This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Phoenix packs most of its best things to do into three areas: the desert outdoors, a surprisingly strong museum scene, and the culture of downtown and Roosevelt Row. Arrive with a plan and keep an eye on the season, because summer hiking before 10am is the rule once highs pass 38°C (100°F). Prices below are for adults unless noted, and several sights sell timed tickets, so book a day or two ahead in peak season. For related guidance, see the Phoenix weather by month guide. For related guidance, see the where to stay in Phoenix guide.
Things to Do in Phoenix: Outdoor and Desert Attractions
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden, at 1201 N Galvin Parkway in Papago Park, is the single best introduction to the Sonoran Desert, with 50,000 plants spread across 140 acres and more than 4,000 cactus species. Adult entry is US$24.95, open daily from 8am to 8pm in summer and 8am to 5pm in winter. Go in early morning or after dark during its electric Las Noches de las Luminarias event in December, when 8,000 luminarias line the trails.
Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Trail
Camelback Mountain towers over Scottsdale and Phoenix, and its Echo Canyon Trail is the city’s signature hike: 2.3 miles round trip with a steep, rocky climb of 1,280 feet to the 2,704-foot summit. The trailhead is at 4925 E McDonald Drive, parking is free but limited, and it fills by 7am on weekends. It is closed from 11am to 5pm on the hottest days, and rangers turn people away without water. Do not attempt it in summer after dawn.
Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock
Papago Park, at 625 N Galvin Parkway, is the easy alternative to Camelback, with flat trails through red sandstone buttes and the short climb up Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural opening in the rock framed for sunset photos. It is free, open 5am to 11pm, and connects to the Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo on foot. The Phoenix Zoo next door is open daily from 7am to 1pm in summer (extended hours the rest of the year), with admission of US$39.95 for adults.
Things to Do in Phoenix: Museums and Culture
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum at 2301 N Central Avenue is the premier institution for Native American art of the Southwest, best known for the 2,000-piece collection of katsina dolls and contemporary Indigenous artists. Admission is US$23 for adults and it is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm plus Sunday 11am to 4pm. Budget at least two hours, and check the museum store for authentic, artist-verified jewelry rather than tourist-gift knockoffs.
Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) at 4725 E Mayo Boulevard is a 200,000-square-foot collection of more than 8,000 instruments from every country, with the standout being the galleries where video screens play each instrument being performed. Adult tickets are US$27, open daily 9am to 5pm. It sits in north Phoenix, about a 25-minute drive from downtown, and the wireless headsets automatically switch to whatever exhibit you approach.
Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum at 1625 N Central Avenue is the largest visual-arts museum in the Southwest, with strong collections in Latin American and contemporary art plus the immersive Kusama infinity room. Adult general admission is US$23, open Wednesday 10am to 9pm and Thursday through Sunday 10am to 5pm. Wednesday evenings are pay-what-you-wish from 3pm to 9pm, which is the best way to see it cheaply.
Things to Do in Phoenix: Downtown and Roosevelt Row
Roosevelt Row Arts District
Roosevelt Row, centered on Roosevelt Street between 7th Street and Central Avenue, is Phoenix’s walkable arts district, lined with murals, galleries, coffee shops, and restaurants. It is self-guided and free, best visited on First Friday, the monthly art walk held the first Friday of each month from 6pm to 10pm when galleries stay open late and food trucks line the streets. A block away, the Roosevelt Street light rail station makes it easy to reach from anywhere on the Valley Metro line.
Arizona Science Center
The Arizona Science Center at 600 E Washington Street in Heritage Square has over 350 hands-on exhibits across four floors, plus a planetarium and a five-story IMAX screen. General admission is US$21.95 for adults, open daily 10:30am to 4pm, longer on weekends. It is a strong rainy-day or summer-afternoon option since it is fully air-conditioned and connected to the light rail at 3rd Street/Washington.
Chase Field and Footprint Center
For sports, Chase Field hosts the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) from April through September, and the Footprint Center next door hosts the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and Mercury (WNBA). Diamondbacks tickets start around US$20, and Chase Field’s retractable roof and air conditioning make it one of the few comfortable summer venues in the city. Both sit downtown and share the 3rd Street light rail stop. For a full sports and event calendar, see Phoenix events and festivals.
Things to Do in Phoenix: Day Trips and Beyond
Scottsdale Old Town
Old Town Scottsdale, about 20 minutes northeast of downtown Phoenix, mixes its cowboy heritage with upscale galleries, the acclaimed Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West (US$25 admission), and the densest concentration of bars and restaurants in the metro. Start at Main Street and Brown Avenue, and leave time for the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall if you want indoor shopping. See Phoenix neighborhoods for how Old Town fits into a Scottsdale stay.
Taliesin West
Taliesin West, at 12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard in Scottsdale, was architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and studio from 1937 until his death in 1959, built from desert rock into the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. The 90-minute Insights Tour costs US$49 for adults and runs daily, with the site open 9am to 6pm in summer. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still an active architecture school.
After planning your itinerary, sort out the practical side with Phoenix travel tips and FAQ and use best time to visit Phoenix to pick dates that keep you out of the brutal summer heat.
