Santa Fe, New Mexico has been on my bucket list for ages. I finally had the opportunity to go for a long weekend, and let me tell you, this beautiful and culture rich city did not disappoint! If you’re thinking of planning a Santa Fe getaway, this post will help you choose where to eat, sleep, shop and play in Santa Fe.
Overall, Santa Fe is an art lovers town. It is quaint, charming, and full of amazing art. The art scene ranges from traditional to immersive contemporary. The shopping is also great– next time, I’m bringing an empty suitcase and filling it full of turquoise jewelry and rugs.
Keep reading to learn all about this desert chic travel destination – Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Where is Santa Fe
Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico, is located in the American Southwest.
The city of Santa Fe is 7,199 feet (2,194 m) above sea level, so you may need a little bit of time to adjust to the altitude during your Santa Fe getaway. Drinking a lot of water during your trip will help!
Myths About Santa Fe
Some people have asked me whether Santa Fe is located outside the U.S. and whether I needed a passport to get there. Nope, and nope. Santa Fe is in New Mexico, which is a U.S. state situated north of the country of Mexico. It’s a domestic flight within the United States.
I’ve also had people ask me whether Santa Fe is hot all year round. Nope again. Although Santa Fe averages 300 sunny days per year, it experiences all four seasons and even gets a little snow in the winter.
When to Go
Santa Fe is year-round destination, depending on the activities you have planned. Summer is peak season and when the days are hottest. Spring and fall are also great times to visit with milder temperatures. During the winter, Santa Fe can be chilly and snowy, but there is world class skiing and snowboarding nearby at Taos.
Getting There
We flew directly into Albuquerque airport. Albuquerque is only an hour south from Santa Fe. We stayed by the airport since we got in late, woke up early and headed up to Santa Fe. We liked renting a car so we could see what else is around Santa Fe, since the historical downtown is quite small. But Santa Fe is very much a walkable city, and if you don’t want to rent a car there are Ubers too.
Where to Stay
Santa Fe has a wide range of options for accommodations. Depending on your budget, you can easily find a place.
Hotel Santa Fe is the only Native American owned hotel in downtown Santa Fe. I love the location of the hotel, which is an easy walk to both Santa Fe’s famous Plaza (about 15 minutes) and the trendy Railyard District. This is where I stayed, and I would highly recommend. Our room was in La Hacienda Spa, which is the building behind the main hotel. We had our own butler, happy hour with complimentary beer, wine, and snacks on the rooftop, and our room had a fireplace which made it extra cozy. The best part is that Hotel Santa Fe offers complimentary shuttle services. They have these adorable London style cabs that will take you wherever you would like to go (1-2 mile radius – which gets you pretty much anywhere!). We took them all over the place. All you have to do is call the hotel and they will be out to pick you up shortly.
La Fonda on the Plaza is one of Santa Fe’s most historic properties. It’s a great home base for couples looking for a romantic Santa Fe getaway. This one is a little more pricier, but if you want to stay directly downtown, then this location is great for you.
What to Do
You can never get bored in Santa Fe – not only is it a mecca for art and culture, but it has a thriving foodie scene, high end spas, and excellent hiking and skiing nearby. Here are the best things to do during your Santa Fe getaway.
The Historic Plaza, located in downtown Santa Fe, has been a meeting place for locals and tourists alike for over a hundred years. The Plaza is technically the square park right in the heart of downtown and has blocks and blocks of shops, galleries and restaurants surrounding it. *TIP: if you are looking to purchase goods (turquoise, jewelry, etc) make sure to buy from the local Native Americans. They will be lined up against the New Mexico History Museum, you can’t miss them. The artisans have to be registered with the state to show proof that they are selling true homemade goods. The jewelry, turquoise, beading everything is just stunning and it was so special to spark up conversations with these people. About their lifestyle, tribes, families, and craftsmanship.
Meow Wolf is an immersive modern art experience that started in Santa Fe and has two other locations in Las Vegas and Denver. The experience starts in an eerie, empty Victorian home owned by the fictional Selig family who seem to have gone missing. Meow Wolf will lead you through portals and wormholes into the multiverse as you try to solve the mystery of where the Seligs have gone. It was such a cool experience. The only word I can use to describe it is bizarre.
