Albuquerque is full of history and intrigue and makes for such a fun weekend getaway. Plan to spend at least two days in Albuquerque as part of a New Mexico trip. It is a great place to start or end a New Mexico road trip or a place to escape for a weekend.
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History of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, originally established by the Tanoan and Keresan people continued to grow even before the Europeans arrived. Officially founded in 1706 as part of the La Villa de Albuquerque, as a Spanish colony. The area contained a ton of farming as well as a military outpost. The town grew and was set up in the traditional Spanish pattern with a central plaza surrounded by buildings.
The Civil War brought about the occupation of Albuquerque by the Confederates. In the 1900s, New Mexico became a state and officially part of the United States. Throughout the years, Albuquerque has expanded into a thriving metropolis with many free and cheap things to do.
How to Get to Albuquerque
Albuquerque contains one international airport. You can fly here from all over the United States on all of the major airlines. To get here from international places, you will have to change planes. Albuquerque is a 6.5 hour drive from Phoenix, a 7 hour drive from Denver, or a 4 hour drive from El Paso.
Where To Stay in Albuquerque
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Albuquerque hotels here!
We have a good friend who lives in Albuquerque, so we opted to stay at their house. I would recommend getting an Airbnb in the main part of Albuquerque or find a hotel near Old Town. If you are planning on visiting during the balloon festival, make sure to book early to get the best deal. I recommend trying to book through Priceline if you want a hotel. They have some of the best deals.
- Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
- Homewood Suites Downtown
- Holiday Inn Express Albuquerque Old Town
- Hyatt Place Albuquerque Airport
- Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque Airport
Transportation around Albuquerque
The easiest and most cost effective way to get around Albuquerque is by car. Many of the sites are spread out across the city and will need a car to get from one point to another. There are some buses that run around the town and Uber is also available. Check Autoslash for the best rates on rental cars.
When to Visit Albuquerque
Albuquerque is a fun place to visit any time of the year. I recommend visiting in October for the Balloon Fiesta. The weather then is a little chilly in the morning and evenings and perfect during the day. Winters in Albuquerque see some snow and it can be a bit chilly while summers are a bit warmer. If a wine lover, visit in May for their annual Wine Festival.
What to See During Two Days in Albuquerque
If you like tours at your own pace, check out this audio tour for Albuquerque.
US Ghost Adventures is an awesome company that offers a variety of guided tours and haunted experiences across different cities in the United States. Visitors can learn the compelling history and stories of the paranormal and the city’s darker side. Make sure to check out the variety of tours offered in Albuquerque here. They are very affordable too!
Day 1
Albuquerque Balloon Festival
Cost: $10
Hours: Varies by Event
Start your first of two days in Albuquerque with the highlight of your trip: The annual Albuquerque Balloon Festival. This fiesta takes place over 9 days in October. This festival began in 1972 with 13 balloons and now boasts over 500 balloons a year.
You will want to get there very early in the morning (before sunrise) to watch the balloons ascend into the sky. The launching of the balloons lasts several hours. Make sure to dress warmly and bring some snacks with you although there are a few places to buy food around the park.
You can even go on a hot air balloon ride for the experience of a lifetime. The Albuquerque Balloon Festival is a site you cannot miss when visiting Albuquerque. It is an especially good activity to do with kids.
Downtown Growers’ Market
Cost: Free to walk around
Hours: Saturdays 8am-12pm
After watching the Balloons, opt to head to the local farmers market to pick up some breakfast. They have a ton of delicious food options and stalls.The Burque Bakehouse usually has a stall and they have the best baked goods! If you want some good fresh pasta to take home, head to Tulipani Pasta.
For those with a sweet tooth, try out Cornivore Popcorn Company. They have some unique popcorn flavors such as lavender and hatch chile.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Cost: $25 round trip, $15 one way
Hours: 9am-8pm, Closed Tues and Wed
This afternoon, head up Sandia Peak for some gorgeous views of Albuquerque. The tram takes you up to an elevation of 10,378 feet. The top contains several activities to keep visitors busy.
You can eat at the restaurant ten3. If up for it, there are also several hikes you can take around the top of the mountain. In the wintertime, this area is popular for skiing, while in the summertime, the area can be used for mountain biking.
Dinner at Campo
Cost: $$
Hours:
For your first of two days in Albuquerque, grab dinner at Campo. Campo may be a bit pricey, but it is so worth the splurge. It is easily one of the top restaurants to eat at in Albuquerque. Located on a farm, many of the ingredients come from the farm and other local farmers.
Campo also has a nice bar where they make a variety of unique cocktails. My favorite is the lavender cocktail. It compliments the lavender chicken well. The charcuterie board is also well worth it. As you eat, you can also watch the alpacas wander through the fields. Make sure to make a reservation as they do get busy, especially on the weekends.
