Road Travel America


Santa Fe, New Mexico 2024 Travel Guide

View of Santa Fe, New Mexico looking west from La Fonda on the PlazaView of Santa Fe looking west from La Fonda on the Plaza

Santa Fe is located in central New Mexico on Interstate Highway 25, about 65 miles northeast of Albuquerque. U.S. Highway 285 traverses with city in a north-south orientation. Santa Fe is the capitol city of New Mexico, and is positioned at 7,000 feet above sea level.

The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Independence, Missouri with Santa Fe.

It served as a vital commercial highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880. Santa Fe was also near the end of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro which carried trade from Mexico City.

The city was one of the larger cities on Historic Route 66 during its earlier alignments. It passed through downtown near the historic La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel.

Santa Fe remained on the original Route 66 until 1938 when the road was rerouted on a more direct route to Albuquerque.

Things to Do in the Santa Fe Area

The Plaza, the epicenter of downtown Santa Fe, and the Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied government building in the United States, were built in 1609 and 1610, respectively.

Native American artisans from New Mexico's 22 pueblos and tribes still sell jewelry beneath the Palace’s long portal, as they have for hundreds of years.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is a dominant landmark in the downtown area, and a must-not-miss attraction for visitors.

Nearby things to see include Loretto Chapel, the New Mexico State Capitol building, and the New Mexico Museum of Art.

Storefronts along East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, New MexicoStorefronts along East Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico

A popular stop for residents and visitors alike is the Santa Fe Opera, just north of the city. Be sure to also explore the artistic Canyon Road, the Midtown Innovation District, the vibrant Southside and the hip Railyard-Guadalupe district.

On Upper Canyon Road, the Randall Davey Audubon Center and the Nature Conservancy’s Santa Fe Canyon Preserve span 325 acres that rise through four eco-zones, from brushy cottonwood and willow to Ponderosa pine forest.

Museum Hill features four of the finest destinations in the area, including the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, Museum of International Folk Art and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.

Just a short drive up the mountain, Ski Santa Fe features seven lifts, 74 trails, a snowsports school and a children’s center.

With one of the highest elevations in the country, Ski Santa Fe is also popular with snowboarders.

Milner Plaza, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe
Milner Plaza, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe


Other attractions and things to do in Santa Fe

  • The Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, New MexicoThe Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico
    Museum of International Folk Art
  • New Mexico History Museum
  • New Mexico Museum of Art
  • Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
  • Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
  • San Miguel Chapel
  • Palace of the Governors
  • Georgia O'Keefe Museum
  • High Road north to Taos

Nighttime view of Santa Fe and the old Historic Route 66 segment looking west from La Fonda on the Plaza
Nighttime view of Santa Fe and the old Historic Route 66 segment looking west from La Fonda on the Plaza

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Lodging Options in the Santa Fe Area

Lodging options in Santa Fe are plentiful. There are over 60 hotels, 35 bed & breakfasts, 23 units of speciality lodging, spas, and dozens of vacation rentals to meet any travel need and desire.

During our many trips to Santa Fe over the years, we have stayed at the El Rey located at 1862 Cerillos Road. It was built in 1936 on Historic Route 66, and remains today an icon in Santa Fe. It features 86 unique rooms and suites, each individually decorated.

When we need to be downtown near the plaza, these are two favorite lodging choices:

La Fonda on the Plaza - we have stayed multiple times at LaFonda and it has become our favorite lodging choice in Santa Fe. It is adjacent to the Plaza. The suite by the Bell Tower on the top floor is highly recommended, with spacious rooms and panoramic views of the downtown area.

Every trip to Santa Fe includes at least one dining experience at the La Plazuela restaurant in the hotel. Be sure to ask for guacamole to be custom made at your table!

And after a day sightseeing, we always stop at the La Fiesta lounge for cold margaritas and snacks; it is adjacent to the lobby on the first floor.

La Fonda is located next to the Plaza and the Cathedral, at 100 East San Francisco Street. Phone 800.523.5002. Valet parking is available in the covered, gated La Fonda Parking Garage.

Another choice about two blocks from the Plaza is the Inn on the Alameda. It offers various rooms, suites and casitas located in easy walking distance to downtown. Located at 303 East Alameda. Free parking. Phone 888.984.2121.

If you are staying north of Santa Fe, and also visiting Taos, one option is the Abuiqui Inn.

And there are many more inns, B&Bs and vacation rentals scattered in every direction from Santa Fe!

View all hotels in Santa Fe, read traveler reviews and make reservations

Click to review hotels and restaurants, read reviews and make reservations at TripAdvisor

Santa Fe B&Bs

Vacation Rentals in Santa Fe

Inn on the Alameda

Inn of the Five Graces

Drury Plaza Hotel

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi

Inn of the Governors

Inn and Spa at Loretto

Abiquiu Inn

La Fonda on the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico
La Fonda on the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico

La Fonda on the Plaza Reviews at TripAdvisor

Inn on the Alameda in Santa Fe, New MexicoInn on the Alameda The El Rey Inn in Santa FeThe El Rey Inn


Dining Options in the Santa Fe Area

There are nearly 400 restaurants and dining options available serving a large variety of cuisines in Santa Fe.

View of La Plazuela at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa FeView of La Plazuela at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe

During our many trips to Santa Fe over the years, we have enjoyed consistent dining experiences :

Read all Santa Fe restaurant reviews at TripAdvisor

 

La Plazuela in the La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel

Palacio Cafe on East Palace Avenue near the Cathedral

Mucho Gusto - 839 Paseo de Peralta, Suite H, near Inn on the Alameda

Cafe Pasqual's - 121 Don Gaspar Avenue

Harry's Roadhouse - 96 Old Las Vegas Highway

Pantry Restaurant - 1820 Cerillos Road

Tortilla Flats - 3139 Cerillos Road

The Palacio Cafe in downtown Santa Fe
The Palacio Cafe in downtown Santa Fe

 

Panoramic view of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico
Panorama view of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico

Interactive Map of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Area

 

Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe

The New Mexico State Capitol building in Santa Fe
The New Mexico State Capitol building in Santa Fe

Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Shoppers paradise ... Santa Fe, New Mexico
Shoppers paradise ... Santa Fe, New Mexico

Sidewalk sculpture seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sidewalk sculpture seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Ski Santa Fe
Ski Santa Fe

 

Seen on Road Trips Outside Santa Fe

We love shopping and exploring the museums in downtown Santa Fe, but sometimes it can be crowded.

And the traffic on the narrow streets gets congested.

So we head out of town, on one of And the road up to Ski Santa Fe is an easy drive, sometimes through quickly changing weather conditions!

The Ghost Ranch near Santa Fe
The Ghost Ranch near Santa Fe

We will take a quick trip out to Lamy or the Ghost Ranch, and sometimes up to Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument.


 

A popular trip to the south is along the Turquoise Trail, and its small, quaint towns of Madras and Los Cerrillos. Shopping and dining along the trail is a popular pastime.

To the north is the High Road to Taos, on small quiet roads through the rolling hills of the New Mexico countryside. The road passes through small villages including Chimayo, Cordova and Truchas.

Abandoned church in Lamy, New Mexico
Abandoned church in Lamy, New Mexico

Quiet afternoon sunset at a railroad crossing south of Santa Fe
Quiet afternoon sunset at a railroad crossing south of Santa Fe

Mary's Bar in Cerrillos, New Mexico
Mary's Bar in Cerrillos, New Mexico

The What Not Shop:
Old Rocks, Antiques, Indian Jewelry, Pottery and Cut Glass
along the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico

The What Not Shop along the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico