Albuquerque: Old Town, Pueblo Culture and the Rio Grande

If you’re looking for a hotel in Albuquerque, you can tailor your stay to a wide range of interests: historic sites and art, exhibits on Pueblo culture, or trails through the Rio Grande Valley. The following places give you specific ideas for planning your trip—from the city’s history to self-guided outdoor walks.

Historic Sites and City History

Historic Old Town has been considered the heart of the city and its cultural center since Albuquerque was founded in 1706. It includes numerous museums as well as more than 100 shops, galleries and restaurants; the number and individual offerings may change. If you’re interested in historic routes, Old Town Plaza is a point of reference for the history of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro: the route passed through the plaza and is now designated a National Historic Trail by the U.S. government.

Another testament to the city’s history is San Felipe de Neri Church. Built of adobe bricks in 1793, it is one of Albuquerque’s oldest buildings. It is also still an active Catholic church. Route 66 crosses itself at the corner of Central Avenue and 4th Street—a point of interest in its own right if you’re interested in the road’s history.

Art and Museums

The Albuquerque Museum brings together art and city history in its exhibition program. Exhibits include works from the permanent art and history collections, traveling exhibitions and community-curated presentations; the specific selection changes. The art collection comprises more than 10,000 works and focuses on the art of the American Southwest and its influences. The museum therefore offers both a regional focus on art and changing perspectives on a range of subjects.

The Art Museum at the National Hispanic Cultural Center presents Hispanic, Chicana/o/x, Latina/o/x/e and Latin American art from a range of perspectives. The center also offers guided tours of its Art Museum and the Torreón. Availability and booking requirements may change, so check these details if you’re planning a tour.

Pueblo Stories and Living Culture

At the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, the permanent exhibition “We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story” shares the legacy of Pueblo peoples’ resilience in their own words and voices. More than 20 murals by Pueblo artists offer further insight into artistic expression. The Cultural Dance Program expresses the changing seasons through prayer, song and dance. Traditional Pueblo growing methods are used in the Resilience Garden, where endangered Pueblo crops are also grown.

In addition to art, the National Hispanic Cultural Center offers other ways to engage with Hispanic history and literature: visitors can make use of a library, archives, a genealogy center and programs. When choosing among the offerings, it’s helpful to note the difference: the Art Museum focuses on art, while the library, archives and genealogy center provide complementary ways to explore history and literature.

Trails and Nature in the Rio Grande Valley

Albuquerque offers a range of trails for everything from a short self-guided walk to a longer route. At Boca Negra Canyon, three developed trails offer walks of 5 to 30 minutes each. Visitors can easily access petroglyphs and see geological and cultural features up close. By contrast, the Paseo del Bosque Trail is 16 miles long, paved and uninterrupted by roads. It passes through Rio Grande Valley State Park.

The state park covers 4,300 acres, stretches through Albuquerque and lies on both sides of the Rio Grande. The different trail details can help you plan your time: short walks are listed at Boca Negra Canyon, while the Paseo del Bosque Trail is a 16-mile route. Access conditions may change; check them before your visit if needed.

More Perspectives on Nature and Science

There are also nature-focused attractions within the city. ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden covers 32 acres of exhibit space and features plants from the American Southwest and around the world. At ABQ BioPark Aquarium, you can see colorful fish native to ecosystems across the United States; the zoo offers encounters with exotic and native animals. These different subjects—plants, aquatic worlds and animals—each offer their own focus.

The Naturalist Center is a hands-on educational space where visitors of all ages can learn about New Mexico’s natural world. Microscopes, native animals and touchable specimens are available to explore. Interactive outdoor exhibits at Explora Water Flow Patio invite visitors to investigate the movement of water. Tiguex Park features nine interactive STEAM exhibits. The offerings therefore range from natural history collections to exhibits that let visitors explore a specific phenomenon.

Discover more destinations: Alamedan Valley, Los Ranchos De Albuquerque, Cedar Crest.

Go to the regional travel overview: Bernalillo.