Visiting Colorado's capital soon and wondering if Denver is dangerous, where are the areas to avoid and the dangerous neighborhoods?
It is true that violence has increased in major American cities in recent years. As a result, it is prudent to learn about the neighborhoods to avoid when looking for accommodation.
So what about Denver? Is Denver a dangerous city in 2024? What are the areas to avoid and the dangerous neighborhoods?
Here is a guide to Denver neighborhoods with Google Maps. You will learn to spot the good and bad neighborhoods in Denver. And at the end of the article, we reveal to you the best places to choose accommodation in Denver.
Is Denver safe in 2024?
Although it is not one of the safest cities, the city of Denver is not particularly dangerous either. This is what we see in 2024 when we compare its crime levels with other major American cities.
This is what the latest statistics confirm:
- The statistics of worldpopulationreview.com (Most Violent Cities in America). Indeed, Denver is not among the 20 most dangerous cities in the USA.
- The latest ranking of neighborhoodscout.com which lists the 100 most dangerous cities in the United States where Denver does not appear either.
- The Numbeo ranking of the most criminal cities of America ranks the city of Denver is at the bottom of the table. It is in 44th position out of 58 American cities ranked according to their level of crime. With his crime index of 46.85, Denver is therefore in the low average. In comparison, its crime index is much lower than that of Sound, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta ou de New Orleans.
And if we compare globally, according to the site Numbeo.com, in 2024 Denver is also average.
Denver dangerous for tourists?
NO tourists can visit this beautiful city but, like everywhere, with caution.
Indeed, in general, crimes and violent crimes in Denver do not directly target tourists. Crime is linked to social inequalities, gang wars and drug trafficking. Generally, violent crimes occur in neighborhoods where tourists have no interest in going (see detailed list below).
Not all tourist areas in Denver are unsafe for tourists. But, as with all tourist sites, visitors can experience scams and thefts.
Map of neighborhoods to avoid in Denver
The city of Denver and its county are divided into 79 official neighborhoods but also has about fifteen other unofficial neighborhoods. See the full list of Denver neighborhoods at Wikipedia.
To more easily identify dangerous areas to avoid (list below), here is the map of the main neighborhoods of Denver: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nw483LF7Sg1edaLbA
Denver's Most Dangerous Neighborhoods
By cross-checking the statistics and information published in 2024, here are the most dangerous neighborhoods in Denver:
- City Park
- Capitol Hill in some places at night
- Central-West
- North Denver
- Stapleton (Central Park)
- Jefferson Park
- Park hill
- Lincoln park
This list is not exhaustive. It is also not categorized by crime level. It simply shows the most dangerous neighborhoods in Denver without ranking them. To better locate them, open the links to locate them on Google Maps.
And, if you want to form your own opinion, you can consult the interactive map of crime in Denver according to geographical areas. See on the Denver Police official website.
Areas to avoid in Denver
Without being the most dangerous areas, here is a list of neighborhoods to avoid in Denver because they are less safe at night or less interesting for tourists:
- southwestern denver
- auraria
- Alamo Pleas
- East Colfax (very long avenue famous for its dealers and prostitutes)
- Sun Valley
- Lakewood
- Montbello
Best areas to stay in Denver
With 300 days of sunshine a year, its many parks and good restaurants, Denver is a city where you can have a good quality of life. Especially since it has many safe and pleasant neighborhoods.
According to real estate agencies, the best neighborhoods to stay in Denver are:
- Lower Downtown (LoDo)
- Five points
- Castle Rock
- Cherry creek
- Central Business District
- Capitol Hill (neighbourhood that had a bad reputation but is undergoing renovation)
- Lower Highlands
- Uptown
- Baker
Denver's Best Neighborhoods for Tourists
To visit and enjoy Denver's many attractions, here are the 2 favorite neighborhoods for tourists: Lower Downtown (LoDo Denver) et Union Station.
These two neighborhoods are located right next to each other. Moreover, we often talk about one and the same neighborhood by saying: LoDo/Union Station.
Union Station tourist district
Union Station is a historic and beautifully renovated train station. It is located in the heart of Denver and is the cultural center of the city. If you are looking for where to stay in Denver to be close to everything on foot, it is around Union Station that you should choose your hotel.
The Crawford Hotel at Union Station is a beautiful hotel located in the station itself! In addition to its practicality for those arriving by train, its services are top notch, as is its geographical location. Indeed, it is very close to Coors Field, Larimer Square and Denver Performing Arts Complex.
Lower Downtown (LoDo Denver) tourist district
This neighborhood is central and has very old Victorian red brick buildings, the best restaurants in Denver, numerous shops, sports venues, theaters and museums. See location of this neighborhood
Among the many beautiful hotels in LoDo, here is the one we particularly recommend: The Oxford Hotel Downtown Denver
