Brick Light District Albuquerque New Mexico Things to do two day itinerary
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65 Things to Do in Albuquerque New Mexico

Sherianne Higgins·
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Top Things to Do in Albuquerque New Mexico

If you are planning a trip to Albuquerque New Mexico and looking for the best things to do, see, and eat while visiting, you are in the right place. Albuquerque is well known for its yearly balloon fiesta and as the filming location for Breaking Bad but there’s so much more to this New Mexico city. Albuquerque has adobe architecture, ristras, petroglyphs, a pueblo community in the sky, turquoise, a rattlesnake museum, desert landscapes, the Rio Grande, mountains that turn pink at sunset, a musical highway, Route 66 memorabilia, great street art, awesome food, wineries, breweries, and tumbleweed snowmen. Browse the list of must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Albuquerque New Mexico bucket list. Then, plan the itinerary for your Albuquerque New Mexico trip with these top things to do, see, and eat. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ Things to Do in Santa Fe New Mexico
READ Things to Do in Taos New Mexico

Kimo Theater Albuquerque New Mexico Things to do see eat
Kimo Theater

Things to Do in and Around Albuquerque New Mexico

Ride North America’s longest tram to Scandia Peak for breathtaking views

Step into a rancho while touring Casa San Ysidro

Attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Learn about hot air balloons at the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum

Shop the Rail Yards Market

Buy a souvenir chili ristra

Check out San Felipe de Neri Church

Take an Old Town Ghost Tour

See a traditional dance performance at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Wander the alleys of Old Town Plaza

Try a red chili truffle at Q Chocolate Cafe

Stop by the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Tour the city on the ABQ trolley

Shop in the trendy boutiques in the Nob Hill neighborhood

Wander the street art of Nob Hill

Stop in Brick Light District for coffee

Build your own margarita at Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila + Bourbon

Drive along the Musical Highway

Explore Historic Route 66

Check out the décor of the Kimo Theater

Have a burger at the Route 66 Diner

Take a Breaking Bad RV Tour and see the filming locations

Stop by The Candy Lady for blue “meth” candy used as a Breaking Bad prop

Eat at Green Jeans Farmery

Spend a day at the Rio Grande Zoo

Go fishing at Tingley Beach

Enjoy a picnic with a view at Elena Gallegos Picnic Area

Check out the trophy room at the Unser Racing Museum

Old Town Albuquerque New Mexico Things to do see eat

Photograph the sculpture garden at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History

Ride the wooden roller coaster at Cliff’s Amusement Park

Check out the Rattlesnake Museum

Check the Pueblo Montano Chainsaw Sculpture Garden

Enjoy Sangria, Tapas, and Flamenco at Tablao Flamenco

Get your cowboy on at Dirty Bourbon Dance Hall and Saloon

Go wine tasting at Casa Rondena Winery or St Clair Winery and Bistro

Plan a DIY brewery tour, start at Marble Brewery

Listen to music at Tiguex Park

Go to a concert at the Sandia Casino’s amphitheater

Visit the Wildlife West Nature Park and help save New Mexico’s native animals

See the Sandia Mountains glow pink at sunset from the Hotel Parq Central rooftop bar

Visit Los Poblanos Organic Farm for field-to-fork dining

Participate in Srai Wi Activities at the Hyatt Tamaya

Go horseback riding at the Stables at Tamaya

Kayak on the Rio Grande

Float above the Rio Grande in a hot air balloon

Take a jeep tour through the desert landscape

Go mountain biking in the Jemez Mountains

Eat New Mexican style pizza at Golden Crown Panaderia

Have a bizcochito (or two) with your coffee

Have traditional afternoon tea at the St James Tearoom

Eat at Sadie’s, known for having the hottest salsas in the state

Watch a tamale-making demonstration at Pueblo Harvest Café

Eat Indian Tacos and Sopaipilla

Learn everything you need to know about turquoise at the Turquoise Museum

Take a bike ride along the Rio Grande on the Paseo del Bosque Trail

Kiss an Alpaca at Hollywick Farms

Learn about nuclear technology at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History

