According to Kayak, an average person reaches the airport 2 hours before a domestic and 3 hours before an international flight.
Generally, security screening and baggage check-in take 20 to 30 minutes.
So, what do you do for the rest of your time?
There are restaurants and lounges where you can relax and sip a drink or maybe have some grab-and-go snacks. However, there is more to it.
Denver International Airport is the second-largest and third-busiest airport in the world with incredible amenities available to pass the time, create memories, and even acquire mementos.
In this article, I will tell you 8 things to do at Denver Airport.
Shopping – Duty-Free Delights and Travel Essentials
Savor the Scenery from Concourse C
Relax: Unwind and Recharge
Indulge in a Power Nap
Elevate Your Palate with Denver Crafted Beer
Explore the Open-Air Plaza
Lounges
Take a Walk
3 Things to do Near Denver Airport on a Layover
Rocky Mountain Arsenal
Barr Lake State Park
Fronterra Park
Shopping – Duty-Free Delights and Travel Essentials
Denver Airport has over 70 shopping outlets ranging from sunglasses shops, pharmacies, grocery stores, duty-free alcohol, toy stores, book shops, etc.
Jeppesen Terminal has 3 shopping outlets, concourse A has 23, Concourse B has 28, and Concourse C has 19. Note that these numbers may change over time.
The outlets include duty-free stores of top alcoholic beverages, including Jack Daniel’s, The Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich. Moreover, Gucci, Kiehl’s, and Prada are also available with no payment of a duty.
Savor the Scenery from Concourse C
Denver is known for its red rocks, Mount Blue sky, and snowy peaks; you can get a hint of this city’s view from DIA. Near the gates C23 and C24, look for collisions between plains (not planes) and mountain peaks.
Also, Denver Airport has restaurants with a view of runways and idle airplanes, which may not be as good as the mountain’s view, but surely something to look at while having your food and drinks.
Relax: Unwind and Recharge
The burst of activities at the Denver Airport terminals can be overwhelming; you are already worried about the turbulence and wishing for no roadblocks once you land at your destination. Amid all the hassles, the relaxing areas at DIA are manna from heaven.
The Airport has an interfaith chapel, massage, outdoor deck, an entire ‘Relax’ area on Concourse A, world-class restaurants, and luxurious lounges.
A-Massage, located on Concourse B, level 3 (Mezzanine), serves a tranquil ambiance where you can find a minute or an hour of relaxing massage via chair or reflexology treatments.
The outdoor deck on Concourse A is truly a mesmerizing location to breathe easy and let it all hang out while absorbing the views and sunlight (Denver boasts 300 days of sunlight).
Indulge in a Power Nap
Denver Airport is humongous; finding a place to sleep is not a problem — the airport has plenty of armrest-free benches. And, if you are okay with sleeping on a carpeted floor, you have a plethora of space (Tip: buy an added layer of cushion or blanket from This SOCKS! & Co. to be more comfortable).
- Concourse A. There are eight top-notch recliners near the center core. If you are lucky enough, you will find a space. If not, go up to level 3 – there are small beds and resting chairs. Because the foot traffic is generally more on level 2, you are more likely to find a space on level 3.
- Concourse C. There are curved benches near gates C26 and C28.
Elevate Your Palate with Denver Crafted Beer
If you don’t know, Denver has a long history with beer production. International travelers are eagerly waiting to taste Colorado’s beers. Luckily all major beer houses are available at the Denver International Airport. Here are some top spots –
- Boulder Beer Tap House has won the best microbrewery award year after year. They serve IBC root beer for just $2.49, plus delicious sandwiches, appetizers, and salads.
Location: Jeppesen Terminal, Level 5, West Side
- New Belgium Brewing serves a range of draft beers and other alcoholic beverages starting from $10.25 (16 oz). Plus, this place also serves imported beers in bottles and cans.
Location: B Gates, Near Gate B30
Belgium MenuDownload