Best Things to Do in Albuquerque

This traditional Mexican dish consists of a whole green chile stuffed with cheese, deep-fried, then smothered in chile sauce. And Papa Felipe’s has been doing it for 40+ years.

Owl Cafe is a throwback roadside dinner that serves classic breakfasts and lunches. Their green chile cheeseburger has used the same family recipe since 1948.

Amore makes authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, super-thin with plenty of sauce (you might need a fork and knife).

A family-owned neighborhood bakery in Old Town. They load up their loaves with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, green chile and Parmesan cheese. 

There are better lookout points and more technical hikes than this, but you’re mainly here for the 400-to-700-year-old Native American rock carvings. It’s 17 miles long and extensive enough for advanced hikers too.

Big-time hikers, you’re up. In this 1.6 million-acre park, you’ll find mountains, canyons and some of Albuquerque’s best scenery. Avid hunters can go after deer, elk and antelope here, and it’s rife with campgrounds. If you’d rather see the sights from your car, you can drive Sandia Crest, Capilla Peak or Mt. Taylor for mountaintop views. 

A huge environmental complex that includes four different attractions: the Albuquerque Aquarium, the Rio Grande Zoo, the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden and Tingley Beach.

Built on top of a mesa, it’s one of the most visually stunning pueblos near Albuquerque. The Acoma have called it home for more than 2,000 years, making it one of America’s oldest continuously occupied areas. 

This pueblo belongs to the Cochití people. On the same land, you can visit Cochití Lake and the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. 

This is the type of place Elvis would’ve stopped for a soda-fountain root beer float. It’s a retro diner, a tribute to the ’50s when hot rods prowled the highway outside. Try their trademark Pile-up, which looks like a mess but pays tribute to the breakfasts served at classic Route 66 diners. 

This is where MurosABQ suggests you start a street art walking tour. This section of downtown contains the largest cluster of murals in the city. Wander around with your eyes peeled and you’ll find a bunch.

This pueblo deco-style theater is Albuquerque’s most historic, and the best venue to catch big-name bands, symphonies and theater performances. 

For more of a bar/lounge aesthetic, had right next door to Sister. They’ve got a whole bunch of craft beers on tap, and they book everything from national headliners to local emerging bands. 

This is where you can get up close and personal with local bands and hip-hop artists. If you don’t like close quarters, this isn’t for you. But it’s still a top-notch venue. 

From a distance, it might look like a resort you’ve seen before, but the “Artist Rooms” here are seriously cool. Each one is different, its walls covered in unique murals painted by Native American artists. 

This is a working lavender farm with stylish accommodations, farm-to-fork dining and a shop with luxury products. It’s a peaceful retreat that’s not too close or too far from the city. The best time to stay here is June/July when the lavender blooms. 

Albuquerque’s oldest neighborhood is where you can see the city as it once was. Today, trendy bars, restaurants and boutiques have taken up residence in the neighborhood’s original adobe architecture. 

Nob Hill draws its energy from Route 66 (Central Ave.) and the nearby University of New Mexico campus. It’s dripping in midcentury, neon-happy style and lined with hip bars. Kelly’s Pub is the spot for local craft beer, Zinc Wine Bar is the go-to for wine, and Zacatecas has tequila covered. 

This Old Town conservation museum contains 34 different live rattlesnake species, the world’s most diverse collection. It’s a whole lot more fun than finding one in the wild. 

Albuquerque is the self-proclaimed “hot-air ballooning capital of the world.” Every year, the city hosts the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, where hundreds of balloons lift off at once. This museum celebrates the long history of balloon flight and several prominent New Mexico balloonists.