Curator’s statement
I have the good fortune to visit Albuquerque for several weeks each year, and it is one of my all-time favorite vacation spots! Each time I visit, there are a host of new restaurants and breweries that must be evaluated, and I could eat green chili along with virtually every meal! Make sure to be ready for the traditional chili preference question: red, green or Christmas? Christmas, naturally, is a combination of both red & green chili. The best part of this quiz is that there are no wrong answers!
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Where to stay in Albuquerque
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Things to do in Albuquerque
Sandia Tramway: Ride the fifteen-minute tram to the top of the Sandias, an elevation of over 10,300 feet. Soak up spectacular views of Albuquerque and surroundings, and enjoy a meal or beverage at the scenic TEN 3, the restaurant located at the top of the tramway.
Balloon Fiesta: The most well-known event in town, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta happens every year for nine days in October. All manner of events are scheduled over the week. The Fiesta has many highlights! Morning Glow happens just before sunrise and the entire field of hot air balloons light up simultaneously. Mass Ascension is the big event when they have all of the balloons lift off in the morning and fill the skies with brightly colored balloons. Visitors can ride in the balloons and kids of all ages love the Crazy Shapes Rodeo, involving balloons shaped like all sizes of people, animals, cartoon characters, food, cars and buildings! There are local food trucks and shops on hand to keep visitors well fed!
Petroglyph National Monument: On the northwest side of town, this national monument contains many easy hikes, guiding you through winding trails where visitors can see petroglyphs dating back 3,000 years or more carved into volcanic rock.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center: A wonderful museum dedicated to the Native American inhabitants of Albuquerque. The facility houses a museum, library, restaurant featuring Native American cuisine, a gift shop and hosts events!
Breaking Bad tour (& store): Fans of the award-winning series can visit many of the iconic sights where the show was filmed. There are also numerous guided tours and even a Breaking Bad Store!
Historic Old Town Albuquerque: Home to 150+ shops, galleries, restaurants and museums clustered around the old Albuquerque town square. A must-visit for shopping enthusiasts!
American International Rattlesnake museum: A unique museum for the reptilian aficionados housing the largest rattlesnake collection in the world.
Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum: Adjacent to the Balloon Fiesta Park, which hosts the yearly Balloon Fiesta, this museum is dedicated to everything related to hot air balloons! An Albuquerque must-see!
Bosque Trail: This sixteen-mile trail follows the path of the Rio Grande and offers a spectacular opportunity to hike, walk or bike in the company of native wildlife and fauna. It cuts right through the center of town, but feels as though you’ve left civilization behind.
ABQ BioPark: The Albuquerque BioPark is home to a Zoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium and Tingley Beach, a public park on the banks on the Rio Grande. Tickets are available for either individual parks or as combo tickets for multiple parks. Shuttles are available to transit between them.
Nob Hill: Nob Hill is a historic area along Route 66 that hosts restaurants, bars and all types of shopping!
Day Trips
Santa Fe: An hour north of Albuquerque, Santa Fe is rich in history and has a vibrant art scene. Visit the Santa Fe plaza and Basilica in the center of town and stroll through a vast array of shops and cafes!
El Malpais National Monument: A hour outside of Albuquerque, visitors can experience the remains of ancient volcanic eruptions which left cinder cones and lava flows. La Ventana Natural stone arch is also a highlight of the National Monument grounds.
Ice cave and Bandera Volcano: Where else can you hike into a dormant volcano and visit a perpetual ice cave all in the same place? Nicknamed “New Mexico’s Land of Fire and Ice,” it is located near Grants, New Mexico a modest drive west of Albuquerque.
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge: This wildlife refuge is slightly over an hour south of Albuquerque and is a well-known protected habitat for tens of thousands of migratory bird species!
Taos: Taos Pueblo is a Native American community that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town of Taos boasts multitudes of outdoor activities nearby due to its location close to the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains.
Truth or Consequences: Approximately two hours south of Albuquerque is the unique town of Truth or Conququences (“T or C” for short), which is home to a collection of high quality natural hot spring.
Places to eat & drink in Albuquerque
Frontier: The most iconic restaurant in Albuquerque, located right across the street from the University of New Mexico. They serve cinnamon rolls that will taunt your dreams, and incredible New Mexican style burritos, slathered in green chili sauce!
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza: Amazing pizza, GIANT calzones and the perfect personal pizza & salad lunch special.
La Cumbre Brewing Co: In my opinion, the best craft brewery in Albuquerque, and one of the best ANYWHERE! Their Elevated IPA is my favorite IPA anywhere. But don't stop there…they always have a huge array of regular and seasonal beers on tap. They don't serve food but you can bring your own.
Sadie’s: Probably the most well-known (for good reason) destination in town for traditional New Mexican cuisine.
Blake’s Lotaburger: Albuquerque’s home-grown fast-food burger chain! The NM burger (green chili cheeseburger) is must - make sure to add bacon! And don't miss the seasoned fries!
Marble Brewery: My second favorite after La Cumbre, Marble always has a solid selection of taps on hand!
Owl Cafe: Home to the best green chili cheeseburger in town.
Dion’s: Dion's is a great local pizza chain, my go-to choice for Albuquerque’s pizza toppings - pepperoni & green chili!
Sawmill Market : A trendy collection of over twenty-five eating and drinking establishments catering to a wide variety of genres of food and drink. Great patio and outdoor seating, too!
Little Bear Coffee : One-of-a-handful of great local, artisanal coffee in Albuquerque. They roast their own beans - try an espresso shot or play the long game and enjoy a pour over!
Villa Miriam Coffee Roasters: Tied with Little Bear for top rankings in my opinion. Locally roasted, fantastic coffee lineup!
Casa Rodeña Winery: An award-winning local winery, known for reds. They have a tasting room and vine-covered outdoor seating area where you can sample their varied offerings.
Need to know
Albuquerque is a charming (and delicious) city! The laid back vibe and amazing food and brewery scene will keep you coming back. Come for the Balloon Fiesta but stay to see so much more.
Travel Advisor
Nathan Mitchell
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This guide is part of our ongoing series on travel to Albuquerque. Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my guide, A Coffee Lover's Guide to Vienna, Austria.