The Santa Fe Getaway Guide

Note: This post was written in partnership with Tourism Santa Fe. However, as always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been on my bucket list for ages. I finally had the opportunity to go, and let me tell you, this beautiful and culture rich city did not disappoint! If you’re thinking of planning a Santa Fe getaway, this post will help you choose where to eat, sleep, shop and play in Santa Fe.

Overall, Santa Fe was even more stylish than I expected. The art scene ranges from traditional to immersive contemporary. The shopping is unreal – next time, I’m bringing an empty suitcase and filling it full of turquoise jewelry and rugs. And their famous Native American market hosts an annual haute couture fashion show (!!) that I’m dying to attend next summer.

Keep reading to learn all about my new favorite desert chic travel destination – Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Where is Santa Fe

Santa Fe, the capital city of New Mexico, is located in the American Southwest.

The city of Santa Fe is 7,199 feet (2,194 m) above sea level, so if you’re like me, you may need a little bit of time to adjust to the altitude during your Santa Fe getaway. Drinking a lot of water during your trip will help!

Myths About Santa Fe

Some people have asked me whether Santa Fe is located outside the U.S. and whether I needed a passport to get there from New York. Nope, and nope. Santa Fe is in New Mexico, which is a U.S. state situated north of the country of Mexico. It’s a domestic flight within the United States.

I’ve also had people ask me whether Santa Fe is hot all year round. Nope again. Although Santa Fe averages 300 sunny days per year, it experiences all four seasons and even gets snow in the winter.

When to Go

Santa Fe is year-round destination, depending on the activities you have planned. Summer is peak season and when the days are hottest. Spring and fall are also great times to visit with milder temperatures. During the winter, Santa Fe can be chilly and snowy, but there is world class skiing and snowboarding nearby at Taos.

Getting There

We flew directly into Santa Fe airport. Santa Fe is also an hour away from Albuquerque airport.

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Getting Around

If you plan to stick to the city center, you can get by with walking and taking Uber as needed. If you plan to day trip outside Santa Fe, you’ll want to rent a car.

Where to Stay

Santa Fe has a wide range of options for accommodations. My favorite properties are listed below, and you can read about these properties in more detail here.

Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder is a luxury hotel and casino. Located outside of the heart of Santa Fe, it’s an ideal escape for anyone looking to unwind and enjoy its resort style amenities.

Hotel Santa Fe is the only Native American owned hotel in downtown Santa Fe. I love the location of the hotel, which is an easy walk to both Santa Fe’s famous Plaza and the trendy Railyard District.

La Fonda on the Plaza is one of Santa Fe’s most historic properties. It’s a great home base for couples looking for a romantic Santa Fe getaway.

What to Do

You can never get bored in Santa Fe – not only is it a mecca for art and culture, but it has a thriving foodie scene, high end spas, and excellent hiking and skiing nearby. Here are the best things to do during your Santa Fe getaway.

Museums, Art Galleries + Immersive Experiences

IAIA MoCNA

I’m a big modern art fan, so IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Art (MoCNA) (108 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM ) was one of my favorite museums in Santa Fe. MoCNA is the ONLY museum in the U.S. that exhibits contemporary Native American art. If you like contemporary art, MoCNA is a must-see.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors 62+, students, and New Mexico residents, and free for members, Native people, veterans and their families, youth 16 & under, and New Mexico residents visiting on Sunday.

Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf (1352 Rufina Cir., Santa Fe, NM) is an immersive modern art experience that started in Santa Fe and is launching soon in Las Vegas and Denver.

The experience starts in an eerie, empty Victorian home owned by the fictional Selig family who seem to have gone missing. Meow Wolf will lead you through portals and wormholes into the multiverse as you try to solve the mystery of where the Seligs have gone.

If you want to get the full experience and may even solve the mystery, plan to spend a few hours exploring Meow Wolf. Tickets are $29 for adults, $25 for seniors age 65+ and $21 for children 13 and under. Discounts are available to New Mexico residents.

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Museum of Indian Arts and Culture

The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM) has a large collection of Native American art – from early artwork to contemporary pieces.

Admission is $12 for adults and seniors, $11 for students and free for children. Discounts and certain free days are available to New Mexico residents.

