Heading to Santa Fe for a few days? We’ve got the perfect three-day itinerary for you!
Santa Fe definitely surprised us, but we mean that in a good way! It’s packed with interesting art and architecture, plus amazing hiking trails and spas. Sounds pretty perfect, right?
Three days give you enough time to explore the historic center, hike, and check out some of the city’s quirkier attractions. We’ve planned this itinerary carefully to give you a great mix of everything Santa Fe has to offer, so keep reading to plan an amazing few days here!
Don’t miss out!
Our Top Choice
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Santa Fe was this history walking tour! We checked out historic landmarks, explored hidden gems, and heard some pretty amazing stories along the way. Who knew learning about history could be this much fun?
- Our Top Choice
- Itinerary Overview
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Morning – Go hiking
- Lunch – Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen
- Afternoon – Experience Meow Wolf
- Dinner – La Boca
- Evening – Grab a cocktail at Hervé
- If you’re visiting from May through October…
- Where to Stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Thanks for reading!
- Why We Book Tours with Viator
- Book your Airport Taxi in advance
- Renting a Car in the USA
- AIRALO e-SIM Up To 15% Off With Code "DTRAVEL15"
- What’s an eSIM?
- The Services We Recommend
Itinerary Overview
🏛️ Day 1: Discover Historic Santa Fe
Get to know Santa Fe and its history on a walking tour, then spend the afternoon exploring its museums and galleries and catch the sunset before enjoying dinner downtown.
🌮 Day 2: Food, Art & Relaxation
Eat your way around the city on a food tour, then choose between a spa afternoon or exploring Museum Hill before heading out for dinner.
🥾 Day 3: Hiking & Quirky Adventures
Start with a hike just outside the city, refuel over lunch, then spend the afternoon enjoying the weird and wonderful Meow Wolf before tapas and cocktails.
Day 1
Breakfast – Cafe Catron
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so grab yours at Cafe Catron, which is just a few minutes from where today’s walking tour begins. It opens at 7 am, so there’s plenty of time to grab breakfast and coffee without rushing. We really like the outdoor patio here, so if the weather’s nice, you can sit and enjoy the morning sun for a bit before heading into the historic center!
The food’s really good too, with lots of Mexican-style breakfast favorites like huevos rancheros and a Southwest grits breakfast skillet. The latter is absolutely perfect if you’ve got a big appetite this morning!
Morning – Discover the authentic side of Santa Fe on a history walking tour
After breakfast, head over to the meeting point for this Santa Fe history walking tour. It’s only about a 3-minute drive or 13-minute walk from Cafe Catron, and the tour runs from 9 am until around midday.
This was actually our favorite experience in Santa Fe! The city already feels historic when you’re wandering around, but having someone explain what you’re looking at makes such a difference. We started at the Palace of the Governors, which dates back to the early 1600s. We couldn’t believe just how old some of these buildings were!
From there, we explored places like Burro Alley and Barrio de Analco, hearing stories we never would have picked up on our own. We also stopped at Loretto Chapel to hear the story behind its famous staircase and visited San Miguel Chapel, believed to be the oldest church in the United States.
Our guide, Victor, was the man! His knowledge of Santa Fe was next-level, and we joked that he could probably go on Jeopardy and clean up. He made the history really fun, too, instead of just throwing dates and names at us for three hours.
By the end, we felt like we understood Santa Fe so much better. You’ll see plenty of the city’s big sights, but the little stories and hidden corners are what really make this tour worthwhile.
Lunch – The Shed
After the walking tour, head around the corner to The Shed for lunch. This place has been around since the 1950s, so it’s a bit of a Santa Fe institution at this point! Just keep in mind that it’s closed on Sundays.
It does get busy, but don’t worry if there’s a queue when you arrive; it moves pretty quickly. Once you get a table, this is a great place to try classic New Mexican flavors. Definitely order something with red or green chile, and if Hatch green chile is on the menu, that’s always our top pick! Also, keep an eye out for anything made with blue corn—it’s a state staple!
Afternoon – Explore Santa Fe at your own pace
This afternoon is nice and flexible, and you should have enough time to squeeze in all three of these if you’re feeling ambitious! Otherwise, just pick whichever ones interest you the most and take your time.
Visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
If you’re into art, then the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is a must while you’re in Santa Fe. The museum is dedicated to O’Keeffe’s life and work, and we’d allow about 1 to 1.5 hours to look around without rushing.
Even if you only know her famous flower paintings, it’s really interesting to see how much New Mexico influenced her work. Santa Fe and the surrounding desert were such a huge part of her life, which we didn’t actually realize before we visited!
