What Are Albuquerque’s Best Attractions?

Albuquerque is an amazing city with plenty of attractions to explore and take in. In fact, many thousands of people come to Albuquerque each year to take in the sights, sounds and experiences they can find here. Whether you’re visiting the city or you’re a resident, you probably have some idea of what Albuquerque’s best attractions are. Here are some of the best places to visit in Albuquerque.

El Malpais National Monument

The El Malpais National Monument is located in the northwest corner of New Mexico and is made up of three different levels. It includes a volcanic national reserve (Cebola National Forest), an ancient lava tube system, and an expansive area of lava flows. The land here is incredibly otherworldly, and it offers a wide variety of sights to explore, from amazing rock formations to lava tubes and cave paintings. One of the main attractions at El Malpais is the Ancient Way Trail. This 11-mile loop hike takes adventurers through the remnants of a former lava flow; it is one-of-a-kind and truly spectacular.

Sandia Peak Tramway

The Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque is one of the longest aerial trams in the world, at 2.7 miles in length. It takes visitors on an exciting ride up to the top of Sandia Peak, which towers at over 10,000 feet above sea level. While up at the peak, visitors can take in breathtaking views of the city and surrounding mountains. The tram trip takes around 15 minutes each way, allowing visitors to spend time exploring the summit or running down, via hiking trails and ski slopes when snow is present. As an added bonus, a special restaurant at the top offers incredible views, as well as dishes like seared salmon, filet mignon, and homemade desserts.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

For a better understanding of the Native American cultural heritage of Albuquerque and surrounding areas, visitors will want to check out the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. This cultural hub is designed to create a bridge between the region’s 19 Indian pueblos, connecting visitors with Native American art, history and culture from across New Mexico. Here you’ll find multiple permanent exhibitions, as well as an always-changing selection of special exhibitions. There’s also a museum shop that carries locally crafted pottery, jewelry and art from pueblos around New Mexico.

The ABQ BioPark

The ABQ BioPark is made up of four different attractions, all within easy walking distance of each other and located just north of downtown. The four attractions are: the Rio Grande Zoo, Aquarium and Botanic Garden, Tingley Beach Fishing Lakes, and the ABQ Biological Park itself. The Rio Grande Zoo is known for its impressive selection of animals as well as its outstanding educational programs; some of these programs include behind-the-scenes tours and keeper-led experiences. The Aquarium and Botanic Garden feature habitats that showcase diverse species from around the world while spotlighting conservation efforts that help protect those species. Finally, Tingley Beach Fishing Lakes offer kids and adults alike a day of traditional fishing with rods and reels in a scenic riverside setting.

Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum of Albuquerque

Explora Science Center & Children’s Museum of Albuquerque is a favorite among families with its interactive exhibits, workshops and programs designed to spark children’s imaginations. The Explora center offers hands-on activities that explore physical sciences such as biology, chemistry and physics as well as engineering, technology and math. The museum focuses on 18 different themed discovery zones ranging from ecology and living things to machines and creative expression; all together they provide an incredible learning experience for people of all ages. To top it all off, Explora also features “Learning Labs” where professionals lead hands-on classes in science topics like robotics or engineering.

Old Town Albuquerque

Old Town Albuquerque is a beautiful historic district located in the heart of downtown. It’s full of galleries and stores that specialize in art from local Native American tribes like the Navajo and Hopi. It’s also known for its adobe architecture with churches, homes, shops and other buildings constructed out of adobe bricks made from local clay. While there you can also check out restaurants and shops offering Mexican food or crafts while being entertained street performers or visiting educational museums like El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe or Hispanic Folk Art Museum.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is held every October in New Mexico’s high desert plain between Albuquerque and Rio Rancho; it’s one of the world’s largest hot air balloon festivals. During the weeklong event, hundreds of colorful hot air balloons take to the sky in mass ascensions as well as night glows with balloons lit up from within by their propane burners. There are also aerobatic pilot performances featuring sky divers, sky swimmers and sky typing (a stunt maneuver executed by a formation of five balloons). Combining hundreds of colorful hot air balloons with aerial performances makes this event one that shouldn’t be missed. These are just some of the great attractions in Albuquerque that you should consider checking out when you visit or for your next adventure trip close-by New Mexico’s thriving metropolis. With such a wealth of awesome sights to explore in this majestic city, it’s no wonder why so many people love visiting here time and time again!
For more information on things to do in Albuquerque visit VisitAlbuquerque or read through specific detailed information on TripAdvisor.