The Best Things to Do in Santa Fe, NM (For Couples, Friends, and Solo Travelers)

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The rich history of Santa Fe, New Mexico, combined with its vibrant art, culture, and foodie scenes, gives visitors countless things to do while visiting. The charming adobe city lies at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and is less than an hour’s drive from the Albuquerque International Airport. 

As we drove into Santa Fe, I felt like I was entering another country. The salmon-pink Adobe-style architecture is vastly different from where I live in Los Angeles. The mostly low-lying buildings, whether old or new, are designed to complement and seamlessly fit in with the landscape. The scene unfolding in front of me was my first introduction to an incredible girls’ weekend in Santa Fe. 

If this is your visit, you might want to opt for a walking tour to learn about the area’s deep-seated history, which dates back to the 1600s. Because the city is small, you can hit several highlights in a couple of hours.

Santa Fe Railyard/Farmers Market

One of the top attractions in Santa Fe is the Farmers’ Market at the Railyard on Sundays. I enjoyed having breakfast and walking around the farmers’ market, checking out local items like chile ristras, honey, and artisanal soap and candles. After making my rounds, I headed toward the railroad tracks, where a line of pop-up tents housed vendors selling unique art and jewelry. 

There are also several museums in the same area that you might want to check out. 

Relax and Rejuvenate at a Spa

One of the best things to do in Santa Fe is to treat yourself to a relaxing spa experience. The city offers a range of options to help you unwind and recharge. We opted for Ten Thousand Waves Spa, a luxurious Japanese spa. We started our spa experience with the Grand Bath, a shallow outdoor pool, sauna, and cold plunge area to help us relax before our spa treatments. I thoroughly enjoyed the 80-minute body and sole treatment, followed by a foot soak.

Pro Tip:  The Grand Bath gets more crowded as the day goes on. For those looking for more privacy, you can upgrade to a private bath experience that has many of the same features as the Grand Bath. 

Pro Tip: If you are not driving yourself, be sure to schedule your transportation to and from Ten Thousand Waves in advance.

Santa Fe Religious Sites

Loretto Chapel and the Famous Staircase

A quick stop at the Loretto Chapel (even those of non-practicing faiths) should be on your list of things to do in Santa Fe. The Loretto Chapel is home to the “Miraculous Staircase.” Legend has it that the Sisters of the Loretto Chapel prayed to St. Joesph for a carpenter to build them a staircase that would reach the second level of the church without a ladder. Their prayers were answered when a carpenter appeared essentially out of nowhere and built the staircase with two 360-degree turns, no nails, and no center support. It is a modern marvel of engineering, especially since none of the wood used for the staircase was native to the area.

San Miguel Church

The oldest church in the United States still has the original adobe walls and altar, built by Tlaxcala Indians from Mexico in the early 1600s. A three-tier tower was erected in 1830, and a façade tower was built in 1887. Once inside, use the gong to ring the ornate bell. Many believe that if you ring the bell, you are destined to return to Santa Fe.

Discovery New Flavors at Santa Fe Restaurants

The restaurants in Santa Fe aren’t just good, they are outstanding. I was shocked by the level of flavor and service at some of the restaurants we ate at during our stay. Below is a short list of restaurants I recommend. I recommend making a reservation to experience Santa Fe’s culinary excellence properly.

Geronimo is an award-winning fine dining establishment that should not be missed. From the high level of service to the fantastic food, Geronimo is in a class of its own.

Coyote Café: Not to be outdone, Coyote Café was delicious too. The upscale restaurant serves modern southwest cuisine with a tasty twist.

Tomasita’s Santa Fe New Mexican Restaurant is the exact opposite of Geronimo and Coyote Café. For fifty years, Tomasita’s has been serving locally sourced comfort food accompanied by, you guessed it, margaritas. Don’t miss out on ordering your dish “Christmas style” so you can try the red and green hatch chile sauces and enjoy the sopaipillas. 

