Things to do in Santa Fe County

Santa Fe Plaza is a spacious gathering point with markets, a bandstand and a park at the heart of the city. At the square’s center find an arts stage and a statue that acts as an American Indian War Memorial. Many musical performances and political events take place in the lively square. Around the plaza are restaurants, boutiques and galleries. Use the benches and tables in this tranquil, grassy haven for a picnic.

The Santa Fe Opera is a majestic open-air venue hosting concerts and festivals in the summer season. The main theater is a marvel of innovative design that enhances the acoustics and offers a view of the night sky and the Jemez Mountains. The excellent vista generates an absorbing atmosphere alongside lovely music and fine acting. The program features a range of breakthrough operatic acts and reliable classics.

The origin of the helix-shaped staircase in the 19th-century Loretto Chapel continues to baffle historians more than a century after its construction. The Sisters of Loretto and the site’s many visitors consider the enigmatic construction of the stairs a miracle. Others offer more practical explanations. The former church, which is of Gothic Revival design, is now primarily used as a wedding chapel and a museum for the staircase.

Canyon Road is the heart of Santa Fe’s distinguished art scene, with over 100 galleries open to the public. Restaurants and boutiques line the scenic street that lures visitors with its elegant atmosphere and array of artworks. Find an eclectic range of themes, from Native American art and Hispanic works to modern art of international acclaim. The road also acts as a scenic trail toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is a 19th-century church of Romanesque Revival design. Its style is a stark contrast to the surrounding clay adobe structures that date back to an earlier era. Its standout features are its arches, pediment, rose window and towers on either side of the façade’s center. Inside the church, investigate the stained-glass windows.