Santa Fe
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1. Meow Wolf
South Side | Museum/GalleryMeow Wolf is both an ambitious visual and musical arts collective and the name of the dazzling multimillion-dollar arts complex the group created...
Meow Wolf is both an ambitious visual and musical arts collective and the name of the dazzling multimillion-dollar arts complex the group created out of a former bowling alley in 2016, with much of the funding coming from Santa Fe–based Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. Visitors now flock to the arts complex's first permanent exhibition, the self-billed "immersive art installation" House of Eternal Return, which has become one of the city's leading attractions. Give yourself at least a couple of hours to tour this sci-fi-inspired 20,000-square-foot interactive exhibit in which you'll encounter hidden doorways, mysterious corridors, ambient music, and clever, surrealistic, and often slyly humorous artistic renderings. It's a strange, almost impossible to describe, experience, but it is absolutely family-friendly, and although wildly imaginative and occasionally eerie, the subject matter isn't at all frightening. Tickets are good throughout the day—you can leave and reenter the installation, and perhaps break up the experience by enjoying a light bite and craft beer from Duel Brewing in the bar-café in the lobby. Meow Wolf is open until 8 most evenings and 10 on Fridays and Saturdays. The collective has also produced notable temporary installations in a number of cities around the country (plans were announced to open a second complex in Denver, CO in 2020), and organizers continue to present concerts and other events both at the Meow Wolf arts complex and at other venues around the city.
View Tours and Activities1352 Rufina Cir., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87507, USA505-395–6369Sight Details
Rate Includes: $20, Closed Tues. -
2. Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA)
Museum Hill | Museum/GalleryA delight for adults and children alike, this museum is the premier institution of its kind in the world, with a permanent collection of more...
A delight for adults and children alike, this museum is the premier institution of its kind in the world, with a permanent collection of more than 130,000 objects from about 100 countries. In the Girard Wing you'll find thousands of amazingly inventive handmade objects—a tin Madonna, a devil made from bread dough, dolls from around the world, and miniature village scenes galore. The Hispanic Heritage Wing contains art dating from the Spanish-colonial period (in New Mexico, 1598–1821) to the present. The 3,000-piece exhibit includes religious works—particularly bultos (carved wooden statues of saints) and retablos (holy images painted on wood or tin), as well as textiles and furniture. The exhibits in the Neutrogena Wing rotate, showing subjects ranging from outsider art to the magnificent quilts of Gee's Bend. Lloyd's Treasure Chest, the wing's innovative basement section, provides a behind-the-scenes look at this collection. You can rummage through storage drawers, peer into microscopes, and, on occasion, speak with conservators and other museum personnel. Allow time to visit the outstanding gift shop and bookstore.
706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, USA505-476–1200Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9, 4-day pass $20 (good at all 4 state museums), free Fri. 5–8, $12, Nov.–Apr., closed Mon. -
3. Museum of Spanish Colonial Art
Museum Hill | Museum/GalleryThis 5,000-square-foot adobe museum occupies a classically Southwestern former home designed in 1930 by acclaimed regional architect John Gaw...
This 5,000-square-foot adobe museum occupies a classically Southwestern former home designed in 1930 by acclaimed regional architect John Gaw Meem. The Spanish Colonial Art Society formed in Santa Fe in 1925 to preserve traditional Spanish-colonial art and culture, and the museum, which sits next to the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture complex, displays the fruits of the society's labor—one of the most comprehensive collections of Spanish-colonial art in the world. The more than 3,700 objects here, dating from the 16th century to the present, include retablos, elaborate santos, tinwork, straw appliqué, furniture, ceramics, and ironwork. The contemporary collection of works by New Mexico Hispanic artists helps put all this history into regional context. On the grounds outside, you can also view the exterior of a 1780s Mexican-colonial house and visit the small but colorful Artist's Garden.
750 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505, USA505-982–2226Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, $10, Late Oct.–Apr., closed Mon. -
4. New Mexico Museum of Art
The Plaza | Museum/GalleryDesigned by Isaac Hamilton Rapp in 1917, the museum contains one of America's finest regional collections. It's also one of Santa Fe's earliest...
