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Albuquerque and Santa Fe are two of New Mexico’s biggest and best cities to visit. Are you trying to decide between visiting Albuquerque or Santa Fe? No need to choose only one. Whether you are planning a New Mexico road trip or visiting this southwest state without a car, it’s easy to visit Albuquerque and Santa Fe on the same trip! 

In both cities you can savor the fusion of cuisines that make up New Mexican cuisine, while learning about the state’s diverse history and cultural melting pot. From the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque to the art scene in Santa Fe, as you explore each city you’ll experience what makes each one distinct.

This guide will prepare you for your visit to Albuquerque and Santa Fe with transportation information, restaurant recommendations, the top places to stay, and the can’t miss things to do. 

The Ultimate Albuquerque and Santa Fe Guide

Albuquerque and Santa Fe Transportation 

How to Get to Albuquerque and Santa Fe

Flying

Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe have airports. Santa Fe has a smaller, regional airport with flights from Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix. Sunport in Albuquerque is an international airport that services many more destinations. 

Train

Both Albuquerque and Santa Fe can be reached on Amtrak. 

Bus

Greyhound makes stops in Albuquerque, but not Santa Fe. 

Drive

You can drive to Albuquerque and Santa Fe on a New Mexico road trip. The cities also fit in well within a longer southwest road trip. Combine New Mexico with an Arizona Phoenix to Grand Canyon road trip or a Utah Mighty 5 National Park trip. 

How to Get Around Albuquerque

Albuquerque has sunny days, great food, and a fascinating history, but the one thing I didn’t like about the city was trying to get around it. 

Walking

I love to walk whenever possible, but unfortunately outside of the Old Town the city isn’t very walkable. Even if there are sidewalks, it isn’t really nice walking. Places are spread out and it can feel desolate or it’s very industrial/commercial. 

Public Transit 

Public transportation exists, but let’s just say not too many tourists take it! While it is cost effective to ride the free buses, they are a little rough. As there is no cost, it can be an unsavory ride to say the least. 

Buses are not well connected, don’t run often, and usually end by 5/6pm. If you haven’t taken public transit before or only take it abroad, Albuquerque is not the place to start in the US! 

Rideshares & Taxis 

The city definitely has Uber and Lyft. If you will be able to get one, is another question. After my late arrival to ABQ I wasn’t able to reserve one and had to take a taxi from ground transportation. Other times in the middle of the day I waited over 30 minutes until the apps finally found me a driver. Pricing can surge very quickly too. Once my ride was supposed to be $6.96 and a driver couldn’t be found. The apps won’t search forever. They will tell you to try again later. Ten minutes later that same ride was going for over $50! 

Rental Cars

Your most reliable bet is to rent a car. I prefer not driving and rarely rent cars, but after a few days of attempting to walk, bus, and use rideshares I almost rented one! I’m known as someone who walks and takes public transit everywhere. If you are on the fence you should note, I had never considered renting a car in a US city before ABQ! 

How to Get Between Albuquerque and Santa Fe 

How far is Santa Fe from Albuquerque? 

Santa Fe is only about an hour’s drive away from Albuquerque. You can also take a train. It’s cheaper to get from Albuquerque to Santa Fe than it is to get around ABQ with a taxi! At only $9 the Rail Runner train is a great way to get between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. 

The Rail Runner leaves from Alvarado Transportation Center in downtown ABQ and goes to the downtown rail station in Santa Fe (with stops in between). It runs multiple times of day in both directions. It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. You can buy tickets online or on the train. There are restrooms onboard. The commuter train is pretty nice and the train crew is very friendly and helpful. 

Amtrak is also an option but it was 5x more expensive when I was traveling and only goes once a day. 

How to Get Around Santa Fe

Walking

Santa Fe is very walkable. The majority of places you’ll want to go you’ll be able to reach on foot. 

