Denver is an easy city to souvenir shop in because so many of the things associated with Colorado make genuinely useful things to bring home.
You have locally made food, outdoor gear, sports teams, artwork and plenty of products inspired by the mountains. And while you can certainly find the standard Denver t-shirts and magnets, I would rather bring home something that reminds me of what we actually did on the trip.
If you are wondering what to buy in Denver, here are some of the best Denver souvenirs to keep an eye out for.
Best Souvenirs From Denver
Colorado-Made Food
Food is almost always one of my favourite souvenirs, especially when it is something we can’t easily find at home.
Look for chocolate, honey, jams, locally made sauces, snacks and other products made in Colorado.
These are also easy gifts if you need to bring something home for friends or family without spending a fortune.
If you are flying internationally, make sure you check what food products you are allowed to bring home before you buy them.
Denver Sports Gear
If you are a sports family, Denver gives you plenty of choices.
The city is home to the Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Rockies and Colorado Rapids, so there is a good chance you can find something for just about any sports fan.
A hat or shirt is an especially good souvenir if seeing a game was part of your Denver trip.
I always like souvenirs that are attached to something we actually did. Years later, that hat isn’t just from Denver. It reminds you of going to the game.
Colorado Outdoor Gear
Colorado and outdoor adventures go hand in hand, so Denver is a great place to shop for something you can use on your next adventure.
Colorado is also the kind of destination where you may end up buying gear because of an adventure you have planned. If Denver white water rafting is on your itinerary, for example, a quick-dry shirt, hat or other piece of outdoor gear you pick up for the trip can end up being a useful souvenir long after you get home.
That doesn’t necessarily mean buying expensive new hiking gear.
A hat, water bottle, toque, socks or another small outdoor accessory from a Colorado company makes an easy souvenir that will actually get used when you get home.
This is also a good option for teens who aren’t particularly interested in traditional souvenir shopping.
Local Art and Prints
Denver and the surrounding mountains give local artists plenty of inspiration.
Look for prints, paintings and photography featuring the Denver skyline, Red Rocks, Colorado’s mountains or other places you visited during your trip.
Small prints are particularly easy to bring home. They don’t weigh much, take up almost no room in your luggage and can be framed once you get home.
I would choose something depicting a place you actually visited so there is a memory attached to it.
Colorado-Made Jewelry
If you want something small and easy to pack, look for jewelry made by Colorado artists.
You will find plenty of mountain-inspired designs, pieces influenced by the outdoors and jewelry made with different stones and natural materials.
It doesn’t necessarily need to say Denver or Colorado on it.
Sometimes the best souvenir is something you will actually wear regularly that still reminds you exactly where you found it.
Western Wear
You don’t have to go full cowboy, but Colorado is a fun place to look for Western-inspired clothing and accessories.
A good belt, hat, boots or piece of leatherwork can be a much more useful souvenir than something that simply has Denver printed across the front.
Just be realistic about whether you will actually wear it once you get home.
Cowboy boots that seemed like an excellent idea on vacation are considerably less exciting if they spend the next five years sitting at the back of your closet.
Christmas Ornaments
Christmas ornaments are one traditional souvenir I almost always think is worth considering.
They are small, easy to pack and come back out every year.
Look for ornaments featuring the Denver skyline, Colorado mountains, skis or one of the places you visited on your trip.
If your family already collects ornaments when you travel, Denver gives you plenty of options.
Where to Buy Souvenirs in Denver
You will find souvenir shops around Denver’s main tourist areas, but I wouldn’t limit your shopping to stores selling traditional Denver merchandise.
Markets, independent boutiques, museum shops, local food stores and shops featuring Colorado makers are often better places to find something interesting.
Denver Union Station is also worth browsing while you are downtown, particularly if it is already part of your sightseeing plans.
If you are heading into the mountains before or after your time in Denver, don’t feel like you need to do all of your shopping in the city. Mountain towns have their own locally made products and souvenirs, so I would leave a little room in the suitcase.
Denver Souvenirs I’d Skip Next Time
I would skip most of the generic plastic souvenirs unless you specifically collect them.
There are too many Colorado-made products available to come home with something that could have been manufactured anywhere and simply had “Denver” added to it.
I would also avoid buying bulky outdoor gear simply because you are in Colorado. If you actually need it, great. If you don’t, it can quickly become a very expensive souvenir.
For me, the best souvenirs from Denver are things that either get used or bring back a specific memory.
A piece of local art, something delicious, sports gear from a game you attended or a small item from a Colorado maker is much more likely to do that than another keychain at the bottom of a drawer.
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.