Updated for 2026
Santa Fe is one of my favorite places in the Southwest — adobe everything, world-class art, red and green chile on everything, and the kind of light that’s made painters move here for a century. I’ve been many times, usually flying into Albuquerque and driving up for a few days. Here’s my local-tested guide to the best things to do in Santa Fe, fully updated for 2026 — with hours, prices, and where to eat and stay.
SEE ALSO: 15 Top Things To Do In New Mexico
Koko Tip: Fall is the prettiest time to visit — cool, crisp days and golden aspens in the Sangre de Cristos. Spring is a close second.
Table of Contents
Best things to do in Santa Fe
1. Get lost in Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is the original — a 70-room, immersive art experience where you climb through a fridge into another dimension, crawl through a fireplace, and generally lose all sense of time. Give yourself at least two hours. It’s the most fun you’ll have indoors in Santa Fe.
Tickets: Pricing now varies by date and time (generally starting around $45) — book online ahead, and note it’s cashless
1352 Rufina Cir, meowwolf.com
2. Shop & stroll the Santa Fe Plaza
The Plaza is the heart of the city and the best place to start. Under the portal of the Palace of the Governors, Native artisans sell handmade silver and turquoise jewelry directly — it’s a Santa Fe tradition and the real deal. Wander the surrounding blocks for galleries, boutiques, and trading posts.
Koko Tip: For jewelry, I love Malouf’s on the Plaza, Ortega’s on Lincoln, and RainbowMan.
Santa Fe Plaza, downtown
3. Gallery-hop on Canyon Road
Canyon Road is the heart of Santa Fe’s art scene — over a hundred galleries and studios packed into half a mile of adobe buildings, from Native and contemporary art to sculpture gardens. It’s free to wander, and even if you’re not buying, it’s one of the prettiest strolls in the city.
Koko Tip: Go on a Friday evening for gallery openings with wine and the occasional artist on hand.
Canyon Road, Santa Fe
4. Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Santa Fe and Georgia O’Keeffe are inseparable, and this museum holds the largest collection of her work anywhere. It’s compact and easy to do in an hour — a must for anyone who loves her desert landscapes and bones.
217 Johnson St, okeeffemuseum.org
5. See the Loretto Chapel staircase
This Gothic chapel is home to the famous “Miraculous Staircase” — a spiral staircase that makes two full turns with no central support and no nails, built by a mystery carpenter in the 1870s. Engineers still can’t fully explain it. It’s a quick, only-in-Santa-Fe stop right downtown.
207 Old Santa Fe Trail, lorettochapel.com
6. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Just off the Plaza, this Romanesque Revival cathedral stands out from all the adobe with its stone facade and stained-glass windows. Step inside — it’s free, peaceful, and beautiful.
131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe
7. Spend an afternoon on Museum Hill
Four world-class museums sit together here, including the Museum of International Folk Art (the largest folk art collection in the world) and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. The views over the foothills are reason enough to make the trip.
710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe
8. Visit the Oldest House Museum
The De Vargas Street House — known as the Oldest House — is said to be one of the oldest buildings in the United States. It’s free to step inside, with a little gift shop and a lot of history packed into a tiny adobe.
215 E De Vargas St, Santa Fe
9. Eat your way through the Santa Fe Farmers Market
One of the oldest and largest growers’ markets in the country, set in the Railyard on Saturday mornings. Everything is grown or made by the seller — no reselling allowed — so it’s the real deal.
Koko Tip: Hunt down the blue corn lavender donuts. They’re made from scratch and they’re worth the line.
Railyard, 1607 Paseo de Peralta
10. Soak at Spence Hot Springs (Jemez day trip)
About an hour from Santa Fe in the Jemez Mountains, Spence is a free, natural hot spring — a short half-mile hike up to tiered rock pools overlooking the canyon. It’s primitive (no facilities), so go early before the tiny parking lot fills.
Good to know: Free, open sunrise to sunset, no reservations. Swimsuits required (it’s enforced), no glass, no camping. And don’t dunk your head — like all warm springs, the water isn’t treated.
Highway 4, ~7 miles north of Jemez Springs
11. Soak at Ojo Santa Fe
If you’d rather soak in comfort, Ojo Santa Fe is a gorgeous spring-fed spa resort on 77 acres about 20 minutes south of downtown, with thermal communal pools, a spa, and farm-to-table dining at the Blue Heron. You don’t have to stay the night — day soaking passes are first-come, first-serve.
Good to know: Day soaking 10am-10pm; it’s a 13-and-older resort. Book spa treatments ahead. Check current rates at ojosparesorts.com.
