“Get Down! Downtown Albuquerque”

Hailed by National Public Radio (NPR) as the “fastest downtown turnaround in the country”, Downtown Albuquerque is the talk of the town! In an ambitious 10 year revitalization effort, Downtown has exceeded all expectations.

Downtown Albuquerque is simply unlike any other downtown in the country. Anchored by historic “Route 66,” Downtown is an eclectic mix of art, entertainment, history, culture and commerce. By day, Downtown Albuquerque is New Mexico’s Downtown – the largest business center in the state, home to the state’s largest financial institutions, its top law firms, major corporate headquarters, and government centers.

But Downtown Albuquerque is much, much more! It is here that hip outdoor cafes, first-class restaurants and hotels, exciting and unique entertainment venues, and some of the city’s trendiest and most historic places to live all merge to comprise a unique urban experience – one that pays tribute to the past while looking to the future.

Downtown’s vibrant, neon-lit Arts & Entertainment District is home to Albuquerque’s diverse live music and club scene. Performing arts venues abound in and around Downtown.

You can catch a show at the historic KiMo Theater or at the City’s Kiva Auditorium, watch a play at Albuquerque’s own Little Theater Playhouse, experience the cultural offerings of the South Broadway Cultural Center, or the spectacular new Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, or see a performance at the edgy Cell Black Box Theatre.

Downtown’s emerging Central Arts District is fast becoming THE gathering place for artist co-ops, studios, galleries and art organizations.

Downtown also serves as the gateway to a number of unique cultural and historic experiences. Within minutes of Downtown, you can visit Albuquerque’s BioPark (encompassing the Rio Grande Zoo, Aquarium and Botanic Gardens), Historic Old Town and its many museums, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the incredible new National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Whether a first time visitor to Downtown Albuquerque or if you’ve lived here your entire life, enjoying all Downtown has to offer is easier than ever. In Downtown, the pedestrian – not the car – is king! We’ve done away with our one-way streets, implemented a new pedestrian-friendly wayfinding system, developed a convenient Park Once system for the motorists, and built a brand new multi-modal Transportation Center to make it much easier for the non-motorists to access Downtown by train, bus or taxi. And if you need directions, an escort to your car or want to find a place to have lunch or dinner, a red-shirted Downtown Ambassador will be there to assist you – with a smile!