Albuquerque climate
The weather in Albuquerque is generally dry and sunny all year, although temperature variations between winter and summer are extreme. During the summer months (June-August) Albuquerque is extremely hot, the mercury rising to well over 30 degrees most days, particularly during June and July. By contrast winters are cold and daytime temperatures can plummet to below freezing during December and January.
When to fly to Albuquerque
Peak Season:
There is no true peak travel season in Albuquerque - when you travel to Albuquerque is dependent on your personal tastes. If outdoor activity is what you crave, then pack lightly and grab a flight to Albuquerque in the summer months. It can get hot and humid during this time, but it's also when most tourist attractions are at their peak and there's plenty to do and see around the city. The hot-air balloon festival lifts off in October, which is a popular attraction and a sight for travellers of any age.
Off Season:
Winter (December to February) temperatures can fall below freezing and many of the outdoor tourist activities are closed, but this is a great time to book cheap flights to Albuquerque and drive through the Old West.
Getting around Albuquerque
Albuquerque is laid out on a grid making it easy to follow a map and drive yourself around. The easiest place to rent a car is at the airport. If you don’t feel like finding your own way, Albuquerque’s public transportation is excellent. You can find bus routes and fares all over the city. Taxis are everywhere, should you need to hail a cab.
Albuquerque insider information
Hornos are traditional outdoor ovens used in New Mexico pueblos for baking bread. This Native American tradition traces back for centuries. The bread dough is made and kneaded and the loaves are shaped, then they are allowed to rise overnight. In the morning, the wood-stocked oven is lit and the bread begins to bake. Try a traditional loaf at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
Take a drive to one of the 10 Native American pueblos within an hour's drive of central Albuquerque. They are: Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Sandia, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, and Zia.
If your travel to Albuquerque happens to fall over the Christmas holiday, make sure you stop and admire the Luminarias and Farolitos. Each Christmas Eve, thousands of Luminarias and Farolitos (candles in brown paper bags held down by sand) appear throughout Albuquerque. The belief is that they guide the spirit of baby Jesus to one's home.