Santa Fe manages to keep a relatively low profile despite having a rather impressive resume. Coined “The City Different” for a reason, Santa Fe has an air about it. It is unpretentious, authentic, and with a quiet confidence that is palpable. Santa Fe rubs off its essence on visitors in a matter of minutes. It reels you in like a mystery novel and keeps you present wanting to turn page after page. You could spend a weekend away or certainly longer exploring all the city has to offer visitors. Let me share with you considerations for how you should best spend your time and help you plan your Santa Fe itinerary.
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Getting There & Around Town
Santa Fe maintains a population at around 87,000. The airport reflects this being rather small. They have flights arriving from all of the major hubs such as Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, and Los Angeles. Another option for travelers is flying into Albuquerque. Albuquerque houses a larger airport with more options for flight times. The drive time between the Albuquerque airport and the main square of Santa Fe is roughly one hour.
If you are planning to stay around the main square, it is possible to get most places on foot. For those places not accessible on foot, I have used Uber multiple times in town to get around. I have also taken an Uber from the Albuquerque airport to Santa Fe.
It is possible to couple your time in Santa Fe with exploring Taos or spending time in Albuquerque. I have done both. In that situation, I recommend renting a car. You can utilize Kayak to compare all of your flight and rental car options.
Where to Eat
To read about all of the restaurants I have personally tried in Santa Fe over my many visits, check out my post on Best Restaurants Santa Fe. Here are some picks of my personal favorites for first time travelers.
Start your day with a coffee at crashmurderbusiness if you are a fan of unique coffee and tea based drinks. Their espresso based drinks include options such as Streak of Tigers and Crash of Rhinos. The ingredients and combinations are every bit as interesting as their names.
For breakfast or lunch, Dolina Cafe and Cafe Pasqual’s are both very strong options. You cannot go wrong with either choice. Cafe Pasqual’s is located closer to the main square, which may be more convenient. Dolina cafe is walkable, but it may be easier to access via car. Here, I particularly enjoyed their Langos, which is a Slovakian street food of fried bread with garlic butter, confit tomato, arugula, and warm burrata.
The dinner options are abundant. Some of my favorites are Sazon, Paloma, and La Boca. Sazon is a Latin American restaurant that will delight you with each dish. Even if you are not a fan of mole, you might be a convert by the time you leave. Their cocktail menu is also not to be overlooked. The Diego Rivera was excellent. La Boca is modern Spanish cuisine with tapas. Their wine list is a highlight with Spanish varietals that you won’t see just everywhere. Finally, Paloma is a Mexican restaurant that is anything but run of the mill. They pride themselves in carefully and sustainably sourced ingredients. Every dish is presented beautifully.
Finally, if you have never tried your enchilidas “Christmas style” with red and green chile head to The Shed for margaritas, food, and a lively atmosphere.
Hotels
I have stayed at a variety of hotels throughout Santa Fe trying something different with each visit. If you are looking for a boutique hotel, my post on Boutique Hotels in Santa Fe: Where to Book an Amazing Stay will provide insight into some of the smaller scale choices. Below, I am going to include options for every traveler in order to find what best suits your needs.
For a stay that is in close proximity to the main plaza, there are options such as the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, La Posada de Santa Fe (Marriott Hotel), and La Fonda on the Plaza. All of these are larger hotels at a good price point that place you right in the heart of Santa Fe. I have personally stayed at all of these hotels. I utilized points with Hilton to redeem a free night and found it to be a valuable usage. At La Posada, my room had a fireplace and traditional southwestern decor. I loved having a fireplace in the room. They have activities available such as evening s’mores. La Fonda had more delicate and modern finishings in the rooms, but my room did not have a fireplace. The location is ideal being right on the square.
For a more luxurious stay close to the plaza, consider the Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi. Rosewood properties are always a fantastic choice. I have stayed at several of their hotels and am always impressed with their service. They are particularly kind to young guests leaving them a special treat such as a stuffed animal or just providing high quality bedding or cribs.
My choice for a stay not on the main plaza would have to be Bishop’s Lodge, an Auberge property. If you are spending more time in Santa Fe, Bishop’s Lodge could be a destination in and of itself. This property is set on 317 acres! It is a mere 10 minute drive into the heart of Santa Fe. They have everything you need for entertainment including a gym, pool, restaurant, fly fishing, and hiking trails. You can also participate in a number of activities that they offer such as archery or silversmithing.
Things to Do
The diversity of things to do while visiting Santa Fe makes it really special. Culinary pursuits, wine tasting, museums, shopping, and spas are just some of the many activities available. Here is a sampling of ways that you can spend your time.
