The Loretto Chapel is a Gothic Revival chapel in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico, known for its spiral “Miraculous Staircase.” This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
The guide was checked and updated in August 2026.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Monday–Sunday 9am–5pm |
| Ticket prices | Around $5 for adults, with senior and youth discounts; children under 7 free |
| Address | 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 |
| Nearest transport/parking | No on-site parking; metered street parking and downtown parking garages are nearby |
| Typical time needed | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
Opening hours at the Loretto Chapel
The chapel is generally open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10:30am to 5pm.
As a working wedding venue as well as a museum, the chapel can close to visitors for private ceremonies at short notice, particularly on weekend afternoons. Checking the chapel’s own event schedule or calling ahead (505-982-0092) before a visit is worthwhile.
5 great experiences in Santa Fe to book today
- 🏛️ Santa Fe architecture walking tour – Discover Santa Fe’s distinctive architectural styles on an architecture-focused walking tour.
- 🎨 Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return – At Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return, experience a groundbreaking, huge scale, immersive art installation.
- 🚂 New Mexico scenic train ride – See New Mexico’s extraordinary landscapes on a scenic train ride.
- 🚴 Santa Fe e-bike tour – On a guided e-bike tour, see Santa Fe’s hidden highlights.
- 🎈 Hot air balloon flight – Float above the mesas, buttes and canyons in a hot air balloon.
Ticket prices for the Loretto Chapel
Adult entry cost $5, while seniors pay $4 and youths (7 to 13) pay $3. Under 7s get in free.
Visitors can check the official site or call ahead to confirm current pricing before travelling. The Loretto Chapel is privately owned and isn’t included in the New Mexico CulturePass or any Go City or CityPASS scheme, which cover only state-run and partner museums.
How to get to the Loretto Chapel
The chapel is in downtown Santa Fe at 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, close to the Santa Fe Plaza and within easy walking distance of most downtown hotels. It sits next to the Inn and Spa at Loretto.
Visitors arriving by car should plan to park in a nearby garage or at metered street parking, since there’s no dedicated visitor lot at the chapel itself.
Parking at the Loretto Chapel
There’s no on-site parking. Metered street parking is available nearby, along with the same downtown Santa Fe parking garages used for other Plaza-area attractions.
Given downtown Santa Fe’s limited parking supply, allowing extra time to find a space is worth building into a visit, especially in peak season.
How long to spend at the Loretto Chapel
Most visitors spend 30 minutes to an hour here, enough time to view the chapel’s interior, the staircase, and the stained glass, along with the small adjoining gift shop.
Because it’s a small, single-room chapel rather than a multi-gallery museum, it’s easy to combine with other nearby Santa Fe Plaza attractions in the same outing.
Accessibility at the Loretto Chapel
According to recent visitor accounts, the main floor of the chapel, including the staircase viewing area and altar, is generally accessible without steps. The upper choir loft, reached only by the staircase itself, isn’t open for visitors to climb regardless of mobility.
Given some older accounts describe steps at the entrance, visitors with specific accessibility needs may want to call ahead to confirm current step-free access before visiting.
What to see at the Loretto Chapel
The chapel was built between 1873 and 1878 for the Sisters of Loretto, who ran a school in Santa Fe from 1853. It was modelled on the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, giving it Gothic Revival details that stand out among Santa Fe’s largely adobe architecture, including pointed arches, buttresses, and imported stained glass.
Its best-known feature is the spiral “Miraculous Staircase,” built between 1877 and 1881 to reach the choir loft, with two full turns and no central support. Local legend attributes its construction to an unidentified carpenter who disappeared once the work was finished; historical research in the early 2000s proposed French rancher and carpenter François-Jean “Frenchy” Rochas as a possible builder, though this hasn’t been conclusively proven either way. A handrail was added to the staircase some years after it was built.
The chapel is deconsecrated and now operates as a private museum and wedding venue rather than an active parish church, and its adjoining gift shop sells books and souvenirs related to the chapel’s history.
Practical visitor tips for the Loretto Chapel
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter experience, since weekends see more visitors and weddings. |
| Crowds | Summer and fall, Santa Fe’s busiest tourist seasons, bring larger crowds than winter. |
| Layout | The chapel is a single room; the staircase and altar are visible from the main floor without needing to climb. |
| Entry process | Pay the admission fee at the door; card and cash are generally accepted. |
| On-site logistics | Photography is generally allowed, but tripods or professional equipment need advance permission. |
Frequently asked questions about the Loretto Chapel
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Loretto Chapel free to visit? | No; a small admission fee applies, though children under 7 are generally free. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Loretto Chapel? | No, there’s no booking system reported; visitors pay at the door. |
| Is the Loretto Chapel open on Sundays? | Yes, though with a later opening time than the rest of the week, based on recent listings. |
| Can you climb the Miraculous Staircase at the Loretto Chapel? | No, the staircase is for viewing only and isn’t open for visitors to walk up. |
| Is the Loretto Chapel still an active church? | No, it’s deconsecrated and now operates as a private museum and wedding venue. |
Things to do near the Loretto Chapel
- San Miguel Chapel — often described as one of the oldest church buildings in the US, a short walk away.
- Santa Fe Plaza — the historic town square, a short walk from the chapel.
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — a large historic church a few blocks away.
- Palace of the Governors — a 1610 adobe building and history museum on the Plaza.
- Canyon Road Arts District — a street of galleries and studios, about a 10–15 minute walk away.
What to visit tomorrow
- El Santuario de Chimayó — a well-known pilgrimage church, about a 40-minute drive north of Santa Fe.
- San Francisco de Asís Mission Church, Ranchos de Taos — an adobe mission church painted by Georgia O’Keeffe, about 1.5–2 hours’ drive.
- San José de Gracia Church, Las Trampas — a Spanish Colonial church and National Historic Landmark, about an hour’s drive.
- Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz — a church dating to 1733, about a 30-minute drive north.
- Taos Pueblo — a living Native American community with its own historic mission chapel, about 1.5 hours’ drive north.
More New Mexico travel
Other New Mexico travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Complete guide to the Santa Fe Botanical Garden in New Mexico.
- Discover Santa Fe’s arty side at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Museum of International Folk Art.
- Key information for riding the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque.
- Getting to Albuquerque: The best stops on the Amarillo to Albuquerque drive, Austin to Albuquerque drive, Houston to Albuquerque drive, Lubbock to Albuquerque drive and Tulsa to Albuquerque drive.
- What you need to know before visiting Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos.
