Hello there! Visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico? You’re in the right place. This post is all about fun and unique things to do in Santa Fe!
First, the basics:
Santa Fe, New Mexico is an amazing little city. Despite its small size, about 80,000 residents, there is so much to see and see in the city. The city features a plethora of adorable shops, beautiful architecture, delicious restaurants, and a variety of interesting museums! There is truly something for every type of traveler, and you’re sure to love Santa Fe!
Sounds great, right?
Keep reading for my recommendations for fun and unique things to do during your trip!
How long to spend in Santa Fe: For a first time visit to Santa Fe I would recommend two to three days. A long weekend is a great amount of time to get to know the city, and to visit some of the top tourist attractions.
1: Take a Trolly Tour of Santa Fe
On your first day in Santa Fe take a trolly tour around the city on the Loretto Line!
The adorable open air trolly has three pick-up times per day and two pick up locations (at the Loretto Chapel and La Fonda Hotel.)
The pick up times vary slightly by pick-up location, so check out the schedule linked here for trolly schedule.
The tours are 1 hour and 15 minutes and $20 for adults and $15 for kids. There is no advance sale of tickets, so just show up to a pick-up stop about 15-20 minutes before the departure time.
This tour is a really great way to learn more about Santa Fe and its history. Our trolly driver was super informative, and I learned so much about Santa Fe and saw areas and neighborhoods that I would not have visited on my own.
This is a great activity to do on your first day in Santa Fe, as it’s a wonderful introduction to the city!
2: Check out the museums – especially the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
For being such a small city, Santa Fe has a wide selection of museums to visit. There are so many awesome museums, such as the Georgia O’Keeffe, Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, and the New Mexico Museum of Art, just to name a few.
Most of the museums you can walk into with no reservation, but for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum be sure to reserve your timed tickets well in advance. They almost 100% will not have same day tickets available. While in Santa Fe, the Georgia O’Keeffe museum is really a must visit – they have so much of her amazing artwork on display!
3: Listen to live music in the Santa Fe Plaza
During the summer months (July through September), there is live music in the Santa Fe Plaza on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays!
The concerts start at 6pm, and they are great for all ages. You can bring a picnic and listen to music with the whole family. The best part is, the concerts are free!
This is one of the best outdoor activities in Santa Fe!
4: Visit the Loretto Chapel and the The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Santa Fe has multiple churches that are worth a visit, and two are right in the center of the city!
- The Loretto Chapel is a small, beautiful church built in 1878. It is currently privately owned, and there is a small fee to visit in order to help pay for the church’s upkeep.
- The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is located directly next to the Santa Fe Plaza, and is truly beautiful. This Cathedral has masses multiple times during the week.
5: Visit Old San Miguel Mission – the oldest church in the USA
The Old San Miguel Mission was built in 1610, and is currently the oldest church in the United States. It is a very cool experience to visit the chapel, and learn more about its history.
The church is free to visit, and all donations support the church’s upkeep and maintenance.
6: Check out the Oldest House in Santa Fe
Located across the street from the San Miguel Mission, you’ll find the De Vargas house (on De Vargas street.) Although the exact date of construction is unknown, this house is believed to be the oldest home in Santa Fe, and one of the oldest in the country.
I only saw the outside of the house, but it is also a history museum and gift shop that is open to visitors.
7: Visit the Art Galleries on Canyon Road
Canyon Road is an art lover’s paradise!
Canyon Road is a mile long street in Santa Fe that is filled with amazing art galleries. This area is completely dedicated to art, and there are more than 100 art galleries to visit!
It is so much fun to walk up the road stopping by the galleries and checking out their beautiful art. You can easily walk the entirety of Canyon Road, and it makes a great place to spend a few hours.
The galleries do close relatively early, 5pm-6pm, so be sure to visit in the morning or early afternoon.
8: Visit the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market
Fresh produce, flowers and sweets anyone?
The Santa Fe Farmers’ Market, located in the railyard, is a great place to visit for locally grown food and flowers. During the summer months, the market is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and during the rest of the year the market is open on Saturdays only.
I bought gorgeous flowers at the market that I brought back to New York City to dry.
9: Take a Tour of the State Capitol Building
Interested in politics? Or do you just want to see some cool art?
The New Mexico State Capitol Building is an interesting place to stop for a visit! The building is free to enter, and once inside you can check out the House and Senate Chambers as well as all of the beautiful art throughout the building.
Fun fact: The Capitol Building is round, and it’s the only round Capitol. Building in the USA!
