Santa Fe is one of the most unique yet charming cities in America, and it is easy to see why! In fact, Santa Fe is nicknamed the “City Different”. There is a blend of Native American, Spanish, and Northern Mexican influences in Santa Fe, which creates a beautiful artsy town.

New Mexico’s capital city, Santa Fe, offers stunning architecture, rich history, and unique cultural experiences! There are truly so many fun things to do in Santa Fe which makes it a great city to visit for an extended weekend! You’ll notice most of the list below features FREE things to do in Santa Fe, making this an affordable city to visit!

First, a little about Santa Fe…

Santa Fe is the oldest Capitol city in the United States! The name “Santa Fe” translates to “Holy Faith” in Spanish.

Santa Fe is over 7000ft above sea level, so be mindful of this when planning your excursions. Drink lots of water and listen to you body!

Santa Fe is a great city to visit year round but do note that it is also a ski destination, so it will be colder in the winter months. You often think of Santa Fe as warm, dry destination, so this caught me off guard when I planned my trip for February and there was still snow on the ground!

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Must-See Free Things To Do in Santa Fe, NM

As I was writing my list of must-see things to do in Santa Fe, I realized that almost all of them are completely free. If not, they’re relatively inexpensive! This list is comprised of mostly free things to do in Santa Fe, with a few budget friendly must-see attractions!

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Hours: 9:30AM – 3PM Tuesday – Saturday (closed on Sunday & Monday)
Cost: Free
Website: Cathedral Basilica

This breathtakingly gorgeous cathedral is an absolute must when in Santa Fe!

Built between 1869 and 1886, it took the place of a much older adobe chapel. The last remaining piece of the original church houses a statue of the Virgin Mary known as Our Lady La Conquistadora. The statue was first brought to the site in 1626 from Spain and is the oldest of its kind in the United States.

Canyon Road Art Galleries

Hours: Varies
Cost: Free
Website: Canyon Road

Canyon Road is a half mile stretch of art galleries, boutiques, and cafes! This street embodies the art scene in Santa Fe and offers something for everyone!

It is fun to stroll up and down Canyon Road as you peruse the unique artwork and delicious cafes.

Canyon Road is in walking distance to the main Santa Fe Plaza, but there is also a free shuttle for those who don’t want to walk.

Santa Fe Plaza

Cost: Free
Website: Santa Fe Plaza

The Santa Fe Plaza can be found in the center of Old Town Santa Fe. It is a beautiful square with shops and restaurants all around!

On one side of the plaza, you’ll find the The Palace of the Governors. This is a very modest-looking adobe style building that was built in 1610, and is the oldest public building still in continuous use from the original European settlers. Now it is considered a National Historic Landmark”.

Outside of the Palace of Governors, you will find artisans selling various arts and crafts! This is part of the Native American Vendors Program that has been going on for over six decades.

Loretto Chapel

Hours: 9AM – 5PM, 7 days a week
Cost: $5 per person
Website: Loretto Chapel

Visiting Loretto Chapel is a must in order to see the revered “miraculous staircase.” This small chapel has become famous for the mysterious and miraculous staircase that is standing without a center pole for support.

The story behind the staircase is unique in and within itself – since the carpenter built it and vanished after it was completed, without ever being paid! Now people come from all around the world to admire his handiwork and beautiful design.

Kakawa Chocolate House

Hours: 11AM to 6PM (Mon-Sun); 12PM-6PM (Sun)
Cost: Free
Website: Kakawa Chocolate House

This chocolate house’s mission is to “re-introduce you to Chocolate” – and that it will! They use cocoa from Latin America and Africa that is rich in flavor! You can try a variety of unique truffles, caramels, chocolates, and more!

If you’re visiting in the winter, be sure to purchase their drinking chocolate … it’s the best hot chocolate you’ll ever have!

San Miguel Mission Chapel

Hours: 1PM to 3PM, Monday to Friday (closed Saturday, limited hours Sunday)
Cost: Free
Website: San Miguel Chapel

This adobe style chapel is The Oldest religious building in the USA.

