Downtown Aspen
A pedestrian district of red-brick historic buildings from the silver-mining era, lined with luxury boutiques, galleries and restaurants, backed by the snowy mountains, and the heart of town life.
Aspen grew up on silver mining in the 1880s. The old town centre retains many Victorian red-brick buildings, such as the Hotel Jerome, opened in 1889, and the Wheeler Opera House. Today the pedestrian malls along Cooper Avenue and Galena Street are lined with luxury brand shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants, with the Aspen ski slopes as the backdrop. On Saturdays in summer there is a farmers' market, and in winter, après-ski drinks at old bars such as the J-Bar are a classic experience. Living costs in town are very high and parking is expensive, so walking or taking the free bus is recommended.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Wheeler Opera House
- Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (Hallam Lake)
- John Denver Sanctuary
- Aspen Art Museum
- Aspen Music Festival (Music Tent)
- Smuggler Mountain Trail
- Aspen Mountain (Ajax) & Silver Queen Gondola
- Aspen Highlands