The 9 best things to do in El Paso: boot shopping, bouldering and the best beef tacos

12.12.2024 - 15:09 / lonelyplanet.com

Dec 11, 2024 • 7 min read

Sitting at the intersection of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico proper, El Paso offers an exciting mishmash of cultures and influences.

What was once a wild frontier town has grown into a sophisticated city full of vibrant art galleries, world-class recreation activities, swoon-worthy restaurants, and famous shops (one of which may or may not have the trigger finger of an infamous Mexican revolutionary for sale). Here is a sampling of some top things to do while you are in El Paso.

El Paso is home to some rich history and unique culture—not to mention some incredible art. The El Paso Museum of Art is a great spot to explore. This incredible museum showcases all different types of art and is one of the best free things to do in El Paso.

Another must-see is the Hal Marcus Gallery. Located in a discreet and charming former home, this museum is packed with art that’s just as colorful as the gallery’s exterior.

Another great way to explore local art is by visiting a gallery. El Paso’s newest art gallery occupies one of the area’s oldest buildings. Situated along the 400-year-old El Camino Real, Casa Ortiz Gallery is in an adobe building built in the 1700s. While its exact construction date is unknown, the building became famous as the home of a local salt merchant and buffalo hunter named José Ortiz in the 1840s.

Today, the building shows work by several of the area’s up-and-coming artists, with a room dedicated to each talent. In addition to exhibitions, Casa Ortiz hosts events and live music, making it a cultural hub for the creative community. After your art session, stop by the Three Missions Brewery next door, where you’ll find house-brewed specialties including Churro Stout, Pomegranate Ale and 3MB Blonde.

El Paso St has been a center of commerce linking America and Mexico for more than 150 years. The oldest street in town has long acted as a thoroughfare for travelers, shoppers and businesses traveling to and from the border – as well as for Old West gunslingers like Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa. While it has certainly changed from the time sunbaked adobe dwellings lined the dusty streets, remnants of the past still remain. Five buildings along the strip are on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1912 Hotel Paso del Norte with its 25-foot Tiffany glass dome.

While soaking up all the history, make sure to stop by Dave’s Pawn Shop, just a few blocks north of the bridge to Juárez. A life-sized Elvis will greet you as you make your way into the store, which overflows with oddities and bizarre trinkets. The most notorious item for sale? The (alleged) trigger finger of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.

El Paso is known as the “Boot Capital of the World”