Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return
A Victorian house on the outside and a multi-dimensional art maze on the inside, built by an artist collective in a former bowling alley. Secret doors, glowing forests and a story you piece together yourself.
New Mexico
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States and one of the highest, a small adobe city at roughly 7,000 feet where a Spanish plaza laid out in 1610 still anchors the town, Native American artists sell jewelry under the portal of the Palace of the Governors, and a mile of galleries fills Canyon Road.
It is also the city of Georgia O'Keeffe, of green chile on everything, of an opera house open to the desert sky, and of Meow Wolf, the immersive art playground that has become the most unexpected attraction in the Southwest. This guide books the city properly, from the Plaza, Loretto Chapel and the museums on Museum Hill to balloon rides, ghost walks and day trips to Taos Pueblo, Chimayo, Bandelier and the High Road, and matches you to the right hotel, from the Plaza's historic La Fonda to a hillside lodge in the foothills.
Don't miss
Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return
A Victorian house on the outside and a multi-dimensional art maze on the inside, built by an artist collective in a former bowling alley. Secret doors, glowing forests and a story you piece together yourself.
Canyon Road Art and History Walking Tour
A half-mile of narrow adobe lane holding more than a hundred galleries, sculpture gardens, restaurants and a hidden church. A guided walk makes sense of the art and the 300-year-old houses.
Santa Fe Plaza
The 1610 town square where the Santa Fe Trail ended, ringed by adobe shops, the Palace of the Governors and La Fonda. Free to wander, with Native American artisans selling jewelry under the portal.
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
The world's largest collection of work by Georgia O'Keeffe, the painter who made the New Mexico desert famous. Skulls, flowers, bones, cloud-filled skies and adobe walls, plus a private culture tour option.
Things to do in Santa Fe
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Canyon Road Art and History Walking Tour
A half-mile of narrow adobe lane holding more than a hundred galleries, sculpture gardens, restaurants and a hidden church. A guided walk makes sense of the art and the 300-year-old houses.
Santa Fe Plaza
The 1610 town square where the Santa Fe Trail ended, ringed by adobe shops, the Palace of the Governors and La Fonda. Free to wander, with Native American artisans selling jewelry under the portal.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Loretto Chapel and the Miraculous Staircase
A small Gothic Revival chapel a few steps from the Plaza, famous for a spiral staircase with two full turns and no visible central support. A short visit with a long legend attached.
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
The world's largest collection of work by Georgia O'Keeffe, the painter who made the New Mexico desert famous. Skulls, flowers, bones, cloud-filled skies and adobe walls, plus a private culture tour option.
Palace of the Governors and New Mexico History Museum
A 1610 adobe palace, the oldest continuously used public building in the country, joined to a modern museum telling four centuries of New Mexico stories, from the Pueblo Revolt to the Santa Fe Trail.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
A Romanesque Revival stone cathedral, built by the French archbishop who inspired Willa Cather's novel, standing a block from the Plaza. Free to enter, with a tiny older chapel and Santa Fe's oldest Madonna inside.
20 to 40 minutesDetails →
Museum Hill: Folk Art, Indian Arts and Spanish Colonial Art
A hilltop cluster of museums with desert views, led by the Museum of International Folk Art, one of the great folk-art collections in the world. Native American, Hispanic and global craft traditions in one afternoon.
Allan Houser Sculpture Garden and Studio Tour
A guided visit to the studio and outdoor sculpture garden of Allan Houser, the Chiricahua Apache master whose monumental stone and bronze figures stand in public spaces across the country.
Historic Downtown Santa Fe Walking Tour
A guided stroll through the Plaza, the oldest streets and the historic churches, with a local guide to connect 400 years of Pueblo, Spanish, Mexican and American history.
New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza
A guided tasting walk around the Plaza introducing red and green chile, blue corn, posole, sopaipillas and the stories behind New Mexican cooking. Come hungry and leave with a plan for dinner.
