Known as the Mile High City, Denver is the capital of Colorado and one of the most exciting cities to visit in the US. Surrounded by mountains, Denver is the perfect base for those who love a bit of outdoor adventure.

While you may be tempted to head straight for the Rocky Mountains, there are plenty of things to do in Denver to warrant sticking around for a while.

Home to some world-class museums, beautiful parks, all four major sports teams, and perhaps the best music venue in the country, Denver has a lot to offer travellers of all ages and interests.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at 15 must-see Denver attractions and things to do to help you plan the perfect trip to the city. 

1. Visit the Colorado State Capitol

Kicking off our list of the best Denver attractions is the Colorado State Capitol. This neoclassical building was built back in the 1890s and is home to the Colorado General Assembly as well as the governor’s office.

If the building looks a bit familiar, that’s because it was built to resemble the US Capitol in Washington, DC. It was made from white granite and topped with a golden dome to commemorate the Colorado Gold Rush. 

One of the coolest things about visiting the capitol is that you can stand at exactly one mile above sea level. There are actually three different markers on the steps, with the one on the 13th step being the most recent and most accurate. Snap a photo here to show you properly visited the Mile High City.

While you’re here, you might as well go in and have a look.

Inside, you’ll see beautiful stained glass windows that depict scenes from the history of Colorado. Be sure to climb up the steep 99 steps to reach Mr. Brown’s Attic, where you’ll enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of downtown and the Rocky Mountains. 

The Colorado State Capitol is free to visit and they even run free tours. These start on the hour from 10AM-3PM Monday to Friday, and they recommend arriving at least 20 minutes in advance.

It’s definitely one of the most popular things to do in downtown Denver. You can find the capitol building on the map and get directions here.

2. See the Denver Art Museum

A quick walk from the State Capitol will bring you to the fantastic Denver Art Museum. Take your time going in, as the buildings that house the museum are a work of art in their own right!

Italian modernist architect Gio Ponti designed the museum’s North Building, which somewhat resembles a castle.

Years later, the Hamilton Building was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, who was “inspired by the light and geology of the Rockies.” This world-class art museum is definitely one of the best places to visit in Denver. 

Once you’re done admiring the architecture, it’s time to head inside and explore the museum’s vast collection.

Here you’ll find an abundance of Native American art among some 70,000 different works of art. Exhibitions are always changing, so be sure to check their calendar to see what’s going on.

The Denver Art Museum is open Monday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday from 10-5. On Fridays, the museum stays open until 8. Tickets cost $13 for adults and kids 18 and under visit for free. You can find the museum on the map here.

3. Visit Red Rocks (one of the best places to visit near Denver)

Of all the excellent Denver attractions, my personal favourite has got to be Red Rocks.

This city park and outdoor amphitheater is a great place to hike, bike, and see live music. In fact, Red Rocks constantly tops lists of the best concert venue in the entire United States.

I’ve seen a lot of concerts in a lot of places, but it’s really tough to beat Red Rocks. I mean, the stage here is set between two massive sandstone rock formations!

Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but this natural amphitheater has some absolutely incredible acoustics. I’ve been there a few times already and it’s always a great time.

There are many great acts that come to this legendary venue. They also regularly host yoga classes and even movie nights, so there’s always something cool going on at Red Rocks.

Even on a non-event day, it’s well worth the trip from downtown Denver to go to Red Rocks.

The park is home to several different hiking and biking trails as well. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit near Denver if you want to get some exercise along with breathtaking mountain views. While you’re here, you can also check out the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. 

Red Rocks is actually located in the small town of Morrison and is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Denver. It opens one hour before sunrise and closes one hour before sunset on non-event days.

When there’s a show, the park closes at around 2PM. Best of all, admission and parking are both free! You can get directions to Red Rocks here. 

4. Wander 16th Street Mall

Taking a stroll along the pedestrian-only 16th Street Mall is one of the most popular things to do in downtown Denver. This tree-lined street is full of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars, so you can easily spend a few leisurely hours here. 

It’s also a great place to just plop down on a bench, relax, and enjoy some fantastic people watching. You’re sure to see some street performers here, as well as some of Denver’s most, shall we say “interesting” characters. 

While many of my friends who live in Denver may decry this area as being a tourist trap, I always enjoy taking a lap around it when I’m in town.

It’s just nice being in a major US city that has a pedestrian-friendly area where people congregate and enjoy some time outdoors. Plus, it’s easy to find a good Happy Hour deal here!

The 16th Street Mall is very easily walkable, but there’s also a free shuttle bus that stops on every corner if you feel like giving your feet a rest. You can get directions to the 16th Street Mall on the map here.

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5. Visit the Botanic Gardens

Nature lovers will want to make sure to add the Botanic Gardens to their list of places to visit in Denver. This massive park occupies 23 acres right in the heart of Denver, creating a green oasis in the middle of a booming city.

Comprised of over 45 different gardens, there’s a whole lot to see here. In total, there are well over 30,000 different plants! This is definitely one of the top Denver attractions and a place you won’t want to miss when visiting the city.

Some of the highlights of the park include the peaceful Japanese Garden, the tropical conservatory, and the Rock Alpine Garden. There’s so much to see and do here that you can easily spend an entire day exploring the gardens and the greater Cheesman Park where they’re located.

Tickets for the main York Street area of the gardens cost $12.50 for adults, $9.50 for seniors/military, and $9 for students and children.

There are actually several days throughout the year when it’s totally free, so be sure to check the calendar. It’s open every day from 9-5, and you can find directions by checking the map here.

6. Visit the Sporting Venues

Did you know that Denver is one of only two US cities where teams in all four major sports play downtown? Denver and my hometown of Detroit are the only places where you can see basketball, football, hockey, and baseball all right downtown.

Denver is home to the Broncos (NFL), Rockies (MLB), Nuggets (NBA), and Avalanche (NHL). The Broncos play at Mile High, with eight regular-season games between September and January.

People really go crazy for their football team here, so it’s a very exciting atmosphere to be a part of.

Both the Nuggets and the Avs play their home games at the Pepsi Center. The regular season for both sports lasts from October to April, so there are plenty of chances to catch a game during the fall and winter.

Watching a hockey or basketball game is one of the best things to do in Denver in the winter.

When hockey and basketball are wrapping up, baseball is just getting started. The Rockies play at Coors Field and have home games very often in the spring and summer months. Whichever team you see, checking out a game is definitely one of the top things to do in downtown Denver. 

7. Explore Union Station

It may seem a bit odd to have a train station on the list of the best Denver attractions, but hear me out. The historic Union Station dates back to 1914, when it was rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in 1894. 

Just a few years ago, a massive redevelopment plan began at Union Station. The upper levels were transformed into the luxury Crawford Hotel, and several boutique shops, restaurants, and bars moved in as well. Old ticket counters became the Terminal Bar, and the Great Hall transformed into “Denver’s living room.” 

In addition to all the dining, shopping, and entertainment options on offer at Union Station, it’s once again a fully functioning transportation hub.

Catching the A Line here from the airport is an affordable and environmentally conscious way to travel in and out of the city. You can also catch Amtrak trains here, including the famous California Zephyr line that travels to San Francisco. 

Union Station is located in the LoDo (Lower Downtown) area of Denver. If you end up passing through on your way to or from the airport, be sure to spend a little extra time here.

Grab a drink and a bite, do a bit of window shopping, or just sit on the couch and enjoy some great people watching. You can find Union Station on the map here.

8. Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver is home to plenty of excellent museums, and one of the best is definitely the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Their amazing exhibitions on dinosaurs, gems, mummies, and black holes makes a trip here one of the best things to do in Denver for kids. 

In addition to all their interesting exhibitions, the museum is also home to an IMAX theatre and one of the best planetariums in the country.

There’s even a T-Rex Cafe here where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat. With so much to see and do, you can easily spend a whole day taking in all that this museum has to offer. 

Be sure to check their calendar of events, as the museum often has some pretty cool programs for both kids and adults.

For example, they’re having a Renaissance Revelry event soon for adults where costumes are encouraged and drinks/appetizers are included in your ticket. Now that sounds like a fun night at the museum!

The museum is open from 9-5 every day, and tickets cost $19 for adults or $14 for children for museum admission. Special exhibitions, IMAX screenings, and special showings in the planetarium all cost between $5-7 extra. You can get directions and find it on the map here.

9. Relax in the Local Parks

If you’re visiting the museum, you might as well stick around City Park for a while. This is the largest urban park in the city and a popular place for locals and tourists alike.

That’s not all, though. You’ll also find soccer, baseball, and football fields, tennis courts, and a golf course here. There are a couple of small lakes in the park and a boathouse where you can rent some cool animal-shaped paddle boats.

During the summer months, there’s a free concert series in City Park. Be sure to check the schedule to see what’s playing if you’re visiting in the summer. You can find City Park on the map here.

Another great choice is Washington Park, which is located just south of downtown (check the map here).

Fitness enthusiasts will love a visit to this large green space thanks to the many hiking and biking trails here. There are also a few lakes here for more fun on the water. 

10.  Visis The US Mint

Have you ever wondered how coins are made? Well you can do just that by visiting the US Mint. It was opened back in 1863 to turn the findings of the Gold Rush into coins for the entire country. 

The US Mint runs free tours Monday-Thursday on a first-come, first-served basis.

Their ticket window opens up at 7AM and you can only get tickets for the same day. There are six tours a day at 8, 9:30, 11, 12:30, 2, and 3:30. You can get directions to the US Mint on the map here. 

On this hour-long guided tour of the US Mint, you’ll see how a bland-looking piece of metal gets transformed into a shiny new coin.

Each coin that’s made here is stamped with a “D” for Denver. They can produce up to 50 million coins a day here! A visit here is definitely one of the most unique Denver tourist attractions. 

11. Visit the Elitch Gardens Theme Park

One of the most fun places to visit in Denver is Elitch Gardens. It’s actually two awesome parks rolled into one, with a theme park on one side and a water park on the other.

Fun fact – Elitch Gardens is the only downtown theme park in the United States!

It’s one of the most popular Denver attractions and a great place to spend the day. With roller coasters, water slides, drive-in movies, free concerts, and amazing fireworks displays, there’s plenty to see and do here. 

Elitch Gardens is open from mid-April to early November. The theme park opening hours vary depending on the time of year and the day of the week, so be sure to check before planning your trip there.

As for the water park, it’s open from 10:30-6 from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

Buying your tickets online is much cheaper than getting them at the gate. You can get them for $40 as opposed to $60 by purchasing online. You can find Elitch Gardens on the map and get directions here. 

12. Visit the History Colorado Center

If you’re interested in learning more about the state of Colorado, then be sure to add a trip to the History Colorado Center to your list of things to do in downtown Denver. It’s located in the Golden Triangle Museum District, where you’ll find many of the best Denver attractions. 

The History Colorado Center is a far cry from the dull museums of the past. This modern history museum is full of interactive, high-tech exhibits that are fun and informative for all ages.

In addition to the great exhibits inside, the building itself is quite impressive. It was made from a wide variety of local as well as recycled materials, and it’s a beautiful building inside and out. 

The museum is open every day from 10-5, with tickets costing $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10/$8 for students/children. You can find the museum on the map and get directions here. 

13. Larimer Square

The city of Denver has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a pioneer camp during the Gold Rush. It was founded in 1858 by William Larimer, who named the new city’s main street after himself.

For many years, Larimer Street thrived as a bustling commercial hub. That was until the turn of the century, when it became run down and filled with liquor stores, flophouses, and pawn shops. 

Thankfully, restoration efforts began in the mid-’60s to try to save this piece of Denver’s history.

The 1400 block of Larimer Street was saved from the wrecking ball and buildings were given a serious facelift. Half a century later, it’s the best-preserved area of 19th-century buildings in all of Denver.

It’s known as Larimer Square these days, and it’s once again a thriving area of downtown Denver. Here you’ll find independent shops, restaurants run by famous chefs, and some lively bars.

It’s one of the coolest places to visit in Denver, so be sure to add it to your list. Get directions to Larimer Square on the map here.

14. Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Just a few blocks from Larimer Square, you’ll find the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Home to several different venues, there’s always something interesting going on here.

There are many different theatres in the DCPA. The largest is the Buell Theatre (2,839 capacity), which hosts Broadway musicals and plays. Upcoming shows here include Broadway staples such as Cats, Wicked, and Rent.

Much smaller is the Garner Galleria Theatre, which is a cabaret-style venue that only seats just over 200 people. This venue usually features comedic musicals or improv comedy, so you’re guaranteed some laughs when you book a show here.

Of course, there are plenty of options for wining and dining around the DCPA as well. Go ahead and make a night of it by having dinner and drinks here before the show.

Just be sure to book your tickets in advance for those super popular shows! You can find the DCPA on the map here.

15. Visit the Breweries Large and Small

Beer lovers are in for a treat when visiting Denver. Home to breweries large and small, there’s no shortage of tasty brews to sample here in the Mile High City — visiting is a must do in Denver!