Public Transit 

If you aren’t staying within walking distance of the Old Town, you can take public buses. I found them to be much nicer and cleaner than the buses in ABQ. From my experience they ran reliably on a regular schedule. Note that some buses are on demand and you need to call. Check public transit directions on google and ensure it doesn’t say “passengers must call the agency”. I describe this more below under Museum Hill. 

Museum Hill

Museum Hill is home to many of the best things to do in Santa Fe. It’s located about 1.7 miles from the Old Town. To reach Museum Hill without a car take the on demand M bus. Disregard the bus schedule posted online. You need to call to reserve the bus and it will come when it is available. I talked to a bus rep. There is no way to reserve it and you’re supposed to call once at the stop. The wait can be 2 minutes if a bus is nearby and going your direction or up to 40 minutes if there is a long wait. 

As it takes about 40 minutes to walk from the SE corner of the Old Town I didn’t want to chance taking the same amount of time to just sit at a bus stop. Most of the walk is on the Old Santa Fe trail. Unfortunately it’s not like in the 1800s where it was all horses and wagons. Now cars are zooming by. The last 1.2 miles doesn’t have sidewalks. There is a fairly wide shoulder, but be aware of the cars and only walk during daylight. 

Rental Car

You can of course rent a car as well. If you’re planning to stay in Santa Fe it is definitely not needed and will cause you more money and headache (unlike Albuquerque). Parking can get expensive and as many of the best things to do in Santa Fe are in the Old Town area you really don’t need a car. 

Albuquerque: Activities, Restaurants, Accommodations 

What to Do in Albuquerque

​​Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

When you are in the hot air balloon capital of the world you need to do something involving hot air balloons. While the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in October is one of the best festivals in the country and a hot air balloon ride is a once in a lifetime experience, this museum can be visited year-round. Plus with a $6 admission it is quite a bit easier on your wallet! 

The museum exhibits give an in-depth look at the history of ballooning including the first flight, the first transatlantic flights, and around the world attempts and successes. Another popular exhibit focuses on the history and traditions of the city’s Balloon Fiesta which began in 1972. 

I only had two hours to spend at the museum. There is so much to read, learn, and see here. If you like to read everything you’ll need more time. 

Albuquerque Museum

Albuquerque is known worldwide for their balloon fiesta, but the history and culture of the different groups of people are just as interesting. The Albuquerque museum is a great place to go to learn and see the art, culture, and history of the city as a whole.

The main history exhibit, “Only in Albuquerque”, is divided into four areas: spirited, resourceful, courageous, and innovative. Each one gives different information about the city and its people. As city history museums are usually organized chronologically, organizing by overarching themes was interesting.

The art gallery features southwest artists. The museum also organized this gallery in a different way. Instead of dividing the art into groups by artist nationality, like many museums, they organized it into sections by guiding questions.

Other rotating exhibits feature a diverse range of topics both related and unrelated to New Mexico. The Georgia O’Keefe and Henry Moore exhibition was a popular one when I visited. I enjoyed learning about journalism in the 1970s in NM.

Check the website for upcoming events. Free Old Town Tours are often offered. Unfortunately I had rough luck in ABQ as this tour was canceled.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center includes exhibits, guided tours, cultural dances, other cultural events, a gift shop, and a restaurant. Admission is not required for the gift shop or restaurant (described below under ‘Where to Eat’). 

The indoor exhibits focus on the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. The permanent exhibit covers both the history and traditions of the people from the Pueblos and their current lives. Other temporary exhibits rotate throughout the year. 

Outdoors in the courtyard events take place throughout the year. Every weekend cultural dances are performed by one of the Pueblos. As the dances are a huge part of Pueblo tradition, I wish I would have been able to visit on a Saturday or Sunday. 

Guided tours of the large murals around the courtyard take place on Wednesday and Fridays. While the tours were canceled on the day I visited, I still enjoyed admiring them. 

Old Town Albuquerque

You can’t go to Albuquerque without spending some time walking around and shopping in the Old Town. Established by the Spanish in 1706 it was the earliest part of the city and still the nicest area to walk around.

