Top New Mexico Art & Culture

Get oriented to Santa Fe’s unique history, architecture, and culture on this top-rated walking tour. Explore the Santa Fe plaza area on foot, passing landmarks like the Loretto Chapel, Palace of the Governors, and Bario de Analco, plus places off the beaten path that most visitors miss. Hear stories not found in any guidebook, and get tips on how to make the most of your Santa Fe vacation.

The historic Santa Fe Plaza and downtown area has a 400-year old history filled with the lore and legends of conquistadors, scientists, artists, outlaws, and Pueblo peoples. Access this history on your phone through our GPS-enabled walking tour. Start and stop on your own schedule—access to the tour never expires. Learn about the annual Zozobra celebration, what "Christmas-style" means, and where to find the oldest church in the United States.

ABQ Trolley Co. operates the only open-air Trolley in Albuquerque! Our Best of ABQ City Tour is a fully-narrated journey through Albuquerque's past and present. Hop on-board to explore the sights, sounds, and stories that have made our city what it is today! There is a minimum attendance requirement of 6 guests per tour. Tours that do not meet our minimum attendance requirements (of 6 guests) are subject to cancellation or rescheduling. Our City Trolley Tours run from April-October.

There are many Santa Fe tours out there, but this is the only one lead by a homegrown historian and author of eight books on the city. Take advantage of the guide’s deep knowledge of Santa Fe history and culture to gain a new perspective on landmarks like the Loretto Chapel, Canyon Road, Cross of the Martyrs, Route 66, and more. The tour delves into topics not often covered, including the Manhattan Project, spirituality, and Santa Fe’s role in World War II.

Watch sunset ignite the Rio Grande Valley on a hot air balloon ride from Albuquerque, and see the evening light transform the Sandia Mountains and desert landscape. Enjoy commentary from your pilot throughout the flight, and spot the region’s landmarks as you soar above the rugged terrain; dip low to skim the Rio Grande and capture unforgettable, aerial images of New Mexico’s largest city. Touch back down after a 1-hour flight, then linger over sparkling wine and snacks before returning to your launch site.

Watch daylight appear above the Rio Grand Valley during a sunrise hot air balloon ride from Albuquerque, and see the first rays illuminate the rugged Sandia Mountains. Take in stunning aerial views and dip low enough to skim the Rio Grande, then rise back up above the desert landscape. Touch town after a 1-hour flight, and begin the day with sparkling wine before returning to your launch site.

Albuquerque is world renowned for its hot air balloon festival. Most visitors only watch balloons from the ground but this tour offers the chance to soar into the air yourself. In a small group of no more than five people, watch the sun rise as you fly over the Sandia Mountains and toast the experience with a glass of bubbly.

Explore downtown Santa Fe's best food and wine venues on a half-day walking tour led by an informative guide. Get a taste of new developments in Santa Fe’s food scene and sample classic New Mexican flavors when you stop into several local eateries. You'll also visit landmarks like the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis, Loretto Chapel, and Palace of the Governors. Your guide shares commentary about the city’s history and the mix of cultures that have shaped its food culture throughout the leisurely walking tour.

Rather than wandering around alone, explore Albuquerque's Old Town in the company of someone who knows it best and can provide context. This small-group walking tour introduces you to the legends, lore and colorful characters of this historically rich neighborhood while taking you to all the most important landmarks.

Discover Canyon Road, home to over 80 art galleries, on a guided tour through Santa Fe. Walk through a number of exciting galleries to give you a sense of what Canyon Road has to offer. Engage with many of the art pieces and have a chat with the local artists and gallery curators. Your tour is limited to 10 participants, which allows for a more personal experience.

Join one of Taos’s famous writer, artist, and storyteller for this walking tour of the city, named Sam Richardson. Along the way you’ll learn about the cultural and historical figures like Padre Martinez and Kit Carson. You’ll explore the wild west Red Light District. See where early artists created their work, and visit several other spots in town with vivid histories and plenty of stories.

With so much to explore, it can be hard to know where to begin in Santa Fe. This private walking tour removes the guesswork for an ideal introduction to the city’s historic plaza, charming adobe buildings, parks, and art galleries. Finish at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, with included admission so you can explore the life of this artist who immortalized northern New Mexico landscapes.