Although it’s not technically in the city, the Coors Brewery remains one of the top Denver attractions. Located in nearby Golden, this is the world’s largest single-site brewery. They can brew up to 22 million barrels of beer here in a single year! 

Tours of the Coors Brewery are available year-round for $10 per person. They last 30 minutes, giving you a quick look at the malting, brewing, and packaging process for one of the world’s most famous beers. After the tour, you can of course sample some of the product. You can find the brewery on the map here.

If you prefer a strong IPA or a milky stout to mass-produced lagers, you can opt to go on a micro-brewery tour instead. Denver Microbrew Tour has a few options for sampling some of Denver’s best craft beer.

Tours cost $40 per person and include ten or more generous tastings of different beers. Having done this tour myself, I can say with confidence that you definitely get your money’s worth!

Ready For All of The Attractions in Denver?

As you can see, there’s a lot going on in Denver! There are so many excellent Denver attractions that this list could have easily been much longer. I’ve been going to the city every few years for the last decade and I always discover something new.

A visit to Denver is the perfect introduction to the state of Colorado.

After a few days taking in some of the sights in the city, you’ll be ready to get out there and explore the rest of this beautiful, mountainous state. Just an hour and a half drive from the city, you can find yourself in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park.

So many of my friends have moved to Denver in the last few years, and I can definitely see why.

With a thriving music scene and countless options for outdoor adventures, I see the appeal! I for one am excited about getting back to the city again soon, and I recommend you add it to your travel bucket list.

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There are many advantages of being an entrepreneur. In this post, I’ll share reasons to consider leaving the 9-5 behind to pursue a more freedom-filled lifestyle.

If you’re organized and creative and are seeking something new and exciting in your life, consider turning your passions into profits. Becoming an entrepreneur is the best thing I’ve ever done.

My full-time freelancing career began a year ago, and my life hasn’t been the same since. I was interested in graphic design, creative writing, social media, and website design. So, I made a change in my life and decided to become an entrepreneur.

I built up my own online business and these days, I get to work from home (or anywhere in the world), be my own boss, and most importantly, I love what I do!

I’ve experienced both the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur and in this post, I’ll share my top points with you.

For more inspiration about changing your lifestyle and turning your passion into a career, have a look at the new Go Forth series on YouTube by GoDaddy. The mini-series follows the journey of 3 athletes who start their own businesses driven by their passions. Tony Hawk (the legendary skateboarding icon) is also featured in the series! 

Here’s my list of 15 reasons to become an entrepreneur (plus 5 downsides…)

1. You Can Set Your Own Hours

One of the benefits of being an entrepreneur is being able to set your own work hours. If an entrepreneur doesn’t feel like working on Mondays, then they don’t have to.

Instead, your office hours can be Tuesday through Friday if you want. Or, you can choose to just work every morning, or only in the afternoon. 

The freedom you have over your daily schedule is one of the best parts of being an entrepreneur.  

2. You Get To Be Creative Every Day at Your Job

One of the top reasons to become an entrepreneur is that you can be creative every single day at your job. From working on your branding and updating your website, to public speaking and social engagements, you truly have control over every piece of the creative process.

If you wake up one day and decide you don’t like the brand’s colours, or you want to create a new product, you can! Plus, if the services that you offer are mainly creative, like graphic design, then you’ll be the one who has the final say on all client projects.

3. Enjoy a Flexible Schedule as an Entrepreneur

Being able to have a flexible schedule is one of the best reasons for being an entrepreneur. When you work for a supervisor or at another company, you need to request vacation time weeks, sometimes even months, in advance.

Even if you want just one day off, you’ll need to submit your request. Plus, there are only a certain amount of days that you can take off every year.

Entrepreneurs can wake up one day and decide that they want a “me day”. 

If you work for yourself, you’re in charge of your own schedule and won’t need to request time off. Of course, you’ll need to let your clients know that you’ll be unavailable, but that’s an easy thing to do. 

4. Work From Anywhere! (arguably the biggest advantage of being an entrepreneur)

If you’re running an online business, or are working in the sports or outdoor industry, you can choose precisely where you want to work from every day, which is definitely one of the pros of being an entrepreneur.

If you’re a yoga instructor, you can run retreats all around the world. Maybe you start a kayaking company, or open a scuba diving shop and are able to live in Mexico! Maybe you’re into food and wine, in which case, you can start a foodie company that offers experiences around the globe.

And of course, for those entrepreneurs who run their businesses from a laptop, all you need is stable wifi.  

Wake up one day and decide to work at the beach, or take your laptop with you on a campervan road trip and work from campgrounds, next to rivers, or in the mountains. 

As long as the job gets done, you can work anywhere.

That’s why a lot of digital nomads are entrepreneurs. You can seriously live and work around the world as long as you meet deadlines and keep your clients happy!

5. Pick the Exact Services You Want to Offer

Choosing what you offer and (more importantly) don’t offer, is one of the perks of running your own business. If you are a social media manager but aren’t a fan of Pinterest, you don’t have to offer that particular service.

If you want to teach people how to start a website from scratch, but aren’t interested (or knowledgeable) in the SEO side of things, then only offer the service that you’re comfortable with.

Entrepreneurs can choose the exact services they want to offer to clients, and if you find there’s one that you don’t like doing, you no longer have to provide it. Honestly, the control over decisions that you have is one of the top advantages of becoming an entrepreneur.

6. Be Your Own Boss and Work for Yourself

The most enticing of the reasons to be an entrepreneur is that you are in charge. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like having to answer to someone else or wants creative freedom, then become an entrepreneur.

Being your own boss means that if you want to clock out early for the day, you can. If you have a day where you’re feeling off, that’s okay.

When you want to make changes to the company’s structure, brand identity, or anything to do with investments and finances, it’s all up to you.

7. Each Day is Different

Being an entrepreneur means that no two days are ever the same. One of the worst parts of working an office job is that they start to feel repetitive — coffee, answering emails, head to a meeting, get work done, lunch, more work, go home, repeat.

However, one of the advantages of being an entrepreneur is that each day is different.

You’re always working with different clients (or pitching new ones), building your brand, or coming up with a new project or product. Not to mention, the days aren’t 9-5, and lunch breaks are when you want them.

8. You Can Be Picky When it Comes to Choosing Clients

Imagine being able to pick the people that you want to work with. Well, entrepreneurs can do just that. If you have a discovery call with a client only to find that you don’t think they’ll be a good fit, all you have to do is let them know and send them some other recommendations.

It’s genuinely one of the top reasons to become an entrepreneur, especially if you know you only work well with certain types of people. The longer you’re an entrepreneur, the better you’ll get at saying no to people who don’t align with your values.

9. Those Just Starting Out Can Earn a Lot of Money

You may already know this, but one of the reasons for being an entrepreneur is that you’ll have more control over your income.

Even beginner entrepreneurs can choose how much they want to charge for their services and often charge higher than minimum wage.

I quickly jumped from charging $20 USD per hour to charging $40 USD per hour for my services within just a few months after starting my online business, and you easily can, too, depending on your skillset.

10. Scale Your Business Quickly & Watch the Growth Firsthand

Entrepreneurs can grow their businesses quickly and can scale as soon as they want to. Being able to grow is one of the advantages of being an entrepreneur. In addition to being in charge of your income, you truly are in control of every part of your business.

When you decide it’s time to grow, you can either take on investments to explode your brand or use your own savings. You can start targeting more prominent clients and charging more for your work.

Then, you can hire a team to expand and scale your company. Before you know it, you could easily have a six-figure business.

11. Create a Business That Aligns With Your Values

As an entrepreneur, you can create a business that perfectly aligns with your values and beliefs. If you’re an adventurer at heart, you can make a business model that targets others explicitly with similar interests and values — while doing what you love.

If you’re into eco-friendly practices, maybe create a business around those values and you’ll attract clients who are in that space as well. 

In the series that I mentioned at the beginning of this post, each of the adventurers turned entrepreneurs have created businesses that align with the hobbies and activities that they are passionate about — rock climbing, ski base jumping, health, fitness, and public speaking.

This is one of the main advantages of becoming an entrepreneur. You’ll be able to resonate with your business and your clients by creating something that’s in line with your beliefs and interests.

12. Entrepreneurs are More Likely To Stay Invested in their Business

Drawing off of the last point on this list, one of the rewards of being an entrepreneur is that you’ll be more likely to stay invested in your business because of all the hard work you put into it. 

Most entrepreneurs look at their business as their “child” because of how much love and care they’ve put into it over the years. As their business grows, they only love it more.

They’re also more likely to want to see their business succeed versus if they worked for another company.

13. See the Lives that You Change by Working Directly with Clients

When you are an employee, you aren’t as likely to see the people’s lives that you are directly affecting with your work.  

Entrepreneurs, especially freelancers, have the option to talk directly to their clients and follow up with testimonials to make case studies after they’re done working together.

Whether you’re providing jobs by employing a team of people, helping a start-up get their name out there, or are teaching someone a new skill, being able to see the impact you’re having is very rewarding. 

14. You Can Try Out New Ideas

If you want to experiment as an entrepreneur, then you can! You have free reign over what you want to test out.

I have tried many different lines of work, including social media management, web design, graphic design, creative writing, and even web development recently.

You’ll have the freedom to try things that you’ve always been interested in. You can frequently change your business model and services, too, until you find what works best for you and what you want to focus on doing.

15. Quickly Discover What You Love to Do 

Because you’re able to try out so many different types of services and business models, one of the advantages of being an entrepreneur is that you have the opportunity to figure out what works best for you, and what you actually enjoy.  

Not to mention, you have spare time to simply pursue your passions and find your purpose. 

You can build an entire business based on your hobby, which is one of the best aspects of working for yourself. Maybe you love fishing, playing an instrument, golfing, cooking — try them out as a business!

In both your professional and personal life, working for yourself allows you to discover what you enjoy doing. 

5 Disadvantages of Being an Entrepreneur

While being your own boss has its advantages, there are also disadvantages of being an entrepreneur. Below, learn more about some of the common cons that entrepreneurs face daily.

1. Entrepreneurs Can Find it Hard to Stay Motivated

One of the cons of being an entrepreneur is that it can be hard to stay motivated. Whether you work for yourself in an office, or you’re working from home most of the time, it can be hard to find ways to be productive.

Luckily, there are ways to counter this, including finding business buddies, investing in co-working spaces, and also joining mentorships to help you stay accountable. 

2. Beginners Might Have to Wait to See a Payoff

Having to wait a while to see a payoff as a beginner is one of the lesser-known disadvantages of being an entrepreneur.

Many people think that the second they start their business, they’ll be making money left and right to the point where they might not even have to work anymore.

Typically, this is not the case.

When you first start out, you may have to wait a few months for it to start paying off. Of course, this isn’t the situation for everyone and it depends on your skillset and marketing and networking abilities, but it’s something to be aware of.

3. Being an Entrepreneur Can Be Lonely

Being lonely is one of the cons of being an entrepreneur that most people don’t think about. If you’re working from home all the time or any other location by yourself, it can feel a bit lonesome.

To counteract this, you can do a few things. I recently joined a coaching program that has introduced me to quite a few new friends that I meet up with via FaceTime every once in a while.

You could also work at co-working spaces, look on Facebook for entrepreneur meet-ups in your city, or, get a dog 😉 

4. You’ll Think About Your Business All The Time (Yes, including Time Off).

Entrepreneurs are always switched on and don’t get a break that often, despite being in charge of their own schedule.

When you create your own business, you’ll find yourself thinking about it all the time, even when you’re trying to have a day off.

Even when you aren’t working on client projects, or have a team covering everything for you, you’ll probably feel the need to check emails, show up on social media or do some networking. 

The life of an entrepreneur can be busy, which is why you’ll need to take dedicated time off. Keep that in mind before starting out on this journey.

5. There May Be Months With Little Money

Honestly, one of the biggest cons of being an entrepreneur is that you might have months where you barely make enough to cover rent. Or there will be months where you don’t even make enough to cover rent.

When bootstrapping a business, it’s important to sort out your finances ahead of time to ensure you have enough to get you through the first few months. Or, you’ll need to take on investors and financing.

While there might be meager months, there will be more profitable ones in the future. Keep with it, don’t stress out too much, and try to enjoy the process of building a business. 

The Takeaways

These are just some of the advantages of being an entrepreneur. The key to being successful is to stay motivated, manage your time well, and be prepared to hustle.

Working hard is essential, or your business could potentially plummet, and you’ll find yourself right back at that desk in the office you dreaded so much. With passion, a good work ethic, and the right attitude, you can change your life.

Take the leap into the world of entrepreneurialism today and start living your best life!

Note: This article was brought to you by GoDaddy — a brand that empowers doers to build the world they want. Have a look at the Go Forth series on YouTube and get inspired to create the lifestyle of your dreams!

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Imagine this: You wake up in the morning when you feel like it, not because an alarm clock went off, but because you’re ready to start your day. With online jobs, you roll out of bed and make a nice cup of coffee.