Be mindful of the timing you plan to visit the Chapel, as the hours are extremely limited. Check their website for the latest updates.

Oldest House Museum

Hours: 10AM to 5PM, daily
Cost: Free
Website: Oldest House Museum

Directly next to San Miguel Mission Chapel is the “Oldest House Museum”. This small pre-colonial home on De Vargas street in Santa Fe dates back to1646, which certainly makes it one of the older Spanish era properties in the country.

Meow Wolf

Hours: Varies… typically 10AM-8PM
Cost: $30+ per person
Website: Meow Wolf in Santa Fe

If you’re looking for something incredibly unique and fun, Meow Wolf is the place for you. This is an interactive art exhibit where you get to test your senses. Walk through over 70 unique rooms with colorful and unique displays throughout.

After the unique experience, you can enjoy the bar which has incredible and artistic drinks! Highly recommend trying their Meowgarita.

Meow Wolf was one of the things I was most curious (and hesitant) about going into my trip, but it ended up being one of my favorite things to do in Santa Fe!

Note: There are currently 3 other Meow Wolf locations (Las Vegas, Denver, and Kaleidoscope).

Margarita Trail

Cost: $3 per person
Website: Santa Fe Margarita Trail

New Mexico is known for their amazing margaritas! Try the official Margarita Trail and see how many you can check off the list!

To participate in the official Margarita Trail, you’ll need to download the app ($3) or go to a Santa Fe visitors center to get a physical Margarita Trail passport book. The book/app will give you a list of all the participating restaurants and locations, the recipe for the margarita, and more!

If you can check off 5 margaritas during your visit, you’ll get a special t-shirt for free! Note – you can only have 2 margaritas a day count towards your Margarita Trail experience.

Haiku Trail

Hours: 24/7
Cost: Free
Website: Haiku Pathway

If Margarita Trail isn’t your thing… you can try the Haiku Trail! The Haiku Pathway sits in the center of the Santa Fe Community College Campus, just outside of the main Old Town area. Along the pathway, you’ll find 36 stones with Haikus from former students and famous poets. It is a peaceful and tranquil way to spend your morning reading the poetry along the paths.

Railyard

Hours:
Cost: Free
Website: Railyard

The Railyard is on the outskirts of Old Town Santa Fe and offers a great place to hang out and relax.

Here at the Railyard, you’ll find shops and vendors, restaurants, and breweries! On Saturday’s you’ll also find the Santa Fe Farmers Market (listed below).

If you’re in the mood to check out some local beer, the Railyard is a great place to do so!

• Second Street Brewery
• Nuckolls Brewing Co
• Bosque Brewing Co

Santa Fe Farmers Market

Hours: 8AM to 1PM, Saturday only
Cost: Free
Website: Santa Fe Farmers Market

If you’re in town on Saturday, it is worth checking out the Santa Fe Farmers Market! This weekly market features locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meats, as well as hand made arts and crafts.

It is located in the Railyard (listed above), so there are plenty of things to do around the area after you’ve finished exploring the Farmers market.

Santa Fe Botanical Gardens

Hours: varies depending on the season, always closed on Tuesday & Wednesday
Cost: $7-$10 per person
Website: Santa Fe Botanical Gardens

The Santa Fe Botanical Gardens will allow visitors to see the wide variety of New Mexico’s biodiversity. The gardens are over 50 acres large with beautiful exhibits and breathtaking gardens.

In 2013, SFBG added an Orchid Garden which is a must see! You’ll also find many trails and bike paths within the gardens as well!

Tickets are required for entry, and simply purchased onsite (credit card payments only). Complimentary guided tours are available, no reservation required!

Scavenger Hunt

Fun Fact – the city of Santa Fe has numerous Scavenger Hunts for tourists to enjoy! You can book a cheap, inexpensive scavenger hunt using Viator. I’ve linked some fun ones below:

Hiking Around Santa Fe

Cost: Free
Website: Picacho Peak Trail

Picacho Peak Trail is a favorite for locals in Santa Fe. It is part of the Dale Bell trail system which is a perfect place for outdoor lovers!