See parts of Albuquerque that tour buses cannot reach, and cover more ground than is possible on foot. This bicycle tour introduces you to the nature and culture of Albuquerque. You'll explore some of the city’s best scenery, living cultures and unique eco-systems, and have a chance to dip your toes into the city's celebrated lifeline, the Rio Grande.

Santa Fe is a photographer’s dream, so learn how to capture the city’s unique adobe architecture, enchanting desert light, and colorful streets like a pro. A trained photographer and longtime Santa Fe resident takes you to the most photogenic locations around the plaza and helps you get that perfect shot, whether you're working with a high-tech DSLR camera or a smart phone.

Learn all about turquoise during your time in the American Southwest with a visit to The Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque. Located in a modern 'castle' that is as interesting as the exhibits, the Turquoise Museum features a vast collection of turquoise jewelry and other pieces such as antique furniture. Take a self-guided tour with your admission ticket, or upgrade to include a Turquoise 101 class or a guided tour.

Explore the historical aspects of downtown Taos on this 1-hour walking tour of the town. Stroll through the streets, as you walk about half a mile (0.8 km) and learn about the people of the past. Hear stories of Kit Carson, Padre Martinez, Don Juan de Onate, Long John Dunn, and Doc Martin.

Whether it's your first time in Santa Fe or you’d like to delve deeper into the city’s history and legends, make the most out of your time on a private walking tour of must-see highlights plus hidden corners. Learn fascinating trivia and stories as you wander cobblestone streets and colorful alleyways that wind through the downtown plaza area and beyond.

Hosted by tour company Vigilante Guides. We provide a local experience and help travelers and locals alike see all the main attractions in and around the Plaza and Downtown Santa Fe including the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, Laredo Chapel, San Miguel Chapel, Oldest House, Plaza, etc. If you are a history buff or wanting to take a deep dive into the millennial old city, this is the tour for you!

Santa Fe has architecture unlike nearly any city in the United States—it’s dominated by adobe buildings but has diverse Victorian and Mission Revival styles. This tours offers a chance to learn about the architecture while taking a guided walk through the city’s back roads, residential areas, and art districts. Finish with a champagne tasting at Gruet Tasting Room at Hotel St. Francis.

If you’re looking to get an introduction to Albuquerque through its history, but don’t want to join a large group tour, try booking this Albuquerque Old Town Private History Tour. A guide tells the city’s history through lore and legends as you stroll the streets and take in sights of Albuquerque’s Old Town highlights. Plus, since this is a private tour, it can be altered to suit your needs and wants.

Combine dinner with entertainment and enjoy an evening in Albuquerque unlike any other by attending America's largest interactive murder mystery comedy dinner show. While dining on a delicious four-course meal you'll play the part of a sleuth by attempting to solve a crime and rein in the prime suspects who are hiding in plain sight.

Unleash your inner explorer, gather your team, and prepare for an exhilarating adventure at the Turquoise Museum. "Escape the Turquoise Museum" is set to become a must-visit attraction for locals and tourists alike, promising an experience that transcends traditional museum visits. Designed to challenge the mind and ignite curiosity, "Escape the Turquoise Museum" will test participants' problem-solving skills, teamwork, and ability to think outside the box. As visitors explore the museum's stunning artifacts, they will uncover clues that lead them closer to their ultimate goal: escaping the museum's confines and avoiding being trapped within its walls forever.

See Albuquerque’s historic spots and discover it’s history and legends, at your own pace, anytime, on this smart phone guided (GPS/APP) walking tour. On the tour you will see the old patio market, the San Felipe de Neri Church, a hidden chapel, the old trading post, the candy shop that dishes out Heisenberg blue the prop used on Breaking Bad, the Old Town Square, the outdoor conquistador’s statures, the hidden courtyard, and so much more. And I’ll share with you the history of Albuquerque, the native peoples, the legends and lore of rattle snakes and turquoise, the conquistadores, the settlers who founded the city, history of trade, and so much more. Go at your own pace and schedule. Feel free to pause the tour anytime to explore. The tour never expires.