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Albuquerque Attractions
Albuquerque's original town site, known today as Old Town, is the central point of interest for visitors. Here, grouped around the plaza, are the venerable Church of San Felipe de Neri and numerous restaurants, art galleries, and crafts shops. Several important museums are close by. Within a few blocks are the 25,000-square-foot Albuquerque Aquarium and the 50-acre Rio Grande Botanic Garden (near Central Ave. and Tingley Dr. NW), both well worth a visit.
But don't get stuck in Old Town. Elsewhere, you'll find the Sandia Peak Tramway, the new Balloon Museum, and a number of natural attractions. Within day-trip range are several pueblos and significant monuments.
Downtown Arts Hub
In 2006, 516 Arts, 516 Central Ave. SW (tel. 505/242-1445; www.516arts.org), opened in a bright and airy exhibition space. The organization presents museum-style art exhibitions, poetry events, live performances, gallery talks and educational programs. The art is high quality, eclectic, and often a bit bizarre for my tastes, but hey, I'm just a Santa Fe girl. Recent events included the national exhibit Trappings: Stories of Women, Power and Clothing and poetry readings by Jimmy Santiago Baca, Erika Sanchez, and Arturo Sandoval. Open Tuesday to Saturday noon to 5pm.
16 Results
- Zoo/Aquarium
Albuquerque Biological Park: Aquarium and Botanic Garden
For those of us born and raised in the desert, this attraction quenches years of soul thirst. The self-guided aquarium tour begins with a beautifully produced 9-minute film that describes the course of the Rio Grande from its origin to the Gulf Coast. Then, you'll move on to the… - The Performing Arts
Albuquerque Little Theatre
The Albuquerque Little Theatre has been offering a variety of productions ranging from comedies to dramas to musicals since 1930. Eight plays are presented here annually during a July-to-June season. Located across from Old Town, the theater offers plenty of free parking. - Museum
Albuquerque Museum
Visit the "Only in Albuquerque" history gallery to get a fresh look at the city's history in this fine modern museum on the edge of Old Town. It's interactive and fun, a great introduction to the cultural history of the state. Exhibits tell the city's story from pre-written history… - Historic Site
Coronado State Monument
When the Spanish explorer Coronado traveled through this region in 1540-41 while searching for the Seven Cities of Cíbola, he wintered at a village on the west bank of the Rio Grande -- probably one on the ruins of the ancient Anasazi Pueblo known as Kuaua. Those excavated ruins have… - The Performing Arts
Musical Theatre Southwest
From February to January, this theater presents six major Broadway musicals, in addition to several smaller productions, at either Popejoy Hall or the MTS's own 890-seat Hiland Theater. Most productions are staged for three consecutive weekends, including some Sunday matinees. - The Performing Arts
New Mexico Ballet Company
Founded in 1972, the state's oldest ballet company holds most of its performances at Popejoy Hall. Typically there's a fall production such as Dracula, a holiday one such as The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol, and a contemporary spring production. - The Performing Arts
New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
My first introduction to symphony was with the NMSO. Although I was so young that I didn't quite understand the novelty of hearing live symphony, I loved picking out the distinct sounds and following as they melded together. The NMSO first played in 1932 (long before I attended,… - Neighborhood
Old Town
A maze of cobbled courtyard walkways leads to hidden patios and gardens, where many of Old Town's 150 galleries and shops are located. Adobe buildings, many refurbished in the pueblo revival style of the 1950s, are grouped around the tree-shaded plaza, created in 1780. Pueblo and… - Park/Garden
Petroglyph National Monument
These lava flows were once a hunting and gathering area for prehistoric Native Americans, who left a chronicle of their beliefs etched on the dark basalt boulders. Some 25,000 petroglyphs provide a nice outdoor adventure after a morning in a museum. You'll want to stop at the visitor… - Park/Garden
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
This center, just a few miles north of Old Town, spans 270 acres of riverside forest and meadows that include stands of 100-year-old cottonwoods and a 3-acre pond. On the Rio Grande Flyway, an important migratory route for many birds, it's an excellent place to see sandhill cranes,… - Zoo/Aquarium
Rio Grande Zoo
