Denver CityPASS Review: Is The Attractions Pass Worth It?

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Where Are Those Morgans Denver CityPASS Review

The Denver CityPASS is the major attraction pass in the Mile High City. This comprehensive review will explain everything you need to know about the Denver C3, C4 and C5 Pass.

Why can you trust us when it comes to the Denver CityPASS?

Because we have used the Denver C5 Pass in the city ourselves.

We also have used CityPASS in many other cities around the United States. So you can consider us experts when it comes to using this attraction based pass.

Our only goal is to help you decide if this is the attraction pass for you as well as help save you money when you visit Denver.

In this guide, we will show you:

  • Why you should buy an attractions pass in Denver
  • How the Denver CityPASS works
  • Top attractions included with the pass
  • How to make required reservations
  • Is the Denver CityPASS worth it?

Let’s see if the Denver CityPASS is the perfect attractions pass for your visit!

Disclaimer: We received Denver C5 Pass tickets in order to share our opinion about this product but this is not a sponsored post.

Why Buy A Denver CityPASS?

Purchasing a CityPASS in Denver, Colorado will instantly give you access to the top attractions in the city including museums, aquariums and special experiences.

Personally, we have used attractions passes in cities all around the world. It is a very simple concept in that the more attractions you visit with your CityPASS, the more money you will save.

An attraction pass is great for both first time visitors, returning visitors or those who live in the city but have yet to experience any of the ‘touristy’ things.

Colorado's American indian tribe exhibit at the History Colorado Center
Exhibit about Colorado’s American Indian Tribes at the History Colorado Center

How Does The Denver CityPASS Work?

The Denver CityPASS is an attraction based pass.

This means your pass is preloaded with attractions you can visit during your time in the Denver. We like the CityPASS because you have the ability to choose between the very best of Denver’s attractions.

Unlike other CityPASS options in America, the Denver CityPASS works a bit differently. There are three types of passes available:

  1. C3 Pass
  2. C4 Pass
  3. C5 Pass

The main difference between the three Denver CityPASS options are the amount of attractions included on the pass itself.

For example, the Denver C3 Pass gives you entry into 3 attractions from a list of 7 attractions.

While the Denver C4 Pass gives you entry into 4 attractions and the Denver C5 pass gives you entry into 5 attractions from a list of 7 attractions.

The validity for either pass is 7 consecutive days starting with the day you visit your first attraction. You also have one year from the date of purchase to activate your pass.

Let’s take a closer look at the attractions on the Denver CityPASS.

Want A Denver CityPASS?

Head over to the official CityPASS website to grab your pass now.

Denver CityPASS Attractions

Depending on the pass you buy, you will be able to visit 3-5 of the Denver attractions listed below.

  1. Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
  2. Denver Art Museum
  3. Denver Botanic Gardens
  4. Denver Museum of Nature & Science
  5. Downtown Aquarium
  6. History Colorado Center
  7. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

The Denver C5 Pass is perfect for first time visitors because this pass gets you to the best attractions at the most competitive price point.

However, the Denver C3 Pass is also good for first time visitors, but best for those who are extremely short on time.

Woman looking at a large painting in the Denver Art Museum
Kristen taking in a painting at the Denver Art Museum

How Much Does The Denver CityPASS Cost?

Our experience with CityPASS has shown us these passes are often the most cost effective option compared to other attraction passes in a city.

However, the attractions on these passes are limited. So this pass is a great deal if you are interested in the attractions listed on the pass.

We would recommend you purchase your Denver CityPASS in advance online prior to your visit.

Some of the attractions on the pass may require advanced reservations which we will discuss later in the guide.

Buy The Denver C5 Pass

The Denver C5 Pass is currently priced at $54 for adults and $49 for children (3-11).

With a small calculation, we will show you just how much you can save with the Denver CityPASS.

This example uses same day box office general admission price for adults as well as processing fees for each ticket transaction on the official websites.

Here are the prices you would pay if visiting each attraction individually:

  • Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus – $17
  • Denver Art Museum – $19
  • Denver Botanic Gardens – $15
  • Denver Museum of Nature & Science – $22.95
  • Downtown Aquarium – $26.50
  • History Colorado Center – $15
  • Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum – $18.95

Downtown Aquarium ($26.50) + Denver Museum of Nature & Science ($22.95) + Denver Art Museum ($19) + Wings Over the Rockies ($18.95) + Children’s Museum of Denver ($17) = $104.40

  • Attraction Price = $104.40 without SF CityPASS
  • CityPASS Price = $54.00
  • Savings = $50.40

You will save over 50% on the top 5 attractions with the Denver CityPASS!