It’s a small area full of charming patios. These outdoor alleyways and courtyards often have decorations, fountains, or other greenery against the adobe buildings. They lead to many local shops and galleries.

Old Town Plaza with San Felipe de Neri church along one side is also a nice spot.

As nice as it is to walk around at your leisure, there is so much history to this area. The best way to learn it is on a guided walking tour.

Eldora Chocolate

If you’re looking for hidden gems in Albuquerque that don’t make it on all the lists of what to do in Albuquerque, then take a private tour of Eldora Chocolate. 

Touring the small, local chocolate shop and factory was very informative and fun. I have been on a few chocolate tours and every time I learn something new. My guide was excellent and provided an overview of how to make chocolate, the history of cacao beans, and specific details to Eldora’s process. 

One of the best parts was walking through the storage room and chocolate kitchen. There were no glass dividers or specific observation spots. We were right in the action. Actually that was probably the second best part. All the samples were amazing! I think I hit the jackpot with the tour guide as she sampled everything I did and wanted to sample as much as me, haha. 

At only $12 for an hour-long tour full of samples, it is an absolute steal! You can purchase a tour online and then they will contact you to schedule. I emailed first to check availability and they responded almost immediately and I was scheduled for a tour a few hours later. 

What Else to Do in Albuquerque

The following are on my list of things to do in Albuquerque on my next visit. 

• Hispanic Cultural Center: Just as Pueblos and Native Americans are a large part of the cultural makeup of Albuquerque, so are Hispanics. 
• Sandia Peak Tramway: Aerial tram over the Sandia Mountains. Great views and hiking trails are at the top. 
• Turquoise Museum: Exhibits that showcase a large turquoise collection.
• ABQ BioPark: Includes the zoo, the botanical gardens, and the aquarium. 
• South Broadway Cultural Center: The center has a variety of performances and art exhibitions. 
• Petroglyph National Monument: Hiking trails that show hundreds of preserved petroglyphs. 

Where to Eat in Albuquerque

If you’re looking for where to eat in Albuquerque, you’ll definitely want to indulge in New Mexican cuisine. The cuisine is a flavorful mix of Spanish, Mexican, and Indigenous flavors. 

Wherever you decide to go, make sure to try as many New Mexican dishes with chile as you can! Chile is one of New Mexico’s state vegetables and can be found in so many diverse foods. 

Church Street Cafe – New Mexican

There are a lot of New Mexican restaurants in the Old Town. Church Street Cafe doesn’t have the best service, but the atmosphere and food are good. Make sure to order an entree that comes with a sopapilla, a sweet fried pastry.

Ask for a table at the outdoor patio in the back. The patio with a fountain is a lovely place to eat.

La Reforma – Mexican

There is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in Albuquerque either. La Reforma is a good place to eat before or after visiting the Balloon Museum. They serve a variety of classic Mexican dishes including tacos, burritos, tortas, and quesadillas. The tacos are Mexican style with cilantro and onions. I tried four different kinds: al pastor, carnitas, carne asada, and pescado. I would happily order all of them again. Like everywhere in New Mexico they come with red and green chile on the side. 

Indian Pueblo Kitchen – Indigenous

This restaurant is the perfect place for breakfast or lunch when visiting the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Located within the center, it is owned by New Mexico’s Pueblos and features Indigenous dishes. I ordered the harvest salad and a cup of the red chile beef bone posolé that came with a choice of bread. I would say definitely choose the fry bread, but the pueblo oven bread sounded very tempting too. The fry bread was incredible and definitely something to try when in New Mexico. 

Green Jeans Farmery – Food Hall

When I lived in Atlanta I got really into food halls. Now throughout my travels I always seek them out wherever I go. Made out of shipping containers, Green Jeans has to be one of the most unique! 

It is home to a handful of different local businesses that serve a variety of cuisines. I wanted to try Rustic on the Green as they are known for their green chili cheeseburger. Unfortunately they were closed so I took a break from all the New Mexican chili centric dishes and ordered a pizza from Amore. 

