Things to do in Santa Fe
Late spring and early fall bring warm, dry days and cool nights at Santa Fe's 7,000-foot altitude. Summer is sunny with brief afternoon monsoon storms in July and August; winter is cold and bright with skiing in the nearby Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Best months: May, June, September, October
What is worth your time in Santa Fe
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of AssisiDo not miss
Santa Fe's grand Romanesque-Revival cathedral, a honey-stone landmark rising a block off the Plaza.
Architecture · 45 min4.8
Museum of International Folk ArtDo not miss
Home to the world's largest collection of folk art, anchored by the dazzling 10,000-figure Girard wing.
Museum · 2 hr4.8
Loretto ChapelDo not miss
A Gothic chapel famous for its mysterious 'miraculous' helix staircase built with no central support.
Historic Site · 45 min4.7
Meow Wolf House of Eternal ReturnDo not miss
A surreal, walk-through art installation where you unravel a mystery through portals, secret passages, and rooms.
Activity · 2.8 hr4.7
Museum of Indian Arts and CultureDo not miss
A deep, respectful look at Southwestern Native cultures, from ancient pottery to living Pueblo traditions.
Museum · 2 hr4.7
Canyon RoadDo not miss
A half-mile of adobe galleries, sculpture gardens, and studios that form one of America's densest art walks.
Neighborhood · 2.3 hr4.6
Georgia O'Keeffe MuseumDo not miss
The world's largest collection of work by the painter who made New Mexico's light and landscape iconic.
Museum · 1.9 hr4.6
New Mexico Museum of ArtDo not miss
A landmark Pueblo Revival building on the Plaza showcasing Southwestern and modern New Mexican art.
Museum · 1.5 hr4.6
Santa Fe PlazaDo not miss
The 400-year-old Spanish colonial heart of the city, ringed by adobe shops, galleries, and the historic core.
Landmark · 1.4 hr4.6
Palace of the GovernorsDo not miss
The oldest continuously occupied public building in the US, where Pueblo artisans sell jewelry under the portal.
Historic Site · 1.5 hr4.4
The Plaza Shops and Portales
Adobe-fronted shops around the Plaza brimming with Native jewelry, woven goods, and Southwestern crafts.
Market · 1.4 hr5
Santa Fe School of Cooking
Hands-on classes in New Mexican cuisine, from green chile stew to tamales, just off the Plaza.
Activity · 2.8 hr4.9
Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary
A 135-acre canyon-mouth preserve with birding trails and a historic artist's home at the top of Canyon Road.
Nature · 1.5 hr4.8
San Miguel Chapel
Often called the oldest church in the US, a humble adobe sanctuary in the Barrio de Analco built around 1610.
Historic Site · 45 min4.8
And 31 more, which the planner picks between based on your dates, pace and what you are into.
Worth knowing
- Santa Fe sits at about 7,000 feet; hydrate well, ease into hikes, and expect to feel the thin air on your first day.
- The high-desert sun is intense year-round; wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses even in winter.
- The adobe historic core around the Plaza is compact and walkable; park once and explore on foot.
- This is one of the country's great art towns; budget time for Canyon Road galleries and Museum Hill.
- Nights are cool even in summer thanks to the altitude, so pack a light jacket.