Designed by Isaac Hamilton Rapp in 1917, the museum contains one of America's finest regional collections. It's also one of Santa Fe's earliest Pueblo Revival structures, inspired by the adobe structures at Acoma Pueblo. Split-cedar latillas (branches set in a crosshatch pattern) and hand-hewn vigas form the ceilings. The 20,000-piece permanent collection, of which only a fraction is exhibited at any given time, emphasizes the work of regional and nationally renowned artists, including the early modernist Georgia O'Keeffe; realist Robert Henri; the Cinco Pintores (five painters) of Santa Fe (including Fremont Elis and Will Shuster, the creative mind behind Zozóbra); members of the Taos Society of Artists (Ernest L. Blumenschein, Bert G. Phillips, Joseph H. Sharp, and E. Irving Couse, among others); and the works of noted 20th-century photographers of the Southwest, including Laura Gilpin, Ansel Adams, and Dorothea Lange. Rotating exhibits are staged throughout the year. Many excellent examples of Spanish-colonial-style furniture are on display. Other highlights include an interior placita (small plaza) with fountains, WPA murals, and sculpture, and the St. Francis Auditorium, where concerts and lectures are often held.
107 W. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-476–5072Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9, 4-day pass $20 (good at all 4 state museums), free Fri. 5–8, $12, Nov.–Apr., closed Mon. -
5. San Miguel Mission
Old Santa Fe Trail and South Capitol | Religious Building/Site/ShrineBelieved to be the oldest church still in use in the United States, this simple earth-hue adobe structure was built around 1610 by the Tlaxcalan...
Believed to be the oldest church still in use in the United States, this simple earth-hue adobe structure was built around 1610 by the Tlaxcalan Indians of Mexico, who came to New Mexico as servants of the Spanish. Badly damaged in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt, the structure was restored and enlarged in 1710. On display in the chapel are priceless statues and paintings and the San José Bell, weighing nearly 800 pounds, which is believed to have been cast in Spain in 1356. In winter the church sometimes closes before its official closing hour. Latin mass is held daily at 2, and new mass is on Sundays at 5 pm.
401 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-983–3974Sight Details
Rate Includes: $1 -
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6. Santa Fe School of Cooking
West of the Plaza | Educational InstitutionIf you'd like to bring the flavors of the Southwest to your own kitchen, consider taking one of the wildly popular and fun cooking classes at...
If you'd like to bring the flavors of the Southwest to your own kitchen, consider taking one of the wildly popular and fun cooking classes at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Regular classes are taught during days and evenings, and more elaborate courses include the three-day Southwest Culinary Boot Camp, regional wine-tasting classes, and walking tours on which you visit several of Santa Fe's most notable restaurants. Reservations are advised. The school also operates an online market where you can purchase all sorts of New Mexico culinary goods and gifts.
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7. Spa at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado
North Side | Spa–SightSet on a hilltop with spectacular mountain views, this intimate oasis has 15 treatment rooms, some of the best-trained body workers and estheticians...
Set on a hilltop with spectacular mountain views, this intimate oasis has 15 treatment rooms, some of the best-trained body workers and estheticians in the Southwest, and a full complement of salon services. You'll pay more at the Four Seasons Spa than at most other properties in town (it's $165 for a 50-minute massage), but there's a reason both hotel guests and locals rave about their experiences here. Specialties include regionally inspired treatments, like the Blue Corn and Honey Renewal body wrap. A few different private couples' retreat packages are offered, including the three-hour Mountain Spirit Initiation, which includes a sage smudge, clay body mask, foot and scalp massage, and a full-body hot-stone juniper-sage massage. Do stick around and enjoy time in the impressive fitness center or relaxing by the pool (closed winter). Many guests combine their spa day with lunch or dinner on the peaceful patio of the resort's outstanding restaurant, Terra. The resort's Adventure Center also offers all sorts of excursions designed to get your blood flowing, from mountain-biking to hiking at nearby waterfalls.
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8. Spa Sage at La Posada de Santa Fe
East Side and Canyon Road | Spa–SightThe first-rate 4,500-square-foot spa at this historic Downtown resort emphasizes regional ingredients in its extensive offerings of treatments...
