This article is a part of a package on traveling on Amtrak's Sunset Limited train.

El Paso sits at the far western edge of Texas, where the desert meets the Rio Grande and the border touches New Mexico and Mexico’s Ciudad Juárez. Long considered a gateway to the West, the city wears its history in architectural landmarks, sunbaked horizons, and cultural crosscurrents that continue to shape its rhythm.

The sixth-largest city in Texas, just behind Austin, El Paso carries an air of mystery, its character revealed in glimpses: the Franklin Mountains etched against the skyline, the aroma of roasted chiles and sweet pan dulce drifting from family-run kitchens, and the steady pulse of heritage woven into daily life.

Its “Sun City” nickname, for its 300 days of sunshine each year, reflects not only the desert light but also the warmth of its people. That hospitality, paired with its affordability and proximity to some of the Southwest’s most breathtaking destinations, make El Paso more than a stopover. It’s a journey in itself.

Do

Begin at the El Paso Museum of History, which features exhibits that will carry you back to the city’s beginnings and into more modern culture, including Escaramuza, The Poetics of Home (on through June), a stunning photography- and poetry-fueled exhibit focused on charras, or female horsewomen in the Mexican tradition. El Paso Museum of Art, set to reopen in spring 2026 after a round of renovations, delves into the creativity that has flourished along the border, with contemporary works and influential exhibitions of regional artists. Be sure to catch El Paso artist Leo Villareal’s stunning light work, including the museum’s outdoor Starlight Ceiling sculpture. Both museums are free.

Explore the city on El Paso’s streetcar system (also free), which takes a 4.8-mile route through Uptown and Downtown. To see El Paso from up high, follow Scenic Drive into the mountains. While the views are breathtaking during the day, nighttime offers a different perspective of El Paso and Juárez, distinguished by the different-hued streetlights shining across the valley.

Prefer to get your steps in? Pack water, sunscreen, and a hat, then hike in the Franklin Mountains. With nearly 27,000 acres and more than 100 miles of trails, it’s one of the country’s largest state parks located within a city. The 1.2-mile Aztec Cave Trail is among the most popular and gratifying treks, featuring a moderate climb that rewards hikers with a cool cave and sweeping views of the Rio Grande Valley before a return down the mountain.

History buffs should visit the Ysleta and Socorro Missions; among the oldest missions in the country, they are also the oldest churches in the state.

Drive into the historic neighborhood, El Segundo Barrio, where vibrant murals double as cultural landmarks and give a peek into some of the city’s proudest forms of expression.

Got time to spare? Venture out: El Paso is roughly an hour-and-a-half drive from Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, and from White Sands National Park, where you can hike or sled down gypsum dunes. Nearby towns like Las Cruces and Alamogordo boast pistachio farms where you can sample roasted nuts and pistachio ice cream, along with local wines.

If crossing the border to Juárez, consider booking a verified daytime tour to skip the line (bring your passport). Just steps away from the checkpoint, you’ll find food stalls and the famed Kentucky Bar & Grill, which claims to be the birthplace of the margarita.

Eat

Start the day with breakfast or brunch at Salt + Honey Bakery Café for brunch boards, baklava pancakes, and espresso flights (the signature macchiato, made with sea salt, honey, and cinnamon, is a classic), or Savage Goods, which offers the stellar Sunset egg-bacon-cheese breakfast sandwich with poblano aioli and housemade chips.

Mexican food in El Paso is top-notch and everywhere. Locals still swear by the venerable and highly recommended L&J Café, where green chile enchiladas are a must-try and photos of celebrities and politicians line the walls. Music lovers should dine at Rosa’s Cantina. Name-dropped in the Marty Robbins song “El Paso” (Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s Cantina / Music would play and Feleena would whirl), this storied locale offers up favorites like loaded nachos, flautas, burgers named after Robbins, and Martha’s Famous Burrito, an employee-inspired dish stuffed with rice, beans, and stewed meat topped with chile con carne (request a combination of green and red chile for the best of both worlds).

For something more modern, check out Elemi. Chef Emiliano Marentes, a three-time James Beard Award nominee, offers handmade tortillas and inventive takes on tacos. At Beard-recognized downtown taqueria Taconeta, the tempura-fried mushroom taco is a sleeper hit, the fungi cradled in a tortilla and topped with black bean puree, crispy kale, and salsa goku. Follow it up with the tres leches, served in a plastic to-go box with an extra helping of milk.

If you’re on the go or headed for a hike, the drive-thru Mexican chain Tacotote—headquartered in El Paso—is a quick stop for a simple but filling combination of tacos (try the pork adobado) served with salsas, beans, and rice.

Fit in a visit to the original and iconic Bowie Bakery in El Segundo Barrio, where you can load up a tray with classic Mexican baked goods, including pan dulce, cream tarts, muffins, and cinnamon rolls.

End the night on a high note at the Downtown bar La Bang Bang, which greets everyone with a boisterous “hey!” in unison. The bar serves fruity frozen drinks, Detroit-style pizza, and wings, all made to order. Though the wait can be long and the bar is often packed, the pies and vibe are worth it.

Stay

Rest your head in the center of it all at the historic Hotel Paso Del Norte, built in 1912 and renovated in 2020. For some of the best views in the city, visit its 10th-floor rooftop pool and nearby bar El Mirador, which promises cocktails and bites. The hotel also has its own restaurant, steakhouse, coffee bar, spa, and the glam lobby-level Dome Bar, which features a live piano and a gorgeous 25-foot Tiffany-style, stained-glass dome that gives the bar its name.

Just steps away is The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park, a hard-to-miss Art Deco icon that reopened in June after a major renovation, with lobby updates, fresh amenities, and a ritzy theater, great for catching a show when in town. Budget-conscious travelers can try the modern, affordable options at Aloft Downtown or the aptly named Boxstel, a compact hostel-inspired option with private rooms.