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America's Best Small Shopping Town Is a Mecca for Indigenous Art, Jewelry, and Pottery

In northern New Mexico, where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains rise above the desert, the town of Taos unfolds. Many travelers come to visit the Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States, or for a winter getaway to Taos Ski Valley. But the city is perhaps best known for its creative community and Indigenous-owned businesses. Walk the Taos Plaza and you'll find artisans selling handmade goods—Native-made jewelry, local artwork, and Southwestern-style clothing. In Taos, everything from shopping to dining is an act of connection with the land and people who have called it home for generations. This connection is just one of the reasons why Travel + Leisure readers rated Taos among the best U.S. cities in the 2025 World's Best Awards. 'This town isn't just special, it's sacred. The pace, the people, the land—it heals you if you let it,' said Maria Valdez, who is behind the beloved restaurant La Luna @ La Fonda, in an interview with T+L . 'Taos is a crossroads of cultures, histories, and landscapes. You feel it the moment you arrive.' Visit the Taos Pueblo to witness how Indigenous people lived—and still live—in relationship with the land. Stay at the art-focused Hotel Willa and have dinner at its restaurant, Juliette Shop for something 'Made aquí en Taos,' including sterling silver jewelry, at Atcitty's on Taos Plaza. Have brunch at Suchness, a new restaurant by a James Beard-recognized chef. Travel to the village of Arroyo Seco, a 200-year-old community that's home to artists and jewelers. Stores in downtown Taos, New Mexico. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure Taos is the best shopping town in the U.S. for 2025 because it is one of the few places where commerce feels like an authentic interaction with the people, the culture, and the land. The town is especially known for its handmade Southwestern art, jewelry, and pottery. 'Supporting local here really means something—you're helping preserve the spirit of Taos,' said Yvonne Swartz, owner of Artemisia Artwear, in an interview with T+L . Much of the shopping in Taos revolves around the Taos Plaza, which is lined with shops and galleries and serves as the center of the Taos Historic plaza also has a long history, one that dates back to1796 when the King of Spain gave the land to 63 families in the Taos area. The following settlement became a place where merchants traveled to display their wares—just as they do today. Today, that history lives on, in both the plaza and the surrounding streets, where shops — many of them Native-owned or family-run—sell unique, handmade items that can only be found in Taos. 'Taos doesn't cater to mass tourism. Visitors are welcomed into a living community, not a staged version of the Southwest. There's a deep respect for art, land, and culture that shapes every Interaction,' Swartz says. Silver jewelry sold at Atcitty's on Taos Plaza. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure Artemisia Artwear was founded 23 years ago, as a place for fiber artists to sell their handmade clothing. The clothing collection includes scarves, shawls, jackets, and tops made from linen, silk, and cotton. Atcitty's on Taos Plaza is Native-owned and -operated shop that's known for their sterling silver jewelry. It's run by Cherylin Atcitty, who started making jewelry as a young girl. Her creations are showcased alongside wearable art from the Taos Pueblo community, some of whom are her family members. Those searching for fine art will find it on the walls of many Taos galleries and museums, but one of the best places to buy it is Magpie, a shop that sells the work of 50 regional artists. The shop is owned by Georgia Gersh, who was born and raised north of Taos and grew up on one of the area's former communes. There's a little of everything at Moxie Fair Trade—gifts, home decor, clothing—but the one constant is that everything is either handmade or fair trade. Valdez says that Moxie is one of her favorites because it sells, 'Fair-trade goods sourced globally and locally, perfect for ethical shoppers.' A guest room in Hotel Willa. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure When it opened in spring 2025, Hotel Willa transformed an old 1940s motel into a new, 50-room retreat, with an artist-in-residency program and an aesthetic that is both modern and truly Taos. Valdez calls it 'Stylish, intimate, and artfully curated.' It's also home to one of the state's hottest new restaurants: Juliette, led by a chef who was raised in the Taos Pueblo and now has a James Beard Award nomination under his belt. With a distinct Taos feel, complete with adobe buildings and Southwestern decor, the El Monte Sagrado is a favorite of Swartz, especially if you want a little luxury. El Monte Sagrado feels like an oasis, with ponds and towering cottonwood trees. The greenery transcends into the property's spa, which features a serene saltwater pool. Valdez agrees that the hotel is perfect 'for a serene, wellness-focused vibe. It's slightly tucked away but beautifully designed.' The Taos Inn