It's small, but a must for both locals and tourists. I felt in love with New Mexico's heritage and this place is great for appreciating part of it. It has a mix of Spanish, Mexican, Navajo and 'Old Wild West style' (don't know it that term exists but you know what I mean) architecture that is sooo New Mexican, colorful and beautiful. San Felipe de Neri is one of the smallest but prettiest touristic churches I've been in my life. So cozy and unique. I love the surroundings and the general vibe of the area. Great spot for a walk, taking pictures, drink something and chill. You can find lots souvenirs, but for obvious reasons they will be more expensive so if you're money-wise buy them somewhere else. read more

Old Town Albuquerque - San Felipe de Neri church, since 1706. - Shopping Centers Near Me

Nice old part of town, some shops with apartments upstairs, one shop owner told me she lives upstairs. There are little allies with more shops in the back. The shops are eclectic, mostly artist type, specializing in Southwestern design, tons of Natve American! There are photo shops, tons of galleries, street venders, showing/selling their wears on the sidewalks. Everything you would expect. Parking on the streets limited with one way streets but city parking, pay by the hour around within walking distance. read more

This is a fantastic place to spend some time if you are a tourist like us. We were told that this was a great place to see and they were right. There are shops, restaurants and so much to see. When we arrived there was a concert going on in the square and a gunfight in the street by the Outlaws. We walked around and shopped and enjoyed for hours. Don't pass this up if you visit Albuquerque read more

See all

I loved the shopping and the atmosphere! There's such a diversity of items and the shopkeepers all so friendly. We will definitely stop back on our way back through Albuquerque! read more

Old Town takes you back in time as you see some of the beautiful architecture of the Southwest. The "tourist" shops have plenty of such clothing, jewelries, potteries and souvenirs. You probably can't leave the place without buying something. If spending is not your thing, then the Old Town Gazebo park will let you soak in those good old days. read more

Old Town Albuquerque - Historical info on Old Town - Shopping Centers Near Me

See all

Such a fun place to take in all the spicy smells of chili peppers and the bright sights of the hot air balloon decorations. Souvenirs were reasonably priced. Skip buying them at the airport as a last resort. Check out the different shops here and what they have to offer. Gives you a true taste of New Mexico's history and culture. I enjoyed every minute of it (minus the downpour one of the days. Weather here is so off and on!) Tip: Bring cash for parking and eat at Church St Cafe. Best meal I had the entire time. read more

See all

I love the shops here. The candy lady is always a must stop. I was sad to see that the soap place my sister takes me to was gone. I was also sad that On a Saturday, everything closed at 6. There was live music at the atrium on the square. It was good music. read more

Beautiful place to visit!!! I had wonderful time with my sister. So in love with old town!... minor thing; difficult to find parking if you go later the day, and not easy to find public restroom.. but otherwise, overall we love the place!! read more

See all

We only made it around about a block but we had a great time just leasurely walking in out out shops. Really love the fact you can buy straight from the Native Indians and help support them directly. All the shops we went into everyone was so friendly. Couldn't have asked for a better experience, especially with two teens in tow. read more

One of the oldest town squares in the western US. A quaint mix of culture, food and shopping to satisfy your need to find out what the old New Mexico might have been like. The architecture and food are not to be missed. The church dates back to the early 1700s and is the oldest church in all of Albuquerque. read more

Old Town Albuquerque - Shopping Centers Near Me

Very cute shops and restaurants! Busy weekend due to the Hot Air Balloon festival. Many of the shops sell the same things so may have to shop around. Shop owners are friendly and welcoming. Bought several souvenirs to bring back home. Had amazing coffee as we walked around and enjoyed the beautiful weather and streets of this cute town. read more

Not what I expected. Uncomfortable vibe all around. Shops are dark. Not much variety in offered goods. No food vendors I saw. I normally love going to these type of venues because everything is so upbeat and people are having fun. Not the case here. read more

I was apprehensive after reading other reviews concerning old town shops and quality of merchandise. The area is delightful however, my friend and I enjoyed walking the entire area as much as Santa Fe, and found the offerings and prices to be more than competitive with the same old world feel. The planters and gardens are filled with beautiful flowers and we found the shop owners to be solicitous and informative without being pushy. I loved finding a shop that displays beautiful handmade textiles and local artists... it's always a joy to see such creativity. I highly recommend visiting old town, there is something for everyone and a lovely square where live music was played Friday night with all ages enjoying salsa dancing. You can't go wrong, and the area needs to be supported by locals and visitors to remain vibrant ! read more

It's Mother's Day and we headed to Old Town to check out the shops, grab a bite to eat, and see the sites. If you just have a few hours, Old Town is always a nice place to visit. The locale definitely caters to tourists, but it is still fun. read more

See all

I decided to take a stroll through old town Albuquerque this afternoon and it was amazing!! There were some amazing shops and art galleries! I got a coffee from the best little coffee shop located in the patio market!! Everyone was so friendly and helpful! Definitely a great first experience! read more

I'm not sure why you would send a visitor here, or why locals might ever visit. The streets are packed with endless stores selling Breaking Bad t-shirts, novelty items, and other souvenirs. The best thing I experienced was some green chile fudge, but it wasn't very good. Send your visitors somewhere nice. Spend your time outside of Old Town. ABQ does have a lot to offer, but it's not here. read more

Love. Love. Loved strolling through Old Town Albuquerque. So many great shops, boutiques and eateries. Lovely vibe and friendly people!

