The Palace of the Governors is a 1610 adobe building on the Santa Fe Plaza that now forms part of the New Mexico History Museum. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
It was checked against the official New Mexico History Museum website in August 2026, which lists a single, non-seasonal daily schedule rather than the separate summer and winter hours (with a winter Monday closure) that appear on some older third-party listings still in circulation.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open daily 10am–5pm, year-round, with no listed weekly closing day. Extended hours to 7pm, with free admission 5–7pm, apply on Fridays from May through October and on the first Friday of each month. |
| Ticket prices | $7 for New Mexico residents; $12 for non-residents; free for ages 16 and under and museum members |
| Address | 113 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, on the north side of Santa Fe Plaza |
| Nearest transport/parking | No on-site parking; city parking garages and metered street parking are available nearby in downtown Santa Fe |
| Typical time needed | Around 1–1.5 hours to see the Palace and its adjoining galleries |
Opening hours at the Palace of the Governors
The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, year-round, with no weekly closing day on its current official listing.
Extended hours to 7pm, with free admission from 5pm to 7pm, apply on Fridays during the May-to-October season, and the museum’s site also flags the first Friday of each month for the same extended, free evening slot. It’s closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
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Ticket prices for the Palace of the Governors
A single ticket covers entry to both the Palace of the Governors and the adjoining New Mexico History Museum building, since they share one admission and one main entrance. Admission is $7 for New Mexico residents and $12 for non-residents.
Children 16 and under are always free, as are Museum of New Mexico Foundation members. New Mexico residents get free admission on the first Sunday of each month with ID, on Friday evenings from 5–7pm during the May-to-October season, and New Mexico senior citizens (60 and over) get free admission on Wednesdays. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026; visitors can check the official site before travelling. The museum is included in the New Mexico CulturePass ($30 for one year), which also covers the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, and the New Mexico Museum of Art, all in Santa Fe.
How to get to the Palace of the Governors
The Palace sits on the north side of Santa Fe Plaza, with the main visitor entrance to the museum complex at 113 Lincoln Avenue. It’s within easy walking distance of most downtown Santa Fe hotels.
Except during special events, entry to the Palace building itself is through the New Mexico History Museum’s Lincoln Avenue entrance rather than directly from the Plaza. Visitors arriving by car should plan to park in a nearby garage or on the street, since there’s no dedicated visitor parking on site.
Parking at the Palace of the Governors
There’s no on-site parking for the museum. City of Santa Fe parking garages and metered street parking are available within a short walk, similar to other downtown Plaza-area attractions.
Given downtown Santa Fe’s limited parking supply, allowing extra time to find a space, especially during peak tourist season, is worth building into a visit.
How long to spend at the Palace of the Governors
Most visitors spend around 1 to 1.5 hours seeing the Palace’s galleries and the adjoining New Mexico History Museum building, since the single ticket covers both. Those wanting to browse the Native American Artisans Portal Program outside can add extra time.
Combining a visit with the nearby New Mexico Museum of Art or a walk around Santa Fe Plaza can extend a stop here into a half-day of downtown sightseeing.
Accessibility at the Palace of the Governors
The accessible entrance to the museum complex is at 113 Lincoln Avenue, and all levels are reachable by lift. Restrooms are available on all three floors of the New Mexico History Museum and in the Palace of the Governors courtyard.
Manual wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the admissions desk, secured with photo ID. Service animals are welcome throughout the museum.
What to see at the Palace of the Governors
Built from 1610, the Palace is described by the museum as the oldest public building in continuous use constructed by European settlers in the continental United States. It served as the seat of government under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule for around three centuries.
Inside, the Palace hosts several exhibits, including Palace Seen and Unseen, which displays archaeological finds uncovered from within the building itself, alongside collections on Spanish Colonial and Southwest jewellery and decorative arts.
Outside, under the Palace’s block-long portal facing the Plaza, the Native American Artisans Portal Program lets visitors browse and buy handmade jewellery and crafts directly from Native American artists, daily from 8:30am to 5pm. Browsing the portal doesn’t require museum admission.
Practical visitor tips for the Palace of the Governors
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a First Friday evening (5–7pm) for free admission, when the museum stays open later. |
| Crowds | Mornings tend to be quieter than afternoons, especially in peak summer season. |
| Layout | Enter via 113 Lincoln Avenue; the Palace building connects directly to the main history museum galleries. |
| Entry process | Buy tickets online in advance or at the admissions desk; New Mexico residents should bring ID for resident pricing. |
| On-site logistics | Budget separate time for the Native American Artisans Portal outside, which doesn’t require a museum ticket. |
Frequently asked questions about the Palace of the Governors
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Palace of the Governors free to visit? | Not usually; standard admission is $7 for New Mexico residents or $12 for non-residents, with several free-admission days for residents. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Palace of the Governors? | No, though buying online in advance can help avoid queuing at busy times. |
| Is the Palace of the Governors open on Sundays? | Yes, it’s open on Sundays year-round, including the free-admission first Sunday of each month for New Mexico residents. |
| Is the Palace of the Governors suitable for children? | Yes; children 16 and under are always free, and the building’s history and archaeology displays suit a range of ages. |
| Is the Palace of the Governors wheelchair accessible? | Yes; the museum complex is accessible by lift, with restrooms on every floor and loan wheelchairs available. |
Things to do near the Palace of the Governors
- New Mexico Museum of Art — the Plaza Building is about a block west of the Palace, showing New Mexico and Southwestern art.
- Loretto Chapel — a small Gothic Revival chapel known for its spiral staircase, a short walk away.
- Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — a historic church a few blocks from the Plaza.
- Santa Fe Plaza — the historic town square surrounding the Palace, ringed by shops and restaurants.
- Georgia O’Keeffe Museum — a short walk away on Johnson Street, dedicated to the artist’s life and work.
What to visit tomorrow
- Pecos National Historical Park — Ancestral Puebloan and mission church ruins, about a 35-minute drive from Santa Fe.
- Bandelier National Monument — Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, about an hour’s drive from Santa Fe.
- Los Alamos Historical Museum — a small museum covering Los Alamos and Manhattan Project history, about an hour’s drive away.
- National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque — a visual arts museum and cultural campus, about an hour’s drive south.
- Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque — Pueblo history and art exhibitions, about an hour’s drive south.
More New Mexico travel
Other New Mexico travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Guides to visiting the Albuquerque Museum and what to see at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
- What to know before visiting Explora in Albuquerque.
- Key information for riding the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque.
- Complete guide to the Santa Fe Botanical Garden in New Mexico.
- Plan your visit to Valles Caldera National Preserve and Aztec Ruins National Monument in north-western New Mexico.
