With more than 70 ethnicities in the area and its unique blend of Native American and Hispanic cultures, Albuquerque is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the entire country. You’ll find dozens of opportunities for exploring the local culture during your holiday break. Here are a few of the best places to start.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

There are 19 pueblos in the state, which makes this cultural center the perfect place to go to learn about the Pueblo legacy through their own voices, art, and experiences. You’ll get to see We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story, a permanent exhibit first unveiled in 2016. There are also temporary exhibits, allowing the center to showcase various art, pottery, and installations, as well as a collection of more than 20 murals. This center not only educates the public, but it celebrates and preserves the Pueblo culture.

National Hispanic Cultural Center

Here, you’ll find a celebration of Hispanic, Chicano, and Latinx cultures, as well as the very unique ways they influence New Mexican culture. This cultural center is incredibly extensive, with three theaters, an art museum, a library, an education center, a genealogy center and so much more, all sprawling across more than 20 acres in the historic neighborhood of Barelas. Check their website for a listing of current exhibitions to find which ones you want to explore. And don’t worry about grabbing a snack before you go – you can enjoy a meal at La Fonda del Bosque, their acclaimed restaurant featuring Latin fusion cuisine.

Coronado Historic Site

Just a short drive to Bernalillo will find you at this site that will take you back to the 14th century. In search of the Seven Cities of Gold, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado arrived here in 1540, and instead found himself in a prosperous village called Kuaua, which had been settled around 1325. This site features a kiva (ceremonial chamber) that houses one of the most extensive, well-preserved examples of pre-Columbian art in the country.

Albuquerque Museum

Home to over 10,000 works of art, this museum showcases Southwestern culture in its many artistic forms. Their exhibits run the gamut from pre-Colonial times, through the introduction of European art, and up into the present day.

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