This moderate to difficult 3.8 mile hike provides stunning views of the surrounding mountains! There is step elevation gain (1230ft) – in addition to the already 7000ft above sea level elevation! With this in mind, be careful to not overexert yourself and drink lots of water.

Biking Around Santa Fe

Hours: anytime!
Cost: Free (+ bike rental)
Website: Best Bike Trails In Santa Fe

Did you know that Santa Fe is considered one of the best Mountain Biking destinations in the USA?! There are numerous trails within Santa Fe for bike-lovers to explore! I’ve provided a few below:

• Santa Fe Rail Trail (17 miles)
• Santa Fe River Trail (3 miles)
• Dale Ball Tails (24 miles)

Pecos National Park

Hours: 8AM to 4:30pm, daily
Cost: Free
Website: Pecos National Park
*about 30 minutes outside of Santa Fe*

Pecos National Park is only 30 minutes outside of Santa Fe, making it a great afternoon excursion! It is part of the National Park System (NPS), but this park is actually completely free!

Pecos National Park offers a look at ancestral sites of the Pecos Pueblo and mission church. The main thing to do here is the “Ancestral Sites Trail” which is only 1.25 miles long on a dirt/gravel path. You can purchase trail guides at the visitors center and marvel at the ancient remains!

Note: They close the most popular trailhead around 3:50PM since it takes over an hour to hike. Don’t arrive too late in the day, or you’ll miss it altogether!

Jemez Springs

Hours: 10:30AM to 5PM, Wednesday to Monday (closed on Tuesday)
Cost: $25 per person for the hour
Website: Jemez Hot Springs
*about 30 minutes outside of Santa Fe*

Okay, you’re probably wondering why I included something that is technically not free and technically not in Santa Fe… well, because its just that worth it!

Jemez Hot Springs is a natural mineral hot springs featuring four thermal pools at 95-104 degrees. It feels like a paradise to escape the cold weather in the winter and relax in these beautiful springs.

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Dining in Santa Fe

One of my favorite things about visiting Santa Fe was eating all of the delicious Mexican-inspired cuisine! You’ll quickly learn about the red and green chile peppers (or Christmas, if you like the combination)! Fair warning though – they are both spicy!!

I’m providing a list of the best Santa Fe restaurants below:

• The Shed (reservations recommended)
• Cowgirl BBQ
• Tomasitas (try the sopapillas!!!)
• Dragon Room Bar

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Day Trips from Santa Fe

While in New Mexico, I would absolutely encourage you to explore other parts of this underrated state! Santa Fe is located in the northern region of the state, but day trips from Santa Fe are absolutely possible! See below for my favorite Day Trips from Santa Fe:

• Bandelier National Park — 50 minutes
• Albuquerque, New Mexico — 1 hour
• Petroglyphs National Monument — 1 hour
• Taos, New Mexico — 1.5 hours
• White Sand National Park — 3 hours and 45 minutes
• Carlsbad Caverns – 4 hours and 40 minutes

Continue Reading: Day Trips from Santa Fe

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Where to Stay in Santa Fe

Santa Fe has a “downtown” and an “old town”. Almost every item listed above is within walking distance of “Old Town” so as a tourist, I recommend staying there! Meow Wolf was one of the few places that was located in more of the downtown Santa Fe region.

There are a handful of hotels and Airbnb’s within Santa Fe. We personally stayed at an Airbnb right in town square, which made it convenient for walking around the city! I’m sharing a few other recommendations on where to stay in Santa Fe below from friends who have visited the city recently:

• Luxury: La Fonda On the Plaza
• Mid-Tier: Las Palomas Inn Santa Fe
• Most Romantic: Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort

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There you have it – my full guide to the best things to do in Santa Fe, New Mexico! It is absolutely worth a visit to explore the unique cultural sites and heritage!

PS: Don’t forget to save this post on the Best Things To Do in Santa Fe on Pinterest:

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Related New Mexico Blog Posts:

• Guide to Visiting White Sand National Park
• Day Trips From Santa Fe