The first-rate 4,500-square-foot spa at this historic Downtown resort emphasizes regional ingredients in its extensive offerings of treatments and services, including a signature Spirit of Santa Fe body rub that uses ground blue corn as a skin exfoliant, and a body wrap using chocolate and red chiles from nearby Chimayó. The 15-minute Shea Butter facial wrap is a great way to combat the effects on the skin of New Mexico's sunny, high-desert climate. Hair and nail services are also available, and there's an expansive fitness center (24-hour access for hotel guests) with Cybex equipment and personal-training as well as private yoga sessions offered. After working out, or being worked on, go for a swim in the heated outdoor pool, or just soak up the Sangre de Cristo views on the rooftop terrace. There's also a poolside patio grill serving light fare. Rates start at $185 for an 80-minute massage.
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9. Ten Thousand Waves
East Side and Canyon Road | Spa–SightThis renowned Japanese-style spa with outstanding facilities and treatments is just 10 minutes north of Santa Fe toward the ski basin, nestled...
This renowned Japanese-style spa with outstanding facilities and treatments is just 10 minutes north of Santa Fe toward the ski basin, nestled peacefully among the piñon trees on a sheltered hillside. Primarily a day spa—the private and communal hot tubs, especially nice in the evening under a starry sky, are a popular option—Ten Thousand Waves also has 14 sleek and inviting overnight casitas and a lovely izakaya-style restaurant, Izanami. The treatment rooms and spa facilities here are simple yet elegant, with a zenlike vibe—perfect for relaxing while undergoing a Yasuragi head and neck treatment, a salt-glow body exfoliation, or the Japanese organic facial, which includes a thorough neck and shoulder massage. If you've been skiing or hiking in the mountains up the road, stopping here on the way home is a great way to heal sore muscles. It's $119 for a 50-minute massage and $213–$473 for half-day packages. Nature walks are also offered.
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10. The New Mexico History Museum
The Plaza | Museum/GalleryThis impressive, modern museum anchors a campus that encompasses the Palace of the Governors, the Palace Print Shop & Bindery, the Fray...
This impressive, modern museum anchors a campus that encompasses the Palace of the Governors, the Palace Print Shop & Bindery, the Fray Angélico Chávez History Library, and Photo Archives (an assemblage of more than 1 million images dating from the 1850s). Behind the palace on Lincoln Avenue, the museum thoroughly explores the early history of indigenous people, Spanish colonization, the Mexican Period, and travel and commerce on the legendary Santa Fe Trail. Inside are changing and permanent exhibits. By appointment, visitors can tour the comprehensive Fray Angélico Chávez Library and its rare maps, manuscripts, and photographs (more than 120,000 prints and negatives). The Palace Print Shop & Bindery, which prints books, pamphlets, and cards on antique presses, also hosts bookbinding demonstrations, lectures, and slide shows. The Palace of the Governors is a humble one-story neo-Pueblo adobe on the north side of the Plaza, and is the oldest public building in the United States. Its rooms contain period furnishings and exhibits illustrating the building's many functions over the past four centuries. Built at the same time as the Plaza, circa 1610, it was the seat of four regional governments—those of Spain, Mexico, the Confederacy, and the U.S. territory that preceded New Mexico's statehood, which was achieved in 1912. It served as the residence for 100 Spanish, Mexican, and American governors, including Governor Lew Wallace, who wrote his epic Ben Hur in its then drafty rooms, all the while complaining of the dust and mud that fell from its earthen ceiling. Dozens of Native American vendors gather daily under the portal of the Palace of the Governors to sell pottery, jewelry, bread, and other goods. With few exceptions, the more than 500 artists and craftspeople registered to sell here are Pueblo or Navajo Indians. The merchandise for sale is required to meet strict standards. Prices tend to reflect the high quality of the merchandise but are often significantly less than what you'd pay in a shop. Please remember not to take photographs without permission.
View Tours and ActivitiesPalace Ave., north side of Plaza, 113 Lincoln Ave., west of the Palace, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-476–5100Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9, 4-day pass $20 (good at all 4 state museums), free Fri. 5–8, $12, Nov.–Apr., closed Mon. -
11. Absolute Nirvana
East Side and Canyon Road | Spa–SightThis intimate spa set amid gracious gardens beside the late-Victorian Madeleine Inn lives up to its name with its lush, peaceful Bali-inspired...
