Travel Guide to Santa Fe, New Mexico
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General
Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico, is the oldest capital city in the US: it was founded in 1607 and officially declared the capital of New Mexico in 1824.
But long before the arrival of European immigrants, as early as the 11th century, Pueblo Native American tribes lived in the area. Santa Fe is also the highest capital in the US: situated at an altitude of 2,194 meters. It is the first city in the US to be declared by UNESCO as a "Creative City"—UNESCO Creative City—thanks to the combination of the special design of its houses, its unique handicrafts, and the abundance of art based on folklore. More than ten percent of the city's residents work in art, and it has hundreds of galleries, art shops, and art markets. The city is also known for the large and colorful art festivals held there every year. The Spaniards who ruled the area designed the city in the style of "Pueblo" architecture with orange-brown Adobe houses built from mud bricks. This building style characterizes the city to this day and became particularly popular in the 20th century.
Santa Fe is a relatively small city with a population of about 83,000 residents, attracting approximately 30 million tourists a year. The city was previously chosen as one of the most walkable cities in America because most of the tourist sites in the city are concentrated over a relatively small area.
New Mexico is also known for its wonderful food, where one of the main staples in the state is the hot pepper, the "Chili," which has become not only a food ingredient but also one of the city's symbols, with many of its houses decorated with bunches of dried red peppers.
Did you know? The full name of Santa Fe is: La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís, which means: The Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Santa Fe is located on historical Route 66. It is worth dedicating at least two full days to it and combining a visit with the abundance of historical, cultural, and nature sites offered by the fascinating state of New Mexico, which is often off the radar for the average tourist.
♦Recommended Accommodations in Santa Fe
Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe A luxury five-star resort featuring rooms and suites in various sizes, from spacious rooms for 2-4 people to two-bedroom suites suitable for 6 adults and up to 4 children. Each room has a patio and a fireplace. The hotel features a spa, gym, outdoor pool, gardens, bar, and restaurant. Free internet and parking. Located about a ten-minute drive from the city center.
A 4-star hotel in a central location in downtown Santa Fe. The rooms are designed in Spanish style. Each room has a refrigerator. The price includes breakfast. The hotel has a heated swimming pool active year-round and is surrounded by gardens. The hotel features a bar and restaurant. Free internet and parking.
A 3-star hotel with rooms in various sizes: from rooms for 2-4 people, to studio units and suites with 2 bedrooms suitable for 6 people. Some rooms/suites have a kitchenette. The hotel has a restaurant and a courtyard with a picnic area and garden furniture. The price includes breakfast. Located about a ten-minute walk from most attractions in the city center. Free internet and parking.
Villas de Santa Fe By Diamond Resorts
A high-quality apartment hotel with spacious one-bedroom and living room apartments or two-bedroom and living room apartments suitable for 4-10 people. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen and a barbecue in the yard/balcony. The hotel has a gym, game room, and a swimming pool. Located a short walk from the historic center and most of Santa Fe's tourist sites. Free internet and parking.
Adobe style hotel in Santa Fe:
recommended Tours in Santa Fe and Surroundings:
♦ For lovers of good food, don't miss a food tour in Santa Fe accompanied by high-quality wines: Savor Santa Fe Wine Pairing Dinner Tour. The tour duration is about three hours and includes, in addition to high-quality food, visits to must-see sites in the city along with fascinating stories about them.
♦ In the evening, an experiential astronomical tour for stargazing: Astronomy Adventures
Weather:
Santa Fe is a sunny city with 310 sunny days a year. The weather in the city is pleasant most of the year. In the summer months: June to August, daytime temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius, but nights are cool and pleasant at only 11-13 degrees. Since humidity in New Mexico is quite low (44 percent on average), the heat index even on the hottest days is not heavy. This is the season when many festivals and events are held in the city, all markets are active, and it is the busiest tourist season. Spring and autumn are also pleasant for touring the city, but one should take into account the large temperature differences between day and night and dress in "layers." May and September are comfortable months with average temperatures of 6-8 at night and 23-25 degrees during the day with few showers. In winter, nights are cold with temperatures reaching minus 8 degrees Celsius in December and January. Daytime temperatures during these months are 6-7 degrees Celsius. Many come to the area in winter to ski in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near the city. The annual precipitation is 360 mm, with the wettest month also being the hottest month: July, with 9-10 rainy days. In winter, there are an average of about 8-9 days when snow falls in the city.
How to get there?
Santa Fe has a local airport, Santa Fe Municipal Airport (airport code: SAF), located about 18 km, roughly a 20-minute drive, southwest of the city center. There are direct flights from Denver, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; and Dallas, Texas. The nearest large airport to Santa Fe is in Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque International Sunport (airport code: ABQ), located about 110 km, roughly an hour's drive, southwest of Santa Fe. This airport receives flights from all over the US from more than 20 destinations.