Go stargazing at Sandia Mountain Natural History Center

Hike Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

Hike through the volcanic rock and petroglyphs at Boca Negra Canyon

Explore the symbols at the Petroglyph National Monument

Spend the day on the Turquoise Trail

Take a day trip to Santa Fe

Take the guided tour of Sky City at Acoma Pueblo

Visit Taos Pueblo

Check the Albuquerque New Mexico Office of Tourism website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

My Favorite Booking Resources

  • Discover Cars Search, compare and save on car rentals.
  • Trainline Explore effortlessly by train and bus.
  • Booking.com Search Booking.com to find the perfect property.
  • Hostelworld Hostelworld has great inexpensive options.
  • Get Your Guide Don’t chance it, the best attractions sell out.
  • Tiqets Get your tickets now, relax when you arrive.
  • Big Bus Tours Hop-on Hop-off at all the iconic landmarks.
  • Go City Card Save up to 50% on attractions, tours and activities.
  • Welcome Pickups Airport and port transfers.
  • Visitors Coverage Pick the right travel insurance for you.
  • Use code SAVE10 to pick up a travel guide from Lonely Planet to browse on the plane.
  • Shop my Amazon travel essentials and have them delivered to your home. 

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Albuquerque New Mexico Things to do

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26 Responses

  1. Albuquerque is a city that I love most. I have spent so many years on of my childhood there.
    Thanks for your amazing travel guide on Albuquerque.
    The photos were really attractive.

  3. I have often wondered the origin of the name “Albuquerque” ever since I saw someone using it as a last name. Then of course the name of the city in US.

    Its only now that I got to understand how beautiful is the place. I am sucker for star gazing, and would love to visit this place some day. Beautiful pictures!

  4. I can’t believe the Frontier Restaurant didn’t make this list!!! 🙂

  5. There’s certainly a lot to do in Albuquerque! I think wine tasting and star gazing would be at the top of my list. I might actually be road tripping through Albuquerque next month, so this post came at a great time!

  6. Albuquerque looks fascinating as it offers so many more things at one place and you have created an awesome travel guide covering almost everything. Would love to Attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and Take an Old Town Ghost Tour. I am most intrigued by red chili truffle at Q Chocolate Café and would love to explore more about this. And being a road tripper, route 66 is epic and certainly go on a drive on musical highway.

  7. I pretty much only know Albuquerque for the balloon festival – which I do want to experience one day, so it’s cool to have a list of other fabulous things to do too. Riding North America’s longest tram sounds fun! And I’m quite intrigued to know what a red chili truffle tastes like – will report back!

  8. I had to idea there was so many things to do at Albuquerque. The scenery is quite exceptional – no wonder they have chosen it as shooting location for movie.

  9. wow I feel that Alburquerque can never be boring with so many things to do! I would love a hot air balloon ride, a visit at the rattlesnake museum, a taste of the all the amazing dishes you mentioned and a visit to the Petroglyph museum!

  10. Very detailed post on the different activities and sights a visitor can enjoy in Albuquerque. Never been to this city but judging from your photos, it looks like one of those towns I watched from old cowboy movies. Of course, Breaking Bad put the place in the limelight in a not so nice way.

  11. I have always wanted to visit Albuquerque and have never made it yet. The balloons and the beautiful vistas are what I’d really like to experience. I didn’t know there were wineries to check out. Thanks for sharing all there is do in the state and I hope to visit soon.

  13. We visited Albuquerque last year and had a blast. Unfortunetly we missed the sculpture garden at Alburquerque Museum of Art and History. The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History was so cool though. It is still one of the best museums we have visited. We want to go back to see the Balloon Fiesta, this list will come in handy then.

  14. I thought Albuquerque sounded familiar! It’s good to know there is more to see and do than mobile meth labs. However, I’m sure the blue “meth” candy from The Candy Lady is very popular! But seriously, I would love to explore Route 66 and take a day trip to Santa Fe.

    1. Visiting her store was a lot of fun! Hint: there’s a spot in the back for a great photo opp if you are nice to her she may invite you back to use her props!

  15. I’ve been dying to go to Albuquerque for years — mainly for the hot air balloons and green chilis, of course. But it sounds like there are also a lot of great biking trails in the area. Is it possible to rent a bike in town, or do you have to bring one with you?

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