SAR Indian Arts Research Center

The School for Advanced Research Indian Arts Research Center (SAR IARC) (660 Garcia Street, Santa Fe, NM) has an extensive collection – over 12,000 pieces! – of Native American art, including pottery and rugs.

You can sign up for a guided tour of the SAR IARC’s vaults if you’re interested in seeing their collection. Tour admission is $15, but free for Native American visitors.

Canyon Road

Canyon Road is home to over 100 art galleries, shops and restaurants all within a very charming half mile. If you’re coming to Santa Fe to buy art, make sure to stop by.

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Railyard District

The Railyard is one of Santa Fe’s trendiest neighborhoods, housing many of Santa Fe’s contemporary art galleries and a brewery.

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Poeh Cultural Center

The Poeh Cultural Center (78 Cities of Gold Road, Santa Fe, NM), established by the Pojoaque Pueblo’s Tribal Council, is a place where you can learn about the art and culture of the Pueblo people. They also have beautiful jewelry for sale. Admission is free but a donation is appreciated.

Wine Tasting

During our time in Santa Fe, we learned that northern New Mexico is actually the oldest wine growing region in the U.S. I had no idea! Vivac Winery (2075 State Highway 68 at the Dixon turn off ) continues the tradition of making wine in the region.

Run by brothers Jesse and Chris Padberg, and their wives, Michele and Liliana, Vivac Winery makes and sells award winning reds, whites and rosés.

Stop by their tasting room for a glass (or two), hear their inspirational success story that will make you want to run off and open your vineyard, and don’t forget to try Liliana’s handmade chocolate truffles.

Day Trips

Bandelier National Monument

Bandelier National Monument (5 Entrance Rd, Los Alamos, NM) is the ultimate excursion from Santa Fe. It combines hands on learning about Native American history in the area with moderate hikes and beautiful views. We toured the park with Great Southwest Adventures.

You can check out my in-depth post about visiting Bandelier National Monument here.

Taos

Taos is another great day trip from Santa Fe. Drive the scenic high road and go skiing or snowboarding in Taos in the winter. Or if you’re heading to Santa Fe to learn more about Native American culture, visit Taos Pueblo during one of their feast day celebrations.

Feast days include traditional Native American dances, food and other cultural activities. We visited for a feast day celebration and it was a memorable experience to watch traditional dancing in such a stunning natural setting.

Please note that photography is not allowed in Taos pueblo during feast days. If you as much as try to snap a photo, you risk having your phone or camera permanently confiscated.

Cooking Class

The Santa Fe School of Cooking (125 N Guadalupe St., Santa Fe, NM) offers both hands-on and demonstration style cooking classes. We spent an evening cooking Native American cuisine with Lois Ellen Frank, who is a New Mexico-based Native American Chef.

Not only was the food fantastic but we learned A LOT – for example, did you know that Italy didn’t have the tomato until contact between European and Native American people? Me neither!

Churches + Cathedrals

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi

The Saint Francis Cathedral (131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM) is one of Santa Fe’s most memorable landmarks. It was built between 1869 and 1886 and its European architecture contrasts the nearby adobe buildings.

Loretto Chapel

The Loretto Chapel (207 Old Santa Fe Trail,, Santa Fe, NM) is a gothic-revival chapel that was completed in 1878. It has a famous helix-shaped spiral staircase. At the very least, the staircase is a masterpiece of woodwork, having no central support pole and being held together by wooden pegs and glue (rather than nails). Some claim that the “miraculous staircase” was built by St. Joseph the Carpenter himself.

Spas

If you’re envisioning your Santa Fe getaway as more of a spa retreat, Ten Thousand Waves (21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, Santa Fe, NM) is styled after Japanese mountain hot springs resorts, called ryokans.

If you’re willing to venture about an hour out of Santa Fe, Ojo Caliente’s (50 Los Banos Drive, Ojo Caliente, NM) pools are fed by natural hot springs.

Casinos

Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder (20 Buffalo Thunder Trail, Santa Fe, NM) resort has a large Las Vegas-style casino with almost 70,000 square feet of gaming that includes 1,200 slot machines, a dedicated poker room, race book and a high limit slot area.

