I've lived in both Denver and Golden, and while they're only about 20 minutes apart, the two cities offer surprisingly different lifestyles. Denver has the big-city energy, endless restaurants, entertainment, and plenty to keep you busy. Golden, on the other hand, has a smaller-town feel, easy access to the mountains, and a slower pace of life that can be hard to beat.
But is Golden really better than Denver? Or does Denver offer more when it comes to everyday living?
After experiencing both firsthand, I'm breaking down what I like and disliked about living in each city, including the restaurants, outdoor activities, nightlife, convenience, and overall atmosphere. I'll share what I love (and don't love) about both places to help you decide which Colorado city might be the better fit for your lifestyle.
Living in Golden Colorado: Pros and Cons
What I Liked
South Table Mountain, Golden, CO
Easy access to hiking trails and Jeffco open space
My apartment in Golden was situated directly next to South Table Mountain. I could, quite literally, access hiking trails from the parking lot without driving anywhere. Which was particularly convenient on weekdays when I wanted to get in a quick hike after work. If I wanted to hike somewhere else besides South Table, there are dozens of trails I could get to within 10-15 minutes. Some of my favorite nearby trails were Matthew Winters Park, Apex Park, and Clear Creek Canyon.
Closeness to charming downtown Golden
I absolutely adore downtown Golden. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning was to grab a coffee from a local shop, like Cafe 13, walk through the weekly farmers market and grab breakfast, and then sit along Clear Creek with my feet in the water. There’s just something about the energy in Golden that makes you want to slow down.
Peace and quiet
Clear Creek
Compared to the city, it’s pretty quiet. There’s not a whole lot of hustle and bustle, which could be a con for some people, but it’s something I appreciated. Not a whole lot of traffic or crazy night life that will keep you up all night. Downtown Golden can get a lot of tourists in the summer time, but it still has a more laidback mountain town vibe to it.
Getting into the mountains faster
It’s true that you do in fact have easier access to the mountains. Not going to lie, I miss the easy mountain access. From Golden, you can easily get to cities like Frisco and Breckenridge within an hour, and the front range towns like Evergreen or Morrison within 20-30 minutes. If you’re someone who values having an adventurous lifestyle and spends most of your time hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or skiing, then living in Golden is where you want to be. You will save yourself lots of time, and the closer you live to I-70 the better it is for mountain access.
Slower lifestyle
Golden, Colorado feels like a breath of fresh air. People here just want to be outside enjoying nature. I spent a lot of time hanging out in downtown Golden, floating down Clear Creak, biking Clear Creek Canyon, or hiking on nearby trails.
What I Disliked
Harder to do city things in Denver
Even though downtown Denver was only a 30 minute drive away from where our Golden apartment was, my boyfriend and I rarely made our way into the city. We didn’t want to deal with traffic and the struggle of finding a parking spot, so we would always default to doing something locally instead. We really didn’t explore Denver until we moved there, and we did miss out on a lot.
Not very walkable (unless you live right in downtown Golden)
Unless you’re living in the heart of downtown Golden, you’ll likely have to rely on a car to get to and from places. This is a pretty big con for me after living in a place where you can walk out your door and go grocery shopping or walk to a restaurant.
Not a whole lot going on
Compared to Denver, there really isn’t a whole lot going on as far as events go. Most events or clubs that I was interested in joining usually all take place in Denver. I feel like I did everything I could possibly do in Golden after living there for just over two years. By the end of our time in Golden, my partner and I had dined at most of the restaurants in town, and there wasn’t anything new for us to try. It felt like we had done it all.
A little more isolated
Personally, I felt there to be a bit of a disconnect. This ties into the point above, but it felt like at times that all the fun things were happening in Denver and I was missing out by living in Golden. I was able to find some community a climbing gym in Golden, but other than that it felt like it was more difficult to meet people.
Living in Denver, Colorado: Pros and Cons
What I Liked
Larimer Square
Very walkable and easy to get around
I have really enjoyed being able to step out of my apartment and walk to a new coffee shop, go to Union Station, or take an after work stroll around commons park. This is one of the biggest perks of living in Denver, that I’ve really loved and has made exploring downtown Denver really easy. I don’t have to worry about parking, which was a really big prohibitor when previously living in Golden. I’ve also felt really safe walking around by myself, which I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about that prior to moving here, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. It’s so easy to walk to a Rockies game, or walk to a grocery store, or go to 16th street mall.
Public transportation
It’s very convenient being able to walk to Union Station to take a train to the airport, take the Free Ride bus up and down 16th Street, or ride the publicly available e-bikes around downtown. It’s definitely a huge perk to not always have to rely on a car to get around.
Easy access to sporting events
Flight Club Denver
I have really enjoyed being able to walk to Rockies games during the summer, or walk to McGregor Square to watch Broncos games. You really can feel the energy when living in a sporty city that you just can’t feel anywhere else. It’s also so great not having to worry about finding parking or hitting traffic on the way in or out of Denver if you just live downtown.
Never running out of things to do
There are so many fun things always going on in Downtown Denver. Whether it’s going to a hopping bar to go watch a Broncos game, playing kickball at Commons Park with a Volo league, or trying a new restaurant on the weekend, you’ll truly never run out of things to do. Since living downtown, I’ve gone to multiple Rockies games, a Red Bull soap box race, and Denver Outside Days Festival and other cool and unique events.
Great access to bars, coffee shops, and dining
Even though Denver isn’t really know for it’s food you can still find some great dining options and there really are so many to try. I love exploring the city and finding cute little coffee shops and fun dining experiences. Some of my favorite places I’ve eaten at in Denver include Alma Fonda Fina, Jovanina’s, and Nana’s Dim Sum just to name a few. You’ll never run out of new places to try.
What I Disliked
Harder to leave the city
One of the biggest cons of living in Denver is that it feels significantly harder to leave the city and get into the mountains. Traffic on I-70 and I-25 can be rough, especially during rush hour. Sometimes it feels like I’m stuck in the city, and the mountains feel just out of reach.
Fewer trails and access to nature
It’s much more difficult to go on after work hikes from Denver and I feel a little more disconnected from nature.
Noisy
Unlike Golden, there’s a lot more noise in the city. You’ll likely hear traffic, sirens, people yelling, and other typical city sounds. It’s not that much of a deal breaker, but I do miss the peace and quiet of Golden sometimes.
Final Thoughts
Although both cities have their pros and cons, I’d say that Golden is the optimal place to live because you get the best of both worlds, mountain access and city access within 20 to 30 minutes away.
Denver is a fun place to live for a short amount of time to experience city life. I do find it energizing living in a city, but it can feel draining at times as well.
That being said, I do really love living in downtown Denver and haven’t had any terrible experiences that would make me want to leave. It’s just not a place I see myself staying for the long term.
If you’re someone who loves night life and going out, then living in downtown Denver is definitely the move. But if you’re someone who prefers being in nature, Golden would likely be the place for you.
If you’re thinking of moving to Colorado, I hope you found this post helpful!
