memorial. Denver is well known for serving as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and the many national parks that are in the area.

How is Canberra different from Denver?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Denver and Canberra. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Skiing?

Denver is a popular place for skiing and snowboarding. However, Canberra is not a skiing destination.

For winter sports and skiing, Denver is a great destination to visit. Although there's no skiing in the immediate area, there is a huge list of world class ski resorts within an hour or two of town. Two of the closest are Echo Mountain Resort and Loveland Ski Area.

Canberra is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Canberra or Denver?

Canberra is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Denver is not a good city for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Canberra can be an interesting and educational experience. As Australia's capital, there are a large number of museums around town that focus on everything from history and culture to science and nature. Some of the most interesting are the Australian War Memorial, the New Parliament House, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Gallery of Australia, and the National Science and Technology Centre, but there are many more.

While most people don't head to Denver specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Many people use Denver as a starting or ending point for their mountain and national park trip, but those who linger can visit some of the city's museums and sights. Popular museums include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the History Colorado Center, and the Forney Museum of Transportation.

Is the Food Better in Canberra or Denver? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Canberra is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Denver is not a good city for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Canberra. There's a trendy culinary scene as well as nearby vineyards that provide great wine. You'll find everything from family-friendly and casual to upscale and fine dining.

Denver may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. It's a pretty large city, so you'll find some nice local restaurants, but the foodie scene is still emerging in many neighborhoods. A number of restaurants offer outdoor seating, which is nice. You'll also find a growing selection of international restaurants. For something uniquely local, you should try the Bison steak and fried pickles.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Nightlife?

Both Canberra and Denver have notable vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Canberra. There are local pubs and music venues that offer fun entertainment in the evening. You can sip wine or practice your dance moves at one of the city's clubs.

Denver has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has come a long way with its nightlife. There's a great craft beer scene and the downtown area has really come to life. Popular bars and clubs in town include the Grizzly Rose and 54Thirty Rooftop. Many places are concentrated in the Soco Nightlife District.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Canberra and Denver both have notable trails.

Canberra is a good destination for hiking. There's one national park - Namadgi, as well as green space, rolling hills, and hiking trails just outside of town.

Many people include a hike when visiting Denver. The city is very close to many beautiful parks and hiking areas in the Rocky Mountains. It's not hard to make a day trip from town and enjoy some great hiking. Nice options include the Trading Post Trail in Red Rocks Mountain Park, Bergen Peak near Evergreen, and Chimney Gulch Trail near the town of Golden.

Is the Shopping Better in Canberra or Denver?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Canberra and Denver.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Canberra. Caberra Centre is the city's largest shopping centre and it has all of the usual international brands.

Many visitors go to Denver to go shopping. The city has many outlet malls that budget shoppers appreciate. There are also weekend farmer's markets, boutique shopping areas, and all of the major chains that you'll find in most larger cities.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Families?

Canberra is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Canberra is a very kid-friendly city. There are interactive museums and science centers such as Questacon, the National Dinosaur Museum, and the National Zoo and Aquarium. There are also cultural and historical museums such as the Australian War Memorial, the Museum of Australian Democracy, and the National Museum of Australia. The city also has plenty of outdoor space and hands on crafts that kids will enjoy.

Denver is a family-friendly city. It is a family-friendly city with museums, playgrounds, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are also a few ropes courses near town that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Popular activities include the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Canberra and Denver make for a notable place to visit.

Canberra makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. As the city has plenty of date night activities like nice restaurants, interesting shows, and trendy wineries. During the day you can explore the outdoor setting, have a picnic, or visit a vineyard.

Denver is a good city for couples to visit. There are many beautiful and romantic outdoor activities in the area such as parks and botanical gardens. There are also spas, including the impressive Spa at the Brown Palace, as well as upscale restaurants and fun bars and clubs to explore.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Students?

Canberra is a well-known place for students. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

Canberra is a great city to visit as a student. It's a welcoming city that is a fairly popular study abroad destination. Many students appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe environment, and great economic setting.

Plenty of students visit Denver. There are a few students in the city, but there isn't a college town vibe that you'd get at other nearby university areas.

Is Canberra or Denver Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find notable public transit in both Canberra and Denver.

Canberra has some public transit options. There are public buses as well as a light rail system. The Red Explorer Loop bus goes by many of the city's sights.

You'll find some public transit in Denver, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. If you're not planning to leave town, the light rail and bus systems offer good access to much of Denver.

Is Canberra or Denver a more walkable city?

Canberra is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Denver is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Canberra is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of the city that are walkable and possible to explore on foot, but in general this is a very car-centered city.

Denver is not a very walkable city. While the downtown area is generally walkable, this is still a sprawling city where you'll really want to have a car to access areas outside of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Canberra Worth Visiting? and Is Denver Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Denver or Canberra?

How long in Canberra or Denver?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Canberra and Denver. In our opinion, Canberra has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Canberra than Denver. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Canberra than Denver. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Canberra, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Canberra than Denver. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Canberra that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Canberra than Denver if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Canberra.

One day in Canberra or Denver?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Canberra. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Denver offers skiing and nightlife. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Canberra or Denver?

Canberra is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Denver is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Denver, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Canberra or Denver?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Canberra. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Denver is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Canberra or Denver?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Canberra. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Denver is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Australia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Canberra and Denver, we can see that Denver is more expensive. And not only is Canberra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Canberra is in Pacific and Denver is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Canberra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Canberra and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver than you might in Canberra.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Canberra Expensive? and Is Denver Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Canberra or Denver?

Denver has a larger population, and is about 69% larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Canberra and Denver, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.