>> Buy an official Denver C5 Pass here <<

Travel Tip: You will save the most on attractions when buying the Denver C5 Pass, but if you do not want to visit 5 attractions, the C4 or C3 pass will still save you some money!


Buy The Denver C4 Pass

The Denver C4 Pass is currently priced at $49 for adults and $42 for children (3-11).

We will perform the exact same calculation with the C4 Pass.

Downtown Aquarium ($26.50) + Denver Museum of Nature & Science ($22.95) + Denver Art Museum ($19) + Wings Over the Rockies ($18.95) = $87.40

  • Attraction Price = $87.40 without SF CityPASS
  • CityPASS Price = $49.00
  • Savings = $38.40

You will save over 40% on the top 4 attractions with the Denver CityPASS!

>> Buy an official Denver C4 Pass here <<


Buy The Denver C3 Pass

The Denver C3 Pass is currently priced at $39 for adults and $32 for children (3-11).

We will perform the exact same calculation with the C3 Pass.

Downtown Aquarium ($26.50) + Denver Museum of Nature & Science ($22.95) + Denver Art Museum ($19) = $68.45

  • Attraction Price = $68.95 without SF CityPASS
  • CityPASS Price = $39.00
  • Savings = $29.45

You will save over 40% on the top 3 attractions with the Denver CityPASS!

>> Buy an official Denver C3 Pass here <<


What Attractions Are Included With The Denver CityPASS?

Now that you know how the CityPASS works and how much money you can save, let’s briefly take a look at each individual attraction you can visit after buying the Denver C3, C4 or C5 Pass.

Exterior view of the Children's Museum in Denver
Exterior view of the Children’s Museum of Denver

1. Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus

First opened in 1973, this 9-acre museum was created for ages newborn to eight years old. But any age will love visiting this Children’s museum because exhibits are hands on and one of a kind.

Denver CityPASS will grant you a general admission experience at the Children’s Museum of Denver.

Address: 2121 Children’s Museum Dr, Denver, CO 80211

Children’s Museum of Denver Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Required

Light exhibit at the Denver Art Museum in Colorado
 Textile Art and Fashion exhibit at the Denver Art Museum

2. Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum (DAM) can be found in the Civic Center. This museum features more than 70,000 diverse works from recent centuries as well as throughout the entire world.

Denver CityPASS will grant you general admission while additional exhibits may require an additional ticket. The Denver Art Museum is one of the largest museums located between the West Coast and Chicago.

Address: 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204

Denver Art Museum Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Recommended

Lily pads and pond at the Denver Botanical Gardens in October
Beautiful lily pads at the Denver Botanical Gardens

3. Denver Botanic Gardens

With Denver CityPASS, you can visit the Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street. This beautiful garden and collection spans a whopping 24 acres.

We loved how the gardens included plants and storyboards from all around the world. There is truly something for everyone at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Address: 1007 York St, Denver, CO 80206

Denver Botanic Gardens Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Not required, CityPASS guests automatically receive next available entry

Egyptian mummies exhibit at the Denver Science Museum included on the CityPASS
Egyptian mummies exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science Center

4. Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Natural history and science museum in Denver features numerous world renown exhibits, a planetarium and lectures that aim to explore the wonders of our planet.

Permit exhibitions in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science include:

  • Space Odyssey
  • Mummies
  • Discovery Zone
  • Gems and Minerals
  • Expedition Health
  • North American Indian Cultures
  • Wildlife Halls, Konovalenko: Gem Carvings of Russian Folk Life
  • Prehistoric Journey

Denver CityPASS will grant you general admission.

Address: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Not required, present your CityPASS at the ticketing line

Woman looking at the fish at the Denver Aquarium
Kristen watching the fish at the Downtown Aquarium

5. Downtown Aquarium

The Denver Downtown Aquarium is perfect for kids because this sprawling complex includes a state-of-the-art aquarium housing 500+ species as well as a restaurant and lounge.

We loved the numerous interactive exhibits where visitors could experience sea life. During our visit, we were surrounded by many happy and laughing children which made it a great experience.

CityPASS grants you admission to the aquarium adventure exhibit.