This intimate spa set amid gracious gardens beside the late-Victorian Madeleine Inn lives up to its name with its lush, peaceful Bali-inspired setting and sumptuous treatments, some of which—like the pumpkin-infused massage, exfoliation, and mask offered in the fall—change seasonally. Master-level massage therapists use all-organic, delectable food-grade ingredients. Among year-round treatments, the Indo-Asian hot-stone massage and Chocolate Decadence facial are highly popular. Most treatments finish with homemade snacks, and a variety of add-ons are available, including 30-minute foot massages and leisurely rose-petal baths in a massive stone tub. Cozy, low-keyed, and eco-friendly (it's certified by the nonprofit Green Spa Network), Absolute Nirvana has more limited facilities than some of Santa Fe's major resorts, but that's a big part of its charm—the price is right, too. It's $120 for a 60-minute massage and $355–$395 for a half-day spa package.
Madeleine Inn, 106 Faithway St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-983–7942 -
12. Barrio de Analco
Old Santa Fe Trail and South Capitol | Neighborhood/StreetAlong the south bank of the Santa Fe River, the barrio—its name means "District on the Other Side of the Water"—is one of America's oldest...
Along the south bank of the Santa Fe River, the barrio—its name means "District on the Other Side of the Water"—is one of America's oldest neighborhoods, settled in the early 1600s by the Tlaxcalan Indians (who were forbidden to live with the Spanish near the Plaza) and in the 1690s by soldiers who had helped recapture New Mexico after the Pueblo Revolt. Plaques on houses on East De Vargas Street will help you locate some of the important structures. Check the performance schedule at the Santa Fe Playhouse on De Vargas Street, founded by writer Mary Austin and other Santa Feans in 1922.
Old Santa Fe Trail at E. De Vargas St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA -
13. Body
South Side | Spa–SightThis day spa just south of the Guadalupe District is known for having one of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in town (the specialty...
This day spa just south of the Guadalupe District is known for having one of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in town (the specialty is raw, organic fare), plus a great little boutique and comprehensive child-care services. Other big strengths of Body are the dance classes and yoga school, with an extensive slate of classes like body sculpting, personal training, and Pilates. The spa here offers the full range of treatments that you'll find at the bigger resort properties, but at lower prices than at most. The staff is friendly and the space unpretentious. Consider body wraps, facials, and Thai, Swedish, and Japanese massages in addition to Rolfing, Reiki, craniosacral therapy, and prenatal massage. Also popular are the lemon-verbena body glow, and custom facials using top lines of holistic products. It's $85 for a 60-minute massage; the gym has cardiovascular machines, free weights, and weight-training equipment.
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14. Cristo Rey Church
East Side and Canyon Road | Religious Building/Site/ShrineBuilt in 1940 and designed by legendary Santa Fe architect John Gaw Meem to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado...
Built in 1940 and designed by legendary Santa Fe architect John Gaw Meem to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's exploration of the Southwest, this church is the largest Spanish adobe structure in the United States and is considered by many the finest example of Pueblo-style architecture anywhere. The church was constructed in the old-fashioned way by parishioners, who mixed the more than 200,000 mud-and-straw adobe bricks and hauled them into place. The 225-ton stone reredos (altar screen) is magnificent.
1120 Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-983–8528Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
15. El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe
Railyard District | Museum/GalleryMore an arts, educational, and community gathering space than a museum, the 31,000-square-foot El Museo celebrates Santa Fe's—and New Mexico...
More an arts, educational, and community gathering space than a museum, the 31,000-square-foot El Museo celebrates Santa Fe's—and New Mexico's—rich Hispanic heritage by presenting a wide range of events, from children's theater, to musical concerts, to the Antique American Indian Art Show, during which dozens of craftspersons and artists exhibit their work in early August, and the Winter Market, held on weekends from late September through late May and featuring an exceptional array of vendors selling folk, tribal, and Western art and memorabilia. A small gallery shows contemporary art by Hispanic artists.
