New Mexico is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. With so many amazing places to choose from, it can be hard to know where to go. To help make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in New Mexico based on traveler ratings and reviews. So whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway spot or an adventure playground, there’s something for everyone in this metropolis!
Table of Contents
The Best Place to Visit in New Mexico
Meow Wolf Santa Fe
- Address: 1352 Rufina Cir, Santa Fe, NM 87507, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (16237)
- Phone: +1 866-636-9969
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMTuesday: ClosedWednesday: ClosedThursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
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Top 18 Tourist Attractions in New Mexico
White Sands National Park
- Address: New Mexico, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (12760)
- Phone: +1 575-479-6124
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Reviews:
I’ve driven past White Sands National Park multiple times on road trips from Arizona to Texas but I had never stopped in before. Boy was I missing out! This is one of the most beautiful natural places I’ve ever visited! I went in the evening around 7 pm and stayed until closing at 9 pm. The sunset, clouds in the sky and white dunes that stretched on for miles was absolutely stunning. I drove back into the park approximately 6 miles as the ranger recommended that it was the best area for sand dune sledding. My kids had so much fun! There is plenty of parking, shaded picnic areas, and restrooms. If you have an America the Beautiful pass you can get into the park for free. The visitor center has gifts, snacks, restrooms and a museum. On certain evenings there are free tours of the lake, sunset strolls and full moon activities. Check the website for hours because they do vary by season and whether or not it’s a full moon. The sand does not stick everywhere on your body like beach sand, it’s very dry, soft, and clean. Enjoy!By Jessica James (6 months ago)Such a beautiful day to spend at the park. Very little traffic, and once you go deeper down the drive just beautiful white dunes as far as you can see. Many spots to pull off, picnic tables for you to be able to enjoy lunch or snack. Spots for trailers or campers. At the beginning their is a nice informational spot talking about the wildlife there as well. Overall very cool spot to check out!By Maria Foster (4 months ago)Outstanding time!! Bring a large cooler with a picnic and lots of extra ice and water– the kids will love it. It’s hot but a lot of fun. There are picnic areas that have built in shade. Our kids ran from that to the sand hills to the AC in the car. Bring your own sleds as you pay 25$ each and it’s the only option for miles around although I think some lodging provides free rentals…By Jenny Infosino (6 months ago)Loved this experience!!! We got there way too late in the day, should have been there early! Busiest and smallest NP I’ve been to, but well worth it. The dunes are unlike anything I’ve experienced and so much better than pictures can describe. Easy to get lost, so be careful! Take lots of water and definitely sun screen and hats.By MiKayla Thomas (10 months ago)Highly recommend ! The road in is also the road out! 8 miles one-way drive! Well kept up roads and lots of parking spots to get out and run across the dunes! Dunes are just beautiful and trails are nicely marked! Sleds can also be bought at the visitor center, or you can roll down the dunes like we did!By Christoph Rieck (2 weeks ago)
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
- Address: Carlsbad, NM 88220, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.9 (11623)
- Phone: +1 575-785-2232
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PMTuesday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PMWednesday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PMThursday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PMFriday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PMSaturday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PMSunday: 8:00 AM – 2:15 PM
- Reviews:
Wonderful! Absolutely amazing. I took so many pictures because all of it was worth being able to see over and over again. The walk down through the natural entrance is definitely worth the extra 1.25miles. You see so many interesting creations in the caverns and learn a lot about how the caverns formed. We went back that night and watched millions of bats leave the caves!By Alex R. (4 months ago)They truly are epic. This isn’t a 30 minute excursion. You will need at least 2 hours to explore and marvel at the stunning beauty and be in awe of the off the chart scale of these caverns that just keep giving the further into them you go. The paths are steep in places but they have lots of stop benches to rest. Hand rails to hold onto because the lighting is low. And an elevator to bring you back up after you have seen it all. Do not miss out!By Bryan S (11 months ago)Absolutely stunning! And well run. I appreciate the timed entry program. We presented our reservation and were immediately sent over to the elevator for our self guided tour. Expectations were set appropriately. There were rangers available for questions, the gift shop and restaurant were not crowded, and everyone was pleasant.
