Phoenix Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to Phoenix, Arizona — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in Phoenix

• Camelback Mountain. Phoenix's iconic 2,704-foot landmark offers two strenuous summit trails — Echo Canyon and Cholla — with 360-degree views of the entire Valley. Both routes involve rocky scrambles with metal handrails near the top; expect a genuine physical challenge and bring at least two liters of water per person.
• Desert Botanical Garden. Set inside Papago Park, this 140-acre garden showcases more than 50,000 plants from the world's desert regions, with the Sonoran Desert Loop Trail as its centerpiece. After dark, the seasonal Desert Oasis Garden After Dark event transforms the grounds with 12 immersive light installations.
• Heard Museum. One of the foremost institutions dedicated to Native American art and culture in the country, the Heard spans 12 galleries of baskets, pottery, jewelry, textiles, and contemporary works. Native Americans are always admitted free, and the museum offers a Free First Friday program most months.
• Roosevelt Row Arts District (First Friday Art Walk). Downtown Phoenix's creative heart spans nearly 100 galleries, murals, boutiques, and restaurants across Roosevelt Row and Historic Grand Avenue. On the first Friday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m., thousands of visitors pour in for a free all-ages art walk that ranks among the largest monthly events of its kind in…
• Phoenix Art Museum. The largest art museum in the American Southwest holds more than 20,000 objects spanning fashion, European masters, Latin American modernism, and the American West. Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays (after 3 p.m.) and free First Fridays make it accessible to all.
• South Mountain Park and Preserve. At over 16,000 acres, South Mountain is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, laced with 58 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Dobbins Lookout at 2,330 feet delivers a sweeping panorama of the city, and the eccentric Mystery Castle (open October through May) is a…
• Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock. A natural red sandstone butte with a carved stairway leading through a dramatic oval opening frames postcard-perfect city views and is manageable for nearly all fitness levels. The park also contains the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, and a network of easy desert trails.
• Scottsdale Old Town ArtWalk. Old Town Scottsdale packs more than 40 galleries, dozens of restaurants, and historic Western storefronts into a walkable square mile. Every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. the Scottsdale ArtWalk — the longest-running weekly art event in the nation — opens galleries free to the public with free trolley rides…

Best time to visit Phoenix

March through April and October through November. Visit Phoenix (official DMO) identifies these shoulder periods as ideal for outdoor activities with blue skies and highs in the upper 60s to mid-80s°F, avoiding both the intense summer heat (110°F+) and peak winter-season crowds. Spring also coincides with desert wildflower blooms and Cactus League baseball

Phoenix weather by month

Getting to Phoenix

A car is strongly recommended for reaching South Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Camelback Mountain, and day trips to Sedona or the Grand Canyon. However, the Valley Metro light rail ($2 per ride / $4 day pass) connects Sky Harbor Airport directly to Downtown Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, covering most key cultural sites including the Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Chase Field, and Roosevelt Row without parking hassle. Your Suns, Diamondbacks, or other event ticket doubles as a free Valley Metro light rail pass on the day of the event. The 3rd Street/Washington station is a 10-minute walk from Footprint Center; Chase Field is one stop away at the Washington/Central Ave station.

• PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport — 10 min drive
• AZA Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport — 35 min drive
• GYR Phoenix Goodyear Airport — 35 min drive

Where to stay in Phoenix

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• Downtown Phoenix / Roosevelt Row. The most walkable and transit-connected part of the city, with the light rail running directly through it and stops within blocks of Chase Field, the Phoenix Convention Center, Heard Museum, and Phoenix Art Museum. Roosevelt Row's gallery scene and First… Good for: Culture seekers, first-time visitors, sports fans, budget travelers using public transit.
• Biltmore Area. Phoenix's most polished residential corridor sits between Camelback Mountain and midtown, anchored by Biltmore Fashion Park (Saks, Ralph Lauren, Lululemon) and flanked by the legendary Arizona Biltmore resort. It's centrally located — 15 minutes from Old… Good for: Couples, luxury travelers, shoppers, golfers.
• Old Town Scottsdale. Packed into one walkable square mile, Old Town mixes upscale resorts and day spas, 40-plus art galleries, Scottsdale Fashion Square (the Southwest's largest luxury mall), and a buzzing restaurant and cocktail bar scene. The weekly Thursday ArtWalk and easy… Good for: Romantic getaways, spa breaks, art lovers, luxury shoppers.
• Arcadia. Tucked between Camelback Mountain and the Arizona Canal, Arcadia is a lush, citrus-grove neighborhood with a locally beloved restaurant strip (Postino, OHSO Brewery, The Henry) and easy trailhead access to both Echo Canyon and Cholla routes on Camelback. The… Good for: Foodies, hikers, travelers who want a neighborhood feel over a hotel corridor.
• Tempe / Mill Avenue. Home to Arizona State University, Tempe offers the Valley's most budget-friendly hotels alongside a lively Mill Avenue strip of bars, restaurants, and live music venues. The Tempe Town Lake and light rail access to Sky Harbor Airport (minutes away) make it a… Good for: Budget travelers, families, college sports fans, light rail commuters.