Canyon Road is home to over 100 art galleries, shops and restaurants all within a very charming half mile. If you’re coming to Santa Fe to buy art, make sure to stop by. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. We started at the top and wandered our way to the bottom. Be sure to check out Ahmyo gallery because they have a hidden wine garden in the back amongst a beautiful sculpture garden.
The Railyard District is one of Santa Fe’s trendiest neighborhoods, housing many of Santa Fe’s contemporary art galleries and breweries. Saturday’s and Sunday’s there is an artisan/farmers market. *This place is a little underwhelming if I am being honest, but they are trying to build it up.
Gruet Sparking Wine Tasting During our time in Santa Fe, we learned that northern New Mexico is actually the oldest wine growing region in the U.S. I had no idea! We stopped for a tasting at Gruet, and tried 8 different sparkling wines and enjoyed a cheese board. I highly recommend this, but make sure you make reservations beforehand!
Kakawa Chocolate House. This specialty chocolate house just outside of The Plaza is a chocolate lovers dream come true. Kakawa Chocolate House makes chocolate elixirs dating back to Mayan & Aztec times. Stop in for a tasting and order yourself a cup of your favorite elixir. We also had to try a few chocolates and truffles while we were there! We tried a chocolate covered chili, green chili margarita chocolate, prickly pear truffle, and a horchata truffle. All were delicious.
Santa Fe Brewing Company. If you know me, you know I am always looking for the local brewery in town. Since we had a rental car, we were able to head out to the massive Santa Fe Brewing Company (about a 15 minute drive from The Plaza). The outdoor space was massive, and of course we had to try a few brews. If you don’t have a car, they have a tasting room in Santa Fe. There are tons of breweries in Santa Fe including:
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. The Saint Francis Cathedral is one of Santa Fe’s most memorable landmarks. It was built between 1869 and 1886 and its European architecture contrasts the nearby adobe buildings.
Where to Eat
Santa Fe has a thriving culinary scene. Here are some great restaurant options for your Santa Fe getaway. New Mexico has a thing with green chiles. And by ‘thing’, I mean they’re obsessed with them. You’ll find green chiles (and red too) in almost every dish.
Casa Chimayo is a little hole in the wall on the outskirts of the plaza, and I highly highly highly recommend this place for lunch or dinner. We rarely eat in the main square or touristy parts of a city, and try to find the true local spots. This is one of them. Husband and wife team make up this restaurant. They are known for their chili rellenos, and let me tell you they were amazing. Fire roasted New Mexico chiles, beer battered and deep-fried, stuffed with jack cheese, and covered with either a green or red chili sauce. Try both and get “Christmas”. DO NOT skip on the elote. It was AMAZING.
Shake Foundation is a burger joint that makes for the perfect lunch spot. Have you ever heard of green chilis on a burger? Well in Santa Fe, if there’s a will there’s a way. They are known for their green chili burger, which is basically jack cheese and green chilis. You can add a bunch of other toppings as well. I added garlic mayo to mask the heat a little, and it was delicious!
El Farol is a tapas restaurant on Canyon Road, but is a dinner spot you do not want to miss. Featuring traditional Spanish tapas (small plates meant to share). Get the prickly pear margarita! Also, try to make reservations during their dinner show which features musicians and flamenco dancers. There was a wedding a night we were there so we weren’t able to sit inside for the show, but they gave us a table on the patio by the window so we could see and hear the whole thing, it was so fun!
Tomasita’s serves Northern New Mexican comfort food. They are also known for their sopaipillas. Sopaipillas are something only New Mexicans really understand. Perhaps part of the reason is that rumor has it that they were invented in Albuquerque some 200 years ago. A sopaipilla is basically fried dough, but these are massive and look like a pillow. You eat it with honey, and they are like heaven! My mom was most excited for them, and was looking forward to them the whole trip.
They call Santa Fe the City of Enchantment – and consider me enchanted! There is so much to do and see, and shop, that this oasis in the desert is a place I’ll definitely visit again.
I hope this post helps you plan your Santa Fe getaway. There is so much to do and see. Let me know in the comments if you think I’ve missed anything in my getaway guide!
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