Albuquerque itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Albuquerque, day by day: the Anderson-Abruzzo Balloon Museum and the Sandia Peak Tramway first, then Old Town, San Felipe de Neri Church, the Albuquerque Museum, Explora, the Rattlesnake Museum and the Santa Fe 2926 locomotive. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Albuquerque in 1 day
Day 1
Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
Museum of ballooning near the launch field that hosts the Balloon Fiesta, with exhibits on flight and balloon history.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Aerial tramway that rises from the north-east edge of the city to the 10,000-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains, with views over the Rio Grande valley.
Albuquerque in 2 days
Day 1
Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
Museum of ballooning near the launch field that hosts the Balloon Fiesta, with exhibits on flight and balloon history.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Aerial tramway that rises from the north-east edge of the city to the 10,000-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains, with views over the Rio Grande valley.
Day 2
Albuquerque Museum
Museum of art and history by Old Town, with Spanish colonial armour, Southwestern art and a sculpture garden.
San Felipe de Neri Church
Adobe church on the Old Town plaza, built in 1793 and still in use, a symbol of the city's Spanish colonial roots.
Old Town Albuquerque
Historic plaza founded in 1706, with adobe buildings, galleries, craft shops, restaurants and the church of San Felipe de Neri.
American International Rattlesnake Museum
Small Old Town museum with live rattlesnakes from many places and displays on their behaviour and role in the desert.
Santa Fe 2926
Steam locomotive built in 1944 and kept on display by the railway, a reminder of the city's railroad heritage.
Explora
Hands-on science centre near Old Town for families, with exhibits for children and changing programmes.
Watch: Albuquerque
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Albuquerque
September to November are the best months, with warm days, cool nights and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the first half of October. April and May are also pleasant. Summers are hot, with afternoon storms in July and August, and winters are cold at night with occasional snow.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Albuquerque on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Albuquerque on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Albuquerque on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Albuquerque
- Old Town opens late in the morning, so start the day at a museum and walk there for lunch.
- The Sandia Peak Tramway is weather dependent and busiest in the late afternoon for sunset; check conditions and buy tickets for the time you want.
- The Balloon Museum is near Balloon Fiesta Park in the north of the city, so it is easiest to reach by car or rideshare.
- Old Town's plaza, San Felipe de Neri Church, the Albuquerque Museum and the Rattlesnake Museum are within a few minutes' walk of each other.
- At about 5,000 feet elevation, the sun is strong and the air dry; carry water and sunscreen, and allow for the altitude.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Albuquerque Museum: PerryPlanet at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- American International Rattlesnake Museum: AllenS, Public domain
- Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum: PerryPlanet, Public domain
- Explora: (WT-en) PerryPlanet at English Wikivoyage, Public domain
- Old Town Albuquerque: Camerafiend at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Felipe de Neri Church: Camerafiend at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sandia Peak Tramway: AnnaCummingsPhotography, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Fe 2926: Mikeconnealy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
