With bucket-list activities available year-round, Albuquerque offers dozens of reasons to mix business and leisure travel. Add a day to your next business trip or meeting so you can enjoy our world-class visual and performing arts, find unique gifts at the hundreds of shops and galleries around town or explore the great outdoors. Albuquerque is an incredible place to experience any time of year, regardless of how much time you have in the city.
Cultural exploration
With its 300-year history, a mix of cultures and inspiring mountain and desert landscapes, Albuquerque is bursting with stunning contemporary, traditional and folk art that can be explored before or after a business trip. Much of the art is concentrated in Old Town, which is near the popular meeting- and convention-focused Hotel Albuquerque — and a short car or bus ride from Downtown. There are dozens of galleries to explore. Find pottery, ceramics and jewelry along with fine Pueblo and Southwestern art, including Zuni fetishes, Hopi kachinas and more. Antique enthusiasts can find stores with Hispanic and American West items. Don’t miss shopping at the sidewalk vendors along the Plaza.
Downtown Albuquerque abounds with conceptual and contemporary art. Browse fine art collections that focus on the community or look for pieces hidden in plain sight. Downtown is also full of public art. Stroll through Downtown and spot murals, sculptures and more nestled between and on the buildings. Farther east along the Central Avenue/Route 66 corridor is Nob Hill, where you can shop for eclectic Mexican folk art as well as fine art and jewelry.
Outdoor activities
Albuquerque’s more than 310 days of annual sunshine mean every day is a beautiful day to explore the city’s natural beauty. Head to the west side of the city to Petroglyph National Monument, where 18 miles of hiking trails lead through thousands of ancient rock carvings. To the east, discover nature in the Sandia Mountains and the plentiful hiking and mountain biking opportunities offered by the Sandia Foothills trail system. The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway is a bucket-list item to check off. Soar above the Sandia Mountains on the longest tramway in North America. There are also plenty of options for an adventure closer to the hustle and bustle of the city. Go to the Open Space Visitor Center or Tingley Beach to escape the city and take a walk through the tranquil, forested bosque next to the Rio Grande.
Don’t depart Albuquerque without taking a hot air balloon ride. The city is famous for the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta each October, but ballooning is a year-round activity in Albuquerque and plenty of companies are ready to take you on the ride of your life. If your coworkers stick around to explore the city too, go together. Large balloons can hold between 12 and 14 passengers, so the more the merrier. Another great activity to do with your coworkers is hitting the links. Albuquerque offers desert, parkland and mountain courses to choose from, providing a diverse range of golf experiences in one area.
The easiest way to get around Albuquerque is with a car. However, if you don’t want to rent a car for your travel, there are other options. Many popular tourist activities are in the same area, so once you get here it’s easy to walk between attractions. Several ridesharing and taxi companies service the area. The Albuquerque bus system, known as ABQ Ride, also serves most of the metro area and provides easy, inexpensive access to the city. Hop on board one of the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) buses that run along Central Avenue to explore Route 66.