Where to Stay Near the Loretto Chapel

The Loretto Chapel sits in the middle of walkable downtown Santa Fe, a block off the Plaza, so where you stay is mostly a question of how close to the historic core you want to be. One hotel is quite literally next door; a handful of others put you within a few minutes’ walk. Here’s how to think about it — without pretending to quote prices that change by the week.

Right next door

The Inn and Spa at Loretto stands immediately beside the chapel on Old Santa Fe Trail — the chapel is on its grounds, and the Inn is the property most associated with it. Its adobe-style architecture is a landmark in its own right. If waking up steps from the staircase is the point of your trip, this is the obvious choice; book early, as it’s popular and not large.

A short walk away

Downtown Santa Fe is compact, so “near the chapel” covers most of the historic center. La Fonda on the Plaza, a storied hotel on the Plaza itself, is a few minutes’ walk. Beyond those, the streets around the Plaza and Old Santa Fe Trail hold a range of hotels, inns, and short-term rentals across price points — almost all of them close enough to reach the chapel, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis, and the Plaza’s shops and restaurants on foot.

Practical notes

Santa Fe’s peak seasons — summer and the events around Indian Market and the holidays — fill downtown rooms and push rates up, so book ahead if you’re coming then. Downtown is genuinely walkable, and staying central means you can see the chapel without needing to park near it. If you drive in, factor in paid parking near the core.

Planning the visit itself

• Visiting the Loretto Chapel: hours, tickets & what to expect
• The Loretto Chapel staircase: story, mystery & facts
• How the staircase stands with no central pole