Your First 30 Days in Denver: A New Resident Checklist

Mar 31

Congrats—you made it to Denver! Your boxes are (mostly) unpacked, you've survived your first altitude headache, and now you're standing in your new apartment thinking, "Okay... now what?"

I'm Holly, your Denver "Apartment Auntie," and I've helped hundreds of people make this exact move. Here's your no-fluff, 30-day checklist to go from "new resident" to "I totally live here" as fast as possible.

Week 1: The Boring (But Necessary) Stuff

1. Get Your Colorado Driver's License

You have 30 days to swap your out-of-state license for a Colorado one. Don't wait until day 29.

Where to go: Any Colorado DMV (officially called "Driver License Offices"). Make an appointment online at dmv.colorado.gov or you'll wait for hours.

What to bring:

Your current driver's license
Proof of residency (lease agreement works)
Social Security card or proof of legal presence
$30-ish for the fee

The Auntie Tip: You can make appointments here.

2. Register Your Car (If You Have One)

You also have 30 days to register your vehicle in Colorado.

What you'll need:

Title or registration from your previous state
Emissions test (required for most Denver-area vehicles)
VIN inspection (some DMVs do this on-site)
Proof of insurance

The Auntie Tip: Emissions testing locations are everywhere - Air Care Colorado. You can also see current wait times. Get this done before you go to the DMV.

3. Update Your Voter Registration

If you want to vote in Colorado, register online at govotecolorado.gov. It takes 2 minutes.

The Auntie Tip: Colorado does mail-in ballots for everyone. It's super easy and you'll get a detailed voter guide mailed to you before every election.

4. Find a Doctor, Dentist, and Vet (If You Have Pets)

Don't wait until you're sick or your dog needs shots. Get this done now.

The Auntie Tip: If you don't have insurance yet, check out Denver Health—they have a sliding scale for low-income patients.

Week 2: Explore Your Neighborhood (And Find Your Spots)

5. Find Your Coffee Shop

Every Denver neighborhood has a local coffee spot. Find yours and become a regular. This is how you'll start to feel like you actually live here.

Auntie Recommendations by Neighborhood:

RiNo: Crema Coffee House
LoHi: Huckleberry Roasters
Capitol Hill: Pablo's Coffee
Cherry Creek: Novo Coffee
Golden Triangle: Steam Espresso Bar

6. Scope Out Your Grocery Situation

Figure out where you're going to buy food. Denver has everything from Whole Foods to King Soopers (our Kroger) to local co-ops.

The Auntie Tip: Download the King Soopers app and link your phone number for discounts. Also, Trader Joe's and Natural Grocers are clutch for affordable healthy options.

7. Walk/Bike/Drive Your Commute

If you're working in-person, do a test run of your commute during rush hour (7:30–9 a.m. or 4:30–6 p.m.). Denver traffic is real, especially on I-25 and I-70.

The Auntie Tip: If you're commuting downtown, consider taking the light rail. Parking downtown is expensive ($15–$25/day).

8. Find Your Gym, Yoga Studio, or Climbing Gym

Denver is an active city. Even if you're not a "gym person," you'll want to find something—a run club, a yoga studio, a climbing gym, a kickball league. This is how you'll meet people.

Auntie Recommendations:

Climbing: Movement Climbing (RiNo or Baker)
Yoga: CorePower or local studios like The River Yoga
Running: Join a free run club (check Meetup or Strava)

Week 3: Do the "Denver" Things

9. Hit a Brewery (Or Three)

Denver has more breweries per capita than almost any other U.S. city. You don't have to be a beer nerd to appreciate it.

Auntie Starter Pack:

RiNo: Ratio Beerworks, Our Mutual Friend
LoHi: Avery Brewing
South Broadway: Cerebral Brewing

10. Explore a Trail

You moved to Colorado. You have to do at least one hike in your first month. It's the law (not really, but kind of).

Beginner-Friendly Hikes Near Denver:

Red Rocks Trail (Morrison, 20 min drive)
Mount Falcon (Morrison, 30 min drive)
Waterton Canyon (Littleton, 30 min drive)
Chautauqua Park (Boulder, 40 min drive)

The Auntie Tip: Start early (like, 7 a.m.) or you won't find parking. Bring way more water than you think you need.

11. Check Out a Farmers Market

Denver has incredible farmers markets from May–October. Even in the off-season, there are winter markets.

Auntie Favorites:

South Pearl Street Farmers Market (Sundays, May–Nov)
Union Station Farmers Market (Saturdays, June–Oct)
Cherry Creek Farmers Market (Saturdays, May–Nov)

12. Go to a Sporting Event

Denver loves its sports. Even if you're not a huge fan, the energy is fun.

Options:

Rockies game (Coors Field, cheap tickets, great vibes)
Nuggets or Avalanche game (Ball Arena, pricier but worth it)
Broncos game (if you can afford it or know someone with tickets)

Week 4: Settle In and Make It Home

13. Decorate Your Space

Now that you've been here a few weeks, make your apartment feel like yours. Hit up local spots like:

Article (online, modern furniture)
West Elm (Cherry Creek)
Goodwill or ARC Thrift (for budget-friendly finds)

The Auntie Tip: Get a humidifier. Seriously. Your skin, your sinuses, and your houseplants will thank you.

14. Join a Community

This is the most important one. Denver can feel lonely if you don't actively put yourself out there.

Where to start:

Meetup.com (tons of Denver groups for hiking, gaming, book clubs, etc.)
Bumble BFF (yes, really—it works)
Volunteer (Food Bank of the Rockies, Denver Rescue Mission, etc.)

15. Plan Your First Mountain Weekend

By week 4, you're ready for a weekend trip. Pick a mountain town and go explore.