Some 250 species live on 64 acres of riverside bosque here among ancient cottonwoods. Open-moat exhibits with animals in naturalized habitats are a treat for zoo-goers. Major exhibits include polar bears, giraffes, sea lions (with underwater viewing), the cat walk, the bird show, and… - Historic Site
Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument
These rarely visited ruins provide a unique glimpse into history. The Spanish conquistadors' Salinas Jurisdiction, on the east side of the Manzano Mountains (southeast of Albuquerque), was an important 17th-century trade center because of the salt extracted by the Native Americans… - Tour
Sandia Peak Tramway
This fun and exciting half-day or evening outing allows incredible views of the Albuquerque landscape and wildlife. The Sandia Peak Tram is a "jigback"; in other words, as one car approaches the top, the other nears the bottom. The two pass halfway through the trip, in the midst of a… - Tour
The Rio Line
This miniature train travels between the Tingley Train Station, the Albuquerque Biological Park, and the Rio Grande Zoo, stopping at each facility, with tickets available at each as well. Conductors give an interpretive tour and answer your questions as you ride. A round-trip journey… - Library/University
University of New Mexico
The state's largest institution of higher learning stretches across an attractive 70-acre campus about 2 miles east of downtown Albuquerque, north of Central Avenue and east of University Boulevard. The five campus museums, none of which charges admission, are constructed (like other… - The Performing Arts
Vortex Theatre
A 35-year-old community theater known for its innovative productions, the Vortex is Albuquerque's "Off-Broadway" theater, presenting a range of plays from classic to original. You'll see such plays as I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnik and Death & the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman.…
More About Albuquerque Attractions
Albuquerque Shopping
Visitors seeking regional specialties will find many local artists and galleries of interest in Albuquerque, although not as many as in Santa Fe and Taos. The galleries and regional fashion designers around the plaza in Old Town comprise a kind of a shopping center for travelers, with more than 40 merchants represented. The Sandia Pueblo runs its own crafts market at the reservation, off I-25 at Tramway Road, just beyond Albuquerque's northern city limits.
Albuquerque has three of the largest shopping malls in New Mexico, two within 2 blocks of each other on Louisiana Boulevard just north of I-40 -- Coronado Center and Winrock Center. The other is the Cottonwood Mall on the west mesa, at 10,000 Coors Blvd. NW (tel. 505/899-SHOP [7467]). But the city's best mall is the new ABQ Uptown at Louisiana Boulevard NE and Indian School Road NE (tel. 505/883-7676; www.abquptown.com), an outdoor mall with such anchors as Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Sharper Image, Chicos, and Ann Taylor.
Business hours vary, but shops are generally open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm; many have extended hours; some have reduced hours; and a few, especially in shopping malls or during the high tourist season, are open on Sunday.
In Albuquerque the sales tax is 6.875%.
Best Buys
The best buys in Albuquerque are Southwestern regional items, including arts and crafts of all kinds -- traditional Native American and Hispanic as well as contemporary works. In local Native American art, look for silver and turquoise jewelry, pottery, weavings, baskets, sand paintings, and Hopi kachina dolls. Hispanic folk art -- hand-crafted furniture, tinwork and retablos, and religious paintings -- is worth seeking out. The best contemporary art is in paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, and fiber art, including weaving.
Other items of potential interest are Southwestern fashions, gourmet foods, and unique local Native American and Hispanic creations.
By far, the most galleries are in Old Town; others are spread around the city, with smaller groupings in the university district and the northeast heights. Consult the brochure published by the Albuquerque Gallery Association, A Select Guide to Albuquerque Galleries, or Wingspread Communications's annual The Collector's Guide to Albuquerque, widely distributed at shops. Once a month, usually from 5 to 9pm on the third Friday, the Albuquerque Art Business Association (tel. 505/244-0362 for information) sponsors an ArtsCrawl to dozens of galleries and studios. It's a great way to meet the artists.
You'll find some interesting shops in the Nob Hill area, which is just west of the University of New Mexico and has an Art Deco feel.