Izanami Restaurant at Ten Thousand Waves Spa is an upscale small-plate restaurant. We ate at Izanami in our robes (although totally acceptable, we were the only ones) fresh from our massages. The food was incredibly fresh and tasty!

Santa Fe’s Art Scene

Artists have been drawn to and inspired by Santa Fe’s stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. Art is everywhere in Santa Fe, from art galleries and studios to museums and immersive experiences. Visitors might see anything from traditional Native American pottery to contemporary works by local artists to thought-provoking photographs.

Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf is a visually immersive and interactive experience that is one part bizarre and one part fascinating. It’s hard to comprehend how someone could mastermind each of the intricately interconnected rooms in a house that looks like it is straight out of a horror film. Everything is okay on the outside, but once you step inside, it’s like an acid trip come to life (or so I imagine). The house is filled with “secret” passages and portals to other worlds. 

It is hard to describe and best viewed firsthand. An hour or two is the right amount of time to spend exploring each of the rooms, one weirder than the next. 

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is in downtown Santa Fe. The small museum collection includes nearly 150 paintings. By the mid-1920s, O’Keeffe was known for her paintings of skyscrapers and depictions of flowers.

Canyon Road

Over a hundred galleries, stores, and restaurants line a half-mile strip of the eclectic Canyon Road. The galleries attract major collectors, art enthusiasts, and tourists. Whether you are window shopping or looking for a piece of art to take home, checking out the galleries is a must-do Santa Fe activity.

Visit Art Galleries in Downtown Santa Fe

In addition to Canyon Road, there are several art photography galleries near the Historic Plaza. Stop into the Monroe Gallery, which focuses on images “embedded in our collective consciousness” designed to transform the way we live and think. 

Another option is the Obscura Gallery, which represents contemporary photographers who showcase their work in a “new and unique way.”  

Railyard Arts District

Given the surroundings, it’s no surprise that the Railyard has been transformed into an arts district. While in the area, you can check out several galleries, or you can join the art walk on the last Friday of every month from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Learn About Native American Culture

There is a strong Native American community in Santa Fe, providing visitors plenty of opportunities to learn about their culture and traditions. At the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, you can see and learn about artifacts dating back thousands of years or attend a traditional dance performance at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

Tour Santa Fe’s Chocolate Shops

Chocolate is becoming synonymous with Santa Fe. The number of chocolate stores has grown so much that you can take a self-guided chocolate tour in Santa Fe. It is one of the many food tours in the area.

If you are near the Historic Plaza, you must stop into Señor Murphy Candymaker and try the chili cream covered in dark chocolate. It is the most incredible confection I’ve ever tasted. I wish I bought another box or two to bring home. In addition to chocolate options at the counter, Señor Murphy Candymaker also has boxes of candy ready to go that make terrific souvenirs. 

If you are near Canyon Road, stop into Kakawa Chocolate House for a unique blend of liquid hot chocolate. The smooth hot chocolate elixir dates back to Aztec times. I opted to try the small hot chocolate, which had a unique, bold flavor.

Kakawa’s chocolatiers also use fresh ingredients to bring chocolate lovers one-of-a-kind truffles.

Jump on the Margarita Trail

Surprisingly, but yes, the Margarita Trail is a real thing in Santa Fe. A large number of bars participate in the Margarita Trail, which you can download from the App Store. While I didn’t get a chance to join the Trail, it was on my list of things to do while in Santa Fe. 

Instead, we opted for cocktails and wine basically wherever we stopped. That’s what frequently happens when you get a bunch of us together. Thinking back, though, we could have ordered Margaritas at almost all of the drinking establishments we visited.

Go Wine Tasting in Santa Fe

Before dinner one night, we went to the Gruet Winery Santa Fe Tasting Room to sip and savor a few glasses of wine. Even though we didn’t have a reservation (which you should make), the staff was kind enough to find space for us. We decided to share a couple of flights so we could taste several different wines before heading off to dinner at Geronimo. 

Gruet Winery Santa Fe Tasting Room is in the same building as the Hotel St. Francis, the oldest hotel in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe is also home to several different wine tours.

