Albuquerque Travel Guide

New Mexico's largest city has been described as having one foot in the past and one in the present, with its eyes firmly set on the future. This certainly sums up this multicultural city, spread across the desert plains beside the Rio Grande.

It is known for its high-tech research facilities and sentimental pride towards its historic Old Town, and offers a mix of museums, galleries, spicy restaurants, and great shopping centres to satisfy the appetite of every kind of visitor. Albuquerque has an ultra-relaxed attitude, with shorts and t-shirts the unofficial uniform and locals cracking jokes about living in a 'dusty hick town'. But the city's numerous attractions are on-hand to prove them wrong.

Albuquerque was born back in 1706 when a group of Spanish colonists decided that the point on the Rio Grande where the river made a sweeping curve, backed by the wooded slopes of the nearby Sandia Mountains, would be a useful place to start a settlement. Water for irrigation and wood for building was plentiful, and the local Indian pueblos were available for trading.

The new town, at first just a cluster of mud houses around a small adobe church, was named for Spain's 10th Duke of Albuquerque. Today the original church, San Felipe de Neri, stands enshrined in the centre of the historic heart of the city, the hub of various special holidays and feast days, drawing visitors and locals alike.

One of the most splendid sights Albuquerque has to offer happens only once a year when, in October, the International Balloon Fiesta has all eyes focussed on New Mexico's blue skies as hundreds of hot air balloons sail past. The New Mexico State Fair is another highlight on the local calendar, and presents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy, among other things, carnival rides, rodeo events and concerts.

Every day of the year, though, the city offers up its attractions such as the zoo, aquarium, museums, and vineyards, as well as an array of activities such as skiing, golfing, mountain biking, hiking, or dancing. If all else fails, visitors can always eat; mild or with chilli, there is nothing to beat New Mexican cuisine to really add spice to life.

Things to do in Albuquerque

Albuquerque can be described as a breath of fresh air, offering an array of choice attractions. Those in search of some relaxation will find it in its incredible golf courses and beautiful scenery. Visitors can take a hot air balloon trip over the Rio Grande Valley, go horseback riding on the river banks, enjoy the top-class New Mexican cuisine, or simply stroll through the Old Town.

The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway is a popular attraction, providing wonderful views as it climbs the 10,378-foot peak of the mountains. There are many tours on offer; trams, trolleys, and buses all provide great tours whatever the interest.

For those wishing to explore the depths of Albuquerque's cultural history, a visit to the National Hispanic Cultural Center will satisfy their curiosity as will the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. With about 19 museums to explore, including the Albuquerque Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, there is lots to learn.

For serious outdoors action, travellers may enjoy the 17-mile-long (27km) stretch of escarpment that is the West Mesa, home to historic rock carvings or petroglyphs. It is here tourists will find the Petroglyph National Monument. The Carlsbad Caverns National Park is another top spot for visitors to explore the regions many trails and appreciate nature.

Sandia Peak Tramway photo

Sandia Peak Tramway

An awe-inspiring view of Albuquerque can be had from nearly one mile (2km) above the city on top of Sandia Crest, the windy mountaintop where the view extends for over 1,000 miles (1,609km). Visitors should simply follow Tramway Boulevard for a few miles north of the city to board the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, the world's longest continuous jigback passenger tramway, which makes the ascent from the foothills to the summit in about 20 minutes. In winter, skiers make use of the more than 30 trails descending from the mountain crest, while in summer hikers and mountain bikers can take the tramway up and enjoy nature on their way down. Pleasure seekers simply ride to the top to enjoy the view, which is particularly spectacular at sunset.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center photo

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is designed to give an introduction to New Mexico's rich Native American cultural heritage and the 19 individual pueblo communities of the State. The centre is situated on 12th Street, about a mile northeast of the Old Town in Albuquerque. It is a recreation of Pueblo Bonito, a ruined Indian village in the Chaco Culture National Historic Park dating from the 9th century. The centre also features a museum displaying early photographs, artefacts, and artworks. A restaurant serves traditional fare, and traditional dances are performed by different tribal groups. Those interested in seeing the real thing can make an excursion to Pueblo Acoma, 60 miles (96km) west of Albuquerque, the oldest inhabited village in the United States, situated on a 367-foot (112m) high sandstone rock.

