Things to Do and See in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Looking for things to do in Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico? Then this post is for you! I just came back from a long weekend there and, dare I say it, I have fallen in love with this high desert city.

Situated among the Sangre de Cristo foothills, Santa Fe has a bit of everything. There is art, culture, incredible food, shopping, and world-class hiking. And then there are the wide-open vistas everywhere you look.

This is one place where I promise you won’t run out of things to do.

So are you ready to learn more?

Related: Looking for restaurant recommendations in Santa Fe? Then check out my post about the best places to eat in Santa Fe.

Getting There

It isn’t easy to get to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I think that in part, is the reason this small city has maintained its charm and appeal. That said, it’s still a place worth visiting. You can even manage the trip for a long weekend if you don’t have more time.

While Santa Fe does have a small (and when I say small, I mean TINY!) regional airport, the nearest large airport is in Albuquerque. It’s a fifty-minute drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and it’s a straight shot on the highway, so don’t worry about getting lost!

I flew a direct flight from JFK airport in New York City to Albuquerque on Jet Blue. I had no trouble getting an Uber at the airport and was in Santa Fe about 45 minutes later.

On the return, I flew American Airlines out of the small Santa Fe airport, connecting through Dallas back to JFK. Dallas is one airport that has daily direct flights to Santa Fe. The other two are Phoenix, also with American Airlines, and Denver, with United Airlines. It’s worth doing your research to find out which airport is best to fly into to maximize your time in Santa Fe.

The Santa Fe Travel Guide:

Ok, now it’s time to dig into the good stuff – all of the things there are to do in Santa Fe! And I’m telling you, there’s a lot!

Things to do in Santa Fe: Hiking

I could go on and on about how gorgeous the hiking trails are in Santa Fe, but I’m hoping my photos start to paint a picture for you. You can’t go wrong with any trail you pick.

What’s amazing is that there is also such varying terrain. One day we hiked the Borrego Trail which winds through a pine needle forest. The entire time we were pretty much in the shade or sun-dappled light. While we never had a view per se, the trail was invigorating and the forested landscape was beautiful.

Another day we did the famous Tent Rocks National Monument Trail. OMG. Seriously. I have done a lot of hiking in my life but this trail is definitely in the top 5 in terms of epic scenery. The first part takes you through what is called the slots. It’s terrain that feels similar to trails in Utah. It also reminded me of the walk to get to the ancient ruins of Petra, in Jordan.

After you exit the slots and start to climb, the views keep changing with the shifting landscape, getting more magnificent with each step. My friend (who also hikes a lot) and I were in total awe and were wowed by this trail.

Click here for a comprehensive list of hiking trails in the area.

Things to do in Santa Fe: Art galleries 

Over the years, Santa Fe has become a Mecca of sorts for artists and creative types. Many people say it has to do with the unusual quality of the light. Even the famed American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe was mesmerized it, so much so that she relocated from NYC to the high desert to focus on her art here.

You can feel the artsy vibe everywhere, from the many art galleries along Canyon Road and the artisans selling their wares at local markets, to the curated shops around town.

My recommendations are to spend a couple of hours perusing the art galleries along Canyon Road. Some of these galleries are more kitschy, but some, like GF Contemporary, has an impressive collection of modern art. The artists the galleries showcase are always changing.  If there’s an artist you really like, do your research ahead of time to see if their work will be exhibited when you’re visiting.

Things to do in Santa Fe: Local Markets 

If you’re visiting over a weekend and looking for things to do, check out the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market. Located adjacent to the railway, this market also includes local artisans. I like the sustainable approach to this market. There is a requirement that all products be made from 70% of local materials.

 Travel Tip: Make sure to taste the blue corn Pupusas by Mesa Ruiz. He also makes incredible Micaceous clay cookware.

It’s also worth checking to see if there are additional street and art fairs going on. The high season will have plenty of festivals and fairs to choose from. And when in doubt, head to the center of town. You can usually find street fairs set up in and around the plaza.

Things to do in Santa Fe: Alternative Art

Lastly, there’s the alternative experiential art venue, Meow Wolf. The best way to describe Meow Wolf is that it’s an immersive experience that takes you to a fantastical realm.

This experience is so different and unusual from anything I’ve ever done. It should definitely be on your list. Try to go into this with an open mind. At first, we thought it was a bit gimmicky. But after a few minutes of wandering around, we let our guard down and enjoyed the space with child-like wonder. Now I understand why so many people rave about this experience.

Travel Tip: Buy your tickets in advance for this because the time slots sell out quickly. Even with tickets be prepared to wait on line for about 20-30 minutes to get inside. That’s how popular it is!

