Santa Fe is one of the world’s top award-winning and most beloved destinations. “The City Different” is four centuries of history and legend, ancient and modern cultures, a majestic outdoor world of recreation and adventure, vibrant visual and performing arts, expansive culinary delights, revitalizing spas, and uniquely tasteful shopping.

This year the city has achieved high distinctions in all these categories by some of the most credible and competitive venues in the world. A complete list of awards and accolades runs almost two pages single spaced. Here are some highlights:

 

Santa Fe named the #1 World’s Best Places to Photograph: 2015 Readers Poll by Popular Photography Magazine.

Bring your cameras with Santa Fe the overall number-one destination from the Popular Photography reader survey. Photographers can capture Southwest and mountain landscapes. “The color is what strikes you first about Santa Fe,” says reader Caprice Nuss. “The deep blue sky, the earth-tone adobe, then—bam!—

Santa Fe is a photographers paradise. Santa Fe is a photographer's paradise.

 

 

Santa Fe Makes Top 3 Cities on Movie Maker List.

Santa Fe Independent Film Festival made the list of the top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Free for the second time in a row in Moviemaker Magazine .

Actress Shirley MacLaine addresses the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival crowd. Photo courtesy of Santa Fe Independent Film Festival

Actress Shirley MacLaine addresses the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival crowd. Photo courtesy of Santa Fe Independent Film Festival

 Railyard Art District voted into the Top 10 US Art Districts by USA Today 10Best

Just a few blocks southwest of the Santa Fe Plaza, the Railyard Arts District features leading art galleries within walking distance of each other. In partnership with the neighboring Railyard area, the district hosts art-centric events like Last Friday Art Walks and free Fridays at SITE. With Santa Fe’s rich artistic heritage, it’s no wonder why the Santa Fe Railyard was named one of the best US Art Districts.

Sculptures adorn the sidewalk outside the William Siegal Gallery. Photo courtesy of MarkKane.net

Sculptures adorn the sidewalk outside the William Siegal Gallery. Photo courtesy of MarkKane.net

National Geographic  Names Santa Fe Top Ten High Altitude City in the World

This list was first published in the book The World's Best Cities. Founded in 1610, Santa Fe is both the highest (7,206 feet) and oldest U.S. state capital.

With the snowcapped Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop, this famously artsy city blends Spanish, Native American, and Anglo cultures.

With the snowcapped Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a backdrop, this famously artsy city blends Spanish, Native American, and Anglo cultures.

 Santa Fe voted America’s 7th Best Food City by Conde Nast 2014 Readers

An introduction to New Mexican cuisine usually starts with a declaration of allegiance: green chile or red chile? Start by sampling both at The Shed, a James Beard Award–winning  restaurant that’s been managed by the same family since 1953, and serves some of the city’s best chicken enchiladas, wrapped in blue corn tortillas and smothered in red and green chile sauce. But the Santa Fe experience has grown beyond the chile war to embrace fusion fare: Mark Kiffin’s Compound blends Southwestern and Mediterranean flavors, while Restaurant Martín dishes out 'progressive American cuisine'—Southwestern and Asian influences with French technique .

The Santa Fe food experience has grown beyond the chile war and now embraces fusion fare.

The Santa Fe food experience has grown beyond the chile war and now embraces fusion fare.

 

Travel + Leisure Reader’s Choice names Santa Fe as one of the World’s 30 Friendliest Cities

Every year, Travel + Leisure reach out to readers to weigh in on their favorite cities around the globe in our annual World’s Best Awards survey. While some are wooed by famed landmarks and ancient relics, or the sheer number of prized artworks preserved within a city's museums, others are won over by the people.

“Locals are sincerely friendly, and it’s safe,” said a World’s Best voter about Santa Fe. Artists and jewelers flock here in droves for handmade Native American crafts, silverwork, and turquoise.

Conde Nast readers agree, and awarded Santa Fe the #6 Friendliest City In The U.S. in 2015.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

 

Condé Nast Readers name Santa Fe the #2 Best Small City in the Country

More than 128,000 of readers of Conde Nast Traveler rated their favorite cities in the U.S.—in fact, they got so much feedback, they had to divide the list in two. They rounded up the country's smaller cities, with populations under 150,000. Santa Fe was also the sixth highest scored city in the world by Conde Nast readers in 2015.

A former Spanish colony nestled in the Sangre de Cristo foothills; Santa Fe serves as both New Mexico’s political and creative capital. Wander its wide streets flanked by adobe houses, and you’ll begin to see why artists like Georgia O'Keeffe were so inspired by this eclectic and historic town. Check out the country’s oldest church, San Miguel Mission, and dig into African comfort fare at Jambo Café or green enchiladas at The Shed.

Photo courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler

Photo courtesy of Conde Nast Traveler

Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Awards names Santa Fe #4 Best City in US and Canada

Travel + Leisure showcases the greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by their readers. Naturally, Santa Fe claimed its prominent spot in this prestigious list.

Beyond the turquoise clichés and New Age philosophizing, Travel and Leisure found the key to Santa Fe in the characters they met along the way. Beyond the turquoise clichés and New Age philosophizing, Travel and Leisure found the key to Santa Fe in the characters they met along the way.

2015 was a banner year for accolades—reminding travelers of the many reasons to visit The City Different. I’m confident 2016 will only be better! To find even more accolades Santa Fe has received check out our Awards and Accolades page. Then rush over and start your New Year off right by requesting your 2016 Santa Fe travel guide.