What to do and see in Santa Fe, New Mexico (NM): The Best Free Things to do

June 5, 2021 Harland Bartelt

Venture into the unspoiled beauty of 7,000-foot Rocky Mountain vistas, marvel at the contrast of ancient native culture mixed with modern arts, feast on legendary cuisine and relax in rustic sophistication. A visit to Santa Fe, Travel & Leisure's #1 Cultural Getaway, feels a lot like a visit to Europe. The Spanish Colonial charm of this historic destination has been enchanting travelers for over 400 years. And Santa Fe shows no signs of slowing down.
Restaurants in Santa Fe

1. Nedra Matteucci Galleries

1075 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2735 +1 505-982-4631 http://www.matteucci.com/
Excellent
84%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 348 reviews

Nedra Matteucci Galleries

An art gallery specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American art.

Reviewed By ColoradoChilidog

Sometimes it's the setting/location that makes a place and Nedra has it in spades. The historical buildings, classic interior rooms, vault, and art would make this a must stop but add in the garden area and that makes this a very special place. Every staff member would answer questions that I'm sure they are asked dozens of times per day. It's educational along with great art viewing.

2. Santa fe Society of Artists

122 W Palace Ave just west of the historic Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2015 +1 505-926-1497 [email protected] http://santafesocietyofartists.com/
Excellent
95%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 41 reviews

Santa fe Society of Artists

Reviewed By suncloudgct - Santa Fe, United States

More and more artists are showing their work at art shows, fairs, etc. instead of galleries; and the SFSA is special in this way - with their special group of very talented artists, including many mediums: painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, etc. A great place to spend a weekend afternoon.

3. Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery

100 W San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2112 +1 505-986-1234 [email protected] http://www.andreafisherpottery.com/
Excellent
91%
Good
4%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
5%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 23 reviews

Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery

Reviewed By robertrV6476DJ - Davis, United States

We are collectors of Pueblo pottery and have high expectations for galleries retailing this art. Andrea Fisher meets and exceeds them all. We have been dealing with the gallery for a long time and are always impressed by the selection available from a wide range of pueblos, the expertise and knowledge of the sales staff, and care they take to make sure the customer gets just what they are looking for. The items they stock are all quality items and extend all the way up in to the collector stratosphere but they work hard to help you find just what you are looking for. The best part for me is that the prices are very reasonable for what one gets. There is no tourist junk here but if you want a good piece of pueblo pottery you can be assured walking in the door that you will not be overcharged. Having dealt with most of the other galleries in the region, this is always my first and last stop. You just cannot go wrong.

27 San Marcos Rd W, Santa Fe, NM 87508-6703 +1 208-860-9767 [email protected] http://www.hatranchgallery.org
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 18 reviews

Hat Ranch Gallery

Hat Ranch Gallery, located on historic Turquoise Trail, provides a unique and truly authentic Santa Fe experience in which to view and acquire art of all media and price range. We offer a beautiful gallery and immersive art and cultural experiences where you can unwind, explore and enjoy the original Santa Fe spirit. We are a destination gallery and when you are here -you will feel like family.

Reviewed By anlianna76

If you want a truly Santa Fe experience please visit this authentic western gallery, The art is truly wonderful and the gallery is located off the beaten path just off the iconic turquoise trail, easy to find. Once you get there you will be treated as is if you are an old friend coming to visit and I guarantee you will leave with a beautiful piece of Santa Fe art lovingly created by local artists.

5. Santa Fe National Cemetery

501 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501-1455 +1 505-988-6400 http://www.interment.net/data/us/nm/santafe/santanat/
Excellent
67%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 169 reviews

Santa Fe National Cemetery

Civil War buffs will appreciate the little known history of the 28 Confederate soldiers from Texas buried in this spot.

Reviewed By AngelaAshville_Ohio - Stoutsville, United States

What a beautiful Memorial Day! All the American flags fluttering in front of the white gleaming headstones is such a peaceful, serene, and restful sight. It’s very humbling and breathtaking. My Grandpa was laid to rest here in 1994. This cemetery is outstanding. The rows and rows of headstones all perfectly aligned in military fashion and look so elegant. What a perfect day to be here. A good time to reflect on the sacrifices people have made for our country and our freedoms. God bless them all. I never thought I’d write a review of a cemetery, but this one is close to my heart.