I also love is that Meow Wolf is giving younger and unconventional artists a chance to break into the art world. In fact, this venture has been so successful, it’s now expanding to Denver and Las Vegas. And a quick fun fact, the original Meow Wolf was partially funded by George R.R. Martin, the creator of Game of Thrones and a Santa Fe resident.

Things to do in Santa Fe: Museums

It might surprise you, but Santa Fe has some world-class museums. Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to see them all, but it just gives us a great excuse to come back!

Head to Museum Hill to experience a cluster of four museums. There’s the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, The Museum of International Folk Art, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. And if you’re feeling peckish after a morning of exploring, have lunch at the Museum Hill Café.

Closer to the center of town, you’ll find the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. I think this museum has done an incredible job not only curating Georgia O’Keeffe’s work but telling her story. In a room off the entryway to the galleries, you can watch a short film about the artist’s life. They also have curated a timeline which paralleled O’Keeffe’s life to world events, something I thought was very helpful in understanding the context of the time in which she was painting.

Travel Tip: I always like to read books inspired by my travels. I just finished Georgia, a novel about the artist’s love affair with famed photographer Alfred Stieglitz.

Another museum worth visiting near the central plaza of town is the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. It’s the only museum in the country that showcases the most progressive work of contemporary native artists.

Things to do in Santa Fe: Spa Time

It might sound silly to add ‘spa time’ to the list of things to do in Santa Fe because surely there are many hotels in many cities around the world that have spas, but none of these cities have Ten Thousand Waves!

Ten Thousand Waves is one of my favorite things to do in Santa Fe. Why? Let’s be honest. Who doesn’t love spending time in an outdoor hot tub, in a beautiful and tranquil setting? The inspiration for this spa comes from the Japanese mountain hot springs resorts. You can feel the zen vibe down to every detail.

We stopped by after one of our hikes. Soaking in a hot tub was the perfect way to rest our weary legs. (The spa has been completely refurbished from when I first visited 15 years ago. It now includes lodging and the Japanese restaurant Izanami.)

Related: Looking for restaurant recommendations in Santa Fe? Then check out my post about the best places to eat in Santa Fe.

Travel Tip: If you’re interested in doing more than just the hot tubs, you can indulge in one of many spa treatments. Just make sure to book in advance because the spa is quite popular and treatments do sell out.

As much as I loved the hot tubs, my favorite part of Ten Thousand Waves is the meditation room. They encourage you to lay down on the heated floor that is covered with traditional Japanese bamboo mats. Headphones are available to listen to tranquil music and guided meditations. Just make sure you don’t fall asleep while you’re in there!

Things to do in Santa Fe: Shopping

If one of the things you love to do is shopping, then Santa Fe is the town for you! My friend and I were staying with a family friend who now lives in Santa Fe. She gave us her insider knowledge about the best places to shop in the city. That doesn’t mean we skipped some of the more touristy shops on the Plaza. I mean, when in Rome, right?

Below is a list of all of the shops we visited and recommend. Some are more touristy and some are very much off the beaten path.

• Overland – Head here for a traditional sheepskin rug. They have a huge selection in varying colors and sizes.
• Santa Fe Dry Goods – Everything in this store is crazy expensive so I was ‘window shopping’. That said, you can see how much effort went into picking the beautiful merchandise for this store.
• Todos Santos Chocolates – Head here for amazing, locally made artisanal chocolate.
• Wear Your Grace – We randomly popped into this jewelry store but I was so glad we did. It turns out the owner is from NYC and made the move to Santa Fe a few years ago. I love that the merchandise including jewelry made by local artisans from the Native American community.
• Casa Nova Gallery – This store is my FAVORITE in Santa Fe. It might have something to do with Nelly, one of the chic and radiant employees here. Or, perhaps it’s the eclectic array of world goods. Basically, I wanted to buy everything in this shop. Literally!
• Chocolate and Cashmere – As the name says, this store literally sells delicious chocolate and lots of cozy cashmere. They also have a small selection of soaps, candles, and home goods.

These shops are just a handful of ones that piqued my interest. There are plenty more to peruse if you have the time and inclination!

Are You Ready to Plan Your Trip to Santa Fe?

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Santa Fe! Now, are you ready to plan your trip?

If you have additional questions, please ask in the comments below. And don’t forget to check out my Santa Fe food guide. Because if you know me by now, then you know I love to eat wherever I go!

I hope this guide serves you well and as always, happy travels!

Related: Check out some of my other travel guides for Chiang Mai, Asheville, Vancouver, the Catskills, and Montreal. 

Related: I can’t leave home without these travel accessories.