17 Best Things to Do in Greeley, Colorado (in 2023)
I’m a Colorado local and while Greeley may be a smaller town than those in the metro area, there are lots of things to do in Greeley!
In fact, Greeley’s small-town feel is one of the best things about it. Whether you’re spending time in Greeley to check out the university, or to visit friends, or just to see what’s happening in the area, you’ll find plenty of fun stuff to do.
From learning local history at the Centennial Village Museum to entertaining yourself (and maybe your kids) at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum, to trying a local whiskey, we’ll cover all the best, interesting, and unique things you can do in Greeley.
Table of Contents
- 17 Best Things to Do in Greeley
- Historic Downtown Greeley
- University of Northern Colorado
- Centennial Village Museum
- Greeley Family FunPlex
- 477 Distilling
- Colorado Model Railroad Museum
- Visit Fort Collins
- Greeley History Museum
- Poudre Ponds Recreational Fishery
- Greeley Ice Haus
- Kress Cinema & Lounge
- Bittersweet Park
- WeldWerks Brewing
- Poudre River Trail
- Union Colony Civic Center
- Lincoln Park
- Glenmere Park
- FAQs About What to Do in Greeley
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17 Best Things to Do in Greeley
Historic Downtown Greeley
Check out shops, bars, and live music venues
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse Hotels in Greeley
Historic downtown Greeley features a collection of restaurants, businesses, shops, and living spaces among brick buildings along 9th Street. Lincoln Park is at one end of the space, so kids can play, and the area is walkable and a great place to spend a warm evening.
If you’re looking for where to stay in Greeley, this is also one of the best areas to choose.
University of Northern Colorado
Get tickets to a sports or music event
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 351-1890 | Website
Greeley is a college town, and it’s worth a visit to UNC either to tour the campus or to check out their events. The school has football, baseball, basketball, and other sporting events. The University of Northern Colorado is also known for its arts programs, so you can grab inexpensive tickets to a musical on campus or watch a jazz, classical, or other musical ensemble in concert.
👉 Pro Tip: Denver is about an hour’s drive from Greeley. If you’ll be staying in town for a while, be sure to take a day trip and check out the fun things to do in Denver!
Centennial Village Museum
Take a trip back in time
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 350-9220 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Thu – Sat | Entrance: $8, adults, $5 ages 3-17, $6 ages 60+
The Centennial Village Museum at Island Grove Regional Park is a living history museum. You’ll meet interpreters in period costumes who can talk to you about the time of settling the West. You can also visit heritage farm animals, tour eight-acres of the grounds, and see the 35 historic buildings.
Greeley Family FunPlex
Go for a dip, no matter the season
📍Google Maps | Phone: (970) 350-9401 | Website | Hours: 5 am – 10 pm Mon – Fri, 8 am – 7 pm Sat, 11 am – 9 pm Sun | Entrance: $6, adults, $5 ages 6-15, $2 under 6
The Family FunPlex is an indoor waterpark that includes a lazy river, zero depth pool, and indoor waterslides. You can also try your hand at water basketball, or swim in the lap pool at the family fun center.
477 Distilling
Try the local spirits
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 451-5768 | Website | Hours: 4 pm – 10 pm Mon – Thurs, 4 pm – 11 pm Fri, 1 pm – 11 pm Sat, 1 pm – 8 pm Sun
477 Distilling makes a variety of spirits that are distributed across Colorado. Try their bourbon, gin, vodka, chai spirit, peanut barrel, or a variety of other unique creations – either neat or in a handcrafted cocktail. The distillery often has live music as well, and you may hear music professors from the university jamming on stage along with other talented artists.
🚗 Getting around: Denver International Airport is a one-hour drive from Greeley, and you’ll likely want to rent a car to get around.
Colorado Model Railroad Museum
Visit tiny trains
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 392-2934 | Website | Summer Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tues-Sat, 12 pm – 4 pm Sun; Winter Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Fri & Sat, 12 pm – 4 pm Sun | Entrance: $12, adults, $6 under 13
The Colorado Model Railroad Museum has more than 500 miniature locomotives and thousands of handmade pieces including 28,000 handmade trees. Kids and adults will both be impressed with the amount of time (280,000 volunteer hours) that this model railroad took to complete. Kids can also tour a 1919 Colorado and Southern Caboose during their visit, making this a fun way to pass a few hours.
📚 Related Reading: If you’re looking to entertain children, consider taking a day trip to the city – but first, read my guide on all the fun things to do in Denver with kids!
Visit Fort Collins
Take a short road trip
📍 Google Maps | Website | 👉 Browse Tours on Viator
Fort Collins is a 40 minute drive from Greeley and is the biggest of the nearby cities. It’s a great place to spend the day on hiking trails, rafting, or learning more about Colorado history. Paddle on Horsetooth Reservoir, visit the New Belgium Brewing Company, or ride the historic trolley in town.
👉 Pro Tip: If you want to overnight in Fort Collins, be sure to check out my recommendations on Where to Stay in Fort Collins!
