New Mexico, United States

Santa Fe

Give Santa Fe two days: the Plaza and Canyon Road on foot, Museum Hill and Meow Wolf, and red or green chile at every meal. High-desert capital lined with farolitos; 3 nights for Canyon Road, the Plaza and the mountains. We have mapped 7 sights, 4 activities and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Santa Fe with friends Browse 16 places

Places: 16
Curated routes: 2
Best season: Mar – May
Warmest month: June
Coolest month: December
Wettest month: July

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Santa Fe

16 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

7 sights worth building a day around across Downtown and Museum Hill. 2 of them are free.

Photo: See above · CC BY 2.0
See
Santa Fe Plaza
Historic square framed by adobe buildings, with Native artisans selling under the Palace portal.
- Downtown
- Free
- 45 min
- Morning
Photo: Irene Eng · Google
See
New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors
1610 adobe palace and adjoining museum covering New Mexico's history.
- Downtown
- $$
- 1.5 hr
- Morning
Photo: User:Camerafiend · CC BY-SA 3.0
See
Loretto Chapel
Gothic chapel known for its 'miraculous' spiral staircase.
- Downtown
- $
- 20 min
- Morning
Photo: Feng Chu · Google
See
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
Focused collection of O'Keeffe's paintings and her New Mexico landscapes.
Tip Buy timed tickets online.
- Downtown
- $$
- 75 min
- Weekday
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
See
Museum of International Folk Art
Huge folk art collection on Museum Hill, including the Girard miniature dioramas.
- Museum Hill
- $$
- 1.5 hr
- Afternoon
See
Palace of the Governors
Adobe seat of government from the 1610s, now a history museum; Native artists sell jewelry under its portal.
Tip Buy jewelry directly from the artists under the portal; each seller is licensed by the museum.
- Downtown
- $
- 1.5 hr
- Morning
Photo: SarahStierch · CC BY 4.0
See
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Romanesque stone cathedral at the end of San Francisco Street, with a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
Tip Arrive early for Christmas Eve Mass; the pews fill well before it starts.
- Downtown
- Free
- 30 min

Do

4 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Siler, Canyon Road and Hyde Park Road.

Photo: C Hill · Google
Do
Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return
Immersive art installation inside a Victorian house with secret passages.
Tip Book a timed ticket; give it at least two hours.
- Siler
- $$$
- 2.5 hr
- Weekday
Do
Canyon Road Farolito Walk
On Christmas Eve, the gallery street fills with walkers, carolers, small bonfires and thousands of candlelit farolitos.
Tip Arrive around dusk and walk uphill from Paseo de Peralta; dress for well below freezing.
- Canyon Road
- Free
- 2 hr
- Christmas Eve after dusk
Do
Ten Thousand Waves
Japanese-style mountain spa with outdoor hot tubs among the pines; soaking while it snows is the classic winter visit.
Tip Book private tubs ahead over the holidays.
- Hyde Park Road
- $$$
- 2.5 hr
- Late afternoon
Photo: Scopulorum · CC BY-SA 3.0
Do
Ski Santa Fe
Ski area 25 minutes above town with a base above 3,000 m and views over the desert from the top lifts.
Tip Opening depends on snow; check conditions before driving up Hyde Park Road.
- Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- $$$
- 5 hr
- Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Santa Fe across Downtown and Railyard.

Photo: Flickr user: Jeremy Noble https://www.flickr.com/photos/uberculture/ · CC BY 2.0
Eat
The Shed
New Mexican restaurant since 1953 in a 1692 adobe off the Plaza.
Tip Order 'Christmas' (red and green chile); garlic bread is a must-order.
- Downtown
- $$
- 75 min
- Lunch
Photo: David Torres · Google
Eat
La Choza
The Shed's sister restaurant near the Railyard, with the same chile and blue corn enchiladas.
- Railyard
- $$
- 75 min
- Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Santa Fe in Downtown.

Photo: The Bell Tower Bar · Google
Drink
Bell Tower Bar at La Fonda
Rooftop bar atop La Fonda with sunset views over the city.
Tip Seasonal, usually spring to fall.
- Downtown
- $$
- 60 min
- Sunset

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Canyon Road.

Photo: Paula Rees · Google
Shop
Canyon Road
Half-mile lane packed with about 100 galleries in adobe houses.
Tip Friday evening art walks are a good time to visit.
- Canyon Road
- Free
- 2 hr
- Friday evening

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Downtown.

Stay
La Fonda on the Plaza
Historic Pueblo Revival hotel at the corner of the Plaza, a short walk from Canyon Road.
Tip The rooftop bar has views over the farolito-lined rooflines at sunset.
- Downtown
- $$$

How to fit Santa Fe into a trip

Santa Fe shows up on 2 of our curated routes, so you can work it into more than one kind of trip.

Stop 1 of 3
Northern New Mexico High Desert
Adobe towns, art roads & high-country light
Trip length
5 days
Best season
Mar – May
Pace
easy
- Next: Abiquiú
See the full itinerary
Stop 1 of 2
Santa Fe & Albuquerque
Farolito walks, luminarias and Christmas chile
Trip length
5 days
Best season
Mid-Dec – early Jan
Pace
easy
- Next: Albuquerque
See the full itinerary

Getting here and onward

Santa Fe to AbiquiúAbiquiú is about 67 km / 42 mi away in a straight line
Santa Fe to AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque is about 93 km / 58 mi away in a straight line

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Santa Fe month by month

Average daily highs run from 5°C / 40°F in December to 31°C / 87°F in June. July is the wettest month, with about 62 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Santa Fe weather and the best time to visit →

Near Santa Fe

6 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Santa Fe questions, answered

How many days do you need in Santa Fe?

Our route notes suggest 2 days or 3 nights in Santa Fe. On our Northern New Mexico High Desert route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 5-day trip. The listed visit times for our 16 places add up to roughly 25 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Santa Fe best known for?

Give Santa Fe two days: the Plaza and Canyon Road on foot, Museum Hill and Meow Wolf, and red or green chile at every meal. Standouts on our list: Santa Fe Plaza (Historic square framed by adobe buildings, with Native artisans selling under the Palace portal); New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors (1610 adobe palace and adjoining museum covering New Mexico's history); Loretto Chapel (Gothic chapel known for its 'miraculous' spiral staircase).

When is the best time to visit Santa Fe?

Our routes through Santa Fe are best Mar – May or Mid-Dec – early Jan. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in June (31°C / 87°F), the coolest in December (5°C / 40°F) and the most rain in July (about 62 mm).

What are the best things to do in Santa Fe?

Start with Santa Fe Plaza, New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors, Loretto Chapel, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and Museum of International Folk Art. Our guide lists 16 places in all, from 7 sights, 4 activities, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café, 1 shop and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Santa Fe?

Our picks: The Shed (Downtown); La Choza (Railyard). Order 'Christmas' (red and green chile); garlic bread is a must-order (The Shed).

What is near Santa Fe?

The closest destinations in our guides are Abiquiú (about 67 km / 42 mi), Taos (about 87 km / 54 mi) and Nob Hill (about 91 km / 56 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Santa Fe with your crew

Open the Northern New Mexico High Desert route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 16 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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