Albuquerque New Year's Eve

Destination 01

Nob Hill

8 places

Route 66 neighborhood where the red chile drops at midnight; 2 nights near Central Avenue.

• Nob Hill Chile Drop

  A giant lighted red chile is lowered at midnight over Central Avenue at Hotel Zazz, with a street party from about 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

  Tip Free to watch from the street; arrive by 11 p.m. to stand close to the drop.

  DoNob HillFree2.5 hrDec 31, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• Hotel Zazz

  A Route 66 hotel on Central Avenue in Nob Hill that hosts the chile drop out front.

  Tip Book early for Dec 31; staying here puts you at the party without a drive.

  StayNob Hill$$

• Campo at Los Poblanos

  The farm-to-table restaurant at Los Poblanos, a historic inn and lavender farm in the North Valley, with seasonal New Mexican menus.

  Tip Book weeks ahead for Dec 30 or 31; it is a 20-minute drive from Nob Hill.

  EatLos Ranchos$$$$2 hrDinner

• Two Fools Tavern

  A snug Irish pub on Central Avenue with a long whiskey list, Irish breakfasts and pints.

  DrinkNob Hill$$1.5 hrEvening
• Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 4.0

  Guild Cinema

  A single-screen independent cinema on Central Avenue showing art-house, foreign and cult films, with its neon sign lit after dark.

  DoNob Hill$2 hrEvening

• Frontier Restaurant

  A sprawling, cheap Route 66 diner across from UNM since 1971, known for breakfast burritos, green chile stew and sweet rolls.

  Tip Check holiday hours; it is a classic late breakfast on Jan 1 if open.

  EatUNM$45 minMorning

• Artichoke Cafe

  A long-running special-occasion restaurant in East Downtown, known for steamed artichokes and seasonal New American plates.

  Tip Reserve early for Dec 31; it is a short ride west of Nob Hill.

  EatEDo$$$2 hrDec 31 dinner

• Sandia Peak Tramway

  One of the world's longest aerial trams climbs 4.3 km to Sandia Peak, with the whole city spread out below.

  Tip Ride up before sunset and come down after dark for the city lights.

  DoSandia Heights$$$2.5 hrSunset

Destination 02

Old Town Albuquerque

8 places

The 1706 adobe plaza for a slow Jan 1: New Mexican breakfast, the church and a river walk.

• Photo: Chris English · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Old Town Plaza

  The shaded plaza at the heart of the 1706 villa, ringed by adobe shops and galleries around a white gazebo.

  SeeOld TownFree45 minMorning
• Photo: Chris English · CC BY-SA 3.0

  San Felipe de Neri Church

  The adobe church on the north side of the plaza, dating to 1793 and still an active parish.

  Tip Jan 1 is a holy day with morning Mass; visit quietly between services.

  SeeOld TownFree30 minMorning

• Church Street Cafe

  New Mexican breakfasts and red or green chile in Casa de Ruiz, one of the oldest houses in Albuquerque.

  Tip Check New Year's Day hours before you go; it is closed on Mondays.

  EatOld Town$60 minLate morning

• Albuquerque Museum

  The city's art and history museum on the edge of Old Town, with a free family New Year's Eve Before Dark event on Dec 31.

  Tip Go on Dec 31; city museums close on major holidays.

  SeeOld Town$1.5 hrDec 31, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Explora

  A hands-on science center next to Old Town; its Noon Year's Eve on Dec 31 ends with a big balloon drop at noon.

  Tip Arrive at opening on Dec 31; the noon countdown fills the building.

  DoOld Town$2 hrDec 31 morning

• Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

  Cottonwood bosque and ponds on the Rio Grande; rangers lead a New Year's Day nature walk as part of First Day Hikes.

  Tip Bring binoculars for sandhill cranes, which winter along the river.

  OutdoorsNorth Valley$1.5 hrJan 1 morning

• Tingley Beach and the Bosque Trail

  Fishing ponds at the river's edge where the paved Paseo del Bosque Trail runs under the cottonwoods along the Rio Grande.

  OutdoorsOld TownFree60 minAfternoon

• Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town

  A large hotel across Rio Grande Boulevard from the plaza, an easy walk to Old Town and the museums.

  StayOld Town$$