Your next getaway destination could be closer than you think. If you’re looking to get away for a bit without breaking the bank, Santa Fe might be the place you’re looking for. With heavy past and present cultural influences, you can explore art, history, nature, and food in this New Mexico city while keeping your costs low. Sound like your kind of trip? Check out the list below for tips to see Santa Fe on a budget.
A Foodie’s Delight
Image via Flickr by Sarah Stierch
One of the more expensive aspects of traveling is the cost of food, but in Santa Fe, you can experience some of the local flavors for not a whole lot of money — sometimes for as little as $6. With a diverse selection of renowned food carts, you can hop from pizza and doughnuts to tacos and tapas. If sit-down restaurants are more your thing, you can definitely find some amazing food that meets your budget; food like BackRoad Pizza, which appeared on an episode of “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”
Captivating Culture
With deep Native American and Spanish roots, Santa Fe is home to some amazing history. Across the city, you can find over 15 museums ranging from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. If you’re worried about pinching pennies, prices for a museum visit range from about $7–$15. Architecturally, you can experience massive adobe pueblos, centuries-old cathedrals, and anything in between while keeping your budget in mind.
Your Stay in Santa Fe
Finding a place to stay while you’re visiting Santa Fe can be on the more expensive side of things. It’s a good idea to look just outside of the city center because the price per night drops the further you get out. Be sure to compare different Santa Fe hotels using services like Hotel Planner, so you can get the most bang for your buck. Of course, the further out you stay, the more likely you’ll have to worry about transportation, although public transit can be a cheap way to get around at $2 per day.
Into the Wild
Although there are plenty of things to keep you busy in the city, you can also explore some of the surrounding nature for some fresh air. It’s easy to assume that Santa Fe is all a sprawling desert, but that’s not the case. Nestled in the Rio Grande Valley and located in the southern Rocky Mountains, the city offers up some spectacular views. Santa Fe National Forest is only about 8 miles out from the city center and offers up some amazing trails for any hiking enthusiasts. Getting out and into nature couldn’t be cheaper, most of the time your only cost being the transportation to get there.
Santa Fe is a cheap getaway with rich culture and history, offering up the opportunity to travel on a budget. With sightseeing, great local food, and plenty of nature to get lost in, put Santa Fe on your list of travel destinations!