Santa Fe Margarita Trail Tour
A guided walk between Plaza-area bars and restaurants tasting Santa Fe's signature margaritas, with stories about the city's cocktail culture, local ingredients and the best patios for sunset.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
La Fonda on the Plaza
Downtown Plaza
The historic inn on the corner of the Plaza, where Santa Fe Trail travelers once ended their journey. Hand-painted furniture, a rooftop bar and the best address in town.
Check rates →Inn and Spa at Loretto
Downtown, Old Santa Fe Trail
A Pueblo-style hotel modelled on Taos Pueblo, beside Loretto Chapel and a short walk from the Plaza. Terraced adobe, an on-site spa and a quiet courtyard feel.
Check rates →Inn of the Governors
Downtown, Alameda Street
A Southwestern inn a few blocks from the Plaza, with courtyards, adobe styling and a relaxed local feel. A practical central base that does not cost the Plaza premium.
Check rates →Bishops Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection
Tesuque, north of town
A luxury foothill resort in Tesuque, a few miles from the Plaza, set on hundreds of acres with a spa, horseback riding and a chapel built by Archbishop Lamy.
Check rates →Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe
Downtown, near Paseo de Peralta
A large, modern hotel in the former St. Vincent Hospital building a few blocks from the Plaza, popular for a hot breakfast, evening reception and good value for families.
Check rates →Eldorado Hotel and Spa
Downtown, near the Railyard
A large Pueblo Revival hotel a few blocks from the Plaza and beside the Railyard, with a rooftop pool, spa and the biggest range of rooms in downtown Santa Fe.
Check rates →La Posada de Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort and Spa
Downtown, east of the Plaza
A garden resort of adobe casitas around a Victorian mansion, a short walk from the Plaza. Quiet courtyards, a spa and a resident ghost story.
Check rates →The Hacienda and Spa at Hotel Santa Fe
Railyard District
A Native American-owned hotel at the Railyard end of downtown, with Pueblo-inspired design, a restaurant and spa, and an easy walk to the Plaza and Railyard.
Check rates →Inn on the Alameda
Historic Eastside, Alameda Street
A quiet, adobe-style inn beside the Santa Fe River and a short walk from both the Plaza and Canyon Road, known for its courtyards, relaxed service and easy location.
Check rates →Santa Fe guides
Santa Fe for First-Timers: What to See, Where to Eat and How the City Fits Together
A practical first-visit guide to Santa Fe: how the Plaza, Canyon Road, the Railyard and Museum Hill fit together, what to book ahead and how to handle the altitude.
Santa Fe in Three Days: Plaza, Galleries, Meow Wolf and a Mountain Day Trip
A three-day Santa Fe itinerary covering the Plaza, Canyon Road, Museum Hill, Meow Wolf and a day trip to Taos Pueblo or Bandelier, with timing and booking tips.
Where to Stay in Santa Fe: Plaza, Railyard, Canyon Road and the Foothills
A guide to choosing where to stay in Santa Fe: the Plaza, the Railyard, the Eastside near Canyon Road and the foothill resorts, with hotel picks for each.
Eating and Drinking in Santa Fe: Green Chile, Margaritas and What to Order
A guide to eating in Santa Fe: red or green chile, New Mexican dishes, sweets, margaritas, markets and tasting tours, with tips on heat, altitude and ordering.
Day Trips from Santa Fe: Taos, Chimayo, Bandelier, the Turquoise Trail and More
The best day trips from Santa Fe: Taos Pueblo and Chimayo, the High Road, Bandelier, Los Alamos, Madrid and the Rio Grande Gorge, with drive times and tips.
Best Time to Visit Santa Fe: Seasons, Markets, Opera and Fall Color
When to visit Santa Fe: how the seasons, summer markets, the opera season, autumn aspens and winter snow shape the city, with tips on altitude, weather and crowds.
