The 1610 founding square and the six or so blocks around it — the Palace of the Governors' portal, the Cathedral Basilica two blocks east, La Fonda anchoring the southeast corner. Adobe-and-portal architecture on every side by law, not by accident; the most walkable, most historically dense, and most tourist-trafficked six blocks in the city. Everything here is in easy walking distance of everything else.
Who it's for: First-time visitors who want the compact, walkable version of Santa Fe — founding-era history, the vetted Native artisan market, the best-known churches, and a genuine range of dining from a downtown lunch counter to tasting-menu fine dining, all inside a ten-minute walk.