It’s a great spot with outdoor dining. Many of the tables are upstairs. I recommend timing your visit to coincide with sunset. 

Where Else to Eat in Albuquerque

As I explained in the transportation section above, the public transit and walking options were limited. I ended up taking a lot of Lyfts and Ubers. Many of the drivers were friendly locals who were happy to provide recommendations. Here are a few other places recommended to me by locals:

• Monica’s
• Tiny Grocer
• Sawmill Market
• 505 Central Market 
• The Range Cafe
• D.H. LesCombes Winery & Bistro
• Sadie’s of New Mexico

Where to Stay in Albuquerque

Hampton Inn – University Midtown

After the very strange and long check in process my first night, my stay at the Hampton Inn was great. The rooms were clean and modern. The breakfast buffet included three hot items that changed daily. The fresh baked cookies in the late afternoon were a delicious surprise! 

More Places to Stay in Albuquerque

If I visited Albuquerque without a car again, I would stay in the Old Town or Downtown. The following are all highly rated and in a good location. 

• The Monterey Motel – A budget motel that was recently renovated.
• Homewood Suites Downtown – A modern hotel with breakfast included.
• Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn – This is a lovely property with really good breakfasts. 
• Hotel Chaco – A luxury 4 star hotel right in the Old Town.

Santa Fe: Activities, Restaurants, Accommodations 

 

What to Do in Santa Fe

I wrote a separate post for all the unique things to do in Santa Fe. Check it out for art, history, outdoor, and food suggestions in Santa Fe. 

Where to Eat in Santa Fe

Santa Fe has a great food scene full of New Mexican restaurants serving the state’s classic chile centric cuisine. Read my New Mexican chile post to see what to order at some of the following Santa Fe restaurants. 

If spicy isn’t your cup of tea or you are looking for some variety, there are plenty of other places to eat in Santa Fe of various cuisines. 

Plaza Cafe – New Mexican 

A lot of times restaurants on the main square in town are the most touristy and not the best quality. While I’m sure Plaza Cafe is full of tourists, the food and service were very good.

The outdoor patio facing the square is lovely too! While the indoors has a cool, American diner vibe, if it’s a nice day wait for a table outdoors! 

The Shed – New Mexican 

It’s no wonder that Santa Fe has so many places to eat outdoors considering the overwhelming number of sunny, bright blue sky days. The Shed Restaurant’s courtyard is another place to enjoy a lovely day or beautiful sunset in Santa Fe. A lot of people have the same idea, so make reservations ahead of time or make a day of reservation in person at 4pm. 

All the New Mexican dishes are delicious, but I loved the garlic bread that was served with the meal. 

The Pantry Rio – New Mexican 

This is another Santa Fe restaurant with a great outdoor patio. Dinner is only available during the summer. You can enjoy breakfast or lunch all year-round though. I recommend the New Mexican breakfast items like the breakfast burrito with carne adovada. 

Tres Colores – Mexican 

There are a lot of fine dining and sit down restaurants in downtown Santa Fe. There are plenty of casual spots for breakfast and lunch, but it’s harder to find a casual dinner spot around downtown Santa Fe. Tres Colores is a counter service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The southern Mexican cuisine features classics like tacos and enchiladas. 

Santafamous Street Eats – New Mexican Food Truck 

If you’re looking for something a little quicker or cheaper, visit the food trucks across the street from the state capitol. I had my eye on Santafamous which serves breakfast burritos for only $5! Despite the low price, it was one of my favorite meals in Santa Fe!

Every food truck has their own hours. Santafamous is open weekdays from about 7am – 2pm. There is some communal seating behind the food trucks. 

The Burger Stand – American 

What could be more American than a cheeseburger? New Mexico puts its own spin on the American classic with green chile! While I do highly suggest you try the green chile cheeseburger, the Burger Stand has a variety of creative burgers. Don’t worry if you are like my Dad or my uncle (there will be no confusion to which uncle I am referring to), you can order a classic burger too. 