There are no international airports in the immediate vicinity of Santa Fe. The nearest one is Denver International Airport (airport code: DEN), located about 570 km (6 hours drive) north of Santa Fe.
Travel Itineraries
Below are example travel itineraries; there are many other wonderful and varied options, depending on the season, duration of the trip, and personal preferences.
One-way route between Las Vegas and Albuquerque
A trip to the state of New Mexico (which has many other attractions besides beautiful Santa Fe) integrates perfectly with a driving trip along historical Route 66 that passes through Santa Fe, as well as a visit to the states of Colorado and Arizona. A wonderful route is from Las Vegas, through the impressive national parks of Arizona—for example, the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest—with a visit to Sedona and its surroundings, and up to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Circular travel route combined with Colorado and Utah
This route is recommended for fans of culture, towns, and cities combined with nature: a combined trip to the states of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico: from Denver through Glenwood Springs, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the nature parks of Utah Arches and Canyonlands, Mesa Verde Park in southwest Colorado, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and the Indian tribes in southern New Mexico, and up to Colorado Springs and Denver in central Colorado.
The City's Main Attractions
Canyon Road
A half-mile long street in the historic center of Santa Fe featuring over a hundred galleries and an abundance of restaurants and boutiques. The artworks displayed there are of all types and kinds: modern, abstract, classic, Native American and Wild West art, and more. Many of the works are original, and many galleries on the street have an established reputation, with their works being bought for famous museums and galleries across the US.
The most recommended way to be impressed by the city is a leisurely walk along this magical street. The Historic Santa Fe Foundation is also located on this street. Those tired of walking can ride the free Santa Fe Pickup Shuttle, which runs the length of the street and also stops at other points of interest in the city center.
For those interested in gaining added value from the city tour and interested in the architecture that makes the city unique, it is worth joining a three-hour guided tour of Santa Fe architecture:
Santa Fe Architectural Walking Tour
Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza is the central square in the city. It is considered a National Historic Landmark, serves as a popular meeting point, and is known as "The heart of Santa Fe." It is a recommended starting point for visiting many tourist sites in downtown Santa Fe. In the center of the square is a large green park and an obelisk-shaped monument. The plaza has plenty of souvenir stalls, numerous street performances, and colorful festivals.
From the beginning of July until the end of August, the Santa Fe Bandstand music festival is held annually in the plaza, hosting about 75 musicians of all styles. Surrounding the "Plaza" are many historical monuments, museums, restaurants, and galleries, including:
♦ The Palace of the Governors, which is the oldest public building in the United States. It was built at the beginning of the 17th century as the Spanish seat of government; in 1960 the building was declared a National Historic Landmark, and in 1999 it was declared among the American Treasures. The palace features interesting displays reflecting the rich history of the state of New Mexico.
♦ Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi
♦ Loretto Chapel, built in 1610, which is considered the oldest church in the US.
In Santa Fe Plaza and its surroundings, there is a huge variety of stalls and restaurants. To experience and be impressed in the best way by the characteristic and most recommended foods, it is recommended to join a food tour in the "Plaza" area:
New Mexican Flavors Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza
The tour lasts about two and a half to three hours.
Museums
Santa Fe is considered "The City Of Museums" thanks to the large selection of recommended museums it has. Most museums are located downtown (the historic city center), but there are also several recommended museums located south of the city center on Museum Hill. The most recommended and popular museums are:
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture:
♦ Museum of International Folk Art: This is the most recommended museum in the city. The museum has over 130,000 exhibits representing the lifestyle in over a hundred countries from all over the world. The museum has a large collection of toys from around the world, village models, and artworks from various peoples globally. The museum is one of the few in the world with an entire wing dedicated to the art and heritage of the Hispanic people. ♦ Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: A museum established in honor of Georgia O’Keeffe, an American artist considered the “Mother of American Modernism.” The museum has over a thousand of her works, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings, with particularly impressive works reflecting the landscape and buildings found in New Mexico, though there are also abstract works. Two recommended films about her life and works are screened at the museum. The museum also has hundreds of works by other American artists. ♦ New Mexico History Museum: A large three-story museum with exhibitions featuring items from the prehistoric era through artifacts, utensils, and jewelry of the local Indian tribes that lived for many years in New Mexico, and of course, items from the Spanish colonial period and the Mexican era. The museum is located adjacent to the Palace of the Governors.
♦ The Harrell House of Natural Oddities and Bug Museum: A cool small museum with a collection of 4,700 insects from all over the world, including rare species and giant bugs. The exhibition also includes 150 live animals (amphibians and reptiles), including spiders, scorpions, reptiles, and even fish.
