Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

Unless you're in Santa Fe for just a few days, you're probably going to explore the rest of the northern Rio Grande Valley. For the best tour, combine either of these itineraries with those in the Albuquerque, Taos, and Side Trips chapters; the latter includes several side trips within a 60- to 90-minute drive of Santa Fe.

If You Have 1 Day

Breakfast in Santa Fe is a social tradition, so consider heading to one of the city's best breakfast spots, such as Cloud Cliff Bakery or Bagelmania. Drive to Museum Hill, spending the morning checking out the area's two best art collections, the Museum of International Folk Art and Museum of Spanish Colonial Art. Return to the Plaza for lunch at the Plaza Café or, nearby, Santacafé. Stroll around the Plaza area, taking in the shops and galleries, and if you'd like, drop by the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum or Museum of Fine Arts.

By later afternoon, saunter east from the Plaza along San Francisco Street, admiring St. Francis Cathedral Basilica; bear right to Alameda Street, turn left and continue to Paseo de Peralta, and then quickly turn right and then left onto Canyon Road to stroll into the leafy foothills. You pass dozens of galleries, several of which stay open into early evening. Finish with a meal at one of the restaurants midway up Canyon Road.

If You Have 3 Days

Follow the one-day itinerary's morning portion, but allow time to visit another museum on Museum Hill, either the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture or Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. Spend the afternoon ambling about the Plaza area, saving additional museum explorations for your last day.

On your second day, plan to walk a bit. Head east from the Plaza up to Canyon Road's foot, perusing the galleries. Have lunch at one of the restaurants midway uphill, such as Sol or El Farol. From here, you can either continue walking 2 mi up Canyon, and then Upper Canyon, roads to the Randall Davey Audubon Center, or you can take a cab there. Alternatively, you could drive from the start, first parking near Canyon Road to check out the galleries (there's a pay lot across from El Farol), then parking at the center. Either way, once you're at the center, you can hike the foothills -- there are trails within the center's property and also from the free parking area (off Cerro Gordo Road) leading into the Dale Ball Trail Network. There may be late-afternoon summer thunderstorms and lightning, so check the forecast before you go, and bring at least a liter of water per person, even for a short stroll.

On your final day, spend the morning at the O'Keeffe or Fine Arts museums near the Plaza, and at the Palace of the Governors. In the afternoon, head a few blocks southwest of the Plaza, crossing Alameda Street, and stroll through the Guadalupe District, which abounds with funky design and furniture shops and galleries. End your explorations with a margarita on the patio of the festive Cowgirl restaurant, which has live music most nights.