Santa Fe
A small adobe city with a huge art scene.
Points of interest
- The Plaza
- Canyon Road
- Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
- Meow Wolf
State guide
Things to do in New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment: Santa Fe's adobe streets and art galleries, Taos Pueblo, the white gypsum dunes of White Sands, the caverns of Carlsbad, hot-air balloons over Albuquerque and green chile on everything.
5–7
Days to do it properly
The Land of Enchantment
New Mexico feels unlike the rest of the USA. Its culture mixes Native American, Spanish and Mexican roots going back centuries: Santa Fe was founded in 1610, making it the oldest state capital in the country, and Taos Pueblo has been lived in for around 1,000 years. Adobe buildings, chile peppers hanging in red strings called ristras, and bright desert light give it a style all its own.
Santa Fe is a small, walkable city of adobe architecture, galleries, museums and markets, with one of the biggest art scenes in the country. Taos, in the mountains to the north, has the Pueblo and skiing. Albuquerque, the biggest city, hosts the world's largest hot-air balloon festival every October. In the south, White Sands National Park has dazzling white gypsum dunes, and Carlsbad Caverns has enormous underground chambers.
Give New Mexico five days to a week, by car. Spring and autumn are best, and October brings the Balloon Fiesta and the chile harvest.
Where to base yourself
Santa Fe and Albuquerque in the north and middle, and Las Cruces for the south.
Albuquerque
The biggest city and home of the Balloon Fiesta.
Points of interest
- Sandia Peak Tramway
- Old Town
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Taos
A mountain town with a living pueblo and skiing.
Points of interest
- Taos Pueblo
- Rio Grande Gorge
- Taos Ski Valley
Las Cruces
The southern base for White Sands.
Points of interest
- White Sands
- Organ Mountains
- Mesilla
Regions of New Mexico
Mountains and art towns in the north, Albuquerque in the middle and deserts in the south.
Santa Fe and the north
Art, adobe, historySanta Fe, Taos and the mountains.
Albuquerque
City, balloonsThe biggest city, on the Rio Grande.
South-central
White Sands, Las CrucesWhite Sands, Las Cruces and the Organ Mountains.
South-east
Caverns, RoswellCarlsbad Caverns and Roswell.
North-west
Chaco Canyon, Navajo landAncient Pueblo sites and the Four Corners.
Things to do
Things to do in New Mexico
In Santa Fe, walk around the historic Plaza and buy jewellery directly from Native American artists under the portal of the Palace of the Governors. Visit the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and the galleries of Canyon Road, and explore Meow Wolf's House of Eternal Return, an immersive art installation.
In Taos, visit Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is still lived in, and cross the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. In Albuquerque, ride the Sandia Peak Tramway for views over the desert, and visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Old Town.
In the south, sled down the dunes at White Sands, explore the huge underground Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns (a timed reservation is needed), and see the bat flights at dusk in summer. Roswell is famous for its 1947 UFO incident.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking Santa Fe's Plaza and Canyon Road's galleries is free, and so is browsing the Native American artists' market under the Palace of the Governors' portal.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is free, and Albuquerque's Old Town is free to wander. Many state museums have free days.
National parks and the pueblos charge entry or photography fees.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
New Mexican food is its own cuisine, built on chile. The state question, 'Red or green?', asks which chile sauce you want; say 'Christmas' for both. Try enchiladas, green chile cheeseburgers, carne adovada, posole and sopaipillas, fried pastry with honey.
Hatch, in the south, is famous for its green chile, roasted in drums every autumn and filling the air with its smell.
Biscochitos, anise cookies, are the state cookie.
Nightlife
Going out
Albuquerque's Nob Hill and downtown have bars, breweries and live music. Santa Fe has a relaxed scene of bars, wine bars and live music, plus world-class opera in summer.
Taos has a few lively bars, especially in ski season.
The desert skies are some of the darkest in the country, perfect for stargazing.
Getting around
Getting around
Albuquerque International Sunport is the main airport. The Rail Runner train links Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and Amtrak's Southwest Chief stops in Albuquerque and Lamy, near Santa Fe.
A car is the only practical way to reach Taos, White Sands, Carlsbad and the smaller towns. Distances are long.
The altitude is high: Santa Fe is at around 2,100 metres.
Costs
What New Mexico costs
New Mexico is good value compared with neighbouring states, though Santa Fe is pricier. Budget hotels and motels are the main options outside the cities.
Instead of sales tax, New Mexico charges a gross receipts tax of around 5 to 8 per cent, added at the till. Tip 18 to 22 per cent in restaurants.
National parks charge entry, and Carlsbad Caverns needs a timed reservation.
Safety
Safety and scams
Tourist areas in Santa Fe and Taos are generally safe. Albuquerque has higher crime; take normal city care, especially at night and on Central Avenue away from Nob Hill and Old Town.
The altitude and dry air can cause headaches and dehydration, so drink water. The desert is very hot in summer; at White Sands, carry water and do not hike in the midday heat.
White Sands sometimes closes for missile tests at the nearby range. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Balloons, art markets and chile.
Early October
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque
The world's largest hot-air balloon festival.
August
Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe
The world's largest juried Native American art market.
Labor Day weekend
Hatch Chile Festival
Hatch
A celebration of the green chile harvest.
When to go
Spring and autumn are the best seasons. October brings the Balloon Fiesta and the chile harvest. Summer is hot in the south, with afternoon storms, and winter brings skiing in Taos and snow in Santa Fe.
Jan
Cold, skiing in Taos
Feb
Cool
Mar
Spring
Apr
Pleasant, windy
May
Warm
Jun
Hot
Jul
Monsoon storms
Aug
Indian Market in Santa Fe
Sep
Chile harvest
Oct
Balloon Fiesta
Nov
Cool
Dec
Luminarias at Christmas
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs for Albuquerque, rounded.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on New Mexico prices.
Treat these as a guide. Santa Fe and the Balloon Fiesta cost more.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
New Mexico questions
The ones we get asked most.
What does 'red or green' mean in New Mexico?
Which chile sauce you want. Say 'Christmas' for both.
When is the Balloon Fiesta?
In early October in Albuquerque. Book accommodation far ahead.
How many days do you need in New Mexico?
Five days to a week for Santa Fe, Taos, Albuquerque and White Sands.
Do I need a reservation for Carlsbad Caverns?
Yes, a timed reservation for the self-guided cave tour.
Can I visit Taos Pueblo?
Yes, it is open to visitors most of the year, but it closes for ceremonies at times. Check before you go.
Do I need a car in New Mexico?
Yes, except between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, where the Rail Runner runs.
When is the best time to visit New Mexico?
April, May, September and October.
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