Albuquerque, New Mexico is a high desert city nestled up against the Sandia Mountains. Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande.
As one of the oldest cities in America, Albuquerque has provided a home for humans in the Rio Grande Valley for many centuries and is rich with history and culture. More recently, the city has worked hard to earn recognition as one of the best places to live, work, and do business.
Albuquerque is home to the University of New Mexico (UNM), Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratoris, Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, and Petroglyph National Monument. The Sandia Mountains run along the eastern side of Albuquerque, and the Rio Grande flows through the city, north to south.
With 310 days of sunshine a year, Albuquerque is the perfect place to revel in the great outdoors.
There are a variety of things to do in Albuquerque. Whether you're visiting one of our 14 beautiful golf courses, taking a hot-air-ballon flight, mountain biking in the Sandia Mountains, hiking among dormant volcanoes, horseback riding along the Rio Grande or strolling through Old Town, you'll find Albuquerque offers a real breath of fresh air. Don't miss the stunning views of the city from Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, as it slowly climbs the 10,350 foot peak of the mountains that form Albuquerque's eastern border.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta®, the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, takes place each October, when you’ll see more than 700 balloons in the sky at a time. This magical hot air balloon festival is considered to be the most photographed event in the world, drawing a huge international crowd of balloonists and spectators.
Prefer high heels to hiking boots? There are lots of indoor Albuquerque tourism opportunities as well. Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico, is packed with activities, cultural attractions and distinctive sightseeing opportunities. Start your Albuquerque experience with a visit to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center or one of our 19 museums and immerse yourself in art, culture, cuisine and special cultural performances.
Before coming to Albuquerque, visitors should be aware of the city’s high elevation of over 5000 feet. When staying in Albuquerque it may take your body a couple of days to adjust to the high altitude. At this elevation the air is thinner and you may become tired faster during physical activity. Albuquerque’s high desert climate also causes people to dehydrate faster. It is important to drink a lot of water to keep your body hydrated; this is the easiest way to avoid altitude sickness. If you plan on visiting any of our excellent restaurants or bars while in town, you should be aware that alcohol may affect your body faster at higher elevations. Also, sunscreen is vital while vacationing in Albuquerque. Whether it is sunny or cloudy, summer or winter, the UV rays are stronger at higher altitudes. Visitors should wear a high SPF sunscreen at all times to avoid sunburn and wear sunglasses to protect their eyes.
Year after year, Albuquerque is ranked as a favorite arts destination by American Style magazine. Even if you don't visit any of our many galleries or museums, during your stay you will likely encounter some of the many public art pieces that enliven the city. There is so much to do, you may need to add an extra day to your visit!
Explore Albuquerque's extensive array of shopping options to add a little New Mexican flair to your collection. Discover Native American quality jewelry and countless other fabulous finds in this Southwestern art Mecca. Authentic Southwestern pottery, weavings, rugs, art and more fill the picturesque adobe shops and galleries of historic Old Town, often at prices that put other Southwestern cities to shame. Wherever you shop, from traditional Southwestern art galleries to contemporay boutiques, , you are sure to find a treasure that will bring back wonderful memories of your visit to Albuquerque for years to come.
Where else can you ski and golf in the same day? In arguably one of the best places to live in the US, Albuquerque, NM. Albuquerque's spectacular year-round weather provides the perfect conditions for a wide variety of outdoor activities and sports in New Mexico, including golf, skiing, tennis, biking, hiking, horseback riding and more. Albuquerque provides the perfect high altitude training environment for triathletes and marathoners.
Whether you're itching to be active or would rather lounge in a hot tub under the stars, Albuquerque has you covered.
Housing Cost
Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $184,700
Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $215,540; Detached houses: $231,652; Townhouses or other attached units: $189,682; In 2-unit structures: $235,503; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $151,620; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $123,475; Mobile homes: $32,481.
Demographics
Population in July 2008: 521,999. Albuquerque covers 180.6 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 4,955 feet above sea level. Area code: 505
Weather
Albuquerque, NM climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 30's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 92.30 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 23.80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 27 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Albuquerque is 9.47 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is August with an average rainfall of 1.73 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