A Taste of the Grape
In addition to everything else New Mexico has to offer, wineries seem to be springing up all over the state. Call to find out about their wine-tasting hours. Wineries in Albuquerque or within a short driving distance of the city include Anderson Valley Vineyards, 4920 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107 (tel. 505/344-7266; www.avwines.com); Sandia Shadows Vineyard and Winery, 11704 Coronado NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122 (tel. 505/856-1006; www.vivanewmexico.com/nm/wines.central.sandia.html); and Gruet Winery, 8400 Pan-American Hwy. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113 (tel. 505/821-0055; www.gruetwinery.com).
All That Glitters Is on Gold
For years, downtown Albuquerque has been reinventing itself and nowhere is the luster more brilliant than on Gold Avenue. A funky boutique street, it's the home of many unique shops and restaurants, well worth a morning or afternoon perusal. Look for "fine, fun, and funky" functional art at Patrician Design, 216 Gold Ave., SW (tel. 505/242-7646). Down the street, step into Ooh! Aah! Jewelry, 311 Gold Ave. SW (tel. 505/242-7101), to find a wide selection of contemporary jewelry and handbags. If you work up an appetite, head to Gold Street Caffè, or for a creamy snack try Cold Stone Creamery, 101 Gold Ave. SW (tel. 505/843-9456), for a serious selection of ice cream flavors made in-house.
Albuquerque Nightlife
Albuquerque has an active performing-arts and nightlife scene, as befits a city of half a million people. As also befits this area, the performing arts are multicultural, with Hispanic and (to a lesser extent) Native American productions sharing stage space with Anglo works, including theater, opera, symphony, and dance. Albuquerque also attracts many national touring companies. Nightclubs cover the gamut, with rock, jazz, and country predominant.
Complete information on all major cultural events can be obtained from the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel. 800/284-2282 for recorded information after 5pm). Current listings appear in the two daily newspapers; detailed weekend arts calendars can be found in Friday's Journal. The monthly On the Scene also carries entertainment listings.
Tickets for nearly all major entertainment and sporting events can be obtained from Ticketmaster, 4004 Carlisle Blvd. NE (tel. 505/883-7800). Discount tickets are often available for midweek and matinee performances; check with individual theater or concert hall box offices.
The Major Concert & Performance Halls
- Journal Pavilion, 5601 University Blvd. NE (tel. 505/452-5100).
- Keller Hall, University of New Mexico, Cornell Street at Redondo Drive South NE (tel. 505/277-4569).
- KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW (tel. 505/768-3544).
- Popejoy Hall, University of New Mexico, Cornell Street at Redondo Drive South NE (tel. 505/277-3824).
- South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway Blvd. SE (tel. 505/848-1320).
More Entertainment
Albuquerque's best nighttime attraction is the Sandia Peak Tramway, from which you can enjoy a view nonpareil of the Rio Grande Valley and the city lights.
The best place to catch foreign films, art films, and limited-release productions is the Guild Cinema, 3405 Central Ave. NE (tel. 505/255-1848). For film classics, check out the Southwest Film Center, on the UNM campus (tel. 505/277-5608), which has double features, changing nightly (when classes are in session). In addition, Albuquerque has a number of first-run movie theaters whose numbers you can find in the local telephone directory.
Many travelers like to include a little dice-throw and slot-machine play in their trip to New Mexico. Those who do are in luck, with the expansive Sandia Resort & Casino, north of I-25 and a quarter-mile east on Tramway Boulevard (tel. 800/526-9366; www.sandiacasino.com). The $80-million structure sits on Sandia Pueblo land and has outstanding views of the Sandia Mountains. Built in pueblo architectural style, the graceful casino has a 3,650-seat outdoor amphitheater, three restaurants (one, Bien Shur, has excellent food), a lounge, more than 1,800 slot and video poker machines, the largest poker room in the state, and blackjack, roulette, and craps tables. It's open from 8am to 4am Sunday to Wednesday and 24 hours Thursday to Saturday. The Isleta Gaming Palace, 11,000 Broadway SE (tel. 877/7-ISLETA [747-5382] or 505/724-3800; www.isletacasinoresort.com), is a luxurious, air-conditioned casino (featuring blackjack, poker, slots, bingo, and keno) with a full-service restaurant, nonsmoking section, and free bus transportation on request. Open Monday to Wednesday 8am to 4am, Thursday to Sunday 24 hours a day.