242 Los Pinos Rd, ojosparesorts.com
12. Explore ancient cliff dwellings
For a taste of the region’s deep Pueblo history, the Puye Cliff Dwellings — a National Historic Landmark that once sheltered 1,500 Pueblo people — make a fascinating guided day trip. Bandelier National Monument, with its cliffside ladders and ruins, is another iconic option a little over an hour out.
Puye Cliff Dwellings, Santa Clara Pueblo
13. Catch the Santa Fe Indian Market
If you’re in town in August, the Santa Fe Indian Market is the largest and most prestigious Native arts market in the world — over a thousand artists fill the Plaza and downtown. It’s a bucket-list cultural experience; book your hotel way ahead.
Downtown Santa Fe, annually in August
14. Ski or hike the Sangre de Cristos
Santa Fe is an outdoor town. In winter, Ski Santa Fe is just 20 minutes up the mountain. The rest of the year, the Sangre de Cristo foothills are laced with hiking trails — the Dale Ball Trails and Atalaya Mountain are local favorites for a quick climb with big views.
Ski Santa Fe, 1477 Hwy 475
15. Walk the Railyard Arts District
The revitalized Railyard is Santa Fe’s contemporary counterpoint to all the history — SITE Santa Fe’s modern art shows, galleries, the farmers market, shops, and restaurants, all walkable. A great spot to spend a low-key afternoon.
Railyard District, Santa Fe
Where to stay in Santa Fe
El Rey Court
I’ve stayed at a lot of Santa Fe hotels, and El Rey Court is my favorite. Originally a 1936 Route 66 motor court, it was reimagined into an 86-room boutique stay on five acres of old-growth gardens — American Southwest meets Pueblo Revival, and I’m obsessed with the design. There’s a pool, a food truck, a pizza oven, and the cozy fireplace rooms I never want to leave.
Koko Tip: Even if you don’t stay, go for a drink at La Reina, the chic mezcal-and-tequila bar inside — bright and airy by day, vibey at night.
1862 Cerrillos Rd, elreycourt.com
Inn and Spa at Loretto
For something more luxe and central, the Inn and Spa at Loretto is a downtown landmark — that striking terraced adobe right by the Loretto Chapel. It’s walkable to the Plaza, with an award-winning spa, a seasonal pool, and authentic Southwestern style.
211 Old Santa Fe Trail, hotelloretto.com
Best restaurants in Santa Fe
For breakfast:
Cafe Pasqual’s — The blue corn pancakes with chile, mole, and maple syrup here made me tear up, and I came back the next day. A James Beard-winning Santa Fe institution for 40 years. You have to eat here at least once — go early or expect a wait, and don’t be shy about the communal table.
Modern General — A sunny, LA-feeling café with great coffee, fresh-pressed juices, naturally leavened breads, pastries (including gluten-free), and farm eggs. It doubles as a cute shop for books and home goods.
For lunch & dinner:
El Chile Toreado — A beloved local food truck. We loved the pork adobada burrito so much we came back again.
La Choza — Family-run since 1983 and the locals’ pick (it’s the sister restaurant to The Shed, but off the beaten path with fewer tourists). Traditional New Mexican in an old adobe, with great red and green chile and a lively bar. Order the sopapillas with honey.
The Shed — One of the most famous restaurants in Santa Fe, serving New Mexican classics since 1953, half a block from the Plaza. The red chile is legendary. Lunch is first-come, first-serve, so arrive by 11:30am or make a dinner reservation.
For dessert:
Kakawa Chocolate House — Come for the historic drinking-chocolate elixirs — recipes spanning ancient Mesoamerican to colonial-era chocolate. The chili-infused one is my favorite. The perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
FAQs: visiting Santa Fe
What is Santa Fe known for?
Santa Fe is famous for its adobe Pueblo-style architecture, world-class art (Canyon Road, Meow Wolf, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum), New Mexican food, and its setting at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It’s the oldest state capital in the U.S.
What’s the best time of year to visit Santa Fe?
Fall is my favorite — crisp days and golden aspens — followed by spring. Summer is busy and warm (and home to the Indian Market and Spanish Market), while winter brings skiing just up the mountain.
What are the best hot springs near Santa Fe?
For a free, primitive soak, Spence Hot Springs in the Jemez (about an hour away) is the classic. For a comfortable spa day, Ojo Santa Fe is 20 minutes south, and Ojo Caliente is about an hour north.
How many days do you need in Santa Fe?
Two to three days is perfect for the Plaza, Canyon Road, the museums, Meow Wolf, and a hot springs soak, with time to eat well. Add a day if you want to fit in a cliff-dwellings day trip.
What’s the closest airport to Santa Fe?
The Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF) is about 10 miles from downtown, but most travelers fly into Albuquerque (ABQ), roughly an hour’s drive south, for more flight options.