555 Camino de la Familia, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-992–0591Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; prices vary for events and shows, Closed Sun. and Mon. -
16. El Zaguan
East Side and Canyon Road | GardenHeadquarters of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation (HSFF), this 19th-century Territorial-style house has a small exhibit on Santa Fe architecture...
Headquarters of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation (HSFF), this 19th-century Territorial-style house has a small exhibit on Santa Fe architecture and preservation, but the real draw is the small but stunning garden abundant with lavender, roses, and mid-19th-century trees. You can relax on a wrought-iron bench and take in the fine views of the hills northeast of town. Tours are available of many of the foundation's properties on Mother's Day.
545 Canyon Rd., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-983–2567Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Office closed weekends, garden closed Sun. -
17. Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
The Plaza | Museum/GalleryOne of many East Coast artists who visited New Mexico in the first half of the 20th century, O'Keeffe returned to live and paint here, eventually...
One of many East Coast artists who visited New Mexico in the first half of the 20th century, O'Keeffe returned to live and paint here, eventually emerging as the demigoddess of Southwestern art. O'Keeffe's innovative view of the landscape is captured in From the Plains, inspired by her memory of the Texas plains, and Jimson Weed, a study of one of her favorite plants. Special exhibitions with O'Keeffe's modernist peers are on view throughout the year—many of these are exceptional, sometimes even more interesting than the permanent collection, which numbers some 3,000 works. The museum is also your point of contact for booking guided tours of O'Keeffe's historic home and studio an hour north in Abiquiú.
217 Johnson St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-946–1000Sight Details
Rate Includes: $12, $13 -
18. Gerald Peters Gallery
East Side and Canyon Road | Museum/GalleryWhile under construction, this 32,000-square-foot building was dubbed the "ninth northern pueblo," its scale supposedly rivaling that of the...
While under construction, this 32,000-square-foot building was dubbed the "ninth northern pueblo," its scale supposedly rivaling that of the eight northern pueblos around Santa Fe. The suavely designed Pueblo-style gallery is Santa Fe's premier showcase for American and European art from the 19th century to the present. It feels like a museum, but all the works are for sale. Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, Charles M. Russell, Winslow Homer, Grant Wood, and members of the Taos Society are among the artists represented, along with nationally renowned contemporary ones.
1011 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-954–5700Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun. -
19. International Folk Art Market
Museum Hill | Market/BazaarHeld the second full weekend in July on Milner Plaza, this market is a truly remarkable art gathering. Master folk artists from every corner...
Held the second full weekend in July on Milner Plaza, this market is a truly remarkable art gathering. Master folk artists from every corner of the planet come together to sell their work amidst a festive array of huge tents, colorful banners, music, food, and delighted crowds. The feeling of fellowship and celebration here enhances the satisfaction of buying wonderful folk art.
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20. La Fonda
The Plaza | Notable BuildingA fonda (inn) has stood on this site, southeast of the Plaza, for centuries. Architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp, who put Santa Fe style on the...
A fonda (inn) has stood on this site, southeast of the Plaza, for centuries. Architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp, who put Santa Fe style on the map, built this area landmark in 1922. Remodeled in the early 20th century by architects John Gaw Meem and Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the hotel was sold to the Santa Fe Railway in 1926 and remained a Harvey House hotel until 1968. The property completed its latest major renovation in 2013, its guest rooms receiving a smart but still classic makeover, but the historic public areas retain their original design elements. Because of its proximity to the Plaza and its history as a gathering place for everyone from cowboys to movie stars (Errol Flynn stayed here), it's referred to as "The Inn at the End of the Trail." Free guided tours, which touch on the hotel's rich history and detail key pieces in the astounding public art collection, are offered Wednesday–Saturday mornings at 10:30. Step inside to browse the shops on the main floor or to eat at one of the restaurants (La Plazuela or the French Bakery). The dark, cozy bar draws both locals and tourists and has live music many nights. For a real treat: Have a drink at the fifth-floor Bell Tower Bar (open late spring–late fall), which offers tremendous sunset views.
100 E. San Francisco St., at Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA505-982–5511
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