There’s a new light rail from the east and south sides of town into downtown Denver and a citywide bus system.

You won’t be able to get from the airport into town via public transportation and it’s an expensive cab ride.

Depending on where you want to go, you may be able to survive on public transportation, but that would limit you to more or less downtown and the immediately surrounding areas.

Even with the new transportation, I would recommend getting a car unless you want to stay only in the downtown area and go to a mall (which is where the light rail runs). There’s a lot to see and do in Denver, but it’s very spread out and not easily accessible by public transportation, especially when you get near the mountains. Taxi service is also notoriously unreliable, especially if you’re used to a place where you can hail a taxi in the street. My friends came in for my wedding, and they missed it because they waited 45 minutes after calling a cab!

Also, be sure to see the Museum of Natural History if you like that kind of thing at all. Also, a little-known secret: if you go to the top floor of that building, you will find one of the most beautiful and unique views of the city.

We do have a public transportation system which is pretty decent (actually, a few years back it was rated the best in the country, but I don’t see how that could be possible). You can get around without a car (and in fact it may be safer to do so during snow season), but it will be considerably less convenient.

If you’ll be staying downtown, or at a hotel within walking distance of light rail, and you’re willing to limit yourself to destinations downtown, near rail stations or a short bus jaunt away, it’s perfectly doable. I managed to go three months without filling my car’s gas tank—but I work from home, which is a pretty big advantage there.