10: Visit Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf is an interactive and immersive art experience that is regarded as a must visit for all ages. There are over 70 rooms in Meow Wolf for visitors to check out and it is said to be super cool.
We booked tickets to Meow Wolf, but sadly, we got caught up visiting the galleries on Canyon Road and forgot to visit. I am so disappointed that we weren’t able to see the exhibit, but it’s on the list for my next trip.
Be sure to book tickets in advance, they’re $40 for adults and $25 for children.
This is a great activity for couples, groups of friends and families!
11: Take Day Trips
Santa Fe is located in a great area for day trips!
During my trip I visited both Chimayo and Taos, and they are great stops.
- Chimayo is a small town about 35 minutes from Santa Fe and is known for its beautiful sanctuary and religious grounds. It’s a popular location for Catholic pilgrimages, and is definitely a great visit. The dirt and soil in Chimayo is said to have healing powers.
- Taos is an adorable art town located about an hour and a half from Santa Fe. In Taos you’ll find lots of art galleries, coffee shops and boutiques. It’s a great day trip, and a relaxing and fun place to spend the day.
- Albuquerque is New Mexico’s largest city! While I’ve never visited, it’s an easy day trip – 1 hour by car, or 1.5 hours by train.
Chimayo, New Mexico 
Taos, New Mexico
Santa Fe Hotel Recommendations
- La Fonda on the Plaza ($$$)
- Hotel St. Francis ($$)
- Las Palomas ($$)
- Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi ($$$)
- The Inn of Five Graces ($$$$)
- Hotel Santa Fe (located 15 minutes walking to the Santa Fe Plaza)
- El Rey Court (located 2.5 miles from the Santa Fe Plaza)
For more great hotel options in Santa Fe, and to book, click here!
Restaurant Recommendations
- Sage Bakehouse – (breakfast + lunch) delicious bread and pastries
- Vinaigrette – (lunch + dinner) some of the best salads I’ve ever had
- The Shed – (lunch + dinner) delicious New Mexican food
- La Choza – (lunch + dinner) sister restaurant to The Shed
- Jambo Cafe – (lunch and dinner) Caribbean + African food featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
- El Farol – (happy hour + dinner) delicious tapas
- The Paleta Bar – (dessert) specialty and customizable popsicles
Thanks for reading about the best fun and unique things to do in Santa Fe, New Mexico! We hope you have the best trip!
If you have any questions, or anything to add to the list, let us know in the comments! Also, follow and DM us on Instagram, @twosistersabroad. We love to connect on social media!
New Mexico is state 27 on our 50 state challenge – check it out for tons of fun itineraries and recommendations across the USA!
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♡Kate
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Santa Fe definitely looks like a great city break destination. I love the architecture and the fact that there’s a lot to see and do in the city. Thanks for sharing.
I absolutely love all these Santa Fe recommendations! I have always thought about staying there, but wasn’t sure what there was to do there. Everything you recommend looks like a great time, and I love the architecture. I’ll have to pin this for the future!
Santa Fe looks like the perfect town I would love to visit. I love all the arty stuff here – Georgia O’Keeffe museum and the art galleries, as also the live music. The choice of day trips looks interesting too. Bookmarking your blog post..:-)
Santa Fe seems to be a lovely place to visit. I would love to visit the farmer’s market and the museums. Your blog has inspired me to go to Santa Fe in the future 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
I went once with my family when I was a kid and I remember we went to the old mission, and a bunch of galleries both indoor and outdoor. I loved all the artists booths outside along the street. I’d love to go back now that I’m older and truly explore! Especially Meow Wolf!
Awesome photos as usual! I would love to see all the cool New Mexico architecture. Thanks for the great post:)
Loving the unique architecture of the buildings here! It looks like an amazing city to explore for a couple of days, and it’s great that there are so many nice restaurants to choose from as well.
Santa Fe looks so cute and Instagrammable! Thanks for this great post. I’m hoping to visit once the pandemic is over so I will definitely refer back to this post for ideas of things to do when I’m there 🙂
I love Santa Fe! Have been there a few time. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is a must! There is also a fantastic Japanese Spa that is out of this world. The food in Santa Fe is exceptional.
I don’t live too far from New Mexico but have never really explored the area. This is a great beginning spot. The Farmer’s Market is always a draw for me.
i absolutely love Santa Fe — i visited once about 10 years ago & i see so much has changed, so i’ll definitly have to make a trip out there again… i’d love to check out Meow Wolf!