Self-Guided Albuquerque Xperience
Albuquerque Uncovered
See the city. Hear its stories. Discover what you've been driving past.
Albuquerque is more than a collection of attractions. It's a city shaped by centuries of cultures, the railroad, Route 66, the high desert and the mountains rising above it.
Albuquerque Uncovered connects the places you see with the stories you might otherwise miss, all in one self-guided Xperience you can enjoy at your own pace.
If You Only Have a Few Hours in Albuquerque, Start Here.
Albuquerque can be easy to drive through without realizing how much you're passing.
Centuries-old streets sit just minutes from Route 66 neon. Railroad history helped reshape the city. Distinctive neighborhoods tell stories of Albuquerque's growth, while the Sandia Mountains and high-desert landscape explain why this place looks and feels unlike anywhere else.
Albuquerque Uncovered connects those pieces.
Instead of following a tour guide or rushing to keep up with a group, you'll explore independently, hear the stories behind the places you're seeing and decide when you're ready to keep moving.
What You'll Discover
One City. Many Stories.
Old Town Albuquerque
Step into the heart of Albuquerque's early story and discover how the plaza, church and surrounding community helped shape the city.
Route 66
Follow Albuquerque's stretch of the Mother Road and discover how automobiles, neon signs, motels and roadside culture transformed the city.
The Railroad & Downtown
Learn how the arrival of the railroad changed Albuquerque's geography, economy and future.
Albuquerque's Neighborhoods
Notice how different parts of the city reveal different chapters in Albuquerque's growth.
High Desert Landscape
Look beyond the buildings and discover how elevation, desert terrain and the Sandia Mountains help define Albuquerque.
Local Stories
Along the way, discover details, stories and places that are easy to overlook when you're simply driving from attraction to attraction.
How It Works
Xploring Is Simple
Start When You're Ready
No scheduled departure time and no tour group to meet.
Follow the Xperience
Use XploreWise to move through the experience and discover what comes next.
Listen & Discover
Stories bring the places around you to life as you explore.
Make It Your Own
Stop for lunch. Take a photo. Stay longer. Skip something. Your day doesn't have to run on someone else's schedule.
Your Trip. Your Curiosity. Your Pace.
Traditional tours have a schedule. XploreWise gives you freedom.
If somewhere catches your attention, stay awhile. If you're hungry, stop for lunch. If you find the perfect photo, take it.
There's no group waiting for you and no guide telling you it's time to leave.
You're not following someone else's Albuquerque itinerary. You're creating yours.
Albuquerque Uncovered Is Perfect If...
- This is your first visit to Albuquerque.
- You only have a few hours and want to understand the city beyond the obvious attractions.
- You prefer exploring independently instead of joining a tour group.
- You enjoy history and local stories but don't want to spend the entire day inside museums.
- You're traveling as a couple, family, solo traveler or with friends.
- You like being able to change plans when something interesting catches your attention.
Know Before You Xplore
- Approximately 3 hours
- Combination of driving and optional short walks
- A vehicle is recommended
- Smartphone required
- Location services may be used during the experience
- Comfortable walking shoes recommended for optional walking portions
- Travelers should park safely before interacting with their phone
- Drivers should never interact with the mobile experience while operating a vehicle
- If traveling with someone else, the passenger can be the designated Xplorer
Albuquerque Uncovered FAQs
Is Albuquerque Uncovered a guided tour?
No. Albuquerque Uncovered is a self-guided XploreWise experience. There is no tour group to meet and no guide determining your schedule.
How long does it take?
Plan on approximately three hours, although one of the advantages of a self-guided experience is that you can move at your own pace.
Do I need a car?
Yes, a vehicle is recommended because Albuquerque Uncovered covers multiple areas of the city. The experience also includes opportunities for short walks.
Can we stop during the experience?
Absolutely. Stop for food, take photos, explore something that catches your attention or simply take a break. The experience is designed around your day, not the other way around.
Is this only for tourists?
Not at all. Albuquerque Uncovered is also designed for locals who are curious about the stories and details they may have driven past hundreds of times.
Is it good for families?
Yes. The self-guided format makes it easy for families to adjust the experience to their own schedule and pace.
Where does the experience start?
Starting instructions are provided with the Xperience. Because the route combines driving and short walks, travelers should plan to have access to a vehicle.
There's More to Xplore
Albuquerque Uncovered is just one way to experience the city. Taste it, photograph it, follow its Route 66 story or turn Albuquerque's skies into an interactive adventure.
Old Town: Stories Behind the Walls
Discover the stories, architecture and history that shaped Albuquerque's original heart.
Learn moreRoute 66: Albuquerque's Mother Road
Follow the neon, the motels and the roadside culture that defined a generation of American travel.
Learn more
XploreWise Food Xperience: Albuquerque
Discover New Mexico's iconic foods, the stories behind them and local places worth stopping for.
Learn more
Albuquerque Photo Xperience
Find memorable views, distinctive locations and photo-worthy places across the city.
Learn more
Albuquerque Balloon Hunt
Turn Albuquerque's famous skies into an interactive adventure you can enjoy at your own pace.
Learn moreReady to See Albuquerque Differently?
Look beyond the obvious. Hear the stories. Notice what you might have passed by.
Explore Albuquerque on your schedule with Albuquerque Uncovered.
Be among the first to know when Albuquerque Uncovered is ready to Xplore.