Later that day, I came back for a drive along the 9.5 mile loop road and was treated to lovely scenery, plants, and wildlife.
This was a great experience!By Sam Guse (9 months ago)Great place to visit with the kids and a must see for everyone! We have three boys and they were utterly fascinated with the wonders of the tunnels and caves, nooks and crannies of this underground marvel. We took the elevator down 754 feet vs the 1hr hike down the natural trail, and enjoyed comfortable 56° temps. We weren’t able to have a guided tour but that would have been helpful. The self guided tour has handrails, rest areas, and a paved path with numbered markers (not certain what they were for). There were also spotlights and some signage along the route explaining the different formations and sights. A shortcut is available before going to the infamous “Big room” if the trail gets too much or need a detour to the bathroom. But highly recommend using the bathroom ahead of time! Reservations are necessary! Plan ahead and sign up for the ranger guided tour….take as many pictures as you want…. There’s no time limit so take your time and enjoy the quiet breathtaking and awesome views of what WE consider to be one of God’s miraculous creations (both before and after the worldwide flood)! Happy exploring!By G L Parker (8 months ago)This is an Incredibly Magnificent Natural Cavern with some modern conveniences so you can see the jawdropping formations. You can hike in the natural entrance if you’re used to hiking. If your not, save your joints and muscles. It’s very steep. Walking/Hiking in the natural entrance, you will descend over 700 feet in 60 switchbacks. I saw quite a few dear people that should have never attempted that path. They were obviously in pain, exhausted and some were even afraid. It’s an incredible adventure, but not for the faint of heart or those with any kind of mobility difficulties. There’s a perfectly modern elevator to descend from the surface to the big room. In the big room, you will have ups and downs on the trail, but nothing that 99%+ can’t handle. The formations are mind blowing, beautiful and enormous. You will not regret seeing this natural wonder.By Shannon Kaye Germanos (3 months ago)
Santa Fe Plaza
- Address: 63 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (8967)
- Phone: +1 505-955-6200
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: Open 24 hoursTuesday: Open 24 hoursWednesday: Open 24 hoursThursday: Open 24 hoursFriday: Open 24 hoursSaturday: Open 24 hoursSunday: Open 24 hours
- Reviews:
Neat little town area. The parking was not too difficult or expensive but very crowded on a Sunday. The downtown is walkable and lots of people have dogs.
There are tons of great stores but bring your savings because they are $$$. I got a tiny seed pot for $30.
The square itself was impeccably maintained and had a great atmosphere. On my random day visiting, there were native dancers, lots of locals, a guy with parrots and a small pro-Ukraine rally.
All the buildings are gorgeous and it was very nice to visit for 4 hours or so. Highly recommended to stop in town and park at the hourly parking lot.
By Jen Burwell (5 months ago)Santa Fe Plaza is the cultural heart of The City Different, Santa Fe. Around the square you’ll find all types of art galleries, shopping and places to eat (I highly recommend The Plaza Cafe for a meal. It’s fantastic.). There are also all types of street performers busking throughout the plaza each and every day. You will find Native Americans selling all types of items from art to jewelry to souvenirs right there on the sidewalk. I recently visited between Christmas and the New Year and the holiday lights in the trees were extra fun and festive at night. Also, all the best museums, restaurants, and galleries are in walking distance from the Plaza. If you visit Santa Fe, you definitely have to visit the Santa Fe Plaza. You will not be disappointed.By Todd W (a year ago)I have been here many times and each time feel great here. I don’t care if it is busy or dead, cold or hot it always has an atmosphere that makes everything seem to melt away.This time was a little cold, but it was still cozy. What makes this great is the shops around. It makes the actual plaza feel more spacious. Plenty of benches to just people watch if you don’t want to spend money.