- Meow Wolf. This immersive art experience started in Santa Fe in 2008 and has now branched out to many locations. While I have been to several, I am partial to Santa Fe possibly because it was my first experience. If you aren’t familiar with Meow Wolf it is outlandish, fantastical, and bizarre. You have to see it. After now gaining popularity, I recommend purchasing a timed entry ticket in advance of your visit. Even arriving first thing when they open in the morning may leave you waiting in a long line.
- The Georgia O’ Keeffe Museum. This museum is the perfect way to spend a leisurely morning. The size is ideal. There is just enough to see that it keeps you engaged throughout, but not too much to the point of becoming overwhelming. The works on display are beautiful, and there is a lovely gift shop to take one of her prints home if you choose. For another museum choice, consider the New Mexico museum of art.
- Ten Thousand Waves. This Japanese inspired spa is located about 10-15 minutes from the main square in Santa Fe. Consider spending the morning or afternoon here coupled with a meal at their restaurant izanami. I can only describe the experience here as serene. They have hot tub suites modeled after the Japanese onsen where you have your own private hot tub, sauna, and changing area. If you want the full experience, you can even stay here overnight.
- Wander the streets around Santa Fe Plaza. The downtown Santa Fe Plaza is the central area from which you will find streets in every direction lined with shops, restaurants, and a rich history. Consider taking a guided walking tour to learn more about New Mexico history. This walking tour with Get Your Guide includes a wine tasting at Gruet. Also, be sure and visit the oldest church in the United States, the San Miguel Chapel along with the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
- Wine tasting. Although there are a few options for a tasting, my absolute favorite is Gruet. Gruet produces fantastic bottles of sparkling wine at a great price point. Their tasting room is tucked in a perfect location inside the Hotel St. Francis. Many of their bottles are readily available, but I loved the tasting experience to try bottles and varietals that aren’t as accessible. I always bring a bottle of their barrel aged Blanc de Noirs home. For those that do not enjoy sparkling wine, Hervé is another great option for a tasting located just one block from the Santa Fe Plaza.
- Loretto Chapel. This Catholic Church now turned museum is home to the miraculous staircase. You must go inside to hear the story which plays during your visit and learn more about this marvel. Loretto Chapel is a very short walk from the Santa Fe main plaza. There is a small fee for entry.
- Kakawa Chocolate House. This specialty chocolate company truly takes pride in their products supporting local organic farming and high quality ingredients. They sell chocolates, caramels, and drinking chocolate elixirs. It is such a fun stop!
- Browse art galleries. Canyon Road is where you want to start if you are interested in browsing through more than a hundred galleries many dedicated to the contemporary native arts! If you want to see a list of all your options click here. On the website, you will also find shopping information for Native American jewelry and restaurants in the area. If you prefer a guided tour, this option for a Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour would be the perfect way to learn more.
- Visit the Farmer’s Market. I love visiting a robust Farmer’s market. Santa Fe is a great place to spend a leisurely morning at the Farmer’s market. All year long you can visit on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.
- Go hiking. The Aspen Vista trail in the Santa Fe National Forest is a beautiful hike that is particularly enticing in the fall with the change of color in foliage.
- Live music experience. The Santa Fe Opera is an open air amphitheater sure to provide you with an amazing experience. Visit their website for more details and upcoming performances.
Sample Itinerary Weekend Getaway
Day one : Start with coffee at crashmurderbusiness. Begin the morning at the Georgia O’Keefe museum. Head to Cafe Pascual’s for lunch. Spend the afternoon at Ten Thousand Waves Spa or browsing art galleries. Consider a tasting at Gruet. End your evening with a reservation at Sazon.
Day two : Spend the morning exploring Meow Wolf. Head to Dolina Cafe for lunch. Spend the afternoon wandering the streets lining the main plaza and visit Loretto Chapel . End your day with dinner at Paloma.
Sample Itinerary Extended
Start your itinerary with day one and two above. On day three, make a day trip to Taos. On your way, stop at the Santuario de Chimayo. This Catholic church attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly and is known for the “healing dirt.” The dirt is known to have miraculous healing powers for all kinds of ailments. The church is a beautiful stop.
Spend one full day in Taos exploring with an overnight. Return to Santa Fe the following morning.
Another option is to make a day trip to Bandelier National Monument. This is roughly a 50 minute drive from the main plaza in Santa Fe.
Final Thoughts
Visiting Santa Fe can be reserved for a weekend getaway or a longer trip. Santa Fe truly offers so much to travelers. The New Mexican cuisine will delight you with so many incredible dining choices. The art scene will capture your attention whether it is browsing galleries or exploring museums. The rich history will keep you coming back for more. With an option to extend your stay in Taos or nearby Albuquerque, you really cannot go wrong. Years ago, I made my first trip to Santa Fe for work. I left, not only impressed, but with a desire to return again. I hope this information allows you to plan your ideal Santa Fe itinerary.
