Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santa Fe?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Santa Fe?
Many travelers spend two to five days in Santa Fe during their visit. After all, the cultural historic town has plenty to explore such as the historic old town, the restaurant scene, and the quaint shops.
Santa Fe is located in the Sangre de Cristo foothills and it has a long running history as a Spanish colony and the state capital of New Mexico. It is filled with Pueblo-style architecture and has a charming old town. The city also has its own local cuisine and many interesting museums.
Do you have one or two days to visit Santa Fe? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Santa Fe?
With a variety of sights and attractions, Santa Fe is a fairly popular choice for tourists. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the cultural historic town has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have two to five days to fully enjoy the historic town even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.
How to spend a day in Santa Fe
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Railyard Sip, Savor, & History Walking Tour in Santa Fe ($119)
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour ($70)
- Ultimate Santa Fe History Walking Tour ($130)
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Railyard Arts District ($189)
- Wander New Mexico Food Tour - Downtown Plaza 'Sip & Savor' ($209)
- New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza ($184)
Santa Fe is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the historic town, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Santa Fe?
Since it's a good-sized city, you'll probably need more than a weekend to take advantage of everything to do in Santa Fe. Two or three days still gives you a good amount of time to explore, though, as you'll have a chance to experience at least some of the major attractions. In addition to the great charming old town and fun food, visitors can enjoy the snow skiing, museums and landmarks, and hiking by staying for a weekend.
Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA
How to spend 2 days in Santa Fe
With a weekend (two to three days) in Santa Fe, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the historic town has to offer.
Shopping in Santa Fe is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.
Santa Fe is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. This cultural city has a unique beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Railyard Sip, Savor, & History Walking Tour in Santa Fe ($119)
- Canyon Road Art & History Walking Tour ($70)
- Ultimate Santa Fe History Walking Tour ($130)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Santa Fe, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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