You lazily read the newspaper or enjoy the view from your villa before finally, in your own time, you sit down on your computer to plug away for a few hours and make some serious money — while still wearing your pyjamas.

These are some of the many benefits of legit online jobs!

Check out our video which lists 5 high paying online jobs, or continue reading below:

For the best online entrepreneurs, money is being deposited into their bank accounts while they’re sleeping through something like affiliate marketing.

For travellers, the opportunity to make good money from anywhere in the world, and get paid to travel, is the ultimate dream job.

Call it what you want — remote work, digital nomadism, nomad life, location independence, they all mean one thing: You learn how to make money online so that your job no longer ties you to a particular place.

You no longer have to wake up early, get overly dressed up, get stuck in traffic, work too many hours, and earn too little.

Legit online jobs (whether part-time or full-time) offer an incredible amount of flexibility, and while we love working abroad, you can do these online jobs from home if you choose. 

The internet has opened a floodgate of opportunity that simply wasn’t there for the “pre .com” generations. These online jobs that pay are never “get rich quick”, despite what some sleazy internet marketers will tell you.

The truth is, you’ll have to work and put in the effort with any of the best paid online jobs.

At the very least, you’ll have to work hard to set something up in order to reap the benefits later, eventually living the 4-Hour Workweek type lifestyle. This is called a passive income strategy, or (more accurately) a deferred income strategy.

In this post, I’m going to list the highest paying online jobs that we’ve found.

This online work is perfect for travellers, and remote workers, and many of the jobs can earn a lot of money. Not all of them are passive or differed income by nature, but they all have the potential to earn you $3,000 or more per month.

The best jobs on this list can earn upwards of $500,000 per year with little or no prior experience.

Here are the top 10 easy online jobs that can earn you thousands each month.

1. Blogger (our top pick for high paying online jobs)

Okay, no surprise here. If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know that we are huge proponents of blogging. And, since we blog about travel and lifestyle, that’s the type of blog we’re going to discuss below, but we believe that everyone should have a blog.

Whether you’re writing about parenting, pets, construction, cooking, travelling or driving UBER, you should have a blog and write about it.

Blogging is one of the best travel jobs by far.

Why Start a Blog?

When created properly, blogs can earn a great living. We decided we wanted to learn how to start a travel blog after reading a blog post written by another travel blogger.

In that post, the blogger stated that he earned $2,500 per month from blogging. We were blown away! That specific number completely inspired us to start our own blog which now earns us well over $10,000 every month working less than 20 hours per week.

We’re now always honest about our blogging business and its earnings because we were so inspired by that blog post, and in particular, how transparent that blogger was about his income.

Travel blogging is, in our opinion, the absolute best way to earn money for travel, and is the top online job out there. The best part is that it comes with incredible perks like fun FAM trips and press trips, free first-class flights, free hotels, all-expenses-paid trips & comped gear.

It’s not easy though. There are many things you need to know about travel blogging in order to turn it into a business. There’s a huge difference between writing a blog for your friends and family, and creating an online resource that can one day earn you money in your sleep.

How do blogs earn money?

Blogs earn money in many different ways. The first money you’ll likely earn from your new blog could come in just a few months. Advertisers will find your website online and contact you via email asking you if they can advertise on your site.

Typically this comes in the form of an article or review of their product. These posts can pay new bloggers anywhere between $50 – $200 and established blogs upwards of $800.

Another way blogs earn money is through content ads. These little ads that you see within the content of this blog currently pay out around $4,000 / month.

Companies spent over $534 billion on advertising in 2017 and a nice sized chunk of that was travel-related. There’s enough to go around.

In our opinion, the best way to earn money from a blog is through affiliate marketing. Basically, you recommend a product or service on your blog that you use and love.

You link to said product/service with an affiliate tracking link which means if one of your readers clicks that link and makes a purchase (on Amazon for example), you’ll automatically get paid a commission.

Another bonus of travel blogging (or any sort of blogging), are the sponsorships and partnerships you can create. You’ll be asked to review products, hotels, tours, vehicles, brands, destinations, etc. on your website.

In exchange, you’ll receive the service for free, and once you become more established, you’ll also get paid.

Basically, you’ll have to diversify your blog income into 5 or 6 separate streams in order to turn it into a full-time, scalable business.

Most blogs take at least 6 months to start earning income and around a year to earn enough to pay for travel entirely. However, many fast-growing blogs have been able to get free hotel stays, flights and trips in as little as 3 months, while some others have started earning a full-time income after just 6 months.

Starting a blog isn’t difficult, but growing it into a travel-supporting, money-making machine takes time and effort. Growing a blog is like a formula and it can be repeated, but you need to know how to do it properly.

Similar to the Google Algorithms that govern how much traffic your blog will see, growth hacks and passive income strategies can be copied and pasted into any new blog plan in order to help them grow quickly.

That’s why we’ve created our Beginner Blogging Course, which is filled with video tutorials, modules and useful advice for beginners. We also have a 200-page ebook to help new bloggers navigate the initial steps of blogging and we have a VIP Facebook Group.

If you’re interested in starting a blog any time soon, simply click here and once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive our course, ebook and Facebook group access for free.

Not sure about a travel blog name? It doesn’t matter. You can still start a blog and come up with a name later on.

Of course, blogging isn’t for everyone.

While you don’t need any prior internet experience (we had never even heard of WordPress before starting our blog), if you don’t enjoy writing about topics you’re passionate about, taking photos and social media, then this job obviously isn’t for you.

In that case, we’ve included many other online jobs that pay well in this post to help you earn money remotely.

2. Virtual Assistant

We know that this job earns enough to pay for travel because Goats On The Road has had numerous virtual assistants (VAs) over the years and we’ve paid them anywhere from $500 – $2000 / month for their services. Some larger websites pay as much as double this amount for a good VA.

To become a Virtual Assistant, you’ll have to be skilled in some aspects of online work.

If you’re good at Facebook marketing, growing Twitter, web development, video editing, logo design, engaging with Instagram followers, editing blog posts, rocking Pinterest, or translating articles, you should be able to find work.

If you possess skills that could be useful to online businesses, I recommend first reaching out to them directly. Head to 10 of your favourite websites and find areas they could improve upon.

Maybe their Facebook page isn’t engaged, maybe they take horrible photos, or there are grammatical errors in their articles.

Once you’ve located a few points that need improvement, send the owner of the website an email. Be certain that you don’t come across as being condescending and tell them that you could help them improve these aspects of their business.

If this doesn’t work, you can also join websites such as FlexJobs, SolidGigs, Upwork and Fiverr and add your profile to those databases and hope to find jobs through there.

Another option is to search Facebook groups in the niche you want to work in. For travel, you might run a Google search that looks like this:

“Facebook group community travel bloggers business”

Some of the groups you find may be closed groups, which means you’ll have to request access. Once you’re in, if the admins allow you to “advertise” in the group, you could put a post in saying that you’re looking for virtual assistant jobs. List all of your skills and most likely you’ll get some interested parties.

Become a Virtual Assistant, learn new skills and work from anywhere — it’s one of the best online jobs that pay hourly.

FlexJobs is one of the top websites for finding remote work – there are over 50 job categories! Whether you’re looking for online part-time jobs, or full-time gigs, you’ll find it here. Sign up for FlexJobs today and use promo code NOMAD to save up to 30% off.

3. Watch Ads

Companies are willing to pay you to watch their ads and there are even services out there that group these opportunities together so that you can earn a real living from it.

How much? There are people online claiming to earn tens of thousands of dollars per year just from watching ads! What an amazing way to earn money from home.

So, how does it work?

You head to one of the higher paying PTC (Pay To Click) sites like ClixSense, NeoBux & PaidAdverts, sign up and then start earning money online by watching advertising videos, clicking on ads and sending user feedback.

Spending just a few hours per day, you can earn a couple of hundred dollars per month from these sites.

We aren’t recommending a specific company to go with, but if you do your research and find a reputable ad share company, watching ads can be a great way to earn money. 

We’ve known a few people successfully using this as an income strategy. This is definitely one of the easier online jobs out there.

4. Complete Surveys

Similar to watching ads, many companies will pay internet users to complete their surveys. Internet surveys offer businesses and advertisers useful data to help them understand their potential clientele.

If you’re looking for online part-time jobs that you can easily do from home, this is a good one.

If you Google: “get paid to take surveys online”, you’ll probably get a thousand results. Unfortunately, many of these results are complete scams, so you do have to be careful when taking paid online surveys.

Some of the best online survey websites include SwagBucks, PrizeRebel, Survey Junkie, American Consumer Opinion and InboxDollars.

As surveys take a bit more time than watching ads, it’s not one of the best paid online jobs out there, and it’s more difficult to make a lot of money from this strategy. But there are reports of people earning over $1,000 per month by completing surveys.

To learn about a popular and legit survey company, check out our full Survey Junkie Review post.

5. Dropshipping

Dropshipping started generating a huge buzz in 2016 and 2017.

People were all over the internet claiming to have made thousands of dollars overnight. For the most part, these were just clickbait titles and advertisements, but there are definitely ways to earn money from drop shipping, and it’s one of the more popular online jobs.

What is dropshipping?

Basically, dropshipping is a very low-risk way to start up a business selling products online. Traditionally if you wanted to do this, you would have to create a product, market it, store it in a warehouse and ship it out yourself, while having to deal with refunds, returns, etc.

Dropshipping hands most of the responsibility off to someone else. This entity is known as a manufacturer, dropshipping supplier or warehouse outlet.

Your job as a dropshipping entrepreneur would be to find a wholesale manufacturer who would manufacture, store and ship your product, and you would then create an online store (website/blog) or an Amazon Storefront in order to promote and market the product.

Finding a manufacturer will be one of the hardest things to do.

Simply typing “drop shippers” into Google won’t give you very good results because only big dropshipping manufacturers that do business with big dropshippers will have the money to invest in SEO (search engine optimization), which allows their website to be seen first in Google.

You want the smaller drop shipping manufacturers that will be willing to deal with your new, small/medium-sized business. To get the best results, try expanding your Google search to include various drop shipping terms like: “distributor”, “wholesale”, “bulk”, “reseller”, “warehouse”, and “supplier”.

You can also combine those terms with the particular goods or types of goods you wish to sell.

For example: “Dropshipping distributor warehouse backpacks luggage” might be a good term if you’d like to start up a dropshipping business that sells backpacks and luggage.

A website called www.abetterlemonadestand.com has put together this great list of dropshipping suppliers that can help you get started.

Next, you’ll need to promote your products. In a nutshell, without going into too much depth here, you could easily spend some money on Facebook ads to lead people to your Amazon Store or your website.

Preferably, your web page would have a lead magnet (a free product to give away in exchange for an email) so that you could then communicate with your would-be customers over email, even after they’ve left your site.

You would want to give them a lot of value and information about the niche of your product and then offer them a purchase option within the email.

If you don’t have money to bootstrap your dropshipping business to get it started, you’ll have to spend time. Building a dropshipping business with sweat equity will be a lot like building a blog.

You’ll need to market your products, create a website and learn SEO and social strategies to grow traffic to your sales pages. That’s why it’s good to have some advertising money to start with.

Like building a travel blog, dropshipping isn’t going to earn you 6-figures in 6 weeks, but over time it can be a great way to earn a lot of money online.

6. Create an Online Course

No matter what your skill may be, there are people out there who would be happy to pay for you to teach them.

From passing exams and creating podcasts, to baking cakes and mastering photography, there are courses out there for pretty much every niche. If you’re knowledgeable in a particular subject, this is one of the best online jobs.

The fact is, knowledge is power. We all want to soak up as many skills as possible and the internet has created a breeding ground for this.

There are people out there who are earning 6-figures per month (7 figures per year) from selling online courses. You’ll have to ensure that your courses are useful, easy to follow and actually lead to a beneficial result for your students, but it’s possible to thrive in this arena.

Websites like Teachable, Skillshare and Udemy are great resources for those who want to sell courses online.

Once you’ve figured out what knowledge you’d like to sell to the world, you can visit one of these websites and go through the motions of turning your skills into a step-by-step course that others can purchase and follow.

The websites include curriculum, video, take-home notes and tasks to complete, making it easier for your students to get the results they want. They also have a marketplace where you can list and advertise your course to the world.

If you’re going to sell courses, I recommend also creating a website or blog where you can sell the courses from. Once you’ve done that, open up a Facebook Ads account and start paying for some traffic to your website and A/B test different landing pages to see where you get the best results.

If you think the market for online learning is too flooded, think again. People are drawn towards courses for the teacher. Your potential students may not like the people behind the courses currently available, but they might like you.

When thinking about which online jobs you can do, consider any skills you have and share your knowledge with the world in the form of a course.

(We’ve created two online courses. Check out our landing pages to see what they look like to get some ideas for your own marketing! WordPress Beginner Blogger Course and SEO Made Simple.) 

