Taos Day Trip Guide

Taos is only an hour and thirty-five-minute scenic drive from Santa Fe. Our guide gets your visit off to a great start. Take a day, spend the night, and enjoy exploring the unique beauty, history and culture of the area — including Taos Pueblo, restaurants, galleries and more.

The Blumenschein Museum

Discover the fascinating story of how, in 1898, a fortuitous accident involving young American artists Ernest L. Blumenschein and Bert G. Phillips resulted in Taos becoming a great American art colony. This National Historic Landmark beautifully illustrates the lifestyle of Taos artists in the first half of the 20th century, and the great experiment in American art that resulted in the founding of the Taos Society of Artists in 1915.

Website: https://taoshistoricmuseums.org/

Phone: (575) 758-0505

Black Mesa Winery & Cidery

Black Mesa Winery & Cidery in Velarde, halfway between Taos and Santa Fe, produces Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Montepulciano, and Riesling grapes plus 8 delicious cider flavors. Open daily 12pm–7pm for tastings and retail sales. Tastings are $15 per person and include a signature Black Mesa wine glass. Winery tours available to groups or individuals with 48 hours advance notice. The property features a free public Petroglyph Trail and expert-guided geology tours exploring the area's unique history and geology.

Website: http://blackmesawinery.com/

Phone: (505) 852-2820

John Dunn House Shops

Twenty unique, independently and locally owned shops, galleries and eateries line a beautiful pedestrian walkway linking Bent Street and the historic Taos Plaza. There's something for everyone — handmade folk art, jewelry, and fiber crafts to fashions, galleries, restaurants and more. The John Dunn House, on the National Historic Register, was the home of one of Taos' most colorful characters. Stroll in the garden, visit with locals and shopkeepers, sit by the shaded fountain, listen to local musicians and meet local artists. All-day free parking is available directly across Placitas Road.

Website: http://www.johndunnshops.com/

La Hacienda de los Martinez

One of the few northern New Mexico style, late Spanish Colonial period "Great Houses" remaining in the American Southwest. Its twenty-one rooms surrounding two courtyards provide visitors with a rare glimpse of the rugged frontier life and times of the early 1800s. Regularly scheduled demonstrations present the continuing traditions of northern New Mexico.

Website: https://taoshistoricmuseums.org/

Phone: (575) 758-1000

Sagebrush Inn & Suites — Taos

First opened in 1931 to cater to guests traveling by carriage along the trade route between New York and Arizona, the newly restored Sagebrush Inn & Suites offers 156 rooms and suites filled with authentic Southwest charm and modern comforts. Every stay includes a signature deluxe breakfast buffet. Free parking and pet-friendly accommodations available. Easy access to Taos Plaza, Taos Ski Valley and Taos Pueblo.

Website: https://gc.synxis.com/rez.aspx?Hotel=44982&Chain=17448&promo=Select

Phone: (575) 758-2254

Doc Martin's Restaurant

A Taos tradition earning multiple awards for fabulous Regional New American fare. Lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch feature fresh foods sourced from local farms with Southwest flair. The signature dish is Doc's Chile rellenos, complemented by sumptuous desserts. The world-class wine list has earned Wine Spectator's "Best Of Award of Excellence" for over 20 years.

Website: https://taosinn.com/eat-drink/restaurant-doc-martins/

Phone: (575) 758-1977

Old Taos Guesthouse Bed & Breakfast Inn

Built over 200 years ago and nestled amid a grove of stately old cottonwoods and spruce on 7.5 acres, this hacienda-style inn began as an adobe farmhouse. Over centuries it has gathered rich and colorful history and grown to become an ideal retreat, just 1.5 miles from historic downtown Taos. Stay in authentic historical Taoseños style.

Website: http://oldtaos.com/

Phone: (575) 758-5448

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo is the northernmost of the nineteen New Mexico Pueblos and a must-see for visitors to Northern New Mexico. It is generally open to visitors daily, except when tribal rituals and special circumstances require closing. Archaeologists say that ancestors of the Taos Indians lived in this valley long before Columbus discovered America and hundreds of years before Europe emerged from the Dark Ages. Visitors are welcomed and asked to respect pueblo rules and guidelines. Check the website and call ahead for any unexpected closures before making the journey. Open Thursday–Monday: 9am–4pm.

Website: http://taospueblo.com/events/

Phone: (575) 758-3873

Millicent Rogers Museum

Established as a memorial to Millicent Rogers, the museum houses outstanding historical collections of Native American art, jewelry, paintings, weavings and pottery. The museum's superb setting features spectacular views of the many-hued Sangre de Cristo Mountains and gracious adobe architecture, adding to the pleasure of visiting this jewel of the high desert terrain and legacy of Millicent Rogers.

Website: http://www.millicentrogers.org

Phone: (575) 758-2462

The Historic Taos Inn

Acclaimed by National Geographic Traveler as "One of America's Great Inns," the Taos Inn is legendary. Welcoming guests since 1936, this historic landmark in the heart of Taos is founded on a legacy of excellence. Experience Southwestern charm and history in this quintessential New Mexico inn. Don't miss free live music every night at the famous Adobe Bar, named "The social center of Taos" by Travel & Leisure.

Website: https://www.taosinn.com/

Phone: (575) 758-2233

Downtown Taos and Greater Taos Area Maps

Use color-coded maps of the Greater Taos Area, which includes the Scenic High Road to Taos, Taos Pueblo, the Enchanted Circle, and Taos Historic Downtown. Download these to your mobile device or print them out for easy offline access to information on points of interest, hiking trails, campsites and downtown parking areas.