I have visited Old Town Albuquerque several times since first living in Los Alamos back in 1979, The highlight for me is probably the San Felipe de Neri Catholic Church which anchors the Plaza. There's also some native Indian crafts persons at one side of the Plaza, but not as many or varied in wares as I've seen in Santa Fe. I like the historical and cultural feel, although the Plaza and surrounding Old Town has struck me as disjointed and with something missing that I can't put my finger on. read more

Vibrant it is not. Historic? Only the church appears authentic. The rest appears to be run by an inept REIT trying to suck the remaining lifeblood out of the remaining shops, restaurants and tourists who visit just once. Old Town Albuquerque needs a major overhaul. Sorry. read more

What a cool experience with super friendly store owners Parking can be a bit rough but a must if you're driving through

As a lover of history I just had to visit Old Town Albq during my stay in the area. We parked in the lot on the outskirts and paid for an all day parking pass. That was a mistake because we were in and out in an hour. I understand that some of the buildings are original and some are replicas. It would be nice to know which were which. For an historic area there was a dearth of interpretative signs and historic markers. An historic location is far more interesting if you have a clue as to what you are looking at. This place screams tourist trap the moment you enter it. If you're into jewelery, leather shops, trinkets and T-shirt shops, this is your place. If you come here expecting to experience the history of the area, you'd better buy yourself a guidebook. read more

Old Town Holiday Stroll 2017, it was a very warm feeling on a cold night. Experiencing the Holiday spirit with family and dinner if Albuquerque. Must check out the photography shop on the balcony and stop and have some frozen yogurt. read more

Old Town Albuquerque - 2017 holiday Stroll - Shopping Centers Near Me

Had higher expectations. Talked to locals, said it was a must, we were not overly impressed.

Great tourist spot. Features about 100 stores and galleries to shop and a ton of dining establishments. It's deceptively small-looking on the outside, but once you enter the heart of the plaza (which features a majestic view of the San Felipe de Neri Church) you can see all the various nooks and crannies which are held within the very first neighborhood in New Mexico. read more

Old Town Albuquerque - San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town - Shopping Centers Near Me

The Old Town Plaza is a absolute must see. The amount of historical significance it plays is second to that of the Santa Fe Plaza itself. If you know New Mexico you know this particular plaza dates back to about 1706. That's centuries folks- anyone who would say this area is not historical has gone mad. I encourage you to venture off into the courtyards and small streets and chat with the local merchants. If you ask questions people will answer. They are well versed in the areas significance. Tours: If you dare there are Ghost tours available at 8pm nightly. There are also History tours held daily at 12 pm visit www.toursofoldtown.com for more information. Dining: There are at least a couple dozen dining options in the old town area and boy do they vary greatly. You have your chains in the outskirts and your mom and pop shops in the heart of the plaza. I'd encourage you to yelp these options. Shopping: There is an abundance of shopping to be had here. You have everything from art galleries, trading posts, general stores, jewelry shops, locally made Native American jewelry booths, antiques, toys and many other specialty shops that are worth giving a try. Lodging: There are several lodging options in the immediate area including the Hotel Albuquerque which is in walking distance of the plaza. read more

Basically one giant tourist trap. It's a nice trap, but still overpriced and mediore food await you in Old Town. Pretty empty during the week and free parking after 6pm or two hours of free parking during the day. The other annoying thing is that there are no sports bars down there and some bars/restaurants don't even have a television. If your looking to watch sports or football game, forget it, this is a wasteland for that activity. Trust me, I tried in vain tonight to catch a game on ESPN and I was shot down everywhere. Uptown is the only place to watch sports. read more

If you are a tourist and you have never been to old town before, this place is must visit place for you since it is enriched with the tightly woven cultures of New Mexico. Here you can find some rather unique souvenirs, spices and nuts that you might have not encountered before. Though, keep in mind since it is a tourist spot, the prices will be slightly higher than that in comparison to local shops. Come here during weekdays to avoid all the headaches of finding a parking spot. If you actually park inside of old town, parking is free, even though it is a 2 hours only. But i think that is more than enough for old town. Shop around before you purchase a high price item, chance is you will find a cheaper one, probably next door. read more

