Balloon Fiesta & Santa Fe: The Perfect New Mexico Getaway

Visiting New Mexico During Balloon Fiesta? Don't Miss Santa Fe!

The Balloon Fiesta is next month! Let’s plan a trip!

Every year during the first week of October, Albuquerque welcomes about 850,000 to visit the balloon fiesta. The Balloon Fiesta is the world's largest balloon event and is known as a beautiful celebration of color and community. Hundreds of balloons rise into the sky during the morning mass ascensions. 

At the same time, the evening Balloon Glow transforms the field into a beautiful sea of illuminated balloons that resemble giant lanterns; it’s truly a sight to see.

After the festivities, just an hour away is Santa Fe, one of America's most historic cities. So, if you're already in New Mexico, it's the perfect time to experience both.

About Santa Fe

Santa Fe itself draws in roughly 2 million tourists year-round. Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is the oldest state capital in the United States and is very well known for its arts and culture. The city hosts many art galleries, museums, and art events. It is also considered to be the cultural capital of the Southwestern United States, blending Spanish, indigenous, and American influences.

​As one of the country's major art destinations, you can spend your days here visiting galleries, museums, and public art on foot. The streets around Santa Fe Plaza still follow a colonial-era layout, and many of the adobe buildings preserve the city's history.

Although the Balloon Fiesta is the main event, if you're already making the trip to New Mexico, we'd definitely recommend making time for Santa Fe, too. It's only about an hour from Albuquerque, and the two cities feel completely different. After a morning of balloons, crowds, and excitement, Santa Fe is a nice change of pace.

You can spend the afternoon walking around the Plaza, grabbing lunch, popping into a few shops, or wandering around and seeing what catches your eye. And honestly, that's one of the best ways to experience Santa Fe. You don't need to have every minute planned out.

Explore Santa Fe

Start at the Santa Fe Plaza, right in the middle of the city. There are shops, restaurants, historic buildings, and usually something going on nearby. From there, it's easy to walk around downtown and explore. Then head over to Canyon Road if you have some extra time. There are galleries pretty much everywhere you look, along with sculptures, gardens, and plenty of local artwork. Give yourself some time here because you'll probably find yourself stopping more than you expect.

-Step Inside Santa Fe's Historic Churches

Santa Fe's history is everywhere, and some of the best examples can be found in its historic churches. The Loretto Chapel is especially well known for its beautiful architecture and famous spiral staircase. Nearby, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is another beautiful piece of Santa Fe's history and architecture.

Both are easy to work into a day of exploring downtown.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

-Shop Local

Before you leave, set aside some time to do a little shopping. Santa Fe is a great place to find things you won't see just anywhere, from Native American jewelry and handmade pottery to locally made artwork and Southwestern-inspired gifts. It's worth wandering through the local shops and seeing what you find.

-Get Outside

Of course, Santa Fe isn't just about art, history, and shopping. If you want to get outside for a while, you're in luck. The city is surrounded by mountains, trails, and some seriously beautiful scenery.

The Dale Ball Trails are a convenient option if you want to get some fresh air without going too far from town. For a more challenging hike, Atalaya Mountain offers great views of Santa Fe and the surrounding landscape.

If you're visiting during the fall, make the drive up to Aspen Vista Trail. The changing aspens against the mountains make this one of the prettiest places to be when the leaves start turning.

Aspen Vista Trail

And if hiking isn't your thing, take a scenic drive through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains instead. Sometimes the best way to experience Northern New Mexico is simply to take your time, enjoy the views, and see where the road takes you.

Why Add Santa Fe to Your Trip?

If you're already coming to New Mexico for the Balloon Fiesta, you might as well see a little more while you're here. Santa Fe is close enough to make the trip easy, but different enough that it feels like you're getting a whole new experience.

One morning you're watching balloons take off over Albuquerque, and later that day you could be walking around the Plaza, visiting local shops, or heading up into the mountains. You don't have to go very far to feel like you've landed somewhere completely different.