6. Santa Fe Plaza

100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 +1 505-955-6200 [email protected] http://santafe.org/perl/page.cgi?p=maps;gid=2401
Excellent
57%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,097 reviews

Santa Fe Plaza

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Plaza is the heart and soul of the city. The gathering spot for residents and tourists alike is surrounded by city landmarks, shops and restaurants.

Reviewed By jh453

My 20-something daughters and I spent an enjoyable hour in and around the charming Plaza on a gorgeous Spring day. There is something there for every budget and many time constraints and tastes. You can sit on one of the plentiful benches, on the grass, or at one of the metal tables and relax and people watch for free. You can spend a little or a lot of money at the stores that flank the Plaza or at the sidewalk vendors who sell mostly silver jewelry (most of it, apoarently, made by local Native Americans in tribal styles). You can eat in one of the nearby restaurants. The day we were there, there was just one food truck in one corner of the Plaza, selling only fajitas and tamales. I wish I knew the name, because their food was excellent- smoky, delicious, generous, and a great bargain, with fajitas at $5 and tamales at $2 or $2.50 each. I hope that truck is a regular and that my description is enough to let you find it and enjoy a tasty (and economical) lunch. I noticed that all the tables were wheelchair-accessible.

7. Canyon Road

Santa Fe, NM +1 505-750-7152 [email protected] http://www.explorecanyonroad.com/
Excellent
63%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,969 reviews

Canyon Road

Canyon Road is Santa Fe's historic arts district. Home to over eighty art galleries, as well as boutiques, restaurants, and historic adobe homes, it is the cultural center of Santa Fe. The galleries on Canyon Road show everything from traditional southwestern Pueblo pottery and quintessential Western art to contemporary abstraction and computer and digital art. Take time to explore; there's a little something for everyone here.

Reviewed By 66abi

A short walk from downtown this mile or so of art galleries offers a bit of everything, from crafts to really good fine art. We found happy surprises in nearly every one. My painter friend and I are art lovers so looked at everything with interest and took two days to do it, which was made easy by the presence of good restaurants and a wonderful tea house. We never knew what was behind the next doorway, in the next room and often were wonderfully surprised.

8. Cross of the Martyrs

600 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501-1957 +1 505-955-6200 http://santafe.org/perl/page.cgi?p=maps;gid=2893
Excellent
0%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
100%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 173 reviews

Cross of the Martyrs

A monument dedicated to the Franciscans killed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.

9. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

131 Cathedral Pl, Santa Fe, NM 87501-2026 +1 505-982-5619 http://www.cbsfa.org
Excellent
65%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,902 reviews

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

This cathedral was built in 1886, and is known for its beautiful Romanesque architecture.

Reviewed By 674sharons - Atlanta, United States

It is a beautiful church, with its inspirational stained glass windows, grand arches and baptismal. Then there was the docent, Mary, who made our visit very special, by giving us a personal tour that was educational, explaining about La Conquistadora, learning the history of how it became a Basilica, the history of the relics, the history of the stained glass windows especially the story of La Conquistadora, how she is cared for, the celebrations that are around her. There was so much more. It was a sacred visit and we felt so connected to the cathedral and the holy spirit residing here. Thank you for a supernatural experience. If you can join a tour of the cathedral it is well worth the time spent.

10. Santuario De Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

100 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501-5503 +1 505-988-2027 http://www.ologsf.com
Excellent
58%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 97 reviews

Santuario De Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

Built in 1795, this church houses the oldest shrine to the Virgin Mary in the United States.

Reviewed By onelastplace

This is the oldest continuously operating shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the country. It is administered by the parish behind it and what a wonderfully welcoming Community. There is a small gift shop behind the shrine with a friendly worker to answer any questions. It has an interesting history of you take the time to ask some questions,

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