Browse Canyon Road’s art galleries
Next, head on over to Canyon Road, which is basically heaven if you love browsing art galleries. A whopping 74 galleries line this stretch, so don’t even try to see them all! Just take a wander and check out whichever galleries catch your eye. You’ll find everything from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and contemporary art, and half the fun is not knowing what you’ll stumble across next.
Shop around Santa Fe Plaza and downtown
You’ve already visited Santa Fe Plaza briefly on this morning’s walking tour, but now you can take your time and explore at your own pace. There are loads of cute, locally owned shops and boutiques around downtown, so this is a great time to pick up souvenirs or just enjoy browsing for a bit. And if you’re visiting on the weekend, we also recommend checking out the Santa Fe Railyard or Santa Fe Farmers’ Market while you’re nearby.
Sunset – Cross of the Martyrs
For sunset, head up to Cross of the Martyrs, which is only about a five-minute drive from Santa Fe Plaza. It’s one of the best viewpoints in town, with sweeping views over Santa Fe and the surrounding mountains.
There is a bit of an uphill walk involved, but it’s not too bad, and the view at the top is definitely worth it. Depending on the time of year, sunset might fall before or after dinner, so just swap these two sections around if that works better!
Dinner – Joseph’s Culinary Pub
For dinner, head to Joseph’s Culinary Pub, a cozy little spot serving creative, locally inspired dishes in a warm, welcoming setting. The menu puts a fun twist on familiar favorites, and it’s just the kind of place you’ll want to settle into after a full day of exploring! They’re usually open from 5–9:30 pm, but keep in mind they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Santa Fe isn’t exactly known for wild nightlife, so don’t feel like you need to force a big night out afterward. You can always wander around downtown and find a cozy bar for a nightcap if you fancy one, and then call it a night and rest up for tomorrow.
Day 2
Morning – Taste your way around Santa Fe
Come hungry this morning, because this Santa Fe food tour is basically lunch and sightseeing rolled into one!
The tour starts at 10:45 am at Santa Fe Plaza and lasts about three hours. You’ll stop at several local restaurants to try classic New Mexican dishes, and there’s plenty of food included. Trust us when we say you won’t need a big breakfast beforehand.
We really like this tour because you’re not just eating the whole time. As you walk between stops, your guide will also point out some of Santa Fe’s most important landmarks, including the Palace of the Governors, Loretto Chapel, and San Miguel Chapel.
You’ll also learn more about New Mexican food itself, especially the famous red and green chile. And yes, there are drinks involved too! Some stops include alcoholic pairings, so by the time you finish around 1:45 pm, you’ll have a fun introduction to the city’s food scene.
We think this is a great tour to do early in your trip because you’ll leave with loads of ideas for places you might want to return to later. Plus, with hundreds of glowing reviews, we’re definitely not the only ones who love it!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
Afternoon – Your Choice!
After this morning’s food tour, you’ve got two options for the afternoon. Either embrace Santa Fe’s wellness side and head to a spa, or keep sightseeing going by spending a few hours on Museum Hill.
Option 1: Relax at a spa
Santa Fe has a big wellness scene, so if you’re craving rest and relaxation, this is the perfect time! Ojo Santa Fe Spa Resort is a gorgeous option with hot-spring pools, spa treatments, and an infrared sauna. You can book just to soak or add a massage to make a whole afternoon of it!
We also like Ten Thousand Waves, inspired by Japan’s hot spring resorts! It feels very tranquil, with shared and private onsen-style baths, plus skin and massage treatments.
Whichever spa you choose, we definitely recommend booking ahead as both of these places are popular.
Option 2: Explore Museum Hill
If you’re not much of a spa person or would rather just keep exploring, head over to Museum Hill instead. It’s just outside downtown and home to four different museums plus the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.
You definitely won’t have time to visit everything this afternoon, but you could easily pick one or two depending on what interests you most. There’s the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum, the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, and the Museum of International Folk Art.
Most museums stay open until around 5 pm and charge separate entry fees, so don’t feel like you need to rush between them; just choose your favorites and take your time. And if you want a little fresh air between museums, the Santa Fe Botanical Garden is right here too, so you can easily add that into the afternoon.
Dinner – Coyote Cafe & Rooftop Cantina
For dinner, head to Coyote Cafe & Rooftop Cantina, a fun downtown spot with a lively atmosphere. We love the vibe here, and if the weather’s good, be sure to snag a table upstairs in the rooftop cantina. It’s a great spot to kick back, soak up the Santa Fe atmosphere, and enjoy a relaxed evening under the open sky! The menu is packed with bold Southwestern flavors, so come hungry. And we can personally vouch for the margaritas—they go perfectly with the food. Cheers!
