Overview
Madrid is a small town in North Central New Mexico, south of Santa Fe.
1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Madrid
Old Coal Mine Museum
Three acres of mining and railroad history. See an actual below-ground coal seam, and ring the bell on a 1900 steam locomotive!
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Wettest: Jul and Aug. (climate data from nearby Santa Fe)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SAF Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Santa Fe — 15 mi away. Directions
- ABQ Albuquerque International Sunport, Albuquerque — 36 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The town's name is stressed on the first syllable.
Madrid, New Mexico was founded as a coal-mining community in the 19th century, and was a major supplier of coal for the U.S. Government and for the Santa Fe Railroad. Madrid flourished into the 1930s, with a large Independence Day parade, a Christmas display which attracted visitors from all over the state, and the first lighted stadium in the Southwest. The town declined with the falloff in coal usage until the mines were closed in the 1950s; Madrid never became a true ghost town (it was never completely abandoned), but by 1970 its population had dropped to 30. However, starting in the 1970s, the area became a magnet for creative artists. Madrid is now a small but thriving art colony numbering 200 or more.
Stay safe
- Do not enter any abandoned mine structures (most have been locked since the town's revival anyway); they have been known to collapse, and also fill up with 'coal damp' (methane) that can exclude breathable air.
Get in
- State Highway 14, from Santa Fe, passes through downtown Madrid. To reach town from Albuquerque, take I-40 eastbound, get off at the Tijeras exit, and proceed north on SR 14. The closest bus route is several miles farther north.
Get around
- Parking is scarce and pedestrian areas are not generally grade-separated from vehicles -- stay alert whether traversing the town in a vehicle or under one's own power.
See
- Every December, Madrid hosts a townwide Christmas celebration with a parade, lighting displays, carolers and costumes.
Do
Do Old Coal Mine Museum
Three acres of mining and railroad history. See an actual below-ground coal seam, and ring the bell on a 1900 steam locomotive!
Buy
Madrid is a minor Mecca for creative artists, and shops line both sides of Main Street (S.R. 14 as it passes through the town). Contemporary art, jewelry, pottery, and "wearable art".
Shop Jezebel Gallery and Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain
Jezebel Fine Art Gallery is the studio and retail store for glass artist Jezebel. Here you can see the many lighting fixtures designed and produced in-house. Chandeliers, pendants, sconces, lamps, votives and more. Jewelry, clothing, furniture, sculptures and other items supplied by local artists are also available. Jezebel's Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain also operates within the gallery, featuring a wide menu including breakfast, lunch and dessert. Soda is on tap and comes in many unique novelty flavors. Ice cream is the fountain's specialty with 19 flavors and a variety of toppings.
Eat
Eat The Mine Shaft Tavern
Steaks, hamburgers, buffalo burgers and "guaranteed" margaritas. What they are guaranteed to be or do isn't clear- be brave, stop in and try one at what's advertised as the longest bar in the state.
Eat Mamma Lisa's Ghost Town Kitchen
Pie, coffee, and great lunch specials.
Sleep
Go next
- Santa Fe is a short distance to the north on SR 14, and Albuquerque is slightly farther away via SR 14 to the south. Both contain enough attractions, including superb outdoors activities, to keep you busy for weeks.
Hear
- Freeform commercial-free community radio
Nearby
Santa Fe
City / town · 149 listings · 23 mi away
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City / town · 6 listings · 24 mi away
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Cedar Crest
City / town · 3 listings · 24 mi away
Bandelier National Monument
Park · 3 listings · 27 mi away
Moriarty
City / town · 8 listings · 29 mi away
Pecos
City / town · 5 listings · 29 mi away
Pojoaque
City / town · 5 listings · 34 mi away
My experience
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