7. Teach English Online (best online jobs for citizens of the USA & Canada)

An excellent option for online jobs if you’re a native English speaker from Canada or the USA (and you have a Bachelor’s Degree in any subject and a TEFL Certificate) is to become a Magic Ears ($26/hour) or VIPKID ($22/hour) teacher through their platforms. 

This is a high paying online job.

After you’ve been through the easy interview and are hired, you’ll be given lesson plans to choose from and can start teaching eager Chinese students. You’ll earn up to $26 per hour and you pick your own hours.

This is one of the top online jobs since you have the option to work full-time or part-time. You choose how many hours you want to work.

This is also a great way to supplement some other earnings you may have. Click here to learn more about Magic Ears and start teaching English from anywhere in the world.

Becoming an online teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do on the internet. To learn about other reputable teaching companies, check out our VIPKID review, PrePly review and how to find online jobs with EF Education First.

If you don’t have a degree, have a look at these 10 teaching companies that will hire you without a Bachelor’s Degree. Teaching is one of the best online jobs that pay hourly.

8. Manage Ads

Bloggers and website owners spend enough time growing their SEO, social media and brand, so few of us have time to really learn how to create successful ads.

Whether it be Google Ads or Facebook Ads, once you have a profit-positive campaign, you’re winning.

Many people these days are learning all about Facebook Ads and figuring out ways to create ads that sell. They then pitch their services to large brands with the idea that they’ll create an ad on Facebook that will increase revenue for that company.

Because the company knows they’ll be earning money, these online jobs typically pay pretty high and can be set up on monthly retainers anywhere from $500 – $5,000 per month, per client.

There are thousands of people earning tons of money online by managing ads for companies. It’s a growing fad and it’s not going anywhere.

Again, this is not a get-rich-quick scheme. If you’re new to Facebook Advertising and Google Ads, it could take you months to learn the ins and outs of the ad platforms.

There are some great free videos available online to teach you how to create successful ad campaigns and once you can get a client or two onboard, you could be making a lot of money.

9. Freelance Writing

For some reason, freelance writing comes with a stigma that it’s difficult to earn real money from it.

Traditionally yes, aspiring writers, authors and freelancers didn’t make that much money before the internet came along, and it wasn’t considered a top online job, but these days there are a lot more opportunities to get paid to write online.

We have made upwards of $3,500 USD / month from freelancing alone and we think it’s one of the best paying online jobs.

The pay really depends on who you write for. Some jobs we’ve had only pay $35 per article to start, while others pay upwards of $450 for a 700-word post.

If you’re looking for freelance writing jobs for beginners, check out SolidGigs.com, a company that does just that — provides you with solid gigs!

They scour the internet for the top 1% of freelance jobs available across more than 100 job boards and sites. Then, they send you the best straight to your inbox on Tuesdays.

You’ll also receive access to numerous webinars, interviews, and expert videos. Plus, access to various templates, spreadsheets, and more to help you succeed. Click here to learn more about Solid Gigs, and use promo code GOATS2 to receive your first month for just $2.

Once you have a couple of client websites that are paying you to write an article, I recommend asking them if you can write a certain number per month. Offering them a discount for multiple articles will help you accomplish this.

After you have a few clients on monthly retainers, you can really start earning money from freelance writing. Plus you can use those posts to pitch other websites and get more gigs. Another option is to try out Upwork, which is a great platform for freelancers to connect with clients. 

Despite the fact that there is more opportunity online than in print, print publications still tend to pay more. Try contacting your local newspapers and magazine editors to see if you can get paid writing jobs there.

We were featured in our local newspaper The Vancouver Sun in Canada on a couple of occasions and not only was the pay good, but it was really cool to see our names in print!

Are you a freelancer looking for more online job opportunities? Have a look at our articles here: 

10. Ebook Author

Thanks to Amazon, it’s never been easier to become a successful author.

First, you’ll have to create an awesome book, then upload it to Amazon. Next, you’ll need to get people to review it so that it appears higher in search queries for your topic and in related shopping boxes on the website.

To create an ebook, first type it out on your computer’s word processor (typically anything over 10,000 words could qualify as a useful ebook).

The best ebooks help people to solve a problem. Try to help people to get from point A to point B and write step-by-step so that they can follow your recommendations towards the desired result.

Our Best Travel Blogging Tips Ebook is currently on sale on Amazon and here on our website for $9.99. Creating ebooks is a great way to provide your readers with a resource while earning some extra money.

Once you have the basic text for your ebook, head over to Canva. Here you can sign-up for a free account and use the free online software to choose an ebook template to start designing your book.

Use sites like Canva Pro to find high-quality, royalty-free images (for free) and begin putting together your masterpiece one page at a time. Once you’re done, export it as a PDF and upload it to Amazon. If you’re not an Amazon seller yet, you’ll have to set up an account.

When you’re creating your listing for your new ebook, make sure to be very specific. Tell potential customers a few pain points, then explain to them how your book will help them to solve their problem(s).

Once your book is live, you can promote it on social media, on your blog and using Facebook ads. Some of the top independent ebook sellers in the world have earned millions of dollars from their Amazon bookstores, not bad for online work. 

This might not be one of the best paying online jobs and you might not make millions, but if you can create 10 great ebook resources and market them properly, you could earn enough to pay for travel.

The best part is that once your books are completed and on Amazon, you won’t have to do much work and you’ll likely see sales coming in while you’re sleeping.

Bonus! Graphic Designer

You’ll need a particular skillset and be a creative type, but becoming a graphic designer is a legit online job that may be a good option for you.

Work for yourself as a freelance graphic designer, or for a company. Have a look how to make money as a graphic designer, and the must-have tools for graphic design work.

In Conclusion

People always ask us how we managed to save money for travel and how we earn money to stay on the road. When we tell them that we earn more from travel blogging than we ever did on the oil fields or in law firms in Canada, they are often blown away.

But, travel blogging may not be the online job for everyone (although it’s probably perfect for you if you’re reading this blog), which is why we’re constantly researching jobs and interviewing travellers who have worked at various legit online jobs all over the world.

Remote work is the ultimate goal and with so much opportunity on the web, it seems like a waste if you’re not finding online work now.

These high paying online jobs are some of the best ones to get your foot in the door of location independence.

I hope you found this article useful. If you or someone you know is hoping to quit the 9-5, escape the office and work from a laptop while travelling the world, please share this post!

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Disclaimer:Goats On The Road is an Amazon Associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This means we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

Published by Krystianna Pietrzak

Krystianna has worked as a freelancer with graphic structure and social media services for the previous two several years and enjoys not getting tethered to a one spot. When not traveling or working, she loves sharing practical strategies and tips with other people who are interested in currently being self-used and functioning remotely!

Hook up with Krystianna Pietrzak –

Known as the Mile High City, Denver is the capital of Colorado and one of the most exciting cities to visit in the US. Surrounded by mountains, Denver is the perfect base for those who love a bit of outdoor adventure.

While you may be tempted to head straight for the Rocky Mountains, there are plenty of things to do in Denver to warrant sticking around for a while.

Home to some world-class museums, beautiful parks, all four major sports teams, and perhaps the best music venue in the country, Denver has a lot to offer travellers of all ages and interests.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at 15 must-see Denver attractions and things to do to help you plan the perfect trip to the city. 

1. Visit the Colorado State Capitol

Kicking off our list of the best Denver attractions is the Colorado State Capitol. This neoclassical building was built back in the 1890s and is home to the Colorado General Assembly as well as the governor’s office.

If the building looks a bit familiar, that’s because it was built to resemble the US Capitol in Washington, DC. It was made from white granite and topped with a golden dome to commemorate the Colorado Gold Rush. 

One of the coolest things about visiting the capitol is that you can stand at exactly one mile above sea level. There are actually three different markers on the steps, with the one on the 13th step being the most recent and most accurate. Snap a photo here to show you properly visited the Mile High City.

While you’re here, you might as well go in and have a look.

Inside, you’ll see beautiful stained glass windows that depict scenes from the history of Colorado. Be sure to climb up the steep 99 steps to reach Mr. Brown’s Attic, where you’ll enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of downtown and the Rocky Mountains. 

The Colorado State Capitol is free to visit and they even run free tours. These start on the hour from 10AM-3PM Monday to Friday, and they recommend arriving at least 20 minutes in advance.

It’s definitely one of the most popular things to do in downtown Denver. You can find the capitol building on the map and get directions here.

2. See the Denver Art Museum

A quick walk from the State Capitol will bring you to the fantastic Denver Art Museum. Take your time going in, as the buildings that house the museum are a work of art in their own right!

Italian modernist architect Gio Ponti designed the museum’s North Building, which somewhat resembles a castle.

Years later, the Hamilton Building was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, who was “inspired by the light and geology of the Rockies.” This world-class art museum is definitely one of the best places to visit in Denver. 

Once you’re done admiring the architecture, it’s time to head inside and explore the museum’s vast collection.

Here you’ll find an abundance of Native American art among some 70,000 different works of art. Exhibitions are always changing, so be sure to check their calendar to see what’s going on.

The Denver Art Museum is open Monday-Thursday and Saturday-Sunday from 10-5. On Fridays, the museum stays open until 8. Tickets cost $13 for adults and kids 18 and under visit for free. You can find the museum on the map here.

3. Visit Red Rocks (one of the best places to visit near Denver)

Of all the excellent Denver attractions, my personal favourite has got to be Red Rocks.

This city park and outdoor amphitheater is a great place to hike, bike, and see live music. In fact, Red Rocks constantly tops lists of the best concert venue in the entire United States.

I’ve seen a lot of concerts in a lot of places, but it’s really tough to beat Red Rocks. I mean, the stage here is set between two massive sandstone rock formations!

Not only is it stunningly beautiful, but this natural amphitheater has some absolutely incredible acoustics. I’ve been there a few times already and it’s always a great time.

There are many great acts that come to this legendary venue. They also regularly host yoga classes and even movie nights, so there’s always something cool going on at Red Rocks.

Even on a non-event day, it’s well worth the trip from downtown Denver to go to Red Rocks.

The park is home to several different hiking and biking trails as well. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit near Denver if you want to get some exercise along with breathtaking mountain views. While you’re here, you can also check out the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. 

Red Rocks is actually located in the small town of Morrison and is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Denver. It opens one hour before sunrise and closes one hour before sunset on non-event days.

When there’s a show, the park closes at around 2PM. Best of all, admission and parking are both free! You can get directions to Red Rocks here. 

4. Wander 16th Street Mall

Taking a stroll along the pedestrian-only 16th Street Mall is one of the most popular things to do in downtown Denver. This tree-lined street is full of shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars, so you can easily spend a few leisurely hours here. 

It’s also a great place to just plop down on a bench, relax, and enjoy some fantastic people watching. You’re sure to see some street performers here, as well as some of Denver’s most, shall we say “interesting” characters. 

While many of my friends who live in Denver may decry this area as being a tourist trap, I always enjoy taking a lap around it when I’m in town.

It’s just nice being in a major US city that has a pedestrian-friendly area where people congregate and enjoy some time outdoors. Plus, it’s easy to find a good Happy Hour deal here!

The 16th Street Mall is very easily walkable, but there’s also a free shuttle bus that stops on every corner if you feel like giving your feet a rest. You can get directions to the 16th Street Mall on the map here.

Looking for more USA city guides?

5. Visit the Botanic Gardens

Nature lovers will want to make sure to add the Botanic Gardens to their list of places to visit in Denver. This massive park occupies 23 acres right in the heart of Denver, creating a green oasis in the middle of a booming city.

Comprised of over 45 different gardens, there’s a whole lot to see here. In total, there are well over 30,000 different plants! This is definitely one of the top Denver attractions and a place you won’t want to miss when visiting the city.

Some of the highlights of the park include the peaceful Japanese Garden, the tropical conservatory, and the Rock Alpine Garden. There’s so much to see and do here that you can easily spend an entire day exploring the gardens and the greater Cheesman Park where they’re located.

Tickets for the main York Street area of the gardens cost $12.50 for adults, $9.50 for seniors/military, and $9 for students and children.

There are actually several days throughout the year when it’s totally free, so be sure to check the calendar. It’s open every day from 9-5, and you can find directions by checking the map here.

6. Visit the Sporting Venues

Did you know that Denver is one of only two US cities where teams in all four major sports play downtown? Denver and my hometown of Detroit are the only places where you can see basketball, football, hockey, and baseball all right downtown.

Denver is home to the Broncos (NFL), Rockies (MLB), Nuggets (NBA), and Avalanche (NHL). The Broncos play at Mile High, with eight regular-season games between September and January.

People really go crazy for their football team here, so it’s a very exciting atmosphere to be a part of.

Both the Nuggets and the Avs play their home games at the Pepsi Center. The regular season for both sports lasts from October to April, so there are plenty of chances to catch a game during the fall and winter.

Watching a hockey or basketball game is one of the best things to do in Denver in the winter.

When hockey and basketball are wrapping up, baseball is just getting started. The Rockies play at Coors Field and have home games very often in the spring and summer months. Whichever team you see, checking out a game is definitely one of the top things to do in downtown Denver. 