Explore the Historic Plaza

Set in the center of Santa Fe, the Historic Plaza is a National Historic Landmark that draws visitors who are exploring the town and local shops. The Plaza hosts celebrations, ceremonies, and powwows. The Plaza is surrounded by adobe buildings dating back to the 17th century. 

Visit the Palace of the Governors

On the far side of the Plaza is the Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the United States. Inside, there is a State of New Mexico history museum. On the outside, Native American artists sell handmade goods. 

Go Shopping in Santa Fe

Santa Fe is home to fascinating art, jewelry, chocolate, and clothing boutiques. I enjoyed wandering around the Plaza, seeing some of the unique stores in town, and checking out the Lucchese cowboy boots! 

Enjoy the Outdoors

Santa Fe’s natural landscape creates countless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts (or those who want a little taste of the outdoor lifestyle) to try a few activities and experience what nature has to offer. Getting outdoors is one of the free things to do in Santa Fe.

Hiking

Within a short distance of downtown Santa Fe are several hiking trails for varying levels

Biking

Mountain biking is popular in Santa Fe, and you can also take bike tours of the city.

Rafting

Get your adrenaline pumping and head out into the rapids for a wet and wild afternoon

Kayaking

Spend the afternoon kayaking on Navajo Lake

Tubing

Go tubing on the Rio Grande

Water Skiing

Enjoy the afternoon water skiing on Navajo Lake

Golfing

Play a round of gold during your visit  

Fly Fishing

Available in several areas, fly fishing can be done in a river or from a boat

Skiing and Snowboarding

Sixteen miles from Santa Fe are slopes with fluffy powder and high elevations to give you a run for your money.

Snowshoeing

There are several options for snowshoeing in the winter.

Cross-Country Skiing

Try the Nordic Ski Loop and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

Where to Stay in Santa Fe

Several luxurious hotels are in Santa Fe, including the Rosewood, the Four Seasons Resort, The Inn at Five Graces, and Bishop’s Lodge (an Auberge property). If you are looking for a low-key hotel in the middle of town, the Inn & Spa at Loretto might be for you. The penthouse has insane views of the mountains and town, and it is worth inquiring about. 

For our girls’ trip, we stayed at the Inn & Spa at Loretto, which was perfect for us. The three connecting rooms made us feel like we were living together again – in the best way possible. Plus, the general manager is exceptionally welcoming. 

Things to know before you visit Santa Fe

Below are my tips and tricks about important things about Santa Fe you might not have thought of when booking your trip.

• Santa Fe’s elevation is about 7,000 feet above sea level, which means it is crucial that you drink lots of water during your visit to avoid dehydration and headaches.
• For history lovers, Santa Fe was established in 1607 and served as an important city to the Spanish, the Mexicans, numerous Native American tribes, and eventually, the Americans. Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the country and the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi.
• Getting around Santa Fe by Uber or Lyft is difficult, and taxis are non-existent. We were a group of five and used Bernard’s Transportation Service all weekend to get from one place to another. The drivers were on time, and even waiting for us after dinner ran long one night. 
• There are no toilet seat covers in Santa Fe. This might be too much information, but since it stood out to me, I thought I would share this nugget of information. 
• Reservations are necessary for dinner and spa treatments. Showing up at the last minute will likely result in disappointment. 
• Santa Fe is an early town. Only a few bars are open in downtown Santa Fe past 9 p.m., and if you are older than 25, you will want to be discerning about which you choose. We watched live music at the cash-only Evangelo’s Cocktail Lounge (although it was more like a dive bar with live music), which was highly entertaining, and had drinks at Art Deco Tonic. 

Santa Fe is a unique city where rich history and modern-day are woven together in a compelling tapestry of life. Whether you’re exploring Santa Fe’s culinary delights, enjoying the landscapes, or learning more about its history, Santa Fe’s allure is magical. 

Did you do anything in Santa Fe that didn’t make the list? Share your thoughts below. 

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