Santa Fe: Arrival, information and getting around
Despite its fame, Santa Fe is well off the beaten track. Most out-of-state visitors fly into Albuquerque, and either rent a vehicle at the airport for the hour's drive up to Santa Fe, or catch a shuttle van for around $25 with either Gray Line (tel 1-800/256-8991) or Twin Hearts Express (tel 1-800/654-9456). Buses from all over the Southwest to the Greyhound terminal at 858 St Michael's Drive, a long way from the town's central plaza, include four daily buses to and from Albuquerque ($10; tel 505/471-0008). There's no direct rail link, but Lamy Shuttle vans (tel 505/982-8829) meet Amtrak trains to Lamy, seventeen miles to the southeast.The city visitor center , two blocks northwest of the plaza in the lobby of the Convention Center, 201 W Marcy St (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; tel 505/955-6200 or 1-800/777-2489, ), stocks a very limited selection of brochures, but the New Mexico Department of Tourism, 491 Old Santa Fe Trail (June-Aug Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, otherwise Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; tel 505/827-7336 or 1-800/545-2040, ), has racks of material on the whole state.
Most of what there is to see lies within walking distance of the plaza at the heart of the old town, but it's worth knowing about the Santa Fe Trails bus service, based at the Sheridan Transit Center, a block northwest of the plaza on Sandoval Street (Mon-Fri 6.30am-10.30pm, Sat 8am-8pm; tel 505/955-2001; flat fare 50¢). Routes #21-23 run up Cerrillos Road, while route #10 loops between the plaza and the outlying museums, half-hourly in summer and hourly in winter. Santa Fe's only taxi company is Capital City Cabs (tel 505/438-0000); bikes can be rented at Sun Mountain Bike Company, 107 Washington Ave (tel 505/820-2902). For a walking tour of town, contact Afoot in Santa Fe, based in the Inn at Loretto , 211 Old Santa Fe Trail (daily 9.30am & 1.30pm; $10; tel 505/983-3701).
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