How to Spend One Day in Santa Fe in Spring
Thinking of passing through Santa Fe? This blog will show you how to spend one day in Santa Fe in spring!
I knew Santa Fe was eventually on my bucket list, but I got to visit here much earlier than planned when I made a detour during a cross-country road trip. I was so thankful for the last-minute change in plans once I remembered I had some relatives in town, as it allowed us to catch up in this hippie capital.
Not only was I able to catch up with relatives, hearing about their cool life stories I hadn’t paid much attention to as a child, but this detour also allowed me to explore the Pueblo-style adobe architecture this city is known for.
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Things You Must Do in Santa Fe
If you only have one day in Santa Fe in spring, I highly recommend the following activities as the perfect introduction to the capital!
Explore the Nice Resorts
Before hitting the downtown area, there are some nice resorts hidden in the mountains that offer stunning views! I recommend checking these out in the morning before heading downtown for the rest of your day.
The first of these is the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder. I actually stayed here overnight and had the most amazing balcony (pictured below)!
This resort has all the makings of a Pueblo-inspired property. The view from the outside is stunning enough, but as you walk in, you’ll see a grand lobby with seating and signs leading to restaurants, a lower-level casino, a spa, and more.
Interested in staying here? Book here!
The next resort I recommend checking out is about 10-15 minutes down the road, in the direction of downtown Santa Fe. The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe is a stunning property worth driving through!
My drive through the resort grounds showed stunning mountain views, a pool, walking trails, and a yoga studio. It was absolutely breathtaking and worth the pitstop!
View the property here.
Grab Lunch at El Chile Toreado
If you’ve only got one day in Santa Fe in spring, chances are you might not have time for two sit-down meals. Luckily, there’s a takeout restaurant on wheels with authentic burritos, tacos, and more for your choosing!
I indulged in an al pastor burrito from El Chile Toreado, and it did not disappoint. The authentic flavors that they use are so evident, and the constant stream of customers showed that this is a local favorite. I recommend getting fueled up here before driving further downtown for the rest of your day.
Explore Downtown Santa Fe and the Palace of the Governors
Downtown Santa Fe showed off in the best way with its unique architecture, cultural souvenir shops, and many displays of art. The Place of the Governors, located on the northern end of the Santa Fe Plaza, is a great place to begin your exploration.
This historic strip hosts a daily market where visitors can browse artisans’ work. I find it pretty neat that this market is reserved for Native American artisans in order to promote traditional arts and crafts. Take your time browsing the market and supporting these artists, but with only one day in Santa Fe, you’ll want to reserve time to stroll through the rest of downtown as well.
From here, you can walk in any direction you please. I found Santa Fe to be pretty easy to navigate, and it wasn’t overwhelmingly big! You can easily pop into many shops and museums within 2-3 hours, or even less if you don’t want to stop in any museums.
Personally, I loved finding unique shops selling things like spices, local art, and traditional dresses. I especially loved seeing ristras around town. These were strung with red chile pods and hung as decoration around the city. A shopkeeper informed me that many people decorate their homes with these in Santa Fe as a symbol of welcome.
For museum lovers, there are plenty to check out downtown, such as the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the Museum of International Folk Art, and more.
Consider booking a walking tour to discover more art downtown!
Dinner at Tomasita’s
To finish out your day in Santa Fe in spring, you should eat at Tomasita’s. This local favorite is where my relatives took me to eat. They claimed it was their favorite spot for authentic Mexican food, and I could easily see why!
Not only was the restaurant giving off true Santa Fe vibes with its decor, but the portion sizes were huge! No need for chips and salsa here - each table was served with sopaipilla.
Prior to eating here, I had no clue what sopaipilla was. While many cultures prepare this differently, Santa Fe serves it as pillowy bread with a side of honey. The bread broke apart so satisfyingly and truly hit every tastebud so gracefully with the addition of the honey I drizzled on. I’m craving it now just thinking of it!
And with that, your day has come to a close. Before hitting the road once more, make sure to take in a sunset over the mountains, as the colors here are truly stunning.
Is One Day Enough in Santa Fe?
You can certainly extend your time further in Santa Fe to take day trips to some State Parks and monuments. During the summer months, the warmer weather also expands your options for outdoor activities to anything from rafting to horseback riding to golf. So, it’s certainly worth staying here for a longer period of time if you wish to do those activities.
However, if you only have one day in Santa Fe in spring, I would say that this is plenty of time to get a good introduction to the city, explore the downtown area, visit a museum or two, and eat some great food.
Disclaimer: I will say that while Santa Fe was certainly lovely for its architecture and culture, I did witness quite a bit of homelessness. While it was lovely to visit for a day, it wasn’t an area that I felt I could have stayed in for as long as a week, especially as I was able to see everything I wanted within a day!
Is Santa Fe a Good Place to Visit in April?
Absolutely! Santa Fe made for a great destination for April. The weather is generally mild and pleasant, offering a mixture of daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s (Fahrenheit).
Keep in mind that the city does have an altitude of a little over 7,000 feet, so it is not unusual to have some colder days. It was in the upper 50s when I visited, and I found it to be plenty warm. However, due to the altitude, I did get a massive headache, as I’m prone to altitude sickness. So make sure to hydrate all day long and bring some hydration packets along!
If you only have one day in Santa Fe, you may not have time to visit some of the festivals and events that go on in April, but if you time it accordingly, you might just be able to do so. For instance, April is when the Santa Fe Film Festival and other art/music festivals take place.
What Should I Pack for Santa Fe in April?
As mentioned, the temperatures can vary. I walked around with leggings and a light sweatshirt, but as the sun began to set it did get a bit colder. I always recommend layers when you’re in between seasons or in a place with high elevation, as you can take a layer off if the sun is shining and put one back on if it gets a bit windy.
I would plan on dressing for the 60s but would suggest packing a jacket in case the temperatures dip lower.
I hope this blog has helped you plan for how to spend one day in Santa Fe in spring! It’s certainly a fun city to pass through, with amazing views of the surrounding mountains.
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