Epic Route 66: Must Do in Santa Fe & ABQWith a train that takes you from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, this is the perfect way to see both cities in one trip! Check these Route 66 things to do off your bucket list, including eating at an old-fashioned American diner, a hot air balloon ride in Albuquerque, and a sunset tram ride in Santa Fe. Authorscurlyadventures
DestinationsAlbuquerqueItinerary

Albuquerque

Sandia Peak Tramway
This is something you DON’T want to miss. The view from the top of the tram is absolutely insane. There’s also a fine dining restaurant up top 🎟️ By your tickets in advance and show up ahead of time to get a good spot 🌅 We went right before sunset 🧥 It’s COLD up top. Way colder than you’d expect. Bring a jacket and also HYDRATE a lot before. The elevation means less oxygen and you don’t want to ruin your trip
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Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
A hub for Pueblo history and living culture in Albuquerque. 🏺 Walk through exhibits and murals that share the stories of New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos. 🎶 On weekends, the courtyard fills with Native dances which is a living expression of cultural traditions 🛍️ Stop by the gift shop for Pueblo-made jewelry, pottery, and art you won’t find elsewhere. 📅 Always check the event calendar before you go — special programs and seasonal celebrations often happen alongside the regular exhibits.
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Indian Pueblo Kitchen
This is a can’t miss in Albuquerque located at the Indian Pueblo Center where you can enjoy indigenous dishes and some modern twists Some things we recommend 🥒 Fried koolaid pickles $10 🍳 Pueblo Benedict $14.5 🥣 Atole $12 🫓 Indian Taco $16 🍽️ Taste of the Pueblos sampler $16 🥧 Famous Pueblo Pies 🍞 Pueblo Style Bread Pudding
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66 Diner
Classic American diner eats, but you’ll find thing like a burger with green chile for that New Mexico twist 🎶 The decor is pretty wild with neon lights, old road signs, and even walls lined with pez dispensers. Basically the decor is half the fun 🥤 Don’t skip the milkshakes! They’re what this spot is famous for, and they’ve got a pretty large list of options 📅 Gets busy on weekends, so go early if you want a booth.
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Routes Bicycle Tours & Rentals
Albuquerque is known for how bike friendly it is! There’s a huge culture around it. And as part of that, one of the best things to do is a bike tour of the town. We did a coffee and tea tour where we got to visit different shops along the route which was a great way to experience the coffee and bike culture of ABQ at the same time. They also do different tours like brewery tours, breaking bad tours, and so much more
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Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
One of the best ways to see Albuquerque (besides by bike) is by balloon! It’s an early wake up call but once you get there, it’s completely worth it. While there are sunrise balloons tour, wind means that evenings are more likely to get cancelled.
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Itality: Plant Based Foods
Sometimes people get afraid of seeing Vegan or plant based foods, but you’d seriously miss out if that prevented you from visiting here. This Jemez women Native owned business serves plant based Indigenous cuisine and it was absolutely one of favorites in ABQ! 🥤 Atole 🫓 Fry bread Special (10/10) 🧇 Blue corn waffle 🍰 Blue Corn Wojapi west treat
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Cutbow Coffee
Regularly listed as one of the best coffee shops in all of the US It’s all got a unique vibe since it’s fish 🐠 themed There’s also so many plants and greenery around that make it stunning!
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Hotel Zazz
A motel on Route 66 that has been renovated into a pi-zazz-y getaway. The woman owner designed this place inspired by her daughter so you’ll find a giraffe holding a chandelier in the lobby, banana scented lotion in the rooms, and little lambs hanging from the ceiling, plus so many other fun finds! There’s even a speakeasy (you have to touch a banana to open the door)
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Casa Flamenca, Inc.
This intimate performance venue brings flamenco to life with heartfelt storytelling and artistry. With roots in both Spain and Mexico City, flamenco here feels personal, passionate, and raw. A beautiful celebration of Spanish and Native American culture.
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Bike In Coffee
This is a gorgeous farm and coffee shop that’s popular among the bike company who, just as the name suggests, bikes in! Bikes get in free but if you decide to drive it’s $5 to park. The garden is gorgeous to wander through and there’s vendors all around plus live music on the weekend. The coffee line can be quite long on the weekends so be warned.
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Old Town
This historic hub is where the city of Albuquerque began. Explore adobe buildings, boutique shops, and San Felipe de Neri Church— one of the oldest buildings in town. Nearby, Old Town Farms offers a bike-in café experience, while Flying Roadrunner Bakery crafts unique pastries like a red chile croissant.
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Trip Highlight
Nob Hill Nob Hill is full of old neon signs + new shops. It’s a local trendy spot to walk around and find cool things!
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Masks Y Mas
While wandering down Nob Hill we came across this store and just thought it was so cool! There’s so much Mexican artwork, gifts, and also just random little things. There’s so much to see it almost feels like an art museum!
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Downtown Albuquerque Rail Runner Station
You don’t have to rent a car if you don’t want to because the New Mexico Rail Runner Express connects the two cities! The ride is 1.5hr long and puts your right outside of Santa Fe (a city that is very walkable)
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Santa Fe

Meow Wolf Santa Fe's House of Eternal Return
🎨 Step into another universe inside an old bowling alley turned art maze 🌀 Over 70 rooms of mind-bending installations, secret passages, and interactive exhibits 👀 Look closely — every detail tells part of a massive sci-fi mystery you can uncover at your own pace 🎶 Expect neon lights, hidden doors, surreal soundscapes, and artwork from hundreds of local and international artists 📅 Check the calendar for concerts, workshops, and late-night ev
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Santa Fe School of Cooking
It’s like a history lesson and cooking class in one. You’ll learn about the effects of colonization on food, as well as how food crossed continents (fun fact: tomatoes didn’t actually come to Italy until the 15th/16th century). You’ll also learn about the magic eight: corn, squash, beans, chiles, tomatoes, potatoes, cacao and vanilla, which were only found in the Americas.
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Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza is the heart of the city 🌞 🛍️ From Native artisans under the Palace of the Governors to boutiques tucked into adobe buildings, shopping here feels like treasure hunting 💎 Look for turquoise jewelry, pottery, and textiles — many made by local Pueblo artists 👗 Around the square you’ll also find fashion boutiques, home décor, and art galleries ☕ On weekends you might find Native people sharing their dances and rituals 📍 Everything is walkable, so take your time exploring each corner
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Sky Railway
We took the sunset serenade on the skyrail and it was absolutely stunning. Many of the train cars are from the early-mid 1900s. During the ride they have cocktails and snacks you can order (we were very surprised at the quality of the cocktails). There's also an area that's open air to enjoy as well It was stunning to seeing all of the mountains and flowers. The landscape was breathtaking and the train was a romantic way to see it all.
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