Other recommended Tourist Sites:
♦ Meow Wolf: One of the newest and most recommended attractions in Santa Fe! A unique and interactive art and entertainment center providing an intense multi-sensory experience including art installations, video and music production, and extended reality content. The center was founded by a Santa Fe artist collective established in 2008. They opened the first permanent exhibition in the unique center called "House of Eternal Return" only in 2016 with support from Game of Thrones creator, George R.R. Martin. Inside, guests discover a mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, combining surreal, maximalist, and mesmerizing art exhibitions. The site includes a learning center for children, a cafe and bar, and a music hall. Given the success, additional centers are expected to open in Las Vegas and Denver. ♦ Kakawa Chocolate House: A chocolate company specializing particularly in chocolate-based drinks concocted according to ancient recipes from different periods from all over the world, from 1000 BC until the mid-19th century. A visit here will teach you the history and anthropology of chocolate alongside a particularly sweet experience. They also produce pralines, high-quality dark chocolate, and ice creams. They produce chocolate in special flavors such as: Hibiscus, Acai, and Cherry-Chili, alongside truffles in flavors like Earl Grey tea and espresso. They also specialize in dairy-free and vegan chocolate. Their chocolate house is considered one of the most special and recommended chocolate shops in the world. ♦ Liquid Light Glass: A gallery for glass creations alongside a studio where you can watch glass blowing. The owner of the gallery is Elodie Holmes, considered a leading glass artist in the US, and his works are displayed in galleries across the country. Glass creation workshops are held at the site, such as making glass flowers, glass peppers, making blown glass cups, and decoration classes. ♦ Allan Houser Sculpture Gardens: An international sculpture collection featuring works by the esteemed sculptor Allan Houser that have been displayed in more than 70 museums across the US, Europe, and the Far East. The garden has over 450 bronze sculptures alongside rarer stone, iron, and wood sculptures. The Indian sculptures he created are particularly impressive.
♦ El Rancho de las Golondrinas: An ancient ranch founded in 1710 that now serves as an open-air museum reflecting lifestyle in New Mexico's colonial period. The ranch has 33 historic buildings spread over an area of about 810 square meters. Most of the buildings are adobe earth houses very typical of the area. On-site employees dressed in period clothing perform various demonstrations such as: grinding flour, making tools, shoeing horses, and more. Various workshops are held at the site for creating handicrafts typical of the area in that period, such as making soap from Yucca root, making corn husk dolls, and making origami or clay swallows. Various festivals and shows are held at the ranch depending on holidays and seasons. The ranch is located about 25 minutes (25 km) southwest of central Santa Fe, toward Albuquerque. ♦ Ski Santa Fe: A popular ski resort active, of course, only during the winter months. The mountain rises to an altitude of about 3,150 meters and offers skiers 7 ski lifts and 87 trails for all difficulty levels. Located about a half-hour drive (24 km) northeast of the city center.
Self-Guided Thematic Tours
The Santa Fe Tourism Office, in cooperation with tourism bodies, shops, and local restaurants, has prepared unique thematic travel routes for tourists in the city. Among the experiential routes, you can find the Santa Fe "Beer Trail," the "Margarita Trail," the "Chocolate Trail," and a "Coffee Lovers' Tour."
Shopping in Santa Fe:
Along with the abundance of galleries and boutiques in the historic city center, Santa Fe, as befits any tourist city, also has shopping centers and markets. The most recommended ones are:
Santa Fe Place is the city's largest indoor shopping center with 70 shops, including brand stores such as Skechers, Victoria's Secret, and H&M, large department stores like JCPenney, and a variety of thematic shops. The center also has cinemas and restaurants. It is located in the southwest of the city near the local airport. Santa Fe Farmers’ Market is considered one of the ten most recommended farmers' markets in the US. It is one of the oldest, largest, and most recommended markets in the state. At the market, 150 farmers from 15 different districts in northern New Mexico sell their produce and fresh products. The market is located in the city center and is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Hours vary depending on the day.
Trips in New Mexico Within a Drive of Up to Two Hours From Santa Fe
Visitors to Santa Fe are strongly encouraged to dedicate several days to trips outside the charming city. The most recommended nearby destinations are:
Acoma Pueblo Indian tribe, located about two hours (200 km) southwest of Santa Fe. This is one of the most authentic places to see Indians living in the tribe rather than a "show for tourists." At the SKY CITY CULTURAL CENTER, fascinating guided tours are held once an hour between 8:30-15:30, departing from the tribe's visitor center.
Taos Pueblo, one of the most famous Indian tribes in New Mexico, which is considered the oldest Indian settlement in the US. Some of the adobe houses in the area are over 1,000 years old. The site features buildings up to five stories high made of straw and mud bricks reinforced with wood. Over 150 people live today in the ancient center of the tribe, without electricity and without running water, and another 2,000 others live not far away in more modern buildings. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark and also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You can visit the site independently (except during special tribal events), but it is much more recommended and comprehensive to join a guided tour: Taos Cultural Driving Tour. The tribe is located about an hour and a half drive (120 km) north of Santa Fe.
Albuquerque
The largest city in New Mexico, where the state's largest and busiest airport is also located. Situated an hour's drive (100 km) southwest of Santa Fe. Read about this city in the article: Albuquerque Travel Guide.