Petroglyph National Monument photo

Petroglyph National Monument

One of Alquerque's best attractions is the 17-mile-long (27km) stretch of escarpment of the West Mesa, that is a treasure-trove of more than 25,000 prehistoric and historic rock carvings or petroglyphs, some dating as far back as 2,000 years. Maps and information about the geology and history of the area are available from the information center. Hikers can follow various trails to explore the Boca Negra Canyon, or join rangers on scheduled walks during the summer months. Picnic areas, drinking water, and restroom facilities are provided.

American International Rattlesnake Museum photo

American International Rattlesnake Museum

Albuquerque's Rattlesnake Museum is an exciting and educational experience for the entire family, where myths are explore, phobias are cured and mysteries are revealed. Billed as an animal conservation museum, the establishment is dedicated to displaying how rattlesnakes influence our lives. Exhibits include artwork, artefacts and memorabilia such as toys and games, paintings, sculptures, photographs, licence plates, rocks and fossils, as well as the largest collection of live rattlesnakes in the world. The snakes, gathered from North, Central and South America, are kept in specially recreated habitats.

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science photo

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

The exciting Museum of Natural History takes visitors on a trip through 12 billion years, from the formation of the universe up to the present day. From the earth's beginnings, exhibits, displays, and recreated scenes take visitors through an erupting volcano, an ice-age cave, an aquarium, the dinosaur age, and a fossil centre, giant-screen theatre, planetarium and a naturalist centre, to name just a few of the educational entertainments offered.

Albuquerque Museum photo

Albuquerque Museum

The Albuquerque Museum, on the edge of the city's Old Town, explores New Mexico's history and heritage. With the largest collection of Spanish colonial artefacts in the United States, the museum also pays homage to the Vaqueros, the original cowboys who rode the range in New Mexico in the 16th century. Exhibits such as Spanish armour and swords mingle with a recreated 18th-century adobe house compound. There are also hands-on experiences to try such as spinning wool, and a theatre where films about the city are shown regularly. The museum provides a walking tour of the Old Town area departing at 11am each day except Monday during spring, summer and fall.

Turquoise Trail photo

Turquoise Trail

Travellers who abandon the highway and opt for the scenic byways will be rewarded with the Turquoise Trail state-designated scenic and historic route, which runs from Albuquerque to Sante Fe through the majestic Sandia Mountains, passing through the revived 'ghost' towns of New Mexico's mining belt. The route begins on NM14 about 16 miles (26km) east of central Albuquerque, covering about 61 miles (98km) before reaching Sante Fe. En route is the Cibola National Forest, mining towns of Madrid, Golden, and Cerrillos filled with art and craft practitioners, the Tinkertown Museum, The New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies, Old Coal Mine Museum, and the Turquoise Mining Museum.

Roswell photo

Roswell

The town of Roswell in south-east New Mexico has become the focus of UFO and alien hunters from all over the world. This has been the case ever since the 'Roswell Incident' in 1947, when an alien craft purportedly crashed near the town, leaving surviving extra-terrestrials. Conspiracy theorists believe government authorities deliberately covered up the crash. The incident is highlighted at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Main Street, along with a large collection of UFO memorabilia and artefacts. The museum also features a worldwide UFO sighting map and a comprehensive library. Roswell itself is just as UFO-crazy, and visitors can eat at UFO-themed cafes, and buy just about anything they can think of with an alien on it.

