How to Enjoy Santa Fe, New Mexico in Only 24 hours
Let’s start by saying you really can’t earn a true appreciation for any city in 24 hours. Santa Fe, New Mexico is no exception.
That said, there are times when we only have a limited amount of time to visit a new locale and given the choice of not going at all or spending just one day, I’d chose one day.
Our path intersected with Santa Fe on a road trip back from Red River, New Mexico. That location is a hidden gem, read more about it in my other post: Red River, the Best Kept Secret in New Mexico!
Sante Fe is easy to traverse and packed full of art, good food, and culture. Read on to see what we did in only 24 hours in this beautiful city.
Santa Fe, New Mexico Weather and Location
First, let’s talk about where Santa Fe is located. North of Albuquerque, and South of Taos, this is a great location to base yourself in the state. If you’re flying into the state, Albuquerque offers the biggest airport and your drive to Sante Fe will be around 2 hours.
Note: Santa Fe is not a huge sprawling city. We found most things were about 5-15 minutes apart, which made it easy to move around and see more in one day.
Santa Fe, New Mexico weather depends on the season you visit. Summer is a great time to visit with temps in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s (F). Spring and fall vary with temperatures anywhere from low 50’s to low 70’s. Winter is cold with snow, and highs are around 40 degrees.
Santa Fe Where to Stay
Where should you stay when you arrive in Santa Fe?
We drove through New Mexico on a road trip pulling a travel trailer, so stayed at an RV Park. I will review that and outline some other fun options for hotels or Airbnb’s below!
Santa Fe KOA Journey – Located off the Old Las Vegas Highway about 15 minutes from the plaza, this was a good spot for us to park our travel trailer. We had electric and water hookups at our site, and it was pull through. Playground was a nice bonus for a little one. They also have cabins on site!
Las Palomas Hotel – This hotel has a great cozy and welcoming feel. Close to the plaza, with each room offering a kitchenette and either a patio or balcony, this has the comforts of home. Breakfast is included as well as a free shuttle within a 1/2 mile of the hotel.
Historic Pink Adobe Airbnb – If you really want to step into the true feeling of New Mexico – what better way to do it than staying in a historic adobe home! Bonus – it has a super cute patio and is walking distance to the plaza.
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Santa Fe Things to do
Santa Fe, New Mexico offers a lot of cultural experience and the feeling of being in another country.
We started our day wandering around the Santa Fe Plaza. Dotted with adobe buildings, a gazebo, and grassy areas to enjoy, this plaza is a great stop. Unfortunately, we traveled here during COVID and did not get to experience or meet the Native Americans who typically sell their goods outside The Palace of the Governors. I can imagine how bustling and lively it would have been here on a “normal” day.
Just a short walk from the plaza is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis. Walking up to this church I felt like I was back in Europe. Beautiful inside and out, this is a great stop if even just to admire its beauty. Speaking of churches, don’t forget to check out the iconic spiral staircase in the Loretto Chapel, just around the corner.
Museums were shuttered during our visit as well, but the Museum of Art and the History Museum are also within walking distance.
We did drive to our next location – Santa Fe Railyard. On Saturdays, this is where the Farmer’s Market is held, but we visited to stroll the park and let our kiddo play a bit. There are also some shops and restaurants to visit like Second Street Brewing.
Santa Fe is compact and easily walkable, which made it possible to see a number of things in just one day.
Note: Whenever we make it back to this city, Meow Wolf is at the top of our list! If you’ve never heard of it, basically it’s an interactive art installment that you get to walk, crawl, discover, and play through. Definitely add it to your list!
Santa Fe Where to Eat & Drink
If you visit New Mexico and don’t try a dish with either red or green chilis, I think it may be a crime 😉
For lunch, we stopped at a Santa Fe institution since 1953, The Shed. Located just a block from the main plaza, this is a convenient stop while wandering the sites. We enjoyed delicious margaritas on the patio, and I had green chili enchiladas. My Husband opted for the red chili adovada, which is pork stewed in a red chili sauce. Both were so yummy, and we could tell they use quality ingredients.
After lunch, we drove about 5 minutes away to Kakawa, a shop that’s well known for chocolate elixirs, truffles, and caramels. They are like hot chocolate but with more of a kick in either spices or literal spiciness. Our truffles and caramels were top-notch with flavors like goat cheese and sage and green chili caramel.
Our last stop was to try some local brews at a spot called Rowley Farmhouse Ales. Their selection really ran the gamut of craft beer including IPA’s, sours, belgian tripels, saisons, and more. Their covered patio was a great spot to sit and enjoy a beer and the breeze. We didn’t eat here because we were still full from earlier in the day, but their food looked really good as well.
Overall Impressions
Santa Fe, New Mexico is definitely a place I would like to return to.
There is so much more to discover in this city including Canyon Road art galleries, mountains and hiking, and Native American Pueblos. Let me know if I left your favorite activity out so I can add it to my list for next time!
What are you excited to see or do in Santa Fe, New Mexico? Let me know in the comments!
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