Santa Fe, NM Travel Guide: 2024 Locals Edition6 min read
Welcome to Santa Fe, New Mexico! You are in a city full of rich history and culture and incredible food.
If it’s your first time visiting, this locals guide will set you up perfectly and if it’s your fifth or 10th, hopefully you’ll learn something new!
Let’s get into it!
Where to Stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Ideally, you will pick a spot that is close to downtown Santa Fe. I say this because too many people end up staying in South Santa Fe which isn’t ideal and far from the majority of the Best Things to do in Santa Fe.
Some places closer to downtown that I recommend include
La Fonda on the Plaza
La Fonda on the Plaza is smack dab in the heart of Santa Fe! This is a historic place to stay and expect to be paying a high price for a stay here.
Address: 100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
El Rey Court
One place in particular that as a local to Santa Fe I dream about doing a staycation at is the El Rey Court. This IS NOT a downtown hotel but it’s a beautiful boutique motel property with a range of on site options that don’t disappoint.
Don’t be discouraged by distance, it is only 2.5 miles away and is near many excellent food options in Santa Fe.
Address: 1862 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Where to Eat in Santa Fe
My favorite part about creating helpful travel guides for Santa Fe is recommending the amazing places to eat here. Seriously, there are so many options that will satisfy the whole group.
The Shed/La Choza
You can’t visit Santa Fe without trying some amazing New Mexican cuisine. When I or any food critics think of the Best New Mexican Restaurants in Santa Fe, The Shed or La Choza is the first place that always come to mind!
These are also sister restaurants so if there’s an ungodly long wait time at either (good chance) you can check the other. They are also in different parts of the city so if your plans align, that might just be favorable as well.
The Shed is in heart of downtown while La Choza is close to downtown but closer to the Railyard District.
Parking is horrendous at both so just be forewarned.
Paper Dosa
Head to Paper Dosa if you want to stray away from the New Mexican cuisine and have some unbelievable Southern Indian food. This place also has horrible parking and often long waits. Plan accordingly to get into this very popular Santa Fe Restaurant.
Paloma
I actually haven’t eaten here yet but this is always a place thats consistently highly regarded as a best place for Dinner in Santa Fe. Located in the heart of the Railyard district, Paloma hopefully won’t prove you wrong.
Mille Cafe
We’ve touched on excellent dinner and lunch options this far but nothing for the early morning crowd. If an unforgettable breakfast or brunch option is what you’re after, head straight to the French Bakery and Cafe, Mille.
We especially like it here since there’s usually capacity to eat and if there’s a long line to order, you can pretty much always find somewhere to sit!
Dolina
Another top place for Brunch or Breakfast in Santa Fe is Dolina. Recipient of a James Beard Award, Dolina never disappoints for a great start to a day in Santa Fe. Get there early as lines are common and can be long.
There are a zillion other places we could recommend, but here are some other Santa Fe food guides that might help too!
Best Breakfast Burritos Santa Fe
The Best Places for Pizza in Santa Fe
Things to Do in Santa Fe
I’ve gone into deep details about the Best Things to do in Santa Fe, but to keep it short and sweet for you, here are some ideas:
Hike Pichacho Peak
This hike is really worth it especially if you are looking to get out and active in Santa Fe. You will be blessed with one of the best views in Northern New Mexico and certainly burn off some of the heavy meals you’ve already enjoyed.
If you need more ideas for hitting the trails in the area, check out all of the best hikes in Santa Fe.
Visit the Never Ending Amount of Museums/Galleries
There’s a good chance that you’re here to explore the endless display of art and artists. Good on ya because it’s the right spot for it.
The Galleries of Canyon Road is a great starting point as there are something like 400 galleries on one road! Museum Hill has a ton (haven’t been yet). The downtown area also has a lot and then going south on Cerrillos Road you will find even more.
Relax in World Class Spas
Santa Fe is a place of tranquility and relaxation. There are some really impressive spas to consider to really match this tone. 10,000 Waves is an unbelievable Japanese Spa nestled in the mountainside of Santa Fe but only 10-15 minutes outside of town!
Worthwhile Day Trips from Santa Fe
There are some awesome easy day trip options from Santa Fe that should be considered for your trip.
Santa Fe to Taos – Taos has additional outdoor opportunities and one in particular is visiting the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge! This gorge is HUGE and the backdrop of the Taos Ski Valley Mountains always is worthwhile .
Santa Fe to Albuquerque – Albuquerque despite its reputation as a dangerous and drug infested city, is worth a trip in my opinion. Check out the Sandia Peak Tram and get a view from 10,000 feet! Consider riding the Railrunner from Santa Fe to Albuquerque
Getting in and Out of Santa Fe
Flying into Santa Fe is the most convenient option of getting to our high elevation city but I understand it can easily be a lot more expensive.
If you are flying into Santa Fe, I highly recommend seeing what point redemptions you can cash in with American Airlines (point values can really be good here at times!).
Santa Fe Airport to Downtown/Your Hotel
The Santa Fe airport is only about a 15-20 minute drive to town and is a super easy option for visitors. If you don’t have a rental car or friend getting you, you can grab an Uber/Taxi for about $20.
Albuquerque Airport to Santa Fe
For those who elected to fly into Albuquerque, read my guide about all of your options of getting to Santa Fe from ABQ airport. (Will definitely save you money!)
More Santa Fe Travel Guides and Useful Information
- Parking is usually horrible on weekends. Try to walk if you can
- If you are looking for Cannabis, there is an abundance of Cannabis shops around the entire city.
- Elevation acclimation is real. Read our guide about tips for dealing with altitude sickness
- Wear sunscreen! Santa Fe is sunny and sits at 7,200 feet!
- Public transportation isn’t the best
If there’s any other help you or information you need, please contact me for any tailored trip options or help!