Address: 700 Water St, Denver, CO 80211

Downtown Aquarium Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Required

Woman sitting in a car in an exhibit in the History Colorado Center
Kristen driving a car at the History Colorado Center

6. History Colorado Center

If you are looking to learn about the state of Colorado, look no further than the History Colorado Center. This is such a unique attraction and we would recommend it for first time visitors to Denver.

A few of the current exhibits in the History Colorado Center include:

  • Borderlands of Southern Colorado
  • Colorado Stories
  • Denver A to Z
  • Destination Colorado
  • Forty Years on the ‘Fax
  • Liberated
  • Living West

A Denver CityPASS will give you general admission to the History Colorado Center.

Address: 1200 N Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

History Colorado Center Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Not required, present your CityPASS at the front desk

Travel Tip: Kids under 18 can receive free admission to the History of Colorado Center. If this is a museum you would like to experience, it might be cheaper to visit another option on your CityPASS and pay out of pocket for this attraction.

Welcome to colorful Colorado sign in the History Colorado Center
Welcome to Colorado sign

7. Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum

The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum can be found on the former Lowry Air Force Base in the historic lowry neighborhood of Denver, CO.

This museum strives to preserve the history of Lowry AFB’s operations from 1938 to 1994 through collections of iconic aircrafts, space vehicles, artifacts and military uniforms.

Address: 7711 E Academy Blvd, Denver, CO 80230

Wings Over the Rockies Google Maps Location.

CityPASS Reservations: Not Required, CityPASS guests will receive next available entry

Making reservations with a Denver CityPASS
Denver CityPASS Reservations page (Photo courtesy of CityPASS)

How To Make A Timed Reservation With Denver CityPASS

For many CityPASS locations throughout the United States, you are required to make a timed reservation for various attractions on each pass.

These reservations work on a timed entry system which means you won’t have to wait in line at each attraction. All you will need to do is show your CityPASS for Denver as well as the reservation confirmation.

For Denver, the following attractions require reservations:

  • Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
  • Downtown Aquarium

We love using CityPASS for its easy to use reservation system.

All you have to do is head over to the reservation page on the official CityPASS website, find the attraction, hit the dark blue button that says ‘Reserve Time’ and select the time you would like to visit.

A confirmation email with your reservation information will be sent to the same email you used to originally purchase the CityPASS tickets.

You will need this reservation confirmation along with your Denver CityPASS to visit attractions with required reservations.

Please keep in mind reservation requirements may change so always double check what is required for each individual attraction to make sure you have what you need for your visit.

A small seahorse close up from the Denver Aquarium included on the Denver CityPASS
Seahorse at the Downtown Aquarium

Is It Worth Buying The Denver CityPASS?

Yes, the Denver CityPASS is worth buying if you want to save money on your visit to the Mile High City and you have an idea about what attractions you want to visit.

If this is your first time to Denver, we would recommend the CityPASS because the top attractions are included on this pass at a very competitive price point.

Additionally, this pass will save money for families since most of the attractions on the pass are kid friendly.

We also like the ability to use the pass over 7 consecutive days which gives you ample time to visit each attraction without rushing.

This pass can also be great option for locals who haven’t see any of the touristy parts of the city.

How To Buy Your Denver CityPASS

Buying your Denver CityPASS is easy:

  1. Follow this link to the official website for Denver CityPASS
  2. Choose between the C3, C4 and C5 Pass
  3. Select the amount of adult and / or child passes
  4. Hit the big red button to add the passes to your cart
  5. Enjoy your fun filled trip to Denver

That’s everything you need to know about the Denver CityPASS, we hope this review has been helpful.

Unique exhibit at the Denver Art Museum included in the CityPASS
Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum

FAQ’s For The Denver CityPASS

Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about the Denver CityPASS.

How Do I Use A Denver CityPASS?

A Denver CityPASS is easy to use because you can purchase the pass online, receive your tickets via confirmation email and then just present your tickets at each attraction you want to visit.

Does The Denver CityPASS Include The Zoo?

No, the Denver CityPASS does not include the zoo, but a Denver CityPASS does include the Children’s Museum of Denver as well as the Downtown Aquarium.

How Long Does Denver City Pass Last?

The Denver CityPASS is valid for 7 consecutive days.

More CityPASS Reviews By State

Want to learn more about attraction passes? Head to our Attraction Pass Guides to explore more ways to save money when visiting a new city.


We hope this Denver CityPASS review helps you decide if this is the attractions pass for you!

Please let us know if you have any questions about the Denver CityPASS in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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