Free things to do in Albuquerque
13 places in Albuquerque with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.
Free things to do in Albuquerque
SeeMuseumAlbuquerque Museum of Art and History
Guided walking tours of Old Town start here. An excellent example of a city-specific museum, with a large permanent collection of Southwestern art, changing art exhibitions, artifacts from the history of colonial New Mexico and Albuquerque through the years (with some pretty neat items, like conquistador armor and antique cars), and an outdoor sculpture garden. The Albuquerque Museum also operates tours of the historic home of Casa San Ysidro in the nearby village of Corrales, which offers a glimpse into Spanish colonial life in the valley.
Tue–Sun 9AM–5PM except major holidays$4, $2 seniors, $3 teens, $1 children, under age 4 free (admission free first Wednesday of the month and every Sunday 9AM–1PM)
SeeMuseumUniversity Art Museum
Changing exhibitions of art, with a focus on New Mexico and UNM artists.
Tue–Fri 10AM–4PM, Sat 10AM–8PM, closed Sun–MonFree · Free entry
DoPetroglyph National Monument
On the west side of town, Petroglyph is a unit of the United States National Park System and preserves a significant archaeological site with an impressive number of petroglyphs. Despite their proximity to an urban center, the petroglyphs are in good condition with very little vandalism or theft. The monument has a visitor center with some interpretive exhibits and a few short trails that lead past numerous petroglyphs. Also within the monument are a series of volcanic cinder cones overlooking the city, accessible by hiking trails from Atrisco Vista Blvd along the backside of the monument.
Daily 8AM–5PMFree, parking at Boca Negra Canyon trailhead $1 weekdays/$2 weekends
SeeAnthropology museumMaxwell Museum of Anthropology
The anthropology department at UNM has been acclaimed as one of the finest in the nation, and over the years its field schools have amassed an impressive collection of artifacts. The museum has changing exhibits and two permanent exhibits; one showcasing the evolution of humans from primates, and the other focusing on the prehistoric native cultures in the American Southwest, with a reconstruction of an archaeological dig in Chaco Canyon.
Tue–Sat 10AM–4PM, closed Sun Mon and major holidaysFree
DoParkRio Grande Nature Center
The bosque provides a tranquil setting for this small but delightful nature center, with its wildlife pond and exhibits on the native wildlife. Nature lovers will particularly enjoy the enclosed views of the pond behind the visitor center. Two short trails head into the bosque from the visitor center.
10AM–5PM dailyFree, parking $3
- DoPark
Rio Grande Valley State Park
A very pleasant state park running along the banks of the Rio Grande through Albuquerque. The park encompasses almost the entirety of the bosque (cottonwood forest) in the city, which is home to much wildlife, such as geese, roadrunners, beavers, rabbits, squirrels, and numerous other species. Numerous trails criss-cross the park, most notably the Paseo del Bosque paved bike/walk trail which runs the length of the park and offers a scenic walk or bike ride. The park's trails are also utilized by an active equestrian community in the area. There are also several picnic areas and wetland areas, with the two most prominent listed below.
Free
- SeeMuseum
Meteorite and Geology Museums
In the university's geology department building are a pair of galleries with minerals, fossils, and meteorites collected by UNM faculty and students, as well as exhibits about local geology.
Geology Museum: Mon–Fri 8:30AM–noon and 1PM–4:30PM; Meteorite Museum: Mon–Fri 10AM–4PM (hours may be limited when school is not in session)Free
DoZooTingley Beach
A facility of the Albuquerque Biological Park, this park along the Rio Grande has fishing ponds for adults and children, a model boating pond, a cafe, and a gift shop where you can buy fishing licenses, fishing gear, or rent a pedal boat for a ride on the central pond. Trails lead into the bosque to the edge of the river and to a pair of restored wetland ponds. A narrow-gauge train links Tingley Beach to the Albuquerque Aquarium/Botanical Gardens and the Rio Grande Zoo (listed above under See).
Daily, sunrise to sunsetFree (separate fee required for train rides)
- Do
Open Space Visitor Center
The center for the city's open space program, which encompasses land from around the city to preserve for environmental and recreational use. The visitor center has exhibits on the natural and cultural resources of the area, an art gallery, a nature area, and views of the bosque and mountains.
Tue–Sun 9AM–5PMFree
- SeeMuseum
The Wheels Museum
1100 2nd St SW
Closed · opens 9 am tomorrowFree entry
- SeeArt gallery
Bear Paw Indian Arts and Gallery
328 San Felipe St NW
Free entry
- SeeArt gallery
The Sagrada
Closed · opens 11 am ThursdayFree entry
- SeeArt gallery
Room 62 Gallery
Free entry
Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Albuquerque (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.