Albuquerque Old Town

Old Town is a Historic Center and Shopping Area

Old Town Albuquerque is the center of an area that has known a European presence for over 500 years, in a city that was founded in 1706. Flags flying in the plaza represent countries of Albuquerque's history: Spain, Mexico, the United States. The Confederate States of America even ruled for a few short weeks. Buildings around the Old Town plaza and on the side streets are authentic adobes up to 300 years old, many built in Albuquerque's distinctive "Territorial Style" architecture combining traditional adobe building methods with Greek details.

Today's Old Town is a religious center, with the Church of San Felipe de Neri used as a parish church for over 200 years. It's also a shopping center with shops selling goods ranging from fine arts and jewelry to tourist trinkets, and Indians selling their wares on the sidewalk. It's a lively place, and one of Albuquerque's premier tourist attractions. It's at its most beautiful near Christmas when the streets are lined with glowing candle-in-a-paper-bag luminarias.

See It Now: Photo Tour

Things to Do in Old Town

Shopping is a very popular activity in Old Town, and it's easy to understand why. With over 25 art galleries and almost 100 boutiques and shops in total, there are plenty of places for purchases You may want to browse around the shops to get a good idea of prices, then make your selections.

Take a Walking Tour. Docent-led tours start at the Albuquerque Museum, or pick up their self-guided tour brochure. For a spooky good time, take an evening tour with New Mexico Ghost Tours and learn where the haunts hang out.

Several fine museums cluster around Old Town. They include:

• Turquoise Museum (2107 Central Ave. NW, next to Walgreen's) - A good place to learn about turquoise and silver jewelry to prepare for a shopping expedition.
• Albuquerque Museum of Art, History and Science - The museum explains 400 years of New Mexico history. Old Town walking tours start from here, and they have some nice children's exhibits including a dress-up area. Pick up a copy of their self-guided walking tour if you can't make the guided one.
• New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science - A fun museum where science comes to life. Features include a life-sized Quetzalcoatlus soaring in the atrium, a planetarium show, a walk-through volcano and a comet-busting adventure ride.
• American International Rattlesnake Museum (202 San Felipe NW) - Located inside a gift shop, they claim to have the world's largest collection of live rattlesnakes.

Practicalities

Old Town is located just north of Interstate 40 at the Rio Grande Blvd. exit. Follow the signs.

Parking in Old Town can be difficult. Follow the signs to one of the public lots. The city parking lot at the Albuquerque Museum is very reasonably priced by the hour and just a few feet from Old Town.