Day 2
The Shop
Cost: $$
Hours: 8am-3pm
Start your second of two days in Albuquerque with breakfast at The Shop. This delicious breakfast place will ensure you are fueled and ready to go for the day. They offer a traditional American breakfast with a New Mexican twist.
Petroglyph National Monument
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-5pm, depending on the trail
Today, spend the morning exploring Petroglyph National Monument. Petroglyph National Monument stretches for 17 miles along Albuquerque in a volcanic basalt area. In total, it has five volcanic cones and over 24,000 petroglyphs (carved /painted images on rocks). Many of the images tell a story to the original artists.
In total, Petroglyph National Monument has four sites you can visit: Boca Negra Canyon, Rinconada Canyon, Piedras Marcadas Canyon, and the Volcanic Day Use trails. Note that the Volcanic Day Use trails are hiking trails with no Petroglyph viewing. We opted to hike the 1.5-mile Piedras Marcadas Canyon trail.
You could easily spend several hours completing the various trails in the park. Make sure to stop by the visitor’s center.
Old Town Albuquerque
Cost: Free
Hours: Varies by shop
Spend the afternoon of your second of two days in Albuquerque wandering around Old Town Albuquerque. This is the historic section of town that was once the center of the town. Old Town contains a main plaza surrounded by tons of cool shops and restaurants. I recommend stopping by Black Bird Coffee as they offer some great coffee and tea choices, perfect for a caffeine fix. You can also grab lunch at one of the many restaurants here.
Casa Rondeña Winery
Cost: $10 wine tasting
Hours: 12pm-7pm
Before dinner, stop at Casa Rondeña Winery for some delicious New Mexico Wine. A tasting costs $10 for 5 wines. Their Cabernet Franc is one of my favorites. You can also opt to just grab a glass of wine and sit outdoors at one of their many tables scattered throughout the property.
El Patio
Cost: $$
Hours: 11am-8pm
Tonight end your two days in Albuquerque with dinner at El Patio, a delicious New Mexican restaurant. This is traditional Mexican food with a New Mexican twist. They have an adorable outdoor patio and a small indoor area. Best of all, the food is cheap and delicious.
More Than Two Days in Albuquerque?
If you have more than two days in Albuquerque, check out these other awesome sites or head to explore other areas of New Mexico such as Roswell, Carlsbad, or White Sands National Park.
Albuquerque BioPark Gardens
Cost: $14.50
Hours: 9am-5pm, Closed Monday and Tuesday
The Albuquerque BioPark Gardens is a 36 acre botanical garden that lies next to the Rio Grande. It contains a lot of plants popular and native to the Southwest as well as a 10,000 square foot conservatory. You can easily spend several hours wandering the gardens and enjoying the views.
Albuquerque Wine Festival
Cost: $25
Hours: 12pm-6pm
This Wine festival takes place at the Balloon Fiesta Park, where the Balloon Festival is held. Included in your $25, visitors got a wine tasting glass, unlimited wine tastings, and $5 off any bottle purchase. It takes place over Memorial Day Weekend every year.
Over 50 wineries from across New Mexico are in attendance and you can sample a ton of different wines. In total, you get ten tastings, but this was more than enough as the pours were big. You also had the option of buying extra glasses as well. Any wine lover should definitely plan on attending the wine festival. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon and a fun cheap thing to do in Albuquerque.
Paseo del Bosque Trail
Cost: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours
This tail runs along the Rio Grande and is great for walking, jogging,and bike riding. In total the trail goes for 16-miles, but you can take it for as short or as far as you would like. It passes by many of the major sites such as Old Town and the BioPark.
Visit Santa Fe
Santa Fe lies slightly over an hour north of Albuquerque. If you have more than two days in Albuquerque it is a great place to take a day trip or spend a couple of days. There are plenty of sites to keep you busy even for an entire weekend.
Top Santa Fe Sites include the Loretto Chapel that contains the infamous spiral staircase, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and the New Mexico Museum of Art. Nearby Santa Fe is also Bandelier National Monument and Pecos National Historic Park.
Total Costs for Two Days in Albuquerque
Airfare: $200/person
Hotel: $100/night ($100/person)
Rental Car: $100 total ($50/person)
Activities: $45/person
Total Cost Per a Person: $395/person
There are so many things to do during two days in Albuquerque, and it will leave you wanting to come back for more. If you have more time, you can head west to Arizona for at least a week, and hit up the wine region of Willcox along the way to Tucson. You could also opt to head east into Texas for some awesome road trips or north into Colorado.
