Santa Fe, New Mexico 2024 Travel Guide
 View 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.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi  |
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 |
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.
Other attractions and things to do in Santa Fe
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Museum of International Folk Art
The Plaza in downtown Santa Fe
- 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
- Turquoise Trail south to Albuquerque
Nighttime view of Santa Fe and the old Historic Route 66 segment looking west from La Fonda on the Plaza
Scenes and Attractions Around Santa Fe
Canyon Road |
The Santa Fe Railyard |
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe |
The New Mexico State Capitol building in Santa Fe |
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Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Shoppers paradise ... Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Sidewalk sculpture seen in Santa Fe, New Mexico |
Ski Santa Fe |
Milner Plaza, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe |
Panoramic view of downtown Santa Fe |
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
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La Fonda on the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico |
 Inn on the Alameda |
 The 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 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
Interactive Map of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Area
Seen on Road Trips Outside Santa FeWe 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 We will take a quick trip out to Lamy or the Ghost Ranch, and sometimes up to Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument. |
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.
San Jose de Gracia Church in Las Champus, New Mexico
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.
Los Cerrillos, New Mexico
Cerrillos, Spanish for "Little Hills", began in the 1870s as a bustling gold and silver mining town. Today, it is now a quiet, tree-lined village with a population of 200, located 20 miles south of Santa Fe on the Turquoise Trail..
Historic adobe and western buildings line the dirt streets, including a bar and grocery, old opera house and St. Joseph's Church. Visitors enjoy the Mining Museum, Cerrillos Cultural Center and Petting Zoo. Be sure to take the self-guided walking tour around the village where signs are posted on many of the buildings, revealing the rich history of Cerrillos.
Read more about this community at CerrillosNewMexico.com
What Not Shop in Cerrillos |
Mary's Bar in Cerrillos |