Where to eat in Phoenix

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• Pizzeria Bianco. Downtown / Heritage Square · Wood-fired pizza — Chris Bianco's two-time James Beard Award-winning original location (Outstanding Restaurateur, 2022) set the standard for artisan pizza in America.…
• Bacanora. Grand Avenue · Sonoran / Wood-fired Mexican — James Beard Best Chef Southwest 2024 (René Andrade) runs an open-fire kitchen in the restored Bragg's Pie Factory. Every protein — from carne asada to…
• Lom Wong. Downtown · Regional Thai — 2025 James Beard Best Chef Southwest winner Yotaka Martin cooks village-style Thai food from across Thailand's regions, including charcoal-grilled sausage and hand-pounded…
• Chilte. Grand Avenue (Egyptian Motor Hotel) · Experimental Mexican — A former NFL athlete-turned-chef and his partner created this inventive pop-up-turned-permanent restaurant inside a retro motel. Named…
• Little Miss BBQ (University location). South Phoenix / University Drive · Central Texas BBQ — Phoenix's most celebrated barbecue spot earns consistent recognition from Texas Monthly for its Central Texas-style brisket, pork ribs, and…
• Kid Sister. Uptown · Wine bar with seasonal small plates — A rotating tapas menu of dishes like broccoli toast and beef tataki pairs with an accessible, well-curated wine list in a relaxed uptown setting. One…
• Bacanora (noted above) / FnB. Old Town Scottsdale · Arizona farm-to-table — FnB (Food & Beverage) has long anchored Scottsdale's serious dining scene with a menu built around locally sourced Arizona ingredients and a…
• Miel De Agave Phoenix. 705 N 1st St #110 · 4.8★ (9,266 reviews)

Cafés, bakeries & casual

• The Fry Bread House. Melrose District · Native American — Founded in 1992 by a Tohono O'odham Nation citizen and a 2012 James Beard American Classic award winner. The Native Taco — fry bread topped with red chili beef…
• Tacos Chiwas. Midtown (Indian School Road) · Chihuahuan Mexican — Family-run taqueria serving handmade-tortilla tacos anchored in Chihuahua family recipes, including lengua, tripe, gorditas, and carnitas for…
• Stoop Kid. Downtown · Bagels / New York-style deli — A daytime favorite for house-made bagels loaded with creative schmears and sandwiches like the Money Shot (bacon jam, egg, cheese). The Infatuation calls it…
• Lux Central. 4402 N Central Ave · 4.5★ (3,152 reviews)
• SugarJam The Southern Kitchen. 15111 Hayden Rd Suite 170 Suite 170 · 4.5★ (2,453 reviews)
• nami. 2014 N 7th St · 4.6★ (1,978 reviews)
• Urban Cookies Bakeshop - Phoenix. 2325 N 7th St · 4.7★ (1,269 reviews)
• Songbird Coffee & Tea House - Phoenix, AZ. 812 N 3rd St · 4.7★ (1,192 reviews)