Day 3
Breakfast – Dolina Bakery & Cafe
Start your final day with breakfast at Dolina Bakery & Cafe. It’s just outside the downtown area, but since you’ll be heading out for a hike afterward, it makes total sense to stop here on the way.
Dolina opens at 7 am most days, so you can get an early start if you want to make the most of the morning. Grab some coffee and something for breakfast (we loved the Santa Fe omelet here!) and then hit the road once you’re fueled up. Eat well, because you’ve got a few hours of hiking ahead of you!
Morning – Go hiking
Before visiting Santa Fe, we didn’t actually expect hiking to be one of the highlights, but we were very wrong! Just outside the city, you’ll find mountain trails with amazing views. Hiking will show you a totally different side of Santa Fe, so pick one of the following trails and get stuck in!
Atalaya Mountain Trail is a great choice if you want a decent challenge without spending your entire day hiking. The trail is 6.4 miles (10.3 km) and climbs steadily uphill, but the views over Santa Fe and the surrounding mountains are SO worth it. The trailhead is only about a 10-minute drive from downtown, and we would allow around 3.5 to 4 hours to complete the hike.
If you’d rather keep things more flexible, the Dale Ball Trails are another great option. There are loads of connected paths here, so you can choose a shorter walk or spend a few hours exploring the piñon and juniper forests. The trail system is also about a 10-minute drive from downtown, and depending on the route you choose, you could spend anywhere from 1 to 3.5 hours here.
Or, if you’re up for more of a challenge, try Aspen Vista Loop. This 7.5-mile (12.1-kilometer) trail winds through forests of aspens and pines, and it’s especially gorgeous in fall when the leaves turn bright yellow. It’s also around a 10-minute drive from downtown, but it will take you around 5 hours, so leave plenty of time for this one!
Whichever trail you choose, we think this is such a nice way to spend your final morning in Santa Fe. After two days of museums, food, and art, getting out into the mountains is an ideal change of pace!
Lunch – Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen
After your hike, head to Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen for lunch. It was conveniently on our way back into town, but if it’s out of the way from whichever trail you chose, you can always find somewhere else nearby.
We liked Sweetwater because the menu had lots of fresh, healthy options, which was exactly what we wanted after a few hours on the trail. The menu has plenty of salads and soups, so you can refuel without falling into a full-on food coma!
From here, head back to your hotel for a shower and a quick rest before Meow Wolf. Aim to get there by 3 pm at the latest, so you’ve got a few solid hours to explore.
Afternoon – Experience Meow Wolf
Okay, this is where things get a bit weird, but in a good way, we promise!
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is one of the quirkiest things to do in Santa Fe, and we think it’s totally worth a visit. It looks like a normal family house at first, but don’t be fooled! It doesn’t take long to realize that nothing here is normal.
As you explore, you can open doors, crawl through hidden passages, and climb into some very strange rooms, all while following clues to piece the story together. Secret doors are everywhere, too, so half the fun is seeing where each one leads!
Meow Wolf has several locations across the US, but the Santa Fe one is the original, which makes it feel a bit more special. Everything is bold and a little bit crazy! It’s really easy to lose track of time once you’re inside—you could wander around for ages and still miss something.
Give yourself at least a couple of hours here. It’s open until 8 pm, and you can choose between timed or flexible tickets, depending on whether you like a bit of structure to your afternoon or prefer to go with the flow.
So, does it live up to the hype? We definitely thought so! We had so much fun here. Just go in with an open mind and get ready to embrace the weirdness.
Dinner – La Boca
After Meow Wolf, it’s about a 10-minute drive to La Boca for dinner. This cozy tapas spot offers good food and wine, plus a fantastic atmosphere, so what more could you want for your last night in Santa Fe?
Since it’s a tapas spot, the idea here is to order a few plates for the table and try as much as possible! Dinner here is a very relaxed affair, and the staff doesn’t rush you. We ended up staying here for quite a while, and even got to enjoy some live music, which made our final evening feel extra special. It was the perfect way to wind down after a mind-bending afternoon at Meow Wolf!