7. Explore Union Station

It may seem a bit odd to have a train station on the list of the best Denver attractions, but hear me out. The historic Union Station dates back to 1914, when it was rebuilt after a fire destroyed it in 1894. 

Just a few years ago, a massive redevelopment plan began at Union Station. The upper levels were transformed into the luxury Crawford Hotel, and several boutique shops, restaurants, and bars moved in as well. Old ticket counters became the Terminal Bar, and the Great Hall transformed into “Denver’s living room.” 

In addition to all the dining, shopping, and entertainment options on offer at Union Station, it’s once again a fully functioning transportation hub.

Catching the A Line here from the airport is an affordable and environmentally conscious way to travel in and out of the city. You can also catch Amtrak trains here, including the famous California Zephyr line that travels to San Francisco. 

Union Station is located in the LoDo (Lower Downtown) area of Denver. If you end up passing through on your way to or from the airport, be sure to spend a little extra time here.

Grab a drink and a bite, do a bit of window shopping, or just sit on the couch and enjoy some great people watching. You can find Union Station on the map here.

8. Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Denver is home to plenty of excellent museums, and one of the best is definitely the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Their amazing exhibitions on dinosaurs, gems, mummies, and black holes makes a trip here one of the best things to do in Denver for kids. 

In addition to all their interesting exhibitions, the museum is also home to an IMAX theatre and one of the best planetariums in the country.

There’s even a T-Rex Cafe here where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat. With so much to see and do, you can easily spend a whole day taking in all that this museum has to offer. 

Be sure to check their calendar of events, as the museum often has some pretty cool programs for both kids and adults.

For example, they’re having a Renaissance Revelry event soon for adults where costumes are encouraged and drinks/appetizers are included in your ticket. Now that sounds like a fun night at the museum!

The museum is open from 9-5 every day, and tickets cost $19 for adults or $14 for children for museum admission. Special exhibitions, IMAX screenings, and special showings in the planetarium all cost between $5-7 extra. You can get directions and find it on the map here.

9. Relax in the Local Parks

If you’re visiting the museum, you might as well stick around City Park for a while. This is the largest urban park in the city and a popular place for locals and tourists alike.

That’s not all, though. You’ll also find soccer, baseball, and football fields, tennis courts, and a golf course here. There are a couple of small lakes in the park and a boathouse where you can rent some cool animal-shaped paddle boats.

During the summer months, there’s a free concert series in City Park. Be sure to check the schedule to see what’s playing if you’re visiting in the summer. You can find City Park on the map here.

Another great choice is Washington Park, which is located just south of downtown (check the map here).

Fitness enthusiasts will love a visit to this large green space thanks to the many hiking and biking trails here. There are also a few lakes here for more fun on the water. 

10.  Visis The US Mint

Have you ever wondered how coins are made? Well you can do just that by visiting the US Mint. It was opened back in 1863 to turn the findings of the Gold Rush into coins for the entire country. 

The US Mint runs free tours Monday-Thursday on a first-come, first-served basis.

Their ticket window opens up at 7AM and you can only get tickets for the same day. There are six tours a day at 8, 9:30, 11, 12:30, 2, and 3:30. You can get directions to the US Mint on the map here. 

On this hour-long guided tour of the US Mint, you’ll see how a bland-looking piece of metal gets transformed into a shiny new coin.

Each coin that’s made here is stamped with a “D” for Denver. They can produce up to 50 million coins a day here! A visit here is definitely one of the most unique Denver tourist attractions. 

11. Visit the Elitch Gardens Theme Park

One of the most fun places to visit in Denver is Elitch Gardens. It’s actually two awesome parks rolled into one, with a theme park on one side and a water park on the other.

Fun fact – Elitch Gardens is the only downtown theme park in the United States!

It’s one of the most popular Denver attractions and a great place to spend the day. With roller coasters, water slides, drive-in movies, free concerts, and amazing fireworks displays, there’s plenty to see and do here. 

Elitch Gardens is open from mid-April to early November. The theme park opening hours vary depending on the time of year and the day of the week, so be sure to check before planning your trip there.

As for the water park, it’s open from 10:30-6 from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.

Buying your tickets online is much cheaper than getting them at the gate. You can get them for $40 as opposed to $60 by purchasing online. You can find Elitch Gardens on the map and get directions here. 

12. Visit the History Colorado Center

If you’re interested in learning more about the state of Colorado, then be sure to add a trip to the History Colorado Center to your list of things to do in downtown Denver. It’s located in the Golden Triangle Museum District, where you’ll find many of the best Denver attractions. 

The History Colorado Center is a far cry from the dull museums of the past. This modern history museum is full of interactive, high-tech exhibits that are fun and informative for all ages.

In addition to the great exhibits inside, the building itself is quite impressive. It was made from a wide variety of local as well as recycled materials, and it’s a beautiful building inside and out. 

The museum is open every day from 10-5, with tickets costing $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $10/$8 for students/children. You can find the museum on the map and get directions here. 

13. Larimer Square

The city of Denver has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a pioneer camp during the Gold Rush. It was founded in 1858 by William Larimer, who named the new city’s main street after himself.

For many years, Larimer Street thrived as a bustling commercial hub. That was until the turn of the century, when it became run down and filled with liquor stores, flophouses, and pawn shops. 

Thankfully, restoration efforts began in the mid-’60s to try to save this piece of Denver’s history.

The 1400 block of Larimer Street was saved from the wrecking ball and buildings were given a serious facelift. Half a century later, it’s the best-preserved area of 19th-century buildings in all of Denver.

It’s known as Larimer Square these days, and it’s once again a thriving area of downtown Denver. Here you’ll find independent shops, restaurants run by famous chefs, and some lively bars.

It’s one of the coolest places to visit in Denver, so be sure to add it to your list. Get directions to Larimer Square on the map here.

14. Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Just a few blocks from Larimer Square, you’ll find the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Home to several different venues, there’s always something interesting going on here.

There are many different theatres in the DCPA. The largest is the Buell Theatre (2,839 capacity), which hosts Broadway musicals and plays. Upcoming shows here include Broadway staples such as Cats, Wicked, and Rent.

Much smaller is the Garner Galleria Theatre, which is a cabaret-style venue that only seats just over 200 people. This venue usually features comedic musicals or improv comedy, so you’re guaranteed some laughs when you book a show here.

Of course, there are plenty of options for wining and dining around the DCPA as well. Go ahead and make a night of it by having dinner and drinks here before the show.

Just be sure to book your tickets in advance for those super popular shows! You can find the DCPA on the map here.

15. Visit the Breweries Large and Small

Beer lovers are in for a treat when visiting Denver. Home to breweries large and small, there’s no shortage of tasty brews to sample here in the Mile High City — visiting is a must do in Denver!

Although it’s not technically in the city, the Coors Brewery remains one of the top Denver attractions. Located in nearby Golden, this is the world’s largest single-site brewery. They can brew up to 22 million barrels of beer here in a single year! 

Tours of the Coors Brewery are available year-round for $10 per person. They last 30 minutes, giving you a quick look at the malting, brewing, and packaging process for one of the world’s most famous beers. After the tour, you can of course sample some of the product. You can find the brewery on the map here.

If you prefer a strong IPA or a milky stout to mass-produced lagers, you can opt to go on a micro-brewery tour instead. Denver Microbrew Tour has a few options for sampling some of Denver’s best craft beer.

Tours cost $40 per person and include ten or more generous tastings of different beers. Having done this tour myself, I can say with confidence that you definitely get your money’s worth!

Ready For All of The Attractions in Denver?

As you can see, there’s a lot going on in Denver! There are so many excellent Denver attractions that this list could have easily been much longer. I’ve been going to the city every few years for the last decade and I always discover something new.

A visit to Denver is the perfect introduction to the state of Colorado.

After a few days taking in some of the sights in the city, you’ll be ready to get out there and explore the rest of this beautiful, mountainous state. Just an hour and a half drive from the city, you can find yourself in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain National Park.

So many of my friends have moved to Denver in the last few years, and I can definitely see why.

With a thriving music scene and countless options for outdoor adventures, I see the appeal! I for one am excited about getting back to the city again soon, and I recommend you add it to your travel bucket list.

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There are many things to do in Cozumel – Mexico’s largest Caribbean Island. When we mention Cozumel to other travellers, their eye’s glaze over and they imagine silvery white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and an azure blue ocean. Cozumel certainly offers all of that, and much more.

When travelling Mexico, you may decide you just want to chill out on this Caribbean island (only 30 miles long and 10 miles wide), and I understand completely.

But, after visiting here, I recommend you leave the beach behind and experience the many other things to do in Cozumel.

Would you be able to fit in a submarine tour, snorkelling the 2nd largest coral reef in the world, visiting a Mayan archaeological site or trying an ancient Mayan chocolate recipe in just a few days? Probably not! This is one of the top places to visit in Mexico, so give yourself some time here.

I highly recommend that you plan a minimum of a week to see all the things to do in Cozumel, you may even want to plan 2 weeks. With numerous incredible things to do in Mexico, make sure Cozumel is on your list. 

Note: This article has been updated for 2021 to reflect the best activities, excursions and costs in Cozumel. Enjoy your trip!

Where is Cozumel?

The Island of Cozumel or “Isla Cozumel” as it’s known in Spanish is located 12 miles off the coast opposite Playa del Carmen in the Yucatan Peninsula. Cancun, known as “Mexico’s top party destination” is 45 miles to the north of Cozumel.

Cozumel is the quieter alternative to Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Actually, one of the best things to do in Playa del Carmen is to take a ferry across to tranquil Cozumel.

In Playa del Carmen, the terminal is located downtown near the main square. In just 30 – 45 minutes, you’ll cross the sea and arrive in Cozumel. Click here for the Cozumel Ferry schedule, which includes costs.

When is The Best Time to Visit Cozumel?

You can visit Mexico year-round, but the best time to visit Cozumel is during the months from March to June, before the hurricane season commences.

The hottest months are July and August which coincides with the hurricane season that lasts until November. Winter is Cozumel’s busiest period and it runs from December through to March.

Getting to and From Cozumel

Before you can enjoy all the fun things to do in Cozumel, you need to get there. Most people will arrive at the Cancun airport. From here, you have a few options to get to the ferry terminal in Playa del Carmen (to take the boat over to Cozumel). 

You can either take the bus, hire a taxi, or opt for a private shuttle from Cancun to Playa del Carmen. This is the fastest, safest and most comfortable to get to the Cozumel ferry. Click here for details about airport transfers. 

Note: if you’re on a budget and don’t mind sharing, there is a quick, safe and easy $25 shuttle you can take from the Cancun airport to the port in Playa del Carmen. Learn more here. 

Once you’ve arrived at the ferry port, you’ll need to take the 30-minute boat across. 

Now that you know when to visit and how to get there, here’s my list of the top things to do in Cozumel that you don’t want to miss!

1. Visit Punta Sur Ecological Park

Punta Sur Eco Beach is the best beach on the Island, and a visit to this eco-park is definitely one of the top things to do in Cozumel. This area is located on the south of the island and covers an area of 2,500 acres.

Here you’ll find exotic birds, crocodiles, sea turtles, beautiful flowers and beautiful beaches – the perfect place for nature lovers.

If you don’t feel like snorkelling the reef or visiting the lighthouse (see below), you can just hang out on hammocks and enjoy the sun.

There’s an entrance fee for this park ($16 USD for adults and $10 for children), but in my opinion, it’s worth it. Click here to learn more and to pre-purchase your tickets.

Within the Punta Sur Eco Park is the Celarain Lighthouse, which was constructed to warn sailors at night of the dangers of running aground off the southern coast of Cozumel. The Lighthouse is now part of a maritime museum.

For 360 degree views of the Island, you can climb the 127 steps to the top. On a clear day, you can even see the coast of Cuba, but unfortunately for us, that was not the case.

Entrance fees to the Punta Sur Eco Park include the Celerain Lighthouse.

A 40-minute tour of the Marshlands of Punta Sur Ecological Park is also available. They can’t guarantee that you will see any crocodiles on the day of the tour, but you will see many species of birds especially the roseate spoonbill.

The Punta Sur Ecological Park has so much to see and do, there’s even a Mayan Ruin here. El Caracol ruin – also called Tumba del Caracol because of its small size – dates back to 1200-1500 AD.

Caracol means snail in Spanish and the ruins were named this because of the snails that decorate the small dome on the top of the temple.

The structure was built as an early hurricane warning system for the Mayan people. The roof was constructed in a way that the strong breeze gave a humming noise alerting the Mayans of the impending danger.

2. Playa Mia Grand Beach Park

If you’re looking to visit a beach park during your trip to Cozumel, consider Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, an ethical adventure park. While there are many “marine parks” that may sound great, Goats On The Road doesn’t recommend visiting them due to the captivity of wild animals. 

Check out Playa Mia Grand Beach Park instead.