The Tesuque Casino (7 Tesuque Rd, Santa Fe, NM), one of the newest casinos in the area, has 800 slot machines and 10 types of table games. You can barely tell that smoking is allowed in the casino, since they have a sophisticated ventilation system.

Where to Eat

Santa Fe has a thriving culinary scene. Here are some great restaurant options for your Santa Fe getaway.

La Plazuela

La Plazuela at La Fonda (100 East San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM) has the most charming dining room we visited in Santa Fe. It has a secret garden and incredible chile rellenos for breakfast.

Sazon

Sazon (221 Shelby St, Santa Fe, NM) is a high end restaurant serving contemporary and traditional Mexican cuisine. It’s the ultimate place in Santa Fe for a celebratory dinner. Try their moles and their signature Sopa de Amor (aka soup of love).

I’ll never forget this dining experience for two reasons. First, Chef Olea is a memorable figure and we had the pleasure of meeting him during our meal. Second, Chef Olea tricked me into eating grasshoppers and I liked them. They don’t call the restaurant an adventure in flavor for nothing!

Museum Hill Cafe

Museum Hill Cafe (710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM) is an ideal upscale-casual lunch spot if you’re visiting the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Come hungry and try the smoked duck flautas.

Cottonwood Kitchen

Cottonwood Kitchen (7 Tesuque Village Rd, Santa Fe, NM), at the Tesuque Casino, has an impressive patio and great artichoke dip and mac and cheese.

Iconik Downtown Coffee Bar

Iconik Downtown Coffee Bar (202 Galisteo St, Santa Fe, NM) is a perfect spot to grab an iced coffee when you’re in downtown Santa Fe.

Rooftop Pizzeria

Rooftop Pizzeria (60 E San Francisco St #301, Santa Fe, NM) has views of the Plaza from its patio and fantastic thin crust pizzas. My favorite was the mushroom and truffle pizza.

Tiwa Kitchen Restaurant and Bakery

Tiwa Kitchen (328 Hwy to Town of Taos, Taos, NM) is located in Taos, not Santa Fe. If you’re day tripping to Taos, head to Tiwa Kitchen if you want to sample Native American cuisine and baked goods. Their cookies are gigantic and delicious.

Where to Shop

Don’t blow your budget before you hit the shops! The shopping in Santa Fe is beyond belief. Here are some of the best places to shop during your Santa Fe getaway.

Shiprock Santa Fe

Shiprock Santa Fe (3 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM) is a high end gallery and shop that sells historic and contemporary Navajo rugs and blankets, Native American jewelry, pottery and other art from leading Native American artists.

I’m only bummed that I didn’t get my tax refund ’til after we left Santa Fe. I could’ve spent the whole thing at Shiprock Santa Fe!

Native American Vendors Program of the Palace of the Governors

The north side of the Plaza borders 1610 Palace of the Governors, which is the oldest continually occupied public building in the U.S. A daily market has operated outside the Palace of the Governors for over 60 years. Artisans are selected in a daily lottery and the day’s winners sell their goods outside the Palace of the Governors. Not only can you find incredible Native American art and jewelry here, but you can actually buy those pieces directly from the artists themselves.

SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market

The Southwestern Associate for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market is the largest show featuring indigenous art worldwide. It’s held every August and attracts over 100,000 art lovers from around the world.

The Santa Fe Indian Market is a great place to buy authentic Native American art directly from the artists themselves. There’s even a haute couture fashion show as part of the event!

Magic Art Santa Fe

Magic Art Santa Fe (127 W Water St, Santa Fe, NM) is a taste of Turkey in Santa Fe. It has stunning lanterns and rugs for sale.

Kowboyz

Not only does it has the coolest exterior mural, but Kowboyz (345 W Manhattan Ave, Santa Fe, NM ) has a huge selection of new and vintage western wear and cowboy boots.

They call Santa Fe the City of Enchantment – and consider me enchanted! There is so much to do and see, and shop, that this oasis in the desert is a place I’ll definitely visit again.

I hope this post helps you plan your Santa Fe getaway. There is so much to do and see. Let me know in the comments if you think I’ve missed anything in my getaway guide!

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