Santa Fe
Around Santa Fe
Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · New Mexico · 157k people
Santa Fe
“The City Different”
Where adobe glows and chile warms the soul.
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Welcome to Santa Fe, the City Different, where the high desert light makes everything glow. Whether you're here for the art, the food, or the mountains, you'll find a community that loves to share its corners.
Clubs for Santa Fe
No clubs for Santa Fe yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Santa Fe. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Santa Fe. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Santa Fe Plaza The heart of the city, surrounded by adobe buildings and galleries.
- Palace of the Governors The oldest continuously occupied public building in the U.S., now a museum.
- Canyon Road A mile-long street packed with galleries and studios.
- Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Dedicated to the iconic New Mexico painter.
- Museum of International Folk Art Home to the world's largest collection of folk art.
- Santa Fe Opera An open-air amphitheater with stunning sunset views.
- Outdoors Hiking in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
- Outdoors Skiing at Santa Fe Ski Basin
- With kids Santa Fe Children's Museum
- With kids Museum of International Folk Art
- Evenings Live music at local venues
- Evenings Art walks on Canyon Road
- Locals love Art galleries
- Locals love Chile roasters
Through the year
- Santa Fe Opera season June–August Open-air performances with stunning sunset views.
- Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival July–August World-class chamber music in intimate venues.
- Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta September Tastings and chef demos celebrating local cuisine.
- Santa Fe Film Festival October Showcases independent and international films.
- Santa Fe Bandstand June–August Free summer concerts in the Plaza.
Santa Fe has a high desert climate with over 300 days of sunshine. The best times to be out are spring and fall, when temperatures are mild. Summers bring afternoon thunderstorms, winters are cold with snow in the mountains, and springs are windy. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out, with mild temps and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “Red or green?”
- The eternal question when ordering chile.
- “The City Different”
- Local nickname for Santa Fe.
- “La Villa”
- Short for the city's full name, used by locals.
- “High desert”
- Describes the climate and landscape.
Getaways
- Taos Art colony and ski town with a historic plaza.
- Los Alamos Science museums and Bandelier National Monument.
- Las Vegas Historic railroad town with a charming downtown.
- Albuquerque Largest city with the International Balloon Fiesta.
Local flavour
Rooting for Albuquerque Isotopes (Triple-A East, MiLB), New Mexico Lobos (NCAA Division I, Mountain West), New Mexico United (USL Championship)
Eat and drink
- Green chile stew Staple of New Mexican cuisine, often made with pork and potatoes.
- Red or green chile enchiladas Stacked enchiladas with a choice of chile, a local classic.
- Posole Hominy stew with pork, red chile, and garnishes.
- Tamales Corn dough filled with meat and chile, wrapped in husks.
- Biscochitos Anise-flavoured cookies, the official state cookie.
- Breakfast burrito with green chile A morning staple, often with eggs, potatoes, and cheese.
Where people go
- Historic adobe plazas Central gathering spots with centuries of history.
- Art galleries and museums Canyon Road and the Railyard are hubs for art.
- High desert landscapes Vast, open terrain with piñon and juniper.
- Pueblo villages Native communities like the nearby pueblos.
- Chile roasters Street-side roasters that fill the air with aroma.
- Mountain trails The Sangre de Cristo range offers hiking and skiing.
Heritage and traditions
Santa Fe is proud of its deep multicultural roots as the oldest capital city in the US, blending Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions, and its vibrant arts community that thrives in the high desert.
This time of year in Santa Fe
- Fall September-October Fiestas de Santa Fe and chile roasting; the aspens turn gold in the mountains.
Say it like a local: “Bueno” — Okay or good.
Festivals
- Santa Fe Indian Market August The largest and most prestigious Native American art market in the world, with hundreds of artists selling their work.
- Fiestas de Santa Fe September A historic celebration with a parade, mariachi music, and the burning of Zozobra, a giant puppet that symbolizes gloom.
- Traditional Spanish Market July A juried market showcasing traditional Spanish colonial arts and crafts, from retablos to tinwork.
- Contemporary Hispanic Market June A showcase of contemporary Hispanic artists working in a variety of media.
Landmarks with a story
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi Built in the 1880s, this Romanesque cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
- Loretto Chapel Famous for its miraculous spiral staircase, a source of local legend.
- San Miguel Chapel One of the oldest churches in the US, dating to the early 1600s.
- Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe A historic adobe church dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, with a notable painted reredos.
- Barrio de Analco The oldest residential neighborhood in Santa Fe, with adobe homes dating back centuries.
- Santa Fe Indian School A federal boarding school founded in 1890 that later became a center for Native American arts.
Food traditions
- Roasting green chile in the fall Every autumn, the aroma of roasting green chile fills the air as chile roasters set up at farmers markets and roadside stands.
- The 'red or green?' question At restaurants, locals are asked 'red or green?' for their chile, and you can answer 'Christmas' for both.
- Tamales at Christmas Families gather to make tamales for Christmas, a tradition passed down through generations.
- Biscochitos for celebrations These anise-flavored cookies are the official state cookie and are served at weddings, holidays, and fiestas.
- Posole on New Year's A hearty hominy and pork stew enjoyed on New Year's Day for good luck.
Music and arts
- Native American pottery and jewelry Traditions from pueblos like Santa Clara and San Ildefonso, known for black-on-black pottery and turquoise work.
- Spanish colonial arts Retablos (painted saints), bultos (carved figures), and tinwork are crafted by local artisans.
- Contemporary art galleries Canyon Road and the Railyard are hubs for modern and traditional visual art.
- Traditional New Mexico music Hispanic folk songs and Native American flute music are performed at festivals and gatherings.
A little history
- 1610 Santa Fe founded as the capital of the Kingdom of New Mexico, making it the oldest capital city in the US.
- 1680 Pueblo Revolt: Native Americans drove out Spanish colonists, and Santa Fe was retaken in 1692.
- 1821 Santa Fe Trail opens, connecting Missouri to Santa Fe and bringing trade and settlers.
- 1912 New Mexico becomes the 47th state, with Santa Fe as its capital.
- 1920s Santa Fe becomes an art colony, attracting artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and others seeking the unique light.
- Game day High school football games
- Game day Santa Fe Fuego baseball
- Outdoors Hiking to the top of Atalaya Mountain
- Outdoors Watching sunset from the Cross of the Martyrs
- With kids Riding the Santa Fe Southern Railway
- With kids Santa Fe Farmers Market
Santa Feans speak English with a Southwestern drawl, often mixing Spanish phrases. The classic question is 'red or green?' for chile, and locals affectionately call their home 'The City Different.'
Only here
- Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the US, founded in 1610.
- The Palace of the Governors is the oldest continuously occupied public building in the US.
- San Miguel Chapel is the oldest church in the US.
- The state capitol, the Roundhouse, is the only round state capitol in the US.
New here? A few tips
- Drink water: Santa Fe is at 7,000 feet, so stay hydrated to avoid altitude sickness.
- Dress in layers: temperatures can swing 30 degrees from day to night.
- Learn the 'red or green?' question for chile; saying 'Christmas' gets you both.
- Parking is tight downtown; use the Park & Ride or walk.
- Respect the adobe architecture: many buildings are historic and protected.
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Part of Albuquerque area
Nearby
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Santa Fe, NM. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.