Carlsbad Caverns photo

Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is a popular attraction in New Mexico. Containing the Carlsbad Cavern, also known as the 'Big Cave', one of the largest underground chambers on earth. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cave is one of 80 around the park, but is incredibly popular for tours due to its stunning stalagmite and stalactite formations. Visitors enter the cave by descending over 600 feet (183m) in an elevator, and explore the chambers via paved trails that are mostly wheelchair accessible. There is also a natural entrance by the visitor centre, involving a longer and rougher walk.

Las Cruces photo

Las Cruces

Located in the middle of an arid desert that sees only eight inches (20cm) of rain per year, Las Cruces was an important waypoint on El Camino Royal, a trade route between Santa Fe and Mexico City. The historic town acted as the backdrop for wild west dramas involving Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa, and has museums dedicated to farm and ranching history, natural history, and railroads in New Mexico. The New Mexico State University Museum has several exhibits on local history and archaeology. There is also an older settlement located in nearby Mesilla with a historic district of traditional adobe buildings.

Getting Around

A bus network operates around Albuquerque, but is not comprehensive enough to link all the major tourist sights, and most bus routes stop running at about 6pm. The sprawling city is difficult to get around without a car, while the simple layout makes driving easy, as long as rush hour is avoided. Most agencies require drivers to be at least 21 years of age. Metered taxis are also available and can easily be hired from outside main transport terminals and major hotels; Lyft and Uber are also available. Albuquerque also has an extensive bike route system.

Albuquerque Climate and Weather

The weather in Albuquerque is generally dry and sunny all year, although temperature variations between winter and summer are fairly extreme. During the summer months Albuquerque is extremely hot, with the mercury rising to well over 90F (32C) most days, particularly during June and July. Winters are cold and daytime temperatures can plummet to below freezing during December and January.

United States of America travel info

Electricity

The electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. Plugs are mainly the type with two flat pins, though three-pin plugs (two flat parallel pins and a rounded pin) are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter.

Language

English is the most common language spoken but Spanish is often heard in the south-western states.

Money

The official currency is the US Dollar (USD), which is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards are widely accepted; Apple Pay and Google Pay are very popular. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Tipping

A 15 percent tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and waiters, but travellers shouldn't tip in fast-food or self-service restaurants. In expensive restaurants or for large parties, the tip should be 20 percent of the bill. It's normal to tip staff such as valets and porters in hotels; this is discretionary, although a minimum of $5 is expected. Most services are customarily tipped if the service is good.

Health

There are no specific health risks associated with travel within the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive. Only emergencies are treated without prior payment and treatment can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of funds. Good medical insurance is essential.

Safety

Travel within the United States is generally trouble-free, though travellers should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world an increased threat from terrorist incidents. Security has been heightened, particularly at airports. Restrictions on hand luggage apply and travellers are advised to check on the latest situation with airlines in advance. Travellers should also be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities and should use common sense and take basic precautions. Hurricanes are common between June and November, putting the southern USA, including the Gulf Coast and the eastern US at risk. There's a risk of wildfires in many dry areas in the US, particularly on the West Coast from March to November.

Local customs

Laws vary from state to state, including speed limit, fines and punishment. The age at which alcohol may be legally bought and consumed is 21 years.

Doing business

In such a large country, filled with so many diverse groups, business practices may differ according to each state, though rarely to any large degree. The East Coast is traditionally more formal than the West Coast, though in states such as California, dress code and conservative appearance are as common as they would be in New York. Punctuality is important throughout the country and it's considered rude to be late for a meeting. Gift-giving is uncommon as it may be construed as bribery. Appropriate titles (Mr, Mrs, Ms) are used upon introduction and until otherwise stated. Americans favour politeness and greetings of 'Hello' and 'How are you?' are often expressed with sincerity. Business hours may vary in each state, but an 8am start and 5pm finish Monday to Friday is the most common with an hour over lunch.