A 7-Day Phoenix Plan

1. Day 1 — Desert Icons & City Pulse. Start at Papago Park to explore the unique red-rock buttes and walk to Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural sandstone formation with sweeping views over the Salt River Valley. The easy trail is a perfect gentle introduction to the Sonoran Desert landscape. Head into Downtown Phoenix via the…
2. Day 2 — Summit, Saguaros & Science. Tackle Camelback Mountain early — Echo Canyon Trail is the classic challenging scramble with panoramic Valley views that reward the effort. Start at sunrise to beat the heat and secure parking. Cool down at the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park, where 50,000 desert plants…
3. Day 3 — Indigenous Heritage & Fine Art. Spend a meaningful morning at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix, widely regarded as one of the premier institutions in the world for Native American art and culture — the galleries on Hopi katsina figures and boarding school history are especially moving. Walk to the nearby…
4. Day 4 — Old Town Scottsdale & ArtWalk. Take the Valley Metro Rail or drive to Scottsdale and spend the morning browsing the galleries and boutiques of Scottsdale Old Town, where Southwestern jewelry, Native American crafts, and contemporary art fill beautifully kept adobe-style blocks. Explore the Scottsdale…
5. Day 5 — Grand Wilderness at South Mountain. Head to South Mountain Park and Preserve — one of the largest municipal parks in the US — for a morning hike on the National Trail, with petroglyphs etched by the Hohokam people and sweeping 360-degree desert panoramas. Drive back through downtown and stop at the Arizona…
6. Day 6 — First Friday & The Arts Scene. Sleep in and enjoy a leisurely brunch at one of the Roosevelt Row neighborhood cafes, then spend the late morning at Changing Hands Bookstore or exploring the independent shops along Grand Avenue. Visit the Heard Museum Shop or the Scottsdale Arts District for last-minute art…
7. Day 7 — Sunrise Hike & Farewell Flavors. Rise early for one final desert sunrise — drive to the North Mountain Preserve or the Lookout Mountain Circumference Trail for a quiet, rewarding morning hike with golden-hour light painting the saguaros. Spend the afternoon in the Melrose District or along 7th Avenue for a…

Events & festivals in Phoenix

• Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (College Football Playoff Semifinal) (January (2026: January 8)). Annual college football bowl game at State Farm Stadium, Glendale. Part of the College Football Playoff system since 2014; first played in 1971.
• Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction (January, Scottsdale (annual)). The world's largest collector car auction, held annually in Scottsdale (Greater Phoenix). Attracts global collectors and media attention.
• WM Phoenix Open ('The People's Open') (February (2026: Feb 2-8; 2027: Feb 8-14), TPC Scottsdale). Annual PGA TOUR event, first played in 1932. The best-attended tournament in professional golf, with 500,000+ fans; known for the iconic par-3 16th hole coliseum. Raised a record $20.1 million for local charities in…
• Cactus League Spring Training (Late February through late March (2026: Feb 20 - Mar 24)). 15 MLB teams play at 10 stadiums across Greater Phoenix. One of two U.S. spring training circuits.
• Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market (March (2026: March 7-8)). Annual two-day event at the Heard Museum, Phoenix. The largest Native American art market in Arizona, featuring 600+ artists from 100+ American Indian, Alaska Native, and Canadian First Nations communities.
• Arizona State Fair (October (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), at Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix). Annual state fair held at 1826 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix. Running since 1884 (with gaps); features rides, livestock, entertainment, and food.

Top-rated tours & activities in Phoenix

• Ancient Ruins Tour - Guided Arizona Desert Tour by UTV — 5.0★ (758 reviews)
• Stunning Sunset or Sunrise Guided Hiking Adventure in Phoenix — 5.0★ (366 reviews)
• The Shoot House — 5.0★ (121 reviews)
• Musical Instrument Museum Self-Guided Tour Ticket in Phoenix — 4.9★ (279 reviews)
• Epic Camelback Mountain Guided Hiking Adventure in Phoenix, Arizona — 5.0★ (268 reviews)
• Outdoor Range - Modern Warfare Package — 5.0★ (48 reviews)
• Arizona Desert Guided E-Bike Adventure — 4.9★ (664 reviews)
• 3-Day Grand Canyon Classic Hike to the Colorado River — 4.9★ (54 reviews)

Phoenix travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Phoenix?

March through April and October through November.

What are the top things to do in Phoenix?

Top experiences include Camelback Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Heard Museum, Roosevelt Row Arts District (First Friday Art Walk), Phoenix Art Museum.

Which airport is closest to Phoenix?

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the nearest, about 10 minutes away.

Where should I stay in Phoenix?

Popular areas to base yourself include Downtown Phoenix / Roosevelt Row, Biltmore Area, Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia.

How do I get around Phoenix?

A car is strongly recommended for reaching South Mountain, Desert Botanical Garden, Camelback Mountain, and day trips to Sedona or the Grand Canyon.