Santa Fe New Mexico Canyon Road Galleries and Green Chile

Why visit Santa Fe

Founded as a Spanish colonial capital in the early seventeenth century, Santa Fe has been a seat of government under Spain, Mexico and the United States, and it is the highest state capital in the country.

Art is the other great draw. Santa Fe is one of the largest art markets in the country, with galleries ranging from traditional Native pottery and Hispanic devotional carving to contemporary painting and immersive installations.

The Plaza and historic downtown

The historic center is compact and walkable, and most of its key sights lie within a few blocks of the Plaza.

Santa Fe Plaza and the Palace of the Governors

The tree-shaded Plaza has been the heart of the city since its founding, and it still hosts concerts, markets and festivals. On its north side, the Palace of the Governors is a long adobe building that served as a seat of government for centuries and is now part of the New Mexico History Museum.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

One block east of the Plaza, the cathedral was built between the late 1860s and 1880s under Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, whose story inspired Willa Cather's novel Death Comes for the Archbishop.

Loretto Chapel

This small Gothic Revival chapel, built for the Sisters of Loretto, is known for its spiral staircase, which climbs to the choir loft in two full turns with no visible central support. Its builder and the source of its wood remain the subject of local legend.

San Miguel Chapel

A few blocks south on Old Santa Fe Trail, San Miguel Chapel is a simple adobe mission often called the oldest church structure in the continental United States, with walls dating to the early seventeenth century and later rebuilding after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Inside, look for the painted wooden altar screen and the old bell.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

The museum devoted to Georgia O'Keeffe holds the largest collection of her work, from early abstractions to the bones, flowers and red hills of northern New Mexico.

Canyon Road, Museum Hill and the Railyard

Beyond the Plaza, three districts hold most of the city's galleries and museums.

Canyon Road

This narrow, winding street climbs east from Paseo de Peralta past roughly a hundred galleries, studios and shops housed in old adobe homes. You will find everything from bronze sculpture gardens and Southwestern landscapes to contemporary glass and Native art. Allow two to three hours to walk up and back.

Museum Hill

About two miles southeast of the Plaza, Museum Hill groups four museums around a central plaza. The Museum of International Folk Art holds a vast collection of toys, textiles and figures from around the world, displayed in a lively main gallery.

The Railyard and Meow Wolf

The Railyard district, southwest of downtown, has turned old rail buildings into galleries, a park, shops and the terminus of the Rail Runner train. On Saturday mornings it hosts the Santa Fe Farmers Market, one of the oldest and largest in the region, where growers sell chile, heirloom produce and local honey.

Day trips from Santa Fe

Bandelier National Monument

About an hour west of Santa Fe, Bandelier protects Frijoles Canyon, where Ancestral Pueblo people built villages and carved rooms into the soft volcanic cliffs. The paved Pueblo Loop Trail passes the circular ruins of Tyuonyi and the cliff dwellings, and wooden ladders let you climb into some of the cavates.

The High Road to Taos

The scenic route between Santa Fe and Taos winds through the mountain villages of Chimayo, Truchas and Las Trampas. In Chimayo, the Santuario de Chimayo draws pilgrims to its small adobe church, and local weavers have practiced their craft for generations.

Food and local flavors

New Mexican cuisine is built on chile, and the official state question, Red or green?, refers to which chile sauce you want on your plate. Green chile is roasted fresh and has a bright, smoky heat, while red chile is made from dried pods and tastes earthier.

In late summer and early fall, the smell of roasting chile fills the air outside markets and grocery stores.

Where to stay

The Plaza and historic downtown suit first-time visitors who want to walk to museums, churches and restaurants and leave the car parked. The Canyon Road and Eastside area offer quieter lanes, adobe inns and casitas, which suit couples and art lovers. The Railyard and Guadalupe district are good for travelers arriving by train and those who like a younger, more casual scene.

Best time to visit Santa Fe

Santa Fe has four distinct seasons. Summer days are warm but rarely oppressive thanks to the altitude, and July and August bring afternoon monsoon thunderstorms.

September and October may be the finest months, with clear skies, cool nights, chile roasting season and golden aspens in the mountains.

Getting there and getting around

Santa Fe Regional Airport has a limited number of direct flights, so many travelers fly into Albuquerque International Sunport, about an hour's drive south on Interstate 25.

Downtown is best explored on foot, and the city's Santa Fe Trails buses reach Museum Hill and other areas. A car is useful for Bandelier, Taos, Abiquiu and the High Road.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start on the Plaza and browse the Native artists under the portal of the Palace of the Governors, then tour the New Mexico History Museum.

Second day

Spend the morning at Museum Hill, choosing the Museum of International Folk Art and one other museum.

Third day

If it is Saturday, begin at the Railyard Farmers Market. Then drive west to Bandelier National Monument to walk the Pueblo Loop Trail and climb the ladders to the cliff dwellings.

Fourth day

Drive the High Road to Taos through Chimayo and Truchas, then return through the Rio Grande gorge, or head northwest to Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch for Georgia O'Keeffe country.

Practical tips

• Adjust to the altitude slowly: drink plenty of water, limit alcohol on the first night and pace any hikes.
• Pack layers, since temperatures can swing widely between a sunny afternoon and a cool evening, even in summer.
• Book rooms many months ahead for Indian Market, Spanish Market, Fiestas and the opera season.
• Reserve timed tickets for Meow Wolf and check museum websites for current hours and fees before you go.
• When visiting pueblos, follow posted rules on photography and closed areas, and remember that feast days are religious ceremonies.
• Ask about provenance when buying Native art, and buy directly from artists where you can.

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