Here, you’ll have use of snorkels, waterslides, pools, kayaks, hobie cats, paddle boats, volleyball courts and more. This park doesn’t have any animals in captivity, which is why we recommend it. Entrance fees start from $30 USD.

Another option is to take a tour on a catamaran boat, including the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park for snorkelling, and a visit to Playa Mia Grand Beach Park (with food and drinks). Click here to learn about that fun day tour in Cozumel.

*Note that Goats On The Road does not condone any tourism activities that involve cruelty to animals, or promotes their captivity. We’ve been advised that the Chankanaab Beach Adventure Park and many places to visit in Mexico offer tours such as swimming with dolphins. Please be a responsible traveller and consider where you want to spend your tourism dollars, and avoid any animal shows or activities. It’s way more fun to see the animals in the wild anyways! Go snorkelling on a boat tour and have a more authentic experience with the wildlife.

3. Try Seatrek

A unique way of experiencing the underwater world is by trying helmet diving with Seatrek. The fully enclosed helmet sits neatly on your shoulders and a steady stream of air assists you in breathing.

If you wear prescription glasses no problem, you can still wear them in the helmet as you walk along the bottom of the ocean at around 20 – 25 feet. Bookings for this tour can be made direct at Seatrek.

4. Try Atlantis Submarines

In Barbados, we had the opportunity to experience a night dive with Atlantis Submarines. In Cozumel, they offer 3 daytime departures at 10:00am, 12 noon and 1:00pm.

During the dive, you will visit the Felipe Xicotencatl wreck that sank in the year 2000 plus colourful schools of fish, sharks, turtles, stingrays and lobsters. For more information and the latest prices click here.

5. Cozumel Private Jeep Tour With Lunch and Snorkelling

One of the best activities to do in Cozumel is a private Jeep Tour with lunch and the opportunity to go snorkelling. The tour comes with your own private guide which means that he knows the best-secluded beaches to go snorkelling and swimming without the crowds.

The best part about this Cozumel excursion is that it’s completely customizable. Let your guide know ahead of time what you’re interested in seeing in Cozumel and he’ll put together an itinerary to suit your needs. 

Apart from private transportation, snorkelling, tequila tasting, Mexican lunch, and a margarita (or two) are included in the trip. For more information click here.

6. Sail The Waters Off Cozumel in a Catamaran

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Cozumel! There are many things to see around the island and hopping aboard a catamaran is the best way to do so.

You can either relax on board enjoying drinks and snacks or you can snorkel the reef and check out the abundant sea life. When you’re snorkelling you’ll have the chance to spot some sea turtles, stingrays and maybe a shark or two.

The waters around Cozumel are abundant with marine life and are safe for swimming and snorkelling. Click here to learn more about catamaran tours in Cozumel, and click here for glass-bottom boat trips with snorkelling.

7. Enjoy a Pirate Cruise With A Lobster Dinner

An Old Spanish Galleon will whisk you away from the port for a splendid 2.5 hour cruise with lots of games and dancing. This is a fun night full of adventure while enjoying a delicious lobster dinner.

If lobster isn’t to your liking, they have options of steak and chicken. As the sun goes down you can enjoy one of Mexico’s amazing sunsets with a Margarita or a cold beer in your hand.

8. Visit the Cozumel Pearl Farm

A visit to the family-owned and operated Cozumel Pearl Farm is a unique excursion where you are taken by boat to a secluded beach on an uninhabited area of Cozumel.

The first part of the tour is a demonstration and explanation of pearl farming techniques. The second part of the tour takes you to the pearl hatchery itself where you can do some snorkelling to see how the pearls are grown while learning about the reef system and viewing the underwater life-size Virgen de Guadalupe statue.

The rest of your time is spent either swimming in the warm azure waters or lazing in one of the many hammocks, and of course, enjoying your lunch with drinks which are included. Click here to learn more.

9. Check out the Mayan Cacao Company

Just 15 minutes from downtown Cozumel and next to Playa Mia Beach Club is the Mayan Cacao Company. Who doesn’t love chocolate?!

One of the many things Mayans are known for was their production of chocolate from the beans of the cacao trees. After the fermenting, drying and roasting process, they ground the beans into a paste, added hot water and made the first hot chocolate drink.

The tour lasts for 70 minutes and you can try ancient Mayan recipes and of course, buy some of the tasty chocolate. For more details on the Mayan Cacao Company and ticket prices click here.

⇒ See Also: 19 Fun Things To Do in Isla Mujeres – Mexico’s Island of Women

10. Visit the El Mirador

El Mirador is located on the east side of the Island of Cozumel, 30 minutes from downtown. Hire a moped, rent a car or take a private taxi to get here. It’s a naturally beautiful spot where the sea has carved an arch in the rocks over the years. You can climb to the top for stunning views.

This is an excellent place to avoid the crowds. If you’re looking to relax, a visit to El Mirador is one of the best things to do in Cozumel.

☞ For other natural rock formations surrounded by water, don’t miss Lands End, one of the top things to do in Cabo San Lucas.

11. Swim and Snorkel at Playa Chen Rio

Cozumel has some of the best beaches in Mexico, and Playa Chen Rio is one you won’t want to miss. With its protected area and shallow water, this beach is suitable for all levels of swimmers and snorkellers.

As an added bonus, Playa Chen Rio is located on the east coast, which is less popular than those beaches that are located on the west coast — perfect if you want to get away from the crowds.

Enjoy a day of swimming and snorkelling, followed by lunch or dinner at one of the great restaurants on the beach here, such as El Pescador Marisqueria and Bar.

⇒ See Also: 21 Things To Do in Guadalajara You Don’t Want To Miss

12. Enjoy Playa Uvas Sur

Playa Uva Sur is located on the west coast and is the exact opposite of Playa Chen Rio (above). This beach is an upmarket experience, where you can hire kayaks, laze on sunbeds or enjoy the Beach Club.

The Uvas Beach Club has an entrance fee of $15 for the basic package which includes a welcome drink, snorkel gear, 30 minute guided snorkel tour, 30 minutes of kayaking, the marine park fees and you’ll have access to the chairs, umbrellas, wifi, hammocks and the restaurant/bar.

You can upgrade to premium packages that include an open bar. For more information click here.

☞ SEE ALSO: Manzanillo Colima – The Ultimate Travel Guide

13. Visit San Miguel, the Capital of Cozumel

Since San Miguel is located on the west coast, one of the best activities here is to walk the broad sidewalk along the seafront at sunset.

During the day when the cruise ships are in port, the sidewalk is very busy with cruise passengers, but outside of that time, it’s fairly quiet.

In the middle of San Miguel is the Zocalo (a central park), every Mexican city or town has a Zocalo. It’s a meeting place for locals or a spot to sit down and just ‘people watch’.

If you are in Cozumel on a Sunday evening head to the Zocalo at around 8:00 pm for many free events.

☞ In Mexico, you’ll find numerous seaside promenades with zocalos and free activities going on. Don’t miss wandering along the Malecon and seeing street performers, these are some of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta, La Paz and many other Mexican cities.

14. Go Shopping

If you are in need of some ‘retail therapy’ during your trip, there are many opportunities for shopping in Cozumel. These are some of the main shopping areas where you’ll find clothing, souvenirs, jewelry and more:

⇒ See Also: 21 Awesome Things To Do in Oaxaca City

15. Experience Temazcal Cozumel

A Temazcal is an ancient Mayan ceremony, and while it’s one of the top things to do in Cancun, it’s also an incredible experience here in Cozumel.

You’ll enter into a brick hut which is warmed by volcanic rocks – similar to an experience in a sauna – and will be greeted by a Shaman.

During the Temazcal ritual, your body is put through a process of cleansing, relaxing and purification. It ends with a cooling swim in the nearby cenote.

The whole ceremony is a very spiritual experience and if you have a chance, don’t miss it (there are a few places, but you can check out this one). This is one of the most unique things to do in Cozumel.

16. Scuba Diving (one of the best things to do in Cozumel)

Scuba Diving along the Mesoamerican Reef is second to none. If you are an advanced scuba diver, you have the option to dive advanced sites in Cozumel like Maracaibo, Devil’s Throat, Cathedral or Barracuda.

If you haven’t tried scuba diving before, there are PADI courses available. There are numerous dive centers in Cozumel, always do your due diligence and choose a reputable company. Diving in Cozumel is popular, for good reason. 

⇒ See Also: 21 Top Things To Do in San Miguel de Allende

17. Eat at Local Mexican Restaurants

Mexican cuisine is our favourite. Eating street food is one of the best things to do in Mexico City, but if you’re not heading to the capital, you’ll still be spoiled for choice in Cozumel. 

Think burritos, tacos, tortas, ceviche, enchiladas, churros and of course drinks such as Tequila, Margaritas and a chilled Corona with a slice of lime.

Some of our favourite Cozumel restaurants are:

18. Cozumel Chef Food Tour (one of the top things to do in Cozumel for foodies)

If you enjoy food tours Cozumel Chef Food Tour is the one for you. The tour takes you to several different Cozumel restaurants where you enjoy a Mexican dish and a local drink.

The places you will visit are off the usual tourist path, meaning you’ll be eating like a local. Even vegetarians are well catered for during this tour. This is one of the top Cozumel excursions if you enjoy authentic Mexican food. For more information and booking, click here.

⇒ See Also: 10 Things To See and Do in Guanajuato

19. Ha Haak Paddleboarding Cozumel

If you are a regular paddleboarder, Cozumel will wow you with its crystal clear blue waters, and if you’re a beginner, this is the place to learn.

Ha Haak provides a super easy intro lesson for first-timers that you will get you standing up on a paddleboard in no time.

Ha Haak’s location at Mr Sancho’s Cozumel Beach Club, South Hotel Zone, is the perfect place to enjoy the sport ($35 for a rental). For more details click here.

20.  Deep-Sea Fishing

For Deep Sea Fishing enthusiasts, Cozumel is the perfect location and one of the top companies (Chi Chi Charters) offers an awesome experience. Even if you’re not a hardcore fisherman, this is still one of the best things to do in Cozumel.

Barracuda, mahi mahi and triggerfish are some of the local catch around Cozumel. You can catch tuna all year round, and from March to July white and blue marlin and sailfish are available. For more information and bookings click here.

⇒ See Also: 21 Things To Do in Mazatlan, Mexico

21. Watch Sunset

At the end of the day, nothing beats a good sunset with a cocktail in hand. We recommend checking out El Palomar Restaurant and Bar on the west side of the island.

If you head north about 5 minutes from the Ferry Terminal you will be greeted by El Palomar, who have actually stopped serving plastic straws, way to go! A margarita on the porch at sunset is a great way to end the day.

Now You Know What to Do in Cozumel?!

Cozumel is a true island paradise. It’s laid back just like the locals and offers the visitor a quieter atmosphere than its coastal neighbours.

This island offers the best of adventures under the sea — where else in the world could you visit an underwater museum, dive to the bottom of the ocean onboard a submarine or snorkel around a pearl farm?!

Cozumel is an island that will wake you up with sunrise on the eastern side, while just 10 miles across the island, you can enjoy a sundowner on the west coast. There are numerous fun things to do in Cozumel and we hope this list gave you some good ideas of where to start.

Goats On The Road Recommended

Travel Resources for Cozumel

✓ Wondering where to stay in Cozumel? There are numerous accommodation options on Booking.com – from luxury resorts to midrange hotels and cute guesthouses. Goats On The Road uses and recommends Booking.com due to their awesome cancellation policy, discounts and deals. Click here to see properties available in Cozumel, Mexico.

✓ With all of the adventurous things to do in Cozumel, it’s important to have adequate travel insurance. Goats On The Road have used and recommend World Nomads (one of the most popular options for travellers). Click here for a free quote.

✓ If you’d like to rent a car in Cozumel or any other place in Mexico, we recommend checking out the prices on Expedia.com. Be warned though, in Mexico, you’ll have to pay around $15 more per day for a mandatory insurance fee. Goats On The Road always uses Expedia for our car rentals. Click here to find the latest prices.

✓ For tours, activities and other things to do in Cozumel, check out Get Your Guide for low prices and excellent service. Always cross-reference your tours with reviews and find one that suits your needs.

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Teaching English in South Korea will change your life. You’ll be immersed in a fascinating culture. You’ll discover new and exciting opportunities for travel. You’ll learn about Korea, and you’ll learn about yourself.

You’ll certainly make decent money when you teach English in Korea — to travel with, to pay off a student loan, or to save and bring home so you can begin yet another exciting endeavor.

You might even enter into a lifelong career. Some people teach in South Korea for one year and never teach again. Others use teaching English in Korea as a starting point for teaching in other countries and at different types of schools.

That’s how it was for me. My first job after graduating from university was at an English teaching job at a Korean hagwon — a private kindergarten and after-school academy for elementary, middle, and high school students.

For me, it wasn’t only a fun and financially rewarding adventure, but it set me on a career path that led to teaching in four countries and many different types of schools, including universities.

