6 Things You Must Do in Santa Fe, New Mexico

1. Find something unique in the plaza shops

Shopping in Santa Fe is different than any other city I’ve visited. The plaza boasts hundreds of stores offering everything from home décor to high-end jewelry.

In the open-air markets, you’ll find artisan pottery, woven blankets, embroidered dresses and more Southwest cultural items. These shops offer thousands of unique keepsakes to commemorate your trip to Santa Fe.

Then, there are shopping centers like Water Street Plaza (pictured above) that operate like mini-malls. These areas feature a mix of individual stores and food stands. If there’s bad weather, step into an indoor shopping center like Paso de Luz. Here, you can shop without getting wet or overheating.

Santa Fe is famous for authentic Native American jewelry, especially turquoise. I bought up a pair of turquoise and silver earrings. They’re now a treasured part of my jewelry collection. Other key items include accessories like western hats, belts and bolo ties.

2. Stay at a Santa Fe inn or B&B

Deciding where to stay in Santa Fe depends on your itinerary and travel style. Research a few lodging options before you book one.

Santa Fe is a historic city, so modern hotels are hard to find. Most people choose an inn or bed & breakfast as there are many in town. Each has its own unique take on Southwest style.

[TRAVEL TIP] B&Bs may not have all the amenities as a traditional hotel. Check for things like a pool, fitness center, etc. if those are important to you.

I fell in love with the room decor in the Inn at Vanessie. This inn embodies the Santa Fe aesthetic with adobe walls, pueblo-style doors and geometric elements. The hanging chili peppers are the chef’s kiss.

My room was bigger than the hotel rooms I normally book. It had windows all around that let light in beautifully. Most impressive is how clean the room was. No trash, dust or bugs.

Past that, the staff made minimal contact but was there to help when I needed it.

3. Get drinks in Santa Fe Railyard

Photo Credit: Rennett Stowe from USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Don’t miss Santa Fe’s Railyard district, a newer hotspot for entertainment. Built around the Santa Fe Depot railway station, the area is filled with things to do.

Railyard hosts festivals throughout the year like the annual International Folk Art Market. You can also visit for weekly events like artisan and farmers markets.

Check Railyard’s event calendar to see what’s happening during your trip.

4. Explore Santa Fe hiking trails and lakes

Photo Credit: Tstock09, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Surrounded by rugged terrain, Santa Fe offers exciting hikes with breathtaking views. Here are some of my favorite hikes near Santa Fe:

• Santa Fe Rail Trail (pictured above) runs south, along the side of the rail train. Trail access starts in the Railyard district at the Santa Fe Depot station. The trail is linear, so plan to turn around to get back to town.
• La Tierra Trails are a group of scenic paths through a rocky area northwest of Santa Fe Plaza. Interlocking trails offer routes for hikers of all skill levels. Try this 2-mile loop route via the Frijoles Trailhead.
• Two Mile Pond is surrounded by trails that vary in difficulty. There’s a 2-mile loop around the pond that’s best for beginners. The more challenging canyon loop runs about 3 miles with elevations that are great for photos. You’ll need a car to get there.
• Santa Fe River Trail (pictured below) is a massive city trail you can access from the plaza. You can start at De Vargas Park. Travel east for a more urban walk and west for a more remote hike. Check this trail map for more details.

You can also find lakes nearby, including Santa Fe Lake (20 minutes), Cochiti Lake (45 min) Nambe Falls Lake.

Photo Credit: Netherzone, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

5. Look at Santa Fe art galleries around the plaza

Photo Credit: By John Phelan – Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link

Painting and sculpture are at the heart of the city’s culture, so visiting a gallery or museum is something you must do.

You’ll see many galleries as you walk around the plaza, but my favorite stop for art was the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. It’s backed by the Institute of American Indian Arts and features collections of art by native designers. Your entrance fee goes toward a good cause and the art really stands out from a typical museum.

6. Sample Santa Fe breweries around the plaza

Browsing the area’s home-grown beers is one of the most fun things to do in Santa Fe. There are several cellars and tap houses where you can taste what local breweries have to offer.

I went to two breweries on a Saturday, and boy were they full of interesting people. The beers were tasty too but served as more of a background for some lively conversations with the folks I traveled with.

At Chili Line Brewing Company, I had a “watermelon cider” which is something I’ve never tried before. We were also lucky enough to observe a comedy show for the Native American community. I learned more about the natives in that short time than I have from a lifetime of movies and TV. Highly recommend.

Over at Desert Dogs Brewery and Cidery, we tried out a few beers, my favorite being a blackberry cider. It’s a bit tough to get to since it’s inside the Plaza Mercado building. The good news is that you can slip out to the balcony inside to enjoy a drink overlooking the street. This place was very lively with some local teachers there celebrating the end of the school year.