Status and age are not necessarily indicative of seniority, nor do they carry much weight in themselves. Those doing business in the States should be mindful of this fact; foreigners should never make assumptions about someone's position or rank. Best practice is to be respectful to all parties. That said, the US upholds a hierarchal business structure in which 'the boss' is the ultimate decision-maker. Senior leaders have the power of the last word, and can go against the grain just as easily as they can follow popular opinion. Foreigners should concentrate on winning over this individual, even if the greater group seems unsupportive. Americans value a direct style of communication. In this fast-paced, consumer culture 'time is money', and small-talk is viewed as unnecessary and wasteful. It's best for foreigners to get to the point quickly, speak about issues in a frank and open manner, and to avoid taking offence if someone questions or challenges them outright.

Duty free

Travellers to the United States who are returning residents of the country do not have to pay duty on articles purchased abroad to the value of $800 provided their stay was longer than 48 hours and their duty-free allowance was not used in the 30-day period prior. For passengers arriving from Samoa, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, a duty-free allowance of $1,600 is allowed. The following items are included in this: 50 cigarettes and 10 cigars and 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages or 150 millilitres (5 fl. oz.) of perfume containing alcohol. Restrictions may apply to goods from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Liberia and Sudan. It is prohibited to import Cuban cigars from any country.

Travellers to the United States who are non-residents do not have to pay duty on the following items: 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes and gifts to the value of $100 provided their stay in the USA is not less than 72 hours and that the allowance has not been used in the preceding six-month period.

Prohibited items for residents and non-residents include meat or meat products, poultry, narcotics, absinthe, plants, seeds, vegetables, fruits, soil, live insects and other living plants or animal pests. Fish is prohibited unless it carries disease-free certification. Wildlife and animals or their by-products carry restrictions. Dairy products and eggs from specified countries are not allowed. Firearms and ammunition are not allowed without the necessary license and permit.

Communications

The international country dialling code for the United States is +1. Mobile networks cover most of the country, especially all urban areas; travellers can purchase local prepaid SIM cards for unlocked phones or use eSIMs if their cellular providers support it on their networks. WiFi is widely available.

Passport & Visa

It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from them travel destination. A visa is required for short visits unless travellers qualify for entry under the Visa Waiver Program.

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables citizens of certain countries to travel to the US for a stay of up to 90 days without a visa. Visitors under the VWP need a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows the US government to screen all visitors before travel. Visitors entering the country under the VWP must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that has a barcode on the photo page. Travellers under the VWP must have passports that include biometrics if they wish to enter the country without a visa, which means that passports must contain unique personal data such as fingerprints or iris details. All passports must contain a digital photo image in order to travel visa-free. All visitors to the USA have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival, including those travelling visa-free under the VWP.

As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers travelling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA, a valid passport is required by immigration authorities. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry requirements

US citizens require passports.

UK nationals require a passport valid for duration of stay. Most passport holders can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) through the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows travel to the US for up to 90 days. The VWP includes tourism, certain types of business visit and transit to another country.

The most important requirement on entering the U.S. is providing proof of Canadian citizenship. A valid Canadian passport is the best document to prove Canadian citizenship and the right to return to Canada. However, several other documents can serve, depending on the mode of transport. Generally, Canadian citizens do not require visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the United States from Canada, though there are some exceptions.

Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay. If visiting the US for fewer than 90 days, Australian nationals may be eligible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and enter under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

South Africans must hold a passport valid for duration of stay. A visa is required.

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. Irish nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Passports must be valid for duration of stay. New Zealand nationals can get an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Programme for entry into the United States.

Useful contacts

United States Tourist Office: www.usatourist.com

911 (General)

Embassies / consulates in other countries

United States Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 20 7499 9000.

United States Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 688 5335.

United States Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 2 6214 5600.

United States Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 12 431 4000.

United States Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 1 668 8777.

United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 4 462 6000.

Embassies / consulates in United States of America

British Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 588 6500.

Canadian Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 682 1740.

Australian Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 797 3000.

South African Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 232 4400.

Irish Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 462 3939.

New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC: +1 202 328 4800.