Note: if you’re interested in teaching Korean students, but aren’t keen to move to South Korea, have a look at this article: Teach English to Korean Students Online (7 Companies That Pay). If you’d like to teach Chinese students online and earn $22- $26/hour, consider Magic Ears, or VIPKID.

Teaching English in South Korea isn’t for everyone. But whether you love it or hate it, it’ll be a year you never forget.

Why Teach English in South Korea?

I often ask my university students what they want to do after they graduate. By far, the two most common answers are to find a job and to travel the world.

Teaching English in South Korea ticks both of these boxes. It’s hard to find a job when you’re fresh out of university and don’t have experience, especially if you have a liberal arts degree in something like English (like I do).

Fortunately, many English teaching jobs in Korea don’t require experience, and it doesn’t matter what your bachelor’s degree is in, only that you have one.

Salaries are good, and because most contracts include housing and airfare, you’re able to explore a distant part of the world while saving money at the same time.

Also, it’s a good way to try out teaching if you’re not sure that you’ll like it or be any good at it. Teaching children in Korea at a hagwon doesn’t require expert knowledge of English grammar or teaching techniques, just enthusiasm, an open mind, and a whole lot of patience.

You can learn how to be a teacher on the job, and you can teach yourself grammar as it becomes necessary. (Children usually need much more speaking practice than grammar explanations anyway.)

If you find that after one year, teaching really isn’t for you, you’re free to leave and try something else.

On the other hand, if you really enjoy teaching, you can sign up for another year. And there’s always the possibility to find another job in a different type of school, perhaps in another part of South Korea or even another part of the world.

Later on, in order to have access to better jobs, you can get a TEFL/TESL certificate, which is a requirement for many better English teaching jobs, or get a master’s degree in education, which is a typical requirement for university teaching jobs.

And of course, there’s more to the experience of teaching English in South Korea than the job itself.

Travel in Asia

If you’ve ever dreamed of the white sand beaches of Thailand, the nighttime neon alleyways of Japan, or the towering scroll-painting mountains of China, then teaching in Korea means that you’re only a short flight away.

Some English teaching jobs in Korea offer long vacations, such as up to four months a year (two months twice a year) at universities.

Hagwons usually only offer two one-week holidays a year, but once your contract is over, you can spend some of your hard-earned savings on a long journey in any part of Asia — or the world — you choose.

Domestic Travel

Besides other countries in Asia, South Korea itself is a tremendous place to travel in. You can get to any corner of the country by bus or high-speed train, which means that each weekend holds the possibility of adventure. There’s also some excellent hiking in South Korea as well. 

Add to this the numerous Korean holidays that you’ll receive as days off from work, and you can see a good deal of the country in short trips. Teaching in South Korea makes this possible. Not to mention, there are numerous things to do in Seoul to keep you busy.

Culture

When you teach English in Korea, you won’t only be teaching, but also learning. Korean culture is ancient, multifaceted, and full of surprises.

In your free time, you can practice tae kwon do, learn a traditional musical instrument, or study the Korean language. (I did all three of these when I was in Korea, but only the first two with any real success.)

Basically, living and teaching in South Korea is a lot of fun. The country has friendly people, remarkable food, bustling nightlife, and leisure activities like sweating in saunas and singing karaoke in small private rooms called norebong.

You might even be able to engage in all of these activities within the same large building where your hagwon is located, meaning you can go straight from work to the restaurant, to the all-night norebong, and finally to the all-night sauna.

Types of Schools to Find Teaching Jobs in Korea

The types of schools where you can teach English in Korea include private English academies (called hagwons), public and private grade schools, and universities.

Hagwons 

These small, after-school academies are a big business in Korea. Nearly all Korean schoolchildren visit one or more hagwons during the week to study martial arts, a musical instrument, math, English, or practically anything else you can imagine.

I worked at an English hagwon in South Korea, and it was a wonderful experience. Monday to Friday, I taught kindergarten during the day and early afternoon, and then I taught elementary, middle, and high school students later in the afternoon, once their regular schools had gotten out.

These are some of the most common and available teaching jobs in South Korea. They’re the best option for people without teaching experience. For many hagwons, only a bachelor’s degree is necessary — not even a TESL certificate.

The pay is good, but the hours are long and sometimes inconvenient, with classes often scheduled on weekends or early in the morning and late in the evening.

Hagwons typically provide furnished housing and two one-week vacations per year, plus all the Korean holidays. Contracts are almost always for one year, with the possibility for renewal based on performance.

Kids or Adults?

Most hagwons are for kids, although it’s possible to teach English in Korea to adults as well.

The market for these classes is somewhat in decline, due to the growing importance of Mandarin Chinese lessons, but there are still many schools around South Korea that hire foreigners to teach English to adults.

These classes are usually attended by businesspeople, so they’re almost always early in the morning or late the evening, held before or after the long Korean workday. Most offer classes on Saturday mornings too.

Besides this and another obvious difference — the maturity level of the students — an important difference is the level of expertise necessary.

Although it may not be a formal requirement, you’ll definitely need to know advanced grammar to teach adults. Many of them have already spent years studying English and know more about grammar than native speakers.

Because of that, previous teaching experience is often required for working at hagwons for adults. They also typically pay slightly more than regular hagwons.

Public and Private Grade Schools

Teaching English in South Korea at elementary, middle, and high schools is a bit of a step up to teaching at hagwons.

The hours are shorter (usually closer to 20 hours a week, compared to more than 30 and up to 40 at a hagwon), the pay and benefits are better, and there’s more vacation time, often around three weeks, twice a year.

More often than not, these schools require a bachelor’s degree in education or a teaching certificate, a TEFL/TESL certificate, and some prior teaching experience.

If you don’t have all of these but want to eventually work at a grade school, a good strategy is to first get a job at a hagwon and then look for a new job once your contract is over and you have the experience on your resume.

Public and private grade schools also offer the possibility for qualified and experienced teachers to teach a subject other than English. You could teach history, music, or even sports — all in English, of course.

Universities

University jobs are the best teaching jobs in Korea. The hours are lower (10-18 hours on average) and vacations are long (around two months, twice a year).

The pay is normally less than at hagwons or other schools, but this is reflected by the lower number of working hours.

University students are more mature and interested in English than their younger counterparts, and you could end up teaching more advanced and stimulating subjects, possibly in departments outside of the foreign language or English department.

Universities have much higher requirements than other schools where you can teach English in Korea. You’ll probably need a master’s degree in education, English, or some other relevant field, or even a PHD for certain positions. Experience is also necessary, such as two or three years of teaching at the university level.

Because of these requirements and because of such favorable job conditions, university jobs are some of the most difficult teaching jobs in Korea to get.

Private Tutoring

Teaching private lessons is officially illegal in Korea, but widely done by foreigners. Your best bet is to talk to other teachers at your school to find out where they find students and how much they charge per hour.

Grade schools and universities almost definitely won’t care if you teach private lessons on the side.

The main concern of the hagwons is that you don’t take business away from them. Be ethical: Don’t poach students from your school, and don’t steal their materials.

Finally, if you’re interested in learning Korean, you can do a language exchange, when you teach English for half the lesson and study Korean during the other half.

Qualifications to Teach English in South Korea

Requirements for teaching English in South Korea vary according to the type of school.

You can get a better idea of what’s required by looking online for English teaching jobs in Korea. Most job descriptions list the requirements, along with the salary and other details about the job, such as working hours.

Most jobs require that you’re from an English-speaking country. Some, mostly universities and grade schools, specify that they only accept teachers from seven countries: the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

For all jobs, from hagwons to universities, you’ll need:

Bachelor’s Degree

For hagwons, it doesn’t matter what your degree is in, as long as it’s a bachelor’s degree.

For all other jobs, a degree in education, English, or something else that’s relevant is probably necessary. Of course, a master’s degree is even better, and if you have one, you’ll probably get paid more.

Universities often require a master’s degree and sometimes a PHD. For obvious reasons, university teaching jobs in South Korea that require a PHD are some of the best positions at the most prestigious schools.

You’ll need your original degree and original transcript. You may need them to be apostilled by your local government. Apostilles are internationally recognized certifications of documents. They’re typically cheap and easy to get.

Or, you may need them notarized by a Korean consulate in your country. But don’t worry about apostilles or notarized copies just yet. Your future employer will tell you exactly what you need.

TESL/TEFL Certificate

Before you start a TESL/TEFL program, you should check the requirements of some jobs that interest you. In many cases, especially in hagwons, a TESL/TEFL certificate isn’t required but only preferred. This means that for many new teachers, doing a course actually isn’t necessary.

TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), or something similar like TESOL are all more or less the same thing. The certification courses, however, are not.

You can find cheap online TEFL courses for as low as $100 USD, or comprehensive courses that include a practicum for up to $1,000. The cheap one may be worthless, or it may be enough to get your foot in the door. Receive 35% off the MyTEFL course using promo code goat35 at checkout. Click here for details.

Therefore, before signing up for a course, check some job listings to see what specific type of TEFL they’re looking for, if it’s even necessary at all.

Besides English grammar and related topics like pronunciation, in these courses you’ll learn about teaching English, but not nearly as much as you’ll learn while on the job.

You can always get a TESL/TEFL certificate later, once you’ve decided that you like teaching English in South Korea and want to move to a better school.

Criminal Background Check

Usually, not hagwons, but other types of schools may request a certificate of no criminal record.

My advice for this is the same as for apostilles or notarizations of your university degree: Wait until the school that wants to hire you provides you with details about what they need.

How Much Do English Teachers in South Korea Make?

Hagwons pay around 2 to 2.4 million Korean won per month ($1,800 – 2,100 USD), with most paying 2.1 or 2.2 million won.

Grade schools pay from 2 to 3 million Korean won per month ($1,800 – 2,700 USD), depending on the number of hours and the teacher’s qualifications. This pay range is larger than at hagwons because the hours and benefits vary more.

Universities pay around 2 million Korean won per month ($1,800 USD), possibly more, especially if the contract is for more than 16 hours a week. In general, universities have fewer hours and consequently pay less than other schools, although certain jobs occasionally come up that are very well paid.

Check job descriptions carefully to see if they include housing, airfare reimbursement, insurance, and paid vacations.

Some jobs don’t provide housing, and these always pay more, sometimes double the salary of a similar school that does provide housing. But unless you’re prepared to live in a hotel, or buy all new furniture for an apartment, you’ll need a job with housing.

As with anywhere, you can expect schools in big cities (especially Seoul, Incheon, and Busan) and in fancy neighborhoods in big cities (Gangnam, etc.) to pay more than schools in small towns.

When comparing different jobs, don’t simply look at the amount you’ll earn, but also at the number of working hours.

A lower number of working hours is generally better than a higher amount of pay. You can use your free time to make better money teaching private lessons, or simply have more time to enjoy the country, study Korean, or find remote work online.

How to Find English Teaching Jobs in Korea

Nowadays, by far the most common way to find a teaching job in South Korea is on the internet.

You can find seemingly countless jobs online in all parts of the country and in many different kinds of schools. South Korea has been recruiting foreign teachers for several decades, making it one of the most common places for people to find teaching jobs abroad.

For many years, Dave’s ESL Cafe has been the first stop for people seeking English teaching jobs abroad, not only in South Korea, but practically anywhere in the world.

Another good website that has a much more professional webpage is the KOTESOL association website. Their job board has many more university jobs than hagwons, in contrast to Dave’s ESL Cafe.

And of course, you can simply Google “English teaching jobs in South Korea” and see what you come up with.

Hagwons hire all year round. For grade schools and universities, keep in mind that you must go through the hiring process and move to Korea before the semester starts in late August or early September and late February or early March. You should begin your job search several months beforehand.

There are fundamentally two ways to get hired — either from a recruiter or directly from the school.

There’s nothing wrong with a recruiter but read your contract carefully. Did your recruiter simply introduce you to the school, or is your contract with the recruiting agency?

Also, be wary of any recruiting website offering services that you have to pay for.

Whatever you do, compare many different schools. Don’t accept your first offer. Trust me, if one school wants to hire you, chances are that all of them want to hire you.

Is Teaching English in South Korea a Good Idea?

I got my English teaching job in South Korea the old-fashioned way: from a classified ad in a newspaper. Remember those?

I met a recruiter at my university’s student union, we talked for about an hour, and I signed up.

I knew next to nothing about Korea, and certainly nothing about teaching. The first few months were hard work, but I got lucky. I worked for good people who treated me with kindness and respect.

Many people I met in Korea weren’t so lucky. They worked at disorganized schools, were given bad hours, or weren’t paid on time. They were miserable and wished they hadn’t come.

Other people I met were miserable even though they did work at good schools. They didn’t like teaching, they didn’t like the food, and they weren’t interested in exploring the country.

It’s not only the situation you find yourself in that determines whether your time will be positive or not. It’s also your attitude.

Do you want to teach English in Korea to try something new and have an adventure, or do you want to teach English in Korea to get away from something, or because you have nowhere else to go?