Great Western atmosphere!! CUTE souvenir shops... and the people here are super friendly :) read more

Old Town Albuquerque - Shopping Centers Near Me

There should be a list of made in China souvenir stores so you can avoid them. We spent most of our time peeling in stores to determine if they had authentic and handmade pieces vs. the commercial stuff. I would say 1/3 of the stores have local art and products. Purchased a small art piece and gift for family back home. Especially enjoyed the senior store where the seniors get 100% of the price to help their limited incomes. read more

Sharon Reviews Old Town: Old Town is well... Old. It is very quaint and like many plazas in New Mexico it served as a central hub where people congregated in the past. People still congregate in Old Town, Albuquerque. If you are a tourist or a local that likes to explore, Old Town offers that in a small area that you can walk around without having to cross streets and wander too far. It offers restaurants that specialize in New Mexican, Mexican, and eclectic dining choices. One neat place is High Noon. It offers a cheaper version of food/drink during their happy hour times. It is good if you are looking for interesting margaritas and food like buffalo sliders. You have to buy something from any of the local business that sell jewelery, home furnishings, and other interesting curios on the Plaza. Also, take a peek and buy a chocolate delight from The Candy Lady. Finally, there is entertainment all of the time and you can see strolling mariachis, parades and many other performances for free in Old Town. Oh, and for the daring there are ghost tours at night. The full moon ghost tour looks fun! read more

Interesting place to walk through. We visit this place on Thursday afternoon. The streets were nice and quiet. Many interesting buildings. Several restaurants where you can eat, several bars. Many small shops with products of local artists and souvenirs, galleries. read more

See all

For me, a day spent in Old Town is always a pleasure. I have yet to visit any restaurants but am planning on it real soon.The shopping is fun and some shops will give you a pretty good deal. I usually go there for gifts for family and friends.The best part though is chatting with the merchants as most are really nice and eager to talk if they're not too busy.There is a lot to choose from and plenty of pottery for sale and you will see similar pieces in other stores so shop wise and have fun! read more

It's a really quaint and lovely tourist attraction. While it closes early (around 6 pm) it is a great place to take family photos. If you're looking for souvenirs this is the spot. Pro tip: rather than pay for parking park along the park, it's free and is a great place to let your minions run loose should you own any. read more

Was only in town for the night, on our way home from Colorado. So I took my two girls and checked out this place. We actually had a ball in the park with our camera, taking all kinds of pictures. Has a few nice facts on history, and some nice stores to check out. Over all we had fun! read more

We went in late October and early in the morning, so no crowds and easy parking - the live mariachi band in the middle of the plaza was wonderful. read more

Old Town Albuquerque is a vibrant and historic district in New Mexico. There are many authentic restaurants and novelty shops in the area. We drove down Old Historic Route 66, and that was such a awesome experience. I love all of the old Route 66 hotels and 66 gas stations. I love the architecture style of all of the houses and buildings. The Old Town Plaza is the cultural and historical heart of old Albuquerque. Please do visit the San Felipe de Neri Church which is the oldest in ABQ and is a must-see, must-visit. I also enjoyed the Native American handmade sterling silver and turquoise jewelry and got my daughter and I necklaces. Some of the jewelry is pretty affordable, and others can be high for the large stones and pendants. You can watch them make the jewelry right there in front of you. All of the jewelry and crafts are laying out for you to view and browse through. They also have gist shops and food spots in the area. There is so much to do in Albuquerque and so much history to learn. If you're in the area definitely spend some time here immersing yourself in Old Town. read more

See all

Really fun area to stroll and shop. Lots and lots of shops! The central plaza is cool and when we were there a band was playing all day. The main downside, which happens everywhere a location is so popular with locales and tourists, is that parking is hard to find and expensive once you find it. But it's a really fun way to spend a couple of hours or a whole day. read more

Over all we had a great morning. A lot of nice shops and people. I have nothing more to say, but I can't post till I add more.

I truly enjoy walking around old town. It is especially pretty this time of year with all the holiday decorations. Lots of fun strolling the streets and checking out all the little mom-and-pop shops. For the better part not many a bargain to be had but there are those A few choice souvenir shops that will cut you a break read more

Old Town Albuquerque - Shopping Centers Near Me

As plazas go, I'm biased towards Santa Fe's since I grew up there, but I actually think neither is actually as cool as they once were. I'm not the touristy type, nor the type to buy either cheap useless trinkets or insanely expensive and equally useless art. So our state's plazas don't do much for me. However, from time to time there are some great events that go down here and that is a plus. During the summer I came for a live salsa event and not only thoroughly enjoyed the music and dancing, but I was downright impressed by the skills of (some) my Albuquerque brethren and sistren. read more