There is also a variety of fries. Go all out with the green chile fries or try the sweet potato ones full of cinnamon and sugary goodness! 

Dumpling Tea – Chinese

I can’t go too long without craving some sort of Asian cuisine! Dumpling Tea was just the place I needed. The location inside a mall wasn’t the most inviting compared to all the restaurants with outdoor patios and beautifully decorated interiors. When I found out they don’t serve water, have no wifi, and one waiter was coughing a lot, I decided to take my food to go. 

While the experience in the restaurant left a bit to be desired, the pork fried rice noodles were very tasty! 

Santarepa Cafe – Venezuelan 

If you’re lucky enough to have a long visit in Santa Fe, you may start to get tired of New Mexican and Mexican cuisine. Even if you aren’t, veer away from the local cuisine and stop at this Venezuelan cafe. They serve some of the best arepas I have ever had! I was given yucca fries because there was a wait. It wasn’t that long of a wait, but it got me tasty yucca fries! 

Upper Crust Pizza – Italian 

You’ll smell the delicious aromas of Upper Crust Pizza from down the block. I ordered a salad here to cancel out all the hearty food I was eating. While I was waiting for my order I was having second thoughts because not only did the pizzas smell delicious, they looked just as good. I didn’t get a chance to come back for pizza, but if you don’t want any more New Mexican follow your nose to this pizza place! They also have calzones and sandwiches.  

Boultawn’s Bagelry & Cafe 

Boultawn’s is a cute cafe for dine-in or take-out. Come for breakfast, lunch, or the best bagel in town! Despite already having breakfast, when I arrived at the cafe I almost had my second breakfast because the bagel sandwiches sounded so good. I regretfully only ordered a green chile bagel to go. It was the star of my lunch later in the day!  

Sweet Treats

Balance out all the spicy chiles with some sugary goodness. For donuts visit Whoo’s Donuts. I rarely follow the crowd, but with food I always ask for the most popular. It’s popular for a reason. The blue corn blueberry wouldn’t have usually grabbed my attention, but I see why it’s what they are known for.

Follow the Santa Fe Chocolate Trail, described in my guide to things to do in Santa Fe for all the best chocolate shops and bakeries. 

Where Else to Eat in Santa Fe

I always research and find way more places I want to eat, then I have time to try. These are some more highly rated and/or recommended places including some higher end restaurants. 

• Sazón
• Tia Sophias
• Tomasita’s
• La Fogata
• Luminaria Restaurant & Patio
• La Plazuela at La Fonda

Where to Stay in Santa Fe

El Sendero Inn is in the perfect location on the southeast border of the Old Town. Almost all of the top things to do in Santa Fe are within walking distance. The rooms are nice with all the amenities you could want. 

There is a basic, complimentary continental breakfast every morning.  Yogurt, whole pieces of fruit, granola bars, and a few other packaged goods are included. Juice and coffee are available 24/7. A lovely outdoor pool is included as well.

More Places to Stay in Santa Fe

Unless you have a car, you’ll definitely want to stay in or around the Old Town. Even with a car, it’s handier to be closer to all the Santa Fe attractions so you don’t need to worry about finding parking. Here are a few more places with excellent reviews and location. 

• Old Santa Fe Inn: A local southwestern style inn with a fabulous breakfast.

• Casa de Tres Lunas: A local inn close to the heart of Santa Fe, but on a quieter street. 

• Eldorado Hotel & Spa: Pueblo revival style 4 star hotel with the Nidah Spa.

• La Fonda on the Plaza: A historic, luxury hotel that used to be a Fred Harvey hotel! 

Albuquerque and Santa Fe are both fantastic southwestern cities to visit in New Mexico. If I helped you plan your Albuquerque and Santa Fe trip, please consider supporting me by buying me a coffee!

More About New Mexico

• How Many Ways Can You Try New Mexican Chiles?
• Unique Things to Do in Santa Fe

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