This is a great place and is even better with Christmas decorations
By Jason York (a month ago)This is my first time visiting Santa Fe and the downtown plaza, and I had a relaxing time eating, shopping, and enjoying the sunshine. I came in January during a staffing shortage so half the restaurants were closed but I still found some good spots. I felt safe in the daytime, but at night there are plenty of homeless people sleeping in all the dark nooks and alleys. I wouldn’t walk alone after dark if possible. I also never saw a single police officer or police car in my 3 days there. I would’ve felt safer with a larger police presence.By Brianna L (a year ago)Very nice place to wind down after exploring the outskirts of Santa Fe. Best time of year to come is the fall! The leaves are changing and the weather is beautiful! The plaza offers a nice place to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings the cute village city has to offer. You can find restaurants, western stores, jewelry and artisan vendors all around the plaza.By Cecilia Rius (3 months ago)
Sandia Peak Tramway
- Address: 30 Tramway Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (7831)
- Phone: +1 505-856-1532
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PMTuesday: ClosedWednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PMSunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Reviews:
So let me start off I’m not fan of heights. We bought tickets the day before which they recommend. Check in was easy with friendly staff at the front desk. The bathrooms were clean and tidy. We waited about 15 minutes to board. Once boarded the tram the tour guide / cabin operator was very informative and safety was a top priority. The the ride up is breath taking you go from Desert to Canadian geography. The tour guide was very informing on the ride up with different information on geography and history. Once up top there was snow on the ground and very cold “bring a jacket” The restaurant was closed at the time. The air is very thin so keep your breath. You can walk around and see some of the nature in the area but be careful with ice and animals. During the decent I got a little nervous cause of my height fear. But it was a smooth ride the beginning on the decent was a little stomach kicking but you get used to it. And the ride down was way better than coming up in my opinion. I recommend the people were great and very professional.By Hunter Garcia (a month ago)I would say this was definitely worth the money. My one complaint (and it’s a big one) is that the tram is too packed with people to enjoy the view unless you’re directly by the window. Wait for a group to go, then get to the front of the line to fully enjoy this experience.
It’s an incredible view even if you don’t get in the restaurant. If you DO want a reservation, make sure to make one a few weeks in advance.
There’s hiking trails at the top, and the last ride of the day back down is at 9. I would pick one path or another: go up for pictures and go to the restaurant, or go to the trails.
We went the picture route this time but next year we will probably choose to do some hiking instead. Beautiful spot definitely worth seeing.
By Madie Leon Riley (8 months ago)Very cool experience 😎 Definitely recommend! We purchased tram tickets last minute as we were passing through town. We arrived and once in line to board, the wait was about 45 minutes. The views were beautiful even from the line! The ride took about 15 minutes and was stunning! You pass over a few canyons and valleys, so the views are constantly changing. Once at the top, the temperature was a brisk 35 degrees (25 degrees colder than on the ground)! We weren’t able to eat at the restaurant, but they did allow us to buy cocktails and enjoy outside. So many photo ops, and we’ll kept grounds.By Katie Zumbahlen (10 months ago)WHAT A VIEW!!! 😍😍😍If you are visiting the area, you absolutely MUST see this! Worth every penny.
I took a late evening flight up around 7pm. The view from the top was phenomenal. The sunset was phenomenal. The ride back down was phenomenal!
I’d recommend taking a jacket. Temps at the top were 30° cooler than the parking lot.
