You only need a week (although 10 days will give you a bit more breathing room) to take in the region’s three best cities, along with plenty of outdoor adventures along the way.
Day 1: Albuquerque
Start out by strolling through the shops of Old Town Plaza, then visit the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science and the Albuquerque Museum. For lunch, stop by the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to sample the hearty Indigenous-inspired fare at Indian Pueblo Kitchen.
In the afternoon, drive east a couple of miles along Central to reach the University of New Mexico’s main campus—with its gracious adobe buildings and outstanding Maxwell Museum of Anthropology—and the nearby Nob Hill District, a hip bastion of offbeat shops and noteworthy restaurants. If it’s summer, meaning that you still have some time before the sun sets, it’s worth detouring from Old Town to Far Northeast Heights (a 15-minute drive), where you can take the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway 2.7 miles up to Sandia Peak for spectacular sunset views of the city. Either way, plan to have dinner back in Nob Hill, perhaps at Bosque Brewing Co. Public House.
Days 2 and 3: Santa Fe
On Day 2, head to Santa Fe early in the morning by driving up the scenic Turquoise Trail; once you arrive in town, explore the adobe charms of the Downtown central Plaza. Visit the Palace of the Governors and check out the adjacent New Mexico History Museum. A short drive away at the nearby Museum of Indian Arts and Culture you can see works by talented members of the state’s pueblos, and across the courtyard at the Museum of International Folk Art, you can see how different cultures in New Mexico and elsewhere in the world have expressed themselves artistically. Return Downtown and give yourself time to stroll its narrow, adobe-lined streets, and treat yourself to some delicious New Mexican cuisine in the evening, perhaps with a traditional meal at The Shed or a fancier dinner at Sazón.
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On your second day in town, plan to walk a bit. Head east from the Plaza up to Canyon Road and peruse the galleries. If you’re up for some exercise, hike the foothills—there are trails beginning at the Randall Davey Audubon Center and also from the free parking area leading into the Dale Ball Trail Network, both a short drive from the Plaza. And it’s worth it to make the detour slightly out of town to visit Meow Wolf, an immersive art installation that’s one of the highlights of Santa Fe. You might want to try one of Santa Fe’s truly stellar, upscale restaurants, like Geronimo, your final night in town.
Day 4: Abiquiú
From Santa Fe, drive north up U.S. 285/84 through Española en route to Abiquiú, the fabled community where Georgia O’Keeffe lived and painted for much of the final five decades of her life. On your way up, make the detour toward Los Alamos and spend the morning exploring the fascinating Bandelier National Monument. In Abiquiú, plan to tour Georgia O’Keeffe’s home (open early March through late November)—advance reservations are required.
Days 5 and 6: Taos
Begin by strolling around Taos Plaza, taking in the galleries and crafts shops. Head south two blocks to visit the Harwood Museum of Art. Then walk north on Paseo del Pueblo to the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House. In the afternoon, drive out to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Return the way you came to see the Millicent Rogers Museum on your way back to town. In the evening, stop in at the Adobe Bar at the Taos Inn and plan for dinner at the Love Apple. On the second day, drive out to Taos Pueblo in the morning and tour the ancient village while the day is fresh. Afterwards, head to one of the excellent restaurants in El Prado, just north, for a bite to eat, maybe the Farmhouse Cafe. After lunch drive out to La Hacienda de los Martinez for a look at early life in Taos and then to Ranchos de Taos to see the San Francisco de Asís Church.
Day 7: The High Road
On your final day, drive back down toward Albuquerque and Santa Fe via the famed High Road, which twists through a series of soaring vistas and tiny, historic villages.