Best Things to Do in Santa Fe, NM
Best Things to Do in Santa Fe, NM
Plan Your Trip
Looking for things to do in Santa Fe that go beyond the galleries and gift shops?
New Mexico's oldest capital city packs four centuries of conquest, faith, and grief into one walkable downtown core, from the historic Plaza to some of the oldest churches and houses in the country.
Buy Loretto Chapel and San Miguel Chapel tickets at the door—neither sells out, but both keep set hours, so check ahead if you want to go inside rather than just view them from the street.
Bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and water, since Santa Fe sits at over 7,000 feet and the desert sun is stronger than it feels. One detail most visitors don't expect: Santa Fe's altitude can cause mild shortness of breath or fatigue the first day, so pace yourself, especially on a walking tour.
Top Things to Do
1. Take Santa Fe's Haunted History Walking Tour—A self-guided audio tour through downtown Santa Fe's real history and the ghost stories tied to it.
2. Walk Santa Fe Plaza—The historic heart of the city, site of rebellion, conquest, and four centuries of change.
3. Visit the Palace of the Governors—The oldest continuously used public building in the United States.
4. See the Loretto Chapel's spiral staircase—A staircase with two full turns and no center pole, built by a carpenter whose identity was a mystery for generations.
5. Tour the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi—Santa Fe's grand stone cathedral, built over a church destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.
6. Explore Sena Plaza—A hidden thirty-three-room family compound tucked behind a plain street wall.
7. Visit San Miguel Chapel—One of the oldest churches still in use in the United States.
8. Walk through the Barrio de Analco—Santa Fe's oldest neighborhood, and home to the Oldest House in America.
Download the Complete Travel Guide
Includes:
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✓ Complete travel guide
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✓ Printable map
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✓ One-day itinerary
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✓ Hidden gems
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✓ Travel tips
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✓ Offline access
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✓ Bonus recommendations not included on this page
Our Self Guided Tour
Santa Fe's Haunted History Walking Tour is a GPS-triggered audio tour through downtown Santa Fe. Start whenever you want, pause to shop or eat, and take as long as you like. Most walkers finish the route in 30 to 60 minutes.
Free Things to Do
1. Santa Fe Plaza—A free public square open at all hours.
2. The Palace of the Governors (exterior and portal)—Free to view from the street; the Native American artisans' market under the portal is also free to browse.
3. Sena Plaza—Free to walk through during business hours.
4. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi—Free to enter.
5. Burro Alley—A free public lane and small plaza.
STOPS WITH ADMISSION FEES:
1. Loretto Chapel (~$5 adult admission).
2. San Miguel Chapel (~$7 adult admission).
Food!
Tia Sophia's
A Santa Fe institution since the 1970s, known for classic New Mexican breakfast and lunch just off the Plaza.
The Shed
A longtime local favorite for traditional New Mexican cuisine in a historic downtown adobe building.
La Plazuela at La Fonda on the Plaza
A beautiful courtyard dining room inside La Fonda, one of the tour's own stops, serving Southwestern fare under a glass-roofed atrium.
Where to Stay
Luxury
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi, The Inn of Five Graces—both steps from the Plaza with refined Southwest style. Roughly 400-600/night.
Moderate
La Fonda on the Plaza, Drury Plaza Hotel, Inn and Spa at Loretto—all directly on or near the tour route. Roughly 200-350/night.
Budget
Santa Fe Motel & Inn, Inn of the Governors—both an easy walk to downtown. Roughly 120-200/night.
1 Day Itinerary
1-DAY ITINERARY:
Morning: Take Santa Fe's Haunted History Walking Tour, starting at Burro Alley.
Afternoon: Browse the Native American artisans' market under the Palace of the Governors portal, then grab lunch at Tia Sophia's or The Shed.
Evening: Dinner at La Plazuela at La Fonda, then walk the Plaza as the sun sets.
2-DAY ITINERARY:
Day 2: Visit the New Mexico Museum of Art or the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, then explore Canyon Road's galleries.
Extra Time: Day-trip the High Road to Taos for mountain views and historic villages along the way.
FAQ's
1. How long does it take to see downtown Santa Fe?
A half day covers the Plaza and nearby historic sites; a full day lets you add museums and galleries.
2. Is Santa Fe's downtown walkable?
Yes. Most major historic sites, including everything on the Haunted History Walking Tour, sit within about a mile of the Plaza.
3. What's the best time of year to visit Santa Fe?
Spring and fall offer the mildest weather. Summer brings warm days and cool nights; winter can bring snow, especially in December and January.
4. Do I need a car to get around downtown?
Not for downtown itself. A car helps for day trips like the High Road to Taos or Bandelier National Monument.
5. Is Santa Fe family-friendly?
Yes, with free public plazas, museums, and an easy, walkable layout. Some stops on the haunted tour touch on executions and grief, so preview those stops for younger kids.
6. What should I know about Santa Fe's altitude?
Santa Fe sits over 7,000 feet above sea level. Visitors sometimes feel short of breath or tired the first day—pace yourself and drink plenty of water.
7. Are Loretto Chapel and San Miguel Chapel open every day?
Both keep regular visiting hours but can vary seasonally, so check ahead before planning your stop times.
8. What's the best time of day for the Haunted History Walking Tour?
Late afternoon or evening fits the mood best, but the tour works at any time of day.
Recommended Tours
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