By Jake Mac (5 months ago)Its a very attractive peak to visit. You have many options: Either you can take two way tram, or, one way up, or, one way down. There is numerous trekking/hikes trail. We did a two way tram and have a hike on north crest, to cabin trail and a little bit further than that. The road was snowy and a bit muddy too. So taking pictures and enjoying the journey, it took us about 45 to 1 hour but it should take less than 30 minutes straight in clear weather. There are people enjoying paragliding. We found people coming from the other way, visitor’s centre. Actually, if you don’t want to ride tram, you can drive to visitor’s centre and hike…Overall we enjoyed the ride, hike, snow, wild animals and very scenic beauty of hills and top view of Albuquerque city.By Elina Prajapati (2 months ago)
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
- Address: 1801 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (3933)
Cliff’s Amusement Park
- Address: 4800 Osuna Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (3606)
Petroglyph National Monument
- Address: Western Trail NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (3436)
Bandelier National Monument
- Address: 15 Entrance Rd, Los Alamos, NM 87544, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (2759)
Lincoln National Forest
- Address: 3463 Las Palomas Rd, Alamogordo, NM 88310, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (1735)
Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
- Address: 1001 NM-1, San Antonio, NM 87832, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1382)
Chaco Culture National Historical Park
- Address: New Mexico, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1177)
City of Rocks State Park
- Address: 327 NM-61, Faywood, NM 88034, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (1122)
El Morro National Monument
- Address: NM-53, Ramah, NM 87321, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (815)
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
- Address: 26 Jim Bradford Trail, Mimbres, NM 88049, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.9 (774)
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture
- Address: 710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM 87505, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (725)
El Malpais National Monument
- Address: 1900 E Santa Fe Ave, Grants, NM 87020, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (638)
Gran Quivira Visitor Center
- Address: 105 South Ripley Avenue, Mountainair, NM 87036, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (295)
Ghost Ranch
- Address: 280 Private Drive 1708 Highway, US-84, Abiquiu, NM 87510, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (202)
New Mexico is a world-famous tourist destination, and it’s no wonder why. Here is our list of the top 18 best place to visit in New Mexico – based on expert opinions and customer reviews. Did your favorite spot make the cut? Let us know in the comments above!
This place is so cool for the entire family. This place is unique and colorful and amazing. It took us about two hours to enjoy this place. They only set back is the parking lot we came in a Saturday didn’t find no space had to park somewhere else. The prices is worth every penny of it. Just don’t take big bags or back packs because there not allowed. I think I saw lockers they might rent to store your bag. They have a small box where u put in your bag to see if it there allowed or not. The workers were very nice. Other than that it was a great experience for us.
Oh, my… What a delightfully bizarre experience! I had been told in advance that Meow Wolf was one of those “you’ve gotta see it to understand it/appreciate it” kinds of places… but none of that prepared me in the least for the full scope of what a wild, surreal experience it would truly end up being! My family and I spent three hours just wandering around exploring the various rooms (as well as trying to explore the overarching story they told), and I honestly couldn’t believe how much time had flown by by the time we were finished. Time flies when you’re experiencing Meow Wolf, that’s for sure (NOTE: The pictures I’m attaching, much like the Grand Canyon, can’t even come close to doing the actual experience justice!).
Very fun interactive experiences! We will return.
It’s worth it to the 3D glasses which were an extra $1. The only issue is it’s not clear when to use them. We would try different areas or rooms to find out.
The whole place is just one giant play space to explore. So many hidden doors which lead to exciting new rooms.
Scroll through the pictures to get an idea is what the rooms and areas are like. Words don’t do it justice.
Awesome spot! Be sure to look for hinges on walls where you wouldn’t expect doors. My favorite was all the hidden ladders & slides. Also the interesting musical instruments scattered throughout were awesome! It’s easy to get turned around and miss entire sections so definitely back track over areas you hit because there’s always a third or fourth path to explore!
Parking opens up pretty quickly if the lots full. They have some food trucks in the lot and a small cafe inside. Get the chronograph glasses they sell so the colors all pop throughout. There’s a few lockers to rent but it’s easiest to leave stuff in your car. The line forms for the timed tickets about 30-minutes out and it’s partially shaded . Took us about 90-minutes or so for us to go through without breaks
Great place to explore for a few hours. Buy tickets in advance. Lots of parking. You can go inside before your allotted time to enjoy the cafe and the giftshop. Lockers inside to store items. Once inside the experience it’s fairly dark and there are tight spaces, steps and areas you have to crawl through. Lots of things to see and there is a bit of a mystery to solve (not required). Recommended if in town.