Evening – Grab a cocktail at Hervé
If you’re not quite ready to call it a night, walk about six minutes over to Hervé for a cocktail or a glass of wine. Santa Fe tends to wind down fairly early, and many places close around 9 or 10 pm, so head here right after dinner. We loved this spot because it felt very “New Mexico,” and it was a fun place for a final drink to say goodbye to Santa Fe after an amazing few days. Just note they’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
If you’re visiting from May through October…
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you’re in Santa Fe between May and October, then we have one more VERY special experience for you: this hot air balloon ride!
The flight takes place around sunrise, when you’ll float over the red-rock ravines and canyons surrounding Santa Fe. We can’t think of many better ways to see this dramatic desert landscape!
The whole experience lasts about 3 to 4 hours, and you’ll watch the crew inflate the balloon before climbing aboard. You’ll float over the desert as the sun rises, and we’re pretty sure you’ll remember this sunrise forever. Then, once you’re safely back on the ground, you’ll finish with a champagne celebration. Very fancy!
Just bear in mind that hot air ballooning is completely weather-dependent. If you really want to do this, we’d book it as early in your trip as possible so you have another morning free to reschedule if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate.
This definitely feels like a bucket-list addition to a Santa Fe trip. After all, what better way to experience New Mexico than to float over its capital in a hot air balloon at sunrise?
Related Read: Want even more ideas for your trip? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Santa Fe for more amazing activities and must-see attractions!
Where to Stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Now that you’ve planned your New Mexico adventures, it’s time to find the perfect place to stay! Whether you’re immersing yourself in Santa Fe’s rich history, exploring the stunning landscapes, or indulging in the local food scene, where you stay can make all the difference.
To help you out, I’ve rounded up the best hotel options in Santa Fe for every budget!
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi – $$$
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi is a fantastic choice for an upscale stay in the heart of Santa Fe! This boutique hotel blends Southwestern charm with modern elegance, offering beautifully designed rooms featuring handcrafted furnishings, fireplaces, and luxurious bathrooms.
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant serving regional cuisine, a cozy library lounge, and a prime location just steps from Santa Fe Plaza and historic landmarks. Room rates vary by season and suite, typically ranging from $600—$1000 USD per night. Check availability and book your stay on Booking.com.
Las Palomas – $$
For a cozy and authentic stay in Santa Fe, Las Palomas is a fantastic mid-range option. Located just a short walk from the historic Plaza, this charming hotel blends Southwestern style with modern comforts. Guests can enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast each morning, free WiFi, and an on-site fitness center.
Some accommodations even feature private patios and full kitchens for those who prefer to cook their own meals! Prices typically range from $250–$350 USD per night. Check availability for your travel dates on Booking.com.
El Sendero Inn – $
For an affordable stay in the heart of Santa Fe, El Sendero Inn is a solid choice. This budget-friendly hotel sits in a prime location near the historic Plaza, making it easy to explore the city’s top attractions on foot. Rooms are simple but comfortable, and guests have access to an outdoor swimming pool and on-site parking (both a rarity in downtown Santa Fe!).
It’s a great option for travelers who want a convenient and budget-conscious place to stay! Rooms start as low as $140 USD per night. Visit Booking.com to check availability and book!
For more options, see all of Santa Fe’s hotels listed here!
Book your Airport Taxi in advance
Start your trip stress-free by booking your airport taxi before you arrive. You’ll skip the long lines, avoid overpriced fares and scams, and won’t have to worry about explaining your hotel address to a driver. Simply prebook your airport pickup online here, and your driver will be ready to take you directly to your hotel!
Renting a Car in the USA
The United States is a vast country with diverse landscapes, from bustling cities to scenic national parks. While public transportation exists in major cities, renting a car is often the best way to explore the country’s wide-open spaces and hidden gems.
We always book with Discover Cars and can’t recommend them enough. It’s super easy to compare prices, check company ratings, find the right vehicle for your needs, and add affordable full coverage insurance. If you want a full breakdown, check out our Discover Cars review here.
Tips for Renting a Car in the USA
What You Need to Rent a Car in the USA
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Thanks for reading!
Santa Fe really is full of surprises! One minute you’re wandering through centuries-old streets, the next you’re crawling through secret passages at Meow Wolf or hiking in the mountains. Throw in some incredible New Mexican food, colorful art, and a little spa time, and you’ve got one amazing getaway! We hope this three-day itinerary helps you discover just how fun and unique Santa Fe really is.
Fair warning: planning one USA getaway has a funny way of turning into planning more! If you’re already dreaming about your next trip, our other USA travel guides have you covered. Or take a peek at the blogs below for even more places to add to your bucket list!
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The Services We Recommend
From hotels to guided tours, we only recommend services we know and trust. Here are our recommended partners so you can explore with confidence.
