With tons of amazing local foods and access to forests, canyons, and desert landscapes, Santa Fe, New Mexico is one of the best cities in the U.S. to relax over a long weekend. We spent 4 days exploring this city, looking for the best ways to enjoy the culture and surrounding nature of this capital city. If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico, here is an itinerary to help you relax and unwind in a beautiful city.
Want to see what this itinerary looks like in the Fall in Santa Fe, New Mexico? Check out our long weekend trip to this magical city.
Weather in New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico sits at roughly 7,000 feet of elevation, giving the city a variety of weather, with drier air, cooler nights, and more UV exposure. We visited during the fall, one of the most popular times to visit this area, right between the intense summer heat and freezing winter months. This itinerary will work in any season, though if you’re hiking or visiting the thermal pools in warmer temperatures, be mindful of how long you spend in the sun and remember to use UV protection. There are additional activities that you can do in Santa Fe depending on the season, like skiing in the winter or enjoying more of the surrounding areas, like Taos, in the warmer months. Be sure to check the weather before your trip and remember that things can change very quickly when you’re in the mountains.
Day 1 - Exploring the City
If you’re arriving in the city at the end of the week, the first place you should check out is the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market, which is held every Saturday (and some Tuesdays) at the Railyard. This market is one of the oldest and largest farmers’ markets in the country, serving more than 100 farmers and producers from 15 Northern New Mexico counties. All of the products here are locally grown and produced, so it’s the perfect way to enjoy some of the classic New Mexican food without having to go far.
We grabbed breakfast from some of the vendors and were able to find breakfast burritos, flatbreads, and all sorts of pastries. It’s also the perfect place to purchase some fresh roasted red and green chile peppers to take home. If you’re looking for a non-perishable souvenir, there are often craft vendors and some small shops along the railyard with locally made products. Spend some time exploring this part of downtown. There’s plenty of shopping, parks, restaurants, and tons of art galleries with everything from contemporary to Native American art. If you want a more scenic view through this city, grab a scenic train ride right in the railyard. For dinner, head to The Pantry Restaurant, a place serving up classic New Mexican food since 1948. We ordered the chilaquiles and they were the best we’ve ever had. This is a very popular restaurant, so prepare for a long wait when you get there or try to visit in the off hours.
Day 2 - Spa Day
Northern New Mexico is known for its soaking culture, offering several areas to soak in sulfur free mineral pools and natural hot springs tucked into the forest. If you’re willing to drive 1-1.5 hours outside of the city, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa and Jemez Hot Springs are two popular areas to visit and both offer day passes. Ojo Caliente has been around since 1868 and offers soaking in sulfur-free geothermal mineral pools. Jemez Hot Springs has terraced pools right alongside the Jemez River, making both of these options great ways to get out in nature and relax. If you are looking for something closer to the city, Ojo Santa Fe is just 20 minutes from downtown and offers day passes for their spring-fed thermal soaking pools. Since we visited in the fall, we chose to go to Ojo Santa Fe, which cost us less than $100 for two people and gave us access to 8 different heated pools, a saltwater pool, and tons of hiking trails on their 77-acre property. The day pass gives you access from 10 am to 10 pm, so head out for a morning soak before it gets too busy and then go into the city for lunch before returning for a night soak. This is a very popular spot, so we recommend getting there right at 10 am to get your day pass, which are sold on a first come first serve basis.
If you’re heading into the city for lunch, Kakawa Chocolate House is a great stop to continue the relaxation. They produce hand-made dark chocolates and offer hot chocolate flights to try out several of their flavors, including a spicy chile hot chocolate. We headed here for a hot chocolate before going down the street to 1050 Paseo De Peralta, which has a bunch of food trucks available to order lunch, plus a cozy, mostly shaded outdoor area to eat.
Day 3 - Santa Fe National Forest
After a day of relaxation, it’s time to head out and explore more of the city and surrounding nature. We started our day off downtown at the Santa Fe Plaza, which has tons of shopping, art galleries, museums, and restaurants. One of our favorite things to do here was have lunch at The Shed, a restaurant that’s been around since 1953 and serves up a ton of traditional New Mexican dishes. This is an especially great option if you’re looking for vegetarian and vegan versions of classic dishes. Just a short walk away, you can visit Canyon Road, which is a popular street lined with fine art galleries, studios, and cafes. You’ll also find several museums here, like the New Mexico Museum of Art and IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts.
After exploring the city in the morning, head out into Santa Fe National Forest to get a view of the city from above. You can drive to the Vista Grande Overlook, just 30 minutes from downtown, which takes you up to roughly 10,000 feet of elevation. Santa Fe National Forest is massive, spanning 1.6 million acres, with mountains, valleys, and mesas to see. If you’re visiting in the Fall, you’ll likely spot the aspen trees turning golden, making this scenic drive feel even more magical. If you prefer to do some hiking instead, there are tons of trails available that will take you through the mountains or even some high-altitude alpine climbs. Some of the most popular trails include Windsor and Bear Wallow Trail Loop, Atalaya Mountain Trail, and Chamisa Trail. No matter how you choose to explore this forest, the views and immersion in nature will be worth the visit.
Day 4 - Bandelier National Monument
Just 45 minutes outside of the city, Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of beautiful canyon and mesa and has one of the largest concentrations of Ancestral Pueblo archaeological sites in the American Southwest. This park is the perfect place to connect with the culture and nature of this part of New Mexico. There are over 70 miles of trail, some of which connect to the Santa Fe National Forest, but our favorite was the Pueblo Loop Trail. This 1.4 mile loop trail can be accessed through the visitor center and it takes you past several archaeological sites. Multiple wooden ladders are available along the trail where you can climb into cavates, small human-carved alcoves. If you’re looking for a more difficult hike, halfway through this trail, you’ll see signs for Alcove House. Just a half mile hike away, you can access this cave which was home to approximately 25 Ancestral Pueblo People. The climb to the cave is a 140 foot vertical climb, with stone stairs and 4 wooden ladders, which are much larger (and more vertical) than the other ladders on the Pueblo Loop Trail. If you climb to the top, you’re rewarded with an amazing view over the canyon and you can see reconstructed kiva and viga holes and niches of former homes. This park was the perfect place to feel immersed in the rich culture of Northern New Mexico and the views during the hikes and even the drive were breathtaking.
Final Thoughts on Santa Fe, New Mexico
After 4 days exploring this city, Santa Fe became one of our favorite destinations in the U.S. The access to nature, relaxing culture, and access to amazing local foods make it the perfect spot for a long weekend trip. There are endless activities to do in this city, plus several popular day trips, if you have more time to explore. We hope this weekend itinerary for Santa Fe, New Mexico helps you plan a relaxing, nature packed holiday.
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About the Authors
For us, travel isn't about checking destinations off a list. We love connecting with new places through its natural spaces, trails, wildlife, and native plants. Whether we're living on the road in our 21-foot travel trailer or traveling abroad, we hope our stories inspire you to slow down on your travels, spend more time outside, and discover the beauty all around the world.
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