Thinking about that question is a fundamental first step before you embark on a new life, and the answer will tell you whether deciding to teach English in Korea is a good idea or not.

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Everyone needs items to help with productivity and to boost their mood every once and a while, and the same can be said of freelancers. However, it can be difficult to find gifts for people who work at home.

I’ve been a freelancer working from home for a few years, and I’ve even purchased myself a lot of these products. Some of them are absolute musts, like #5, which I honestly couldn’t have a successful business without.

Whether you’re looking for gifts for women working from home or men, this list has got you covered. Plus, it includes items covering a wide range of budgets, so you don’t have to break the bank while giving the gift of happiness to the freelancer in your life.

No matter what type of freelancer you’re purchasing for, these gifts for people who work at home are sure to make them smile.

Here are the best gifts for people who work at home!

1. Nespresso Machine

Any coffee lover knows that this deserves a spot on this list of gifts for people who work at home. I recently splurged on the Nespresso Vertuo machine for Black Friday, and it’s arguably the best affordable coffee machine on the market.

Nespresso machines are obviously most well-known for making espresso, but it also makes all types of coffee flavours too. The pods are pretty affordable and can be purchased in sleeves with ten pods each on the Nespresso website, or Amazon.

Each Nespresso machine also comes with a test box of pods so the freelancer in your life can try about fifteen different flavours before putting an order in for more pods.

This will genuinely come in handy for anyone that works from home because they’ll feel like they have coffee from their favourite coffee shop, but it’s actually just from the kitchen.

Plus, a Nespresso purchase comes with a recyclable bag so all of the pods can be recycled instead of being thrown away. 

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2. External Hard Drive

You may think that this product doesn’t belong in an article featuring the best gifts for remote workers, but I promise you that it does. Especially if the freelancer in your life is a graphic designer or is in another line of work that produces products that take up a lot of disk space (such as video), this will come in handy.

There are many different types of external hard drives out there, but the ones from the brand Seagate are arguably the best. The freelancer in your life most likely won’t need more than 1 TB, which can take a while to fill up properly.

What’s so great about external hard drives is that it helps you separate your work life and projects from your personal documents on your computer.

It can be challenging to have your personal files and photos from your past trips stored on the same computer as your final project files for your clients.

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3. Headphones

Headphones are one of the simplest work from home gifts, but they’re worth the purchase. The market is saturated with different headphone types now, but the best ones are noise-cancelling so that focusing is a lot more natural.

Arguably, the best headphones that I absolutely swear by are the Beats Studio Wireless. They’re a bit bulky and pricey, but they’ve lasted me four years so far, and when I have them on, I can’t hear anything else that’s happening in my apartment. That says a lot because I live in the most central part of my city!

A cheaper alternative to the Studio headphones is the Beats Solo Wireless, which also comes in a wide variety of colours and are noise-cancelling. However, they are on-ear headphones instead of over-ear, which can make a difference to a freelancer’s comfort levels.

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4. Comfortable Leather Desk Chair

No freelancer deserves to sit in a $20 chair that they’ve had since they were in college. That can be extremely uncomfortable and can cause back issues, making it even more challenging to work from home.

That’s why a nice, leather chair is genuinely one of the best work from home gifts. While there are many leather chair options, I absolutely recommend the one linked below from La-Z-Boy.

I purchased it last spring, and while it was a bit of a splurge, I can now finally sit at my desk for hours on end without being in any pain whatsoever. It’s also really nice leather, so I know that it’s going to last me a long time before I’ll ever have to buy a replacement.

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5. Tripod

If the freelancer in your life has to take a lot of photos or video for their job, such as a social media manager, videographer, or another type of content creator, consider getting them a tripod. This is one of the most essential gifts for people who work from home.

Believe it or not, but most freelancers will continue just to stack books or other objects around their house instead of purchasing a tripod to save money. I know, because I am one of those social media management freelancers!

Tripods are relatively affordable, can be portable, and can help someone get the best shot possible for their client—no more shaky hands with a gift like this.

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6. Space Heater

This is easily one of the best gifts for people who work from home. While it may seem a bit odd, a space heater can help a freelancer who has to spend long hours sitting at their desk.

What’s excellent about space heaters is that they aren’t that big so they won’t take up a lot of room — which is a bonus for freelancers who live in smaller apartments, as they don’t have a lot of room to begin with.

Even though a space heater is a better gift for the colder months of the year, it will definitely get its use. I use one that I like to put near my desk while I’m working and I use it a ton.

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7. Ring Light for Meetings

One of the greatest gifts for women working from home is a ring light — this could be a good gift for anyone, but many women do makeup, fashion or other videos while working at home.

Freelancers are always in consultation calls and other types of meetings with their clients throughout the day, and it can be hard always to appear presentable, especially if there are calls after the sun goes down.

The easiest way to look professional on calls no matter the time is to use a ring light. This can just be plugged in, and automatically you’ll look more presentable during your meetings.

There are many different ring lights that you can purchase. Some of them can be clipped right to the top of a computer, and other ones have to be plugged in and stood up next to your monitor. Both work great!

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8. Desk Fan

Nobody likes to be sweating while sitting at their desk, so one of the easiest gifts for people who work at home to cool off is a simple desk fan. 

The keyword here is desk. Yes, there are huge fans out there, but a freelancer would prefer one that could set on the corner of their desk that isn’t too loud or distracting.

Fans come in handy no matter the time of year, and the quieter of a fan it is, the less distracting it would be if it was left on during client calls or meetings.

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9. Planner

Planners are one of the essential gifts for women working from home. Everyone loves to stay organised, and there’s just something about writing your schedule and to-do list out with paper and pen versus typing it up in a management tool like Asana or Trello.

While there are many different planner sizes, the best one is small to medium. A lot of freelancers do leave the house, contrary to popular belief. Therefore if it’s smaller, it’s a bit easier to travel with versus one that’s the size of a textbook.

Planners come in all sorts of styles. Some offer daily planning, while others are just monthly or weekly. I’ve personally found weekly to be the most successful in helping me stay on track with my freelance business deadlines.

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10. Kindle

Kindle Fire is one of the best gifts for remote workers. They’re affordable and offer an easy way for freelancers to download their favourite business books to read while they aren’t working.

The Kindle Fire is great because it’s also a tablet, meaning it can do a lot more than just download books. You can surf the internet, use social media (which can help social media managers!), and even use apps like Zoom or Skype for client calls if needed.

It’s also portable, and you can carry tons of books in your single tablet versus lugging around larger physical books, which can be a game-changer. Editor’s note: most people are tired of looking at a computer screen or smartphone all day! If that sounds like the person you’re buying for, click here for the Kindle Paperwhite.

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11. Cable Organiser

This may seem obvious, but a cable organiser is one of the greatest gifts for men working from home. Freelancers tend to have many cords around their desk, whether it’s for chargers or plugging in lamps or desktops, and it can be a bit overwhelming.

Cable organisers can be put in different places around or on your desk, and then you attach the cable right onto it. This can make your desk feel a lot less hectic, which could help you focus a lot better on your day-to-day tasks while sitting at your desk.

Plus, these cables can work anywhere else in the house too. Say goodbye to the messy set of cables near your bedside table with these.

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12. Calculator

Everyone knows how annoying it can be to unlock your phone to open up your calculator or locate the calculator app on your computer. That’s what makes a calculator one of the greatest gifts for people who work at home.

While they are affordable, they are also convenient. If you’re quickly trying to come up with rates for a project while you are on a client call, it’s a lot easier to reach for an actual calculator on your desk rather than be distracted on your phone.

Many fancy and scientific calculators exist out there, but all a freelancer needs is a fundamental and simplistic calculator to get the job done.

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13. Portable Charger

Even though freelancers don’t often work in public spaces, sometimes they do. That’s why a portable charger is one of the excellent gifts for men working from home.

Freelancers always need to have their phone charged if a client contacts them, and sometimes if you are working in a place like a public coffee shop, it can be nearly impossible to find a plug that’s open on the wall. Portable chargers will come in handy in a situation like this.

This also doubles as a great gift that a freelancer can use in their everyday life, too. Almost everything is kept in our phones now, from our directions to our grocery lists. Keep your cellphone forever charged by having a portable charger to take with you.

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14. Laptop Stand

Not every freelancer can afford a desktop, especially if they are just beginning their freelance business. I even worked from my laptop for the first six months when I started my business.

While a laptop’s purpose is that you can pretty much sit with it anywhere, client calls and meetings are best taken while sitting at a desk. However, laptops are often awkwardly short, making freelancers appear a bit funny and unprofessional when answering video calls.

A laptop stand can solve this problem instantly. It elevates your laptop to a more comfortable position, so you don’t have to break your neck trying to look down at it.

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15. Microphone

Another one of the best work from home gifts is a microphone. This can have quite a few uses for the freelancer in your life, so it can prove helpful often.

First of all, it’s great for client calls and meetings which freelancers so often have throughout the week. It can make someone’s voice a lot stronger and clearer and gets rid of all of the background noise that your computer’s microphone might be awkwardly picking up.

It can also come in handy if a freelancer has a podcast or often makes videos to promote their business. Their audio will be brought to a whole new level, making them appear a lot more professional. This, in turn, could lead to a lot more potential client leads in the long run!

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5 Cheap Gifts for People Who Work at Home

Not every gift has to break the bank. These gifts are affordable yet will still show a freelancer that you care about them and their wellbeing.

16. Mug

You can’t go wrong with a nice mug for coffee or tea for any freelancer. Working from home means using mugs instead of to-go cups, so this can be an excellent opportunity to gift the freelancer in your life a unique cup.

Mugs are super affordable and can even be purchased in packs. I bought a set of clear mugs to use with my Nespresso just so that I could take some lovely photos to post on my business’s Instagram Stories of it in the morning.

Plus, nobody can ever have too many mugs. It’s the one gift that you know everyone will appreciate, no matter how many they already might own.

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17. Notebook

When sitting at their desks or on client calls and meetings, freelancers are always looking for somewhere to jot down notes and ideas. I know because I’ve been there. I’ve written on old receipts, cardboard boxes, you name it.

Notebooks are one of the best gifts for people who work at home because of how practical they are. They are also super affordable, and freelancers are definitely in need of them.

Surprise the freelancer in your life by purchasing them an excellent leather journal. It’s sure to put a smile on their face!

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18. Chair Pillow

While it may seem silly, a chair pillow can be an effortless gift to purchase for someone who works from home. Whether they have a nice office chair for their desk or not, it will make their days spent working a lot easier.

Pillows for your head or lower back are usually the best because they give you a lot of support that unfortunately, even the most expensive chair does not provide. This can make long hours at a desk a lot easier and give a bit of added comfort.

These pillows tend to be pretty affordable and can come in a variety of colours.

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19. Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses can genuinely change the life of anyone who works at home. Your eyes start to hurt the longer you stare at a computer screen, which can make it more challenging to get work done promptly.

They are pretty affordable and usually come in packs of two or three, so the freelancer in your life can choose the ones that best fit their personality and style choices. You can often even purchase ones that look similar to the eyeglasses you wear if you have a pair.

With blue light glasses, you’ll be able to stare at a screen longer and suffer fewer migraines. My life changed when I finally bought myself a pair. Plus, they just look like normal glasses, so if a freelancer wears them on a client call, nobody will know the difference.

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20. Essential Oil Diffuser

One of the simplest yet most effective work from home gifts is an essential oils diffuser. Being a freelancer can be stressful, and one of the easiest ways to release some anxiety and calm down is to use a diffuser.

These are usually relatively affordable and can double as an excellent gift for the home too. They can help a room smell a lot nicer and can overall brighten your favourite freelancer’s mood if they are dealing with a nightmare client.

What’s nice about essential oil diffusers is that they are also smaller and can therefore be put on a ledge by a window or the corner of a desk. They don’t take up much space at all.

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Now You Know What to Get Someone Who Works From Home

Any one of these gifts, even just a mug, will truly brighten a freelancer’s day. As long as you know who you are shopping for, you can’t go wrong with any of the gifts on this entire list. There’s no better way to show a freelancer that you care than by getting them a present that will help improve their day. Happy shopping!

Disclaimer:Goats On The Road is an Amazon Associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This means we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

Published by Ted Campbell

Ted is a author and university professor who moved to China in 2020 just after residing in Mexico for 10 many years. He has a Master’s Degree in English Education and has taught ESL/EFL in four international locations and many diverse varieties of universities. Though in Mexico, Ted traveled thoroughly, climbed volcanos, went on epic bike rides, explored underground rivers, ate innumerable types of tacos, figured out Spanish, and wrote two guidebooks. You can browse his stories about residing and touring in Mexico on his blog No Hay Bronca.

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Penned by Krystianna Pietrzak

Krystianna has labored as a freelancer with graphic style and design and social media solutions for the past two yrs and loves not getting tethered to a single area. When not touring or operating, she enjoys sharing handy strategies and methods with others who are interested in becoming self-utilized and doing work remotely!

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