Old Town Plaza, Albuquerque

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Old Town Plaza, Albuquerque

Old Town Plaza, Albuquerque

Old Town Plaza, nestled between Mountain Road and Central Avenue, is the historic heart of Albuquerque and the perfect place to experience New Mexico’s charm and history on foot.

Founded in 1706 by Francisco Cuervo—a Spanish governor and knight of royal lineage—the plaza has remained the cultural and social center of the city for over three centuries.

At its core lies a shady green park and a graceful gazebo, often filled with music, festivals, and community celebrations. Around the square, adobe buildings house shops, galleries, and restaurants that preserve the spirit of old New Mexico.

Historic landmarks surround the plaza in every direction: San Felipe de Neri Church to the north, the Old Town Emporium to the south, the Yucca Art Gallery to the east, and the Ampola Gallery to the west. With much of downtown just a short walk away, Old Town Plaza is an inviting starting point for discovering Albuquerque’s past and present.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Albuquerque. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Old Town Plaza on Map

Sight Name: Old Town Plaza
Sight Location: Albuquerque, USA (See walking tours in Albuquerque)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Create Your Own Walk in Albuquerque

Create Your Own Walk in Albuquerque

Creating your own self-guided walk in Albuquerque is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
University of New Mexico Walking Tour

University of New Mexico Walking Tour

Founded in 1889, The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a renowned public research institution. Its branch campuses are scattered throughout the state while the main campus is located in Albuquerque. A good number of spots on this campus deserve a special note, either from an architectural or cultural standpoint, and we encourage you to explore them.

A must-go-to for students and visitors alike,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Downtown Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Downtown Historical Buildings Walking Tour

The one-of-a-kind character of Albuquerque is the result of many different forces and centuries of history that have shaped the city. The core of Central Albuquerque is what most of the locals considered “downtown” – a place they lived, worked, shopped, governed and entertained themselves in for almost 80 years, since the arrival of the railroad in 1880.

The vibrant architectural...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Albuquerque Old Town Walk

Albuquerque Old Town Walk

When Governor Francisco Cuervo founded Albuquerque, he claimed the new villa had thirty-five families. The city name derived from a town in Spain, from the Latin albus quercus, meaning “white oak.” In reality, there were far fewer — yet by the time Spanish officials found out, Albuquerque had already come to life. And so, the city was born: a tiny fib that grew into one of New Mexico’s...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Breaking Bad Locations Walking Tour

Breaking Bad Locations Walking Tour

Breaking Bad’s screenwriter Vince Gilligan once said, “Albuquerque is a character in the show...” When Breaking Bad began filming in 2007, the city wasn’t just a backdrop-it became inseparable from the story. Gilligan may have picked New Mexico for its film production tax rebates, but the camera quickly proved how perfectly its desert horizons, strip malls, and quiet neighborhoods could...  view more

Tour Duration: 9 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 22.6 Km or 14 Miles