The best city hikes and walks in Santa Fe County

Santa Fe Plaza stands as the historic and cultural heart of Santa Fe. Founded in 1610, it’s one of the oldest continuously occupied public spaces in the United States. The Plaza was originally designed as the central square for the Spanish colonial Presidio, surrounded by residences, a chapel, and the seat of government. Over the centuries it evolved — welcoming trade caravans arriving along the historic Santa Fe Trail, serving as a gathering place for Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and later American communities, hosting centuries of civic, social, and cultural life. Today, the Plaza remains a lively public square ringed by adobe-style buildings, galleries, boutiques, and museums — including the Palace of the Governors, the oldest continuously occupied public building in the U.S. The plaza is also the official starting point for the Santa Fe to Taos thru-hike.

Nice town to spend a day Route 66

Capital of the US federal state of New Mexico, with many Pueblo style buildings.

The old town of Santa Fe is full of charm. It has kept its authenticity with its old center made of adobe houses. It is a city where you will find many art galleries, but also exceptional and unique museums like the Mocna (Museum of Contemporary Native Art) as well as many sculptures in the streets. This part of the original city revolves around the Santa Fe Plaza, where many artists sell their crafts on the ground. The Mocna is just opposite the church dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. For more information see their website: https://iaia.edu/mocna/

Around the square there are shops on all four sides, especially chic jewelry stores, shoe stores and clothing shops. Sometimes even grouped together in small indoor malls, there is an incredible variety of mostly very expensive shopping opportunities. Especially those who like Indian jewelry and cowboy boots will get their money's worth at a very high price level. But there is also a jeweler with Breitling watches etc. Absolutely comparable to the chic malls and shops in Southern California. In addition, many nice little bars and restaurants as well as some very chic hotels, all in pueblo style and definitely worth a visit.

Located at the end of the historic Santa Fe Trail, surrounded by the picturesque Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A modern hotel in Santa Fe that is shaped by the art and soul of the Southwest. The Inn & Spa at Loretto is in the heart of Santa Fe, just a short walk from the city's famous galleries and museums, and Canyon Road's Artist Row. The hotel perfectly captures the spirit of the surrounding artist community. Thanks to the incomparable combination of location, unique charm and soul, the Inn & Spa at Loretto has become really famous as an accommodation in Santa Fe.

Santa Fe, the city of beautiful adobe buildings, is now home to two major roads: the Santa Fe Trail, an important trade route that lost its importance with the construction of the railroad in the 1830s, and the original route of Route 66 . When it comes to Santa Fé and New Mexico, few people think of skiing! And yet there are some well-known winter sports areas in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains north of the well-known place. The place itself is at least 2,000 m above sea level. As early as the 12th century, there was an Indian settlement on the site of today's town. The first Spaniards arrived in the 16th century. In 1610 Santa Fe became the seat of the governor of the province of Nuevo Méjico in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Santa Fe is the oldest capital in the USA. Because of its history, Santa Fe has several historic buildings, including the oldest public building in the United States, the Governor's Palace, dating from 1610, and the oldest church in the United States, the San Miguel Mission Church, dating from 1628. Santa Fe's full name is La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís", Spanish for "Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi" Decades ago, most streets in Santa Fe were unpaved, and the only visitors were hippies and bohemian souls who came here for introspection. Today, Santa Fe is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. Art galleries now outnumber grocery stores. As a Mecca of art and culture, holidaymakers will find a wealth of sights and museums. About 200 galleries are located in the city. In addition, Santa Fe is a magnet for visitors from all over the world. As early as the middle of the 20th century, the city fathers recognized how important it was for their city to preserve and beautify the cityscape. So it was made mandatory that every new building is built in the traditional Pueblo style (Adobe style). The result is a cityscape unlike any other city of its size in the United States. The identification of the inhabitants with their city and the great attraction for artists and vacationers is largely based on this exemplary, far-sighted urban planning. The "Santa Fe Express" is also famous. Often the target of robbers and gangs in the Wild West, the railway connection is still one of the most important railway connections from west to east.