New Mexico

New Mexico presents a convergence of expansive sky and stunning light, high desert and earthy piñon wood, Spanish architecture and grand, sun-drenched landscapes. The sprawling city of Albuquerque is the gateway to the state’s wonders, a jumping-off point for experiencing stunning desert volcanoes and a meeting of mountain ranges. The charming, 400-year-old state capital of Santa Fe is filled with low-slung adobe architecture and offers a haven of art, music, and native culture. Outside the cities, you’ll find a plethora of natural formations, rocky arroyos, river gorges, and the panoramic aspen-covered slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

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Overview

When’s the best time to go to New Mexico?

Four distinct seasons color the calendar. Summer is the peak for visitors, with warm days and cool nights. September through November, the region is less crowded and temperatures cooler. Winter is ski season in Santa Fe and Taos, and the holidays provide a warm, glowing backdrop of farolitos (small candles) dotting the streets and adobes, most notably along the famed Canyon Road. The weather in spring is slow to warm and beckons few crowds.

How to get around New Mexico

Most travelers arrive at either Albuquerque International Sunport or Santa Fe Municipal Airport. Hop the Rail Runner commuter rail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. The reasonably priced Sandia Shuttle Express from Albuquerque airport runs to Santa Fe, and the 90-minute New Mexico Rail Runner Express Train connects from Santa Fe Depot to Albuquerque’s Downtown Alvarado Transportation Center. Rental cars are readily available at the airport.

It’s best to obtain a car for driving the stunning landscapes of New Mexico. Smaller towns like Santa Fe and Taos are highly walkable and pedestrian friendly.

Can’t miss things to do in New Mexico

The New Mexico Capitol Art Collection is an extensive collection focusing on nearly 600 New Mexican and Southwestern artists, housed in the State Capitol Complex. This awesome assemblage incorporates paintings, photography, mixed media, textiles, and handcrafted furniture. And it’s free to the public.

Food and drink to try in New Mexico

The culinary culture is an overlapping of Spanish, Mediterranean, Mexican, cowboy, and Pueblo Native American influences. Expect traditional dishes like chiles relleños, tamales, and enchiladas served with guacamole, pinto beans, and calabacitas (a blend of sautéed squash, onions, peppers, and corn). Enjoy it all with a salty margarita, a local craft beer, or a light, local sparkling wine.

Culture in New Mexico

The melding of Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures presents a unique style. Modern buildings meet century-old haciendas, colonial architecture, and Spanish churches. Native American pueblos showcase classic pottery and weavings.

Come summer, Santa Fe’s Spanish Market and Indian Market are huge crowd-pleasers, along with the Hatch Valley Chile Festival. Fall ushers in the Old Town Salsa Festival in Albuquerque along with the acclaimed nine-day International Balloon Festival and the New Mexico State Fair. Winter offers the annual Taos Winter Wine Festival and the Canyon Road Farolita (small illuminated candles) walk. Spring is time for the Southern New Mexico Wine Festival.

Local travel tips for New Mexico

When at high elevations, make certain to wear sunscreen, and go easy on the alcohol (at 7,000 feet, one drink equals three). When dining, locals eat their sopaipillas (fluffy fried pastries) not before or during, but after their meal.

Read Before You Go
Hotels
With their firepits and comfort-minded interiors, these are the best hideaways where you can embrace the chill this season.
These are the 10 best ranches and lodges for families in the American West.
Head to Taos, New Mexico, to experience this ultra-sustainable way of living.
Don’t miss these new and newly renovated hotels when you hit the slopes this year.
Resources to help plan your trip
Santa Fe renders pure magic. Explore the historic streets of the country’s oldest state capital, known for its collection of museums and its adobe and colonial architecture and Native American influences. Stroll the legendary Canyon Road art galleries and stop by a local bookstore. Attend an opera in an open-air amphitheater. Don’t forget dinner at a legendary dining institution, perhaps with a margarita, a taste of chili, and the sunset.
When nature enthusiast Georgia O’Keeffe arrived in New Mexico, she quipped, “I shouldn’t say too much about it because other people may be interested and I don’t want them interested.” Well, the secret is out, and New Mexico’s natural and dramatic landscape plays out like a painting: vast skies with bright sunlight, and stark shadows leaving silhouettes on the desert’s wide expanse. Nature’s scene is set and you’ll certainly know why the artist came to paint in and around New Mexico.
Welcome to Santa Fe’s fabled restorative and healing arts. For centuries, the inflicted and ill have sought healing in the dry climate, natural hot springs, and pristine air. Most wellness centers use scented elements of pinion, sage, and lavender in their treatments. Restorative techniques hail from ancient local remedies, as well as from Thai and Indonesian therapies. Yoga and mediation are here, too.
Art spaces, wellness retreats, and fine restaurants await, along with 22 miles of trails to reward hikers and cyclists with stellar vistas of New Mexico’s legendary landscapes, including the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande River. The city’s epicenter, known as the Plaza, offers dining, window shopping, and Americana treasures. Start your visit with our A Perfect Day in Santa Fe guide, and then go a little deeper with the following recommendations.
After a day in Santa Fe, you’re bound to be thirsty. Not to worry. There’s no better pit stop than an old-school bar, picturesque cafe, or family-owned gem that crafts beloved margaritas with your favorite tequila. (It’s the tipple of choice here in the Southwest.) When in doubt, opt for the establishment’s signature concoction.
Santa Fe is known for its distinct cuisine, unique architecture and strong art scene. Many hotels incorporate Southwestern elements into their architecture and design, such as adobe, kiva-style fireplaces, Native American artwork, and textiles.
Experience New Mexico through a vast and storied collection of past and present-day art. New Mexico’s best museums are a rich treasure trove of Native American history, folk art, regional works, and paintings by iconic local masters such as Georgia O’Keeffe. At the New Mexico Museum of Art, view the photography of noted 20th-century artist Ansel Adams. A Culture Pass gives you access to each of the 14 state museums.
No trip to New Mexico would be complete without a stay in Santa Fe. If you only have three days in New Mexico, discover why so many artists have come to paint the stunning, stark, and bright New Mexico landscape. Three days easily affords you time to stroll Santa Fe’s historic Canyon Road, hike national parks, and experience the magic of New Mexico topography—from mountains to low-lying valleys and national monuments.
The best hotels in New Mexico are an eclectic group: Stay in historic inns, small boutiques, charming bed and breakfasts, a former penitentiary, on an organic farm with serious architectural pull, or even in a cave! New Mexico’s best hotels cater to all tastes and price ranges, and you certainly won’t have a problem finding the right hotel in which to rest your weary head.
It’s no wonder Georgia O’Keeffe came to this New Mexico town to paint. The high-desert setting inspires artists. Think of the city as your oyster: Take in the abundance of local works that occupy a surprising variety of spaces. Hop from ceramic studio to folk art museum, and from photography exhibit to cutting-edge gallery. Even the capitol building is filled with artwork.
Santa Fe is more than just a plaza! I’ve rounded up the best of Santa Fe’s natural beauty, amazing food, cultural highlight, and yes... including some stops on the plaza.
New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment, rich in landscape and topography. Must-do experiences include exploring New Mexico’s mysterious Sangre de Cristo mountains, deep canyons, mesas, and river gorges; a stunning nature drive; a mountain hike; a night at the opera; and deep immersion into the rich New Mexico culture, arts, and history.
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