Top Santa Fe Architecture Tours

Santa Fe has architecture unlike nearly any city in the United States—it’s dominated by adobe buildings but has diverse Victorian and Mission Revival styles. This tours offers a chance to learn about the architecture while taking a guided walk through the city’s back roads, residential areas, and art districts. Finish with a champagne tasting at Gruet Tasting Room at Hotel St. Francis.

Get oriented to Santa Fe’s unique history, architecture, and culture on this top-rated walking tour. Explore the Santa Fe plaza area on foot, passing landmarks like the Loretto Chapel, Palace of the Governors, and Bario de Analco, plus places off the beaten path that most visitors miss. Hear stories not found in any guidebook, and get tips on how to make the most of your Santa Fe vacation.

There are many Santa Fe tours out there, but this is the only one lead by a homegrown historian and author of eight books on the city. Take advantage of the guide’s deep knowledge of Santa Fe history and culture to gain a new perspective on landmarks like the Loretto Chapel, Canyon Road, Cross of the Martyrs, Route 66, and more. The tour delves into topics not often covered, including the Manhattan Project, spirituality, and Santa Fe’s role in World War II.

Walk through the vibrant city of Santa Fe while discovering its long, dramatic history against a backdrop of breathtaking natural beauty. Native tribes, Spanish colonists, and the young United States all vied for both territory and cultural supremacy here. This was a world of proud Indigenous peoples and zealous Catholic missionaries, of ancient stability and modern expansion. In its history, Santa Fe tells the story of America like few other cities can. On this tour, we’ll trace the city’s journey from Pueblo homeland to Spanish colony to the capital of the American Southwest. We’ll also meet the creative minds who made Santa Fe’s art scene one of the most distinctive on Earth. And we’ll explore the rich architectural gems of the city, from adobe homes and studios to a mysterious Gothic staircase and the oldest church in the continental U.S. NOTE: This is a self-guided outdoor walking tour. Your purchase does not include entrance to any attractions highlighted on the tour.

With so much to explore, it can be hard to know where to begin in Santa Fe. This private walking tour removes the guesswork for an ideal introduction to the city’s historic plaza, charming adobe buildings, parks, and art galleries. Finish at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, with included admission so you can explore the life of this artist who immortalized northern New Mexico landscapes.

Whether it's your first time in Santa Fe or you want to delve deeper into the city’s history and legends, enjoy a private walking tour of must-see highlights plus hidden corners. Learn fascinating trivia and stories as you wander cobblestone streets and colorful alleyways that wind through the downtown plaza area and beyond.