is the hotel Swartz often recommends to visiting friends and family. The hotel, often called'the 'Great House,' has served as the natural gathering place for both visitors and locals since it was built in the 1800s. The inn is centrally located near the Plaza, has nightly live music, and a beloved New Mexican eatery, Doc Martin's. The adobe-style rooms feature original wooden beams, antique furniture, and kiva fireplaces. A chapel in the Taos Pueblo. Kathleen Messmer/Travel + Leisure Just north of downtown Taos is Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a community of Native Puebloans, who still inhabit multi-storied adobe buildings that date back over 1,000 years. For a full immersion, book a tour with Whitefeather Tours, the only Native-owned and -operated tour business in Taos. The tour, led by Kevin Whitefeather, includes a visit to the Pueblo, a demonstration of ancestral arts like dancing and flatbread making, and a tea offering. The Enchanted Circle Drive circumnavigates Wheeler Peak, the highest mountain in New Mexico, and cuts through the lush Hondo Valley, past the Taos Pueblo, and into old gold mining towns. You can take a short detour to see Angel Fire Resort and Taos Ski Valley, two four-season resorts known for their skiing, and drive over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the second highest bridge in the U.S. Highway System. Just over 15 minutes north of downtown Taos is the tiny village of Arroyo Seco. The community is a shopper's paradise, with renowned handmade pottery, vintage shops, and woodworking. A good place to start is at the Arroyo Seco Mercantile, which is packed with unusual finds. Taos may be an art community at its core, but Valdez recommends that first-time visitors also be sure to connect with nature. A great way to get acquainted with landscape is by floating its life source, the Rio Grande. Los Rios River Runners, New Mexico's original rafting company, offers daily rafting tours down the river, which is known for its rapids and epic canyon views. Two dishes from La Luna @ La Fonda. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure Not far off the Taos Plaza in a nondescript structure is Taos' newest restaurant. Helmed by Kevin Sousa, a James Beard-recognized chef, Suchness opened in 2024 and has since 'drawn serious attention from regional food lovers.' Dishes might include a corn porridge with poblano peppers, peach, lime, cilantro, and crispy quinoa, or a flank steak with fermented black bean garlic sauce, broccoli, sesame, and garlic scape. Suchness also hosts Sunday brunch, vegan takeover nights, and has a great menu of mocktails. Tucked into one of the most iconic and historic buildings on the Taos Plaza is La Luna @ La Fonda, a restaurant located in Hotel La Fonda de Taos. It's owned by Native American chefs Robin and Maria Valdez, who run a scratch kitchen that often features Indigenous ingredients. The Love Apple, housed in an old 1800s church, relies on organic, regional ingredients, like locally milled flour, produce from local farms, and cheese made in New Mexico and Colorado. Swartz adds that, 'My favorite place for lunch is Manzanita Market -- a little farm to table cafe, creamery and little sister cafe to The Love Apple.' There are two ways to experience Taos Mesa Brewing — by visiting their downtown tap room, which features their lineup of beer alongside wood-fired pizza, and by swinging by 'The Mothership,' the brewery's original location that now also serves as a concert venue, and is just far enough out of town to offer mountain views, sunsets, and stargazing. A family walking by shops in Taos, New Mexico. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure Taos is a true all-season destination, but late spring (May) and early fall (September or October) are hard to top. In the spring, melting snow and spring showers paint the landscape with wildflowers, and in the fall, scenic drives like the High Road to Taos and the Enchanted Circle showcase fall foliage. Summer visitors tend to head to the waterways or take to the skies in a hot air balloon. Valdez notes that 'hiking and camping in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains gives you access to some of the most beautiful alpine and desert views in the Southwest.' In the winter, Taos remains fairly temperate, but the surrounding ski areas (Angel Fire, Taos Ski Valley) welcome an average of 300 inches of snow that draws skiers and snowboarders. Cars driving through Taos. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure There are a handful of direct flights into Taos (SKX), including nonstop service from Denver and private charter flights with JSX from Dallas and Austin as well as a couple California hubs including Burbank. Santa Fe (SAF), which is less than 2 hours from Taos, has a more robust flight schedule, while the nearest international airport, Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ), is 2.5 hours south of Taos. Many travelers fly into Albuquerque and spend time in Santa Fe before heading to the mountains of Taos. Downtown Taos, especially around the plaza, is walkable, but many of the attractions, from the Rio Grande Gorge to the Taos Pueblo, require a car.