Greeley History Museum
Learn about town history
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 350-9220 | Website | Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Thurs – Sat, Closed Sun – Tues, open Wed by appointment | Entrance: $8, adults, $5 ages 3-17. $6 ages 60+
You can learn more about Greeley and Weld County history thanks to the exhibitions at the Greeley History Museum. Even the building has a story – it was originally built in 1929 to house the Greeley Tribune and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Poudre Ponds Recreational Fishery
Catch a tasty meal
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 381-6250 | Website | Hours: Dawn – Dusk daily
Poudre Ponds Recreational Fishery is along the Poudre River Trail. The area has a boat ramp and piers so you can try your luck catching rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and yellow perch. Gas-free boats are allowed on the ponds for fishing as well.
Greeley Ice Haus
Get out on the ice
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 350-9402 | Website | Hours:12 pm – 1:30 pm daily, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Wed, Fri & Sat | Entrance: $6, adults, $2 under 6, skate rental: $3
Practice your ice skating or drop in for a hockey session at the Greeley Ice Haus! The ice arena has family skating hours, classes, and times for drop-in hockey games. There’s even Cosmic Skating on certain nights for a truly stellar experience.
Kress Cinema & Lounge
Have a drink and see a flick
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 515-5717 | Website | Hours: 6 pm – 9 pm Mon – Thurs, 6 pm – 10 pm Fri, 1 pm – 10 pm Sat, 1 pm – 6 pm Sun | Tickets: $
The retro atmosphere of Kress makes you feel like you’re popping into a speakeasy. Grab a cocktail at the full service bar and an appetizer or dessert, or stock up on traditional movie snacks before heading in for the show. The theater shows a combination of current releases, classic films, and cult favorites.
Bittersweet Park
Spend a quiet hour
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 350-9390 | Website
Bittersweet Park is a lovely little spot with a Veterans’ Memorial, playground, and walking trails. The park is next to a lake, so it’s a great spot to sit and relax or to walk with a beautiful lake view.
WeldWerks Brewing
Stop in for a cold one
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 460-6345 | Website | Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Mon-Sat, 11 am – 8 pm Sun
WeldWerks Brewing can be counted on for delicious favorite craft beer varieties like IPAs and lagers. But you can also count on them for unique flavors like Lemon Meringue Pie Sour Ale and Peaches-n-Cream Cheesecake.
🍺 Love Craft Beer? The beer scene is huge throughout Colorado! Browse Viator for all the best brewery tours in the state.
Poudre River Trail
Hike or bike along the water
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 381-6250 | Website | Hours: Dawn – Dusk daily
Go for a stroll or bike ride along part of this 21-mile trail that begins at Island Grove Regional Park and ends in Windsor. There are wildlife areas, natural areas, and other outdoor spaces all along the path for serene, scenic views.
Union Colony Civic Center
Take in shows of all kinds
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 356-5000 | Website
This performing arts center is host to a variety of performances and cultural events, from the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and The Dance Factory to Weird Al Yankovic and Air Supply. The Civic Center also hosts the Tointon Gallery, which shows exhibits by local and national artists and can be seen for free.
Lincoln Park
Get the wiggles out in downtown Greeley
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 356-6775 | Website
Lincoln Park is situated in downtown Greeley, and features a playground, fountain, bandstand, and walking paths. The park often hosts community events like art shows and brewing festivals.
Glenmere Park
Stroll around a neighborhood pond
📍 Google Maps | Phone: (970) 350-9390 | Website | Hours: Dawn – Dusk
Glenmere Park is nestled in a neighborhood with quaint older homes. The park is on a pond, with walking paths. A play area and some sculptures make this a great spot for kids to run and climb.
👉 Read Next: Top Things to See in Colorado
FAQs About What to Do in Greeley
What is Greeley Colorado known for?
Greeley Colorado is known for the agricultural industry. There are lots of crops and plenty of cows in the fields and farms around Greeley. The area is known for oil and gas exploration as well.
Is Greeley Colorado nice?
Greeley Colorado is nice. The slower pace, lower cost of living, and extra room make Greeley an attractive place to live.
What are the top attractions to visit in Greeley?
Top attractions to visit in Greeley include downtown Greeley, where visitors will find bars, restaurants, performance venues, and more housed in historic brick buildings. The University of Northern Colorado is another Greeley attraction.
What are the best outdoor activities in Greeley?
The best outdoor activities in Greeley include hiking, running, biking, and more. The Poudre River Trail runs through town and is a beautiful spot for a stroll. Greeley also has golf courses, and the nearby Cache la Poudre river makes fishing, rafting, and other water sports popular.
How much snow does Greeley Colorado get?
Greeley Colorado gets an average of 40 inches of snow a year. Although this is well above the U.S. average, it’s below Denver’s average of 60 inches of snow per year.
Is Greeley a desert?
Greeley is not a desert. The city is in the Great Plains region, although when explorer Stephen Long saw the plains, he did call them the “Great American Desert” and he assumed nothing would grow there.
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Now you know what to do in Greeley! If you need a place to stay in Greeley, check out my guide to the best places. And be sure to check out my post on the best places to live in Colorado.
Hopefully, this guide has given you some ideas for things to do in Greeley, Colorado!
