Albuquerque event weekends: what to do between sessions
High-desert city of adobe Old Town, the Sandia Mountains and the world's largest hot air balloon festival.
Events we cover in Albuquerque
Arriving
Albuquerque Sunport (ABQ) is 15 minutes from downtown.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Midtown and the I-25 corridor | Chain hotels near Balloon Fiesta Park. |
| Mid-range | Old Town and downtown | Walk to restaurants. |
| Splurge | Hotel Albuquerque and Tamaya resort | Old Town or a resort on Santa Ana Pueblo. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Sandia Peak Inn
- Mid-range: Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town
- Splurge: Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- ABQ BioPark.
- Explora science center.
Rainy-day backups
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
- Nuclear Science Museum.
Free things to do
- Old Town Plaza.
- Petroglyph National Monument trails.
Getting around
- Park-and-ride shuttles to Balloon Fiesta Park; arrive before 5 am for mass ascensions.