Old Town Albuquerque

Old Town Albuquerque in central New Mexico is the historic core of the city, founded by Spanish colonists in 1706 on the banks of the Rio Grande. The plaza-centered district preserves a cluster of low adobe buildings that predate the railroad era and now house galleries, jewelry shops, restaurants, and small museums within a few walkable blocks. The focal point is the Old Town Plaza, a tree-lined square surrounded by portales — covered sidewalk arcades — where artisans occasionally sell silver and turquoise jewelry directly from blankets during warmer months. The 18th-century San Felipe de Neri Church stands on the north side of the plaza, its twin adobe towers visible for several blocks. One of the oldest continuously active Catholic parishes in New Mexico, the church welcomes visitors during non-service hours and its simple interior reflects three centuries of New Mexican devotional art. Adjacent to Old Town are several excellent museums including the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and the American International Rattlesnake Museum, which houses the world's largest collection of living rattlesnake species in a small storefront. The surrounding shops carry Southwestern arts at a range of price points: Navajo rugs, Pueblo pottery, Zuni fetishes, and turquoise and silver jewelry produced under Indian Arts and Crafts Act protections. The district is entirely walkable; parking is available in surface lots on Rio Grande Blvd NW and Mountain Rd NW. Most gallery and shop doors open by 10am daily. Evening ghost tours of the Old Town buildings, exploring reported paranormal histories of the 18th-century structures, are popular in fall and winter.