Santa Fe's Main Sites Self-Guided Driving Tour: History, Art & Iconic Landmarks
5
Places: 19 POIs
Distance: 9.16 mi
Duration: 55m
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Tour #2620
About this English self-guided 55m driving tour in Santa Fe
Welcome to Santa Fe, the oldest capital city in the United States and one of the most distinctive places you’ll ever visit. Known as “The City Different,” Santa Fe is a blend of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo influences — a place where centuries of art, architecture, and culture come together beneath the bright New Mexico sky.
In this tour, we’ll guide you through the city’s most iconic landmarks, charming neighborhoods, and hidden gems — from centuries-old adobe chapels to world-class art districts and peaceful parks. You’ll get a taste of the stories, legends, and creativity that make Santa Fe truly unique.
To experience this tour at its best, take your time. Many of Santa Fe’s streets are narrow, winding, and one-way, so crafting a route that lets you see everything means we’ll make a few loops, turns, and crossovers along the way. Drive slowly, stay alert, and follow the route as designed — we’ll handle the storytelling while you enjoy the ride.
Get ready to discover a city that feels both timeless and alive — welcome to Santa Fe!
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
398 Kearny Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Historic Fort Marcy Park
Welcome to historic Fort Marcy Park, the perfect place to kick off our tour of Santa Fe — the oldest capital city in the United States.
This quiet hilltop once held Fort Marcy, a U.S. Army post built back in 1846 during the Mexican–American War. From up here, soldiers once kept watch over the city below, which had only recently come under U.S. control. The fort was never attacked, and after a few decades it was abandoned — but the name and the views stuck around.
Today, it’s one of the best spots to get your bearings and snap a few photos. You can see the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the adobe skyline of downtown Santa Fe below — a mix of old Spanish, Pueblo, and Territorial architecture that tells centuries of stories.
Go ahead and pull into the loop, take a few photos, and when you’re ready, we’ll roll down into the heart of Santa Fe to explore its plazas, chapels, art galleries, and hidden corners that make this city so unforgettable.
This quiet hilltop once held Fort Marcy, a U.S. Army post built back in 1846 during the Mexican–American War. From up here, soldiers once kept watch over the city below, which had only recently come under U.S. control. The fort was never attacked, and after a few decades it was abandoned — but the name and the views stuck around.
Today, it’s one of the best spots to get your bearings and snap a few photos. You can see the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the east and the adobe skyline of downtown Santa Fe below — a mix of old Spanish, Pueblo, and Territorial architecture that tells centuries of stories.
Go ahead and pull into the loop, take a few photos, and when you’re ready, we’ll roll down into the heart of Santa Fe to explore its plazas, chapels, art galleries, and hidden corners that make this city so unforgettable.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.42mi
509 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
Scottish Rite Masonic Center
Coming on your right is the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, one of Santa Fe’s most striking landmarks. It might surprise you to learn that this pink Moorish-style palace was built back in 1912 — the same year New Mexico became a state.
Its unusual design was inspired by the Alhambra in Spain, and it served as a gathering place for the Masonic fraternity, which played a big role in Santa Fe’s civic and cultural life.
Today, it’s still used for events, performances, and community gatherings — and it’s easily one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
Its unusual design was inspired by the Alhambra in Spain, and it served as a gathering place for the Masonic fraternity, which played a big role in Santa Fe’s civic and cultural life.
Today, it’s still used for events, performances, and community gatherings — and it’s easily one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Historic Fort Marcy Park
Place 2
Scottish Rite Masonic Center
Place 3
Georgia O'Keeffe Art Museum
Place 4
John Gaw Meem Historic Building
Place 5
Palace Avenue
Place 6
New Mexico Museum of Art & New Mexico History Museum
Place 7
Palace of the Governors
Place 8
Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Place 9
Loretto Chapel – Santa Fe’s Stairway to Wonder
Place 10
San Miguel Chapel & Oldest House – Where Santa Fe’s Story Begins
Place 11
Canyon Road – A Living Gallery of Art and Imagination
Place 12
Looping Back Toward the Heart of Santa Fe
Place 13
San Francisco Street – The Heartbeat of Downtown Santa Fe
Place 14
Santa Fe Plaza, Palace of the Governors & Cathedral Basilica – A Familiar View from Another Angle
Place 15
Don Gasper Avenue – New Mexico’s Government Row
Place 16
Santa Fe Railyard Park – Where the Tracks Meet the Arts
Place 17
Santa Fe Farmers Market & SITE Santa Fe – Fresh Flavors and Bold Ideas
Place 18
Amelia White Park on our way to Museum Hill – Nature and Culture Side by Side
Place 19
Santa Fe Botanical Garden & Museum Hill – A Perfect Ending
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 19 stops, covering top attractions such as Historic Fort Marcy Park, Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Georgia O'Keeffe Art Museum, John Gaw Meem Historic Building, Palace Avenue.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Historic Fort Marcy Park (Address: 398 Kearny Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!