3 days in Palm Springs

Day by day

1. Day 1: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Mid-century modern homes drive

   Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Mid-century modern homes drive and Mount San Jacinto State Park, then Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest in the evening.

   1. Breakfast

      Breakfast: Chilaquiles

   2. Morning

      Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

      Rotating tram cars climb from the Valley Station in Chino Canyon to the Mountain Station at about 2,600 metres, crossing roughly 4 km of cliffs in around ten minutes while the floor turns slowly so every passenger gets the full view.

   3. Late morning

      Mid-century modern homes drive

      Go early in the morning when the light is soft and the streets are empty, and photograph from the pavement; these are lived-in private homes.

   4. Lunch

      Lunch: Tacos and Mexican plates

      Family-run taquerías along Indian Canyon Drive and in Cathedral City, Coachella and Indio, which have some of the most traditional cooking.

   5. Afternoon

      Mount San Jacinto State Park

      The tramway's Mountain Station opens onto a wilderness of granite, Jeffrey pines and meadows.

   6. Café break

      Café break: Date shake

   7. Evening

      Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest

      Visit VillageFest after sunset in the warmer months, when the pavement has cooled and the stalls are busiest.

2. Day 2: Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon

   Indian Canyons, Tahquitz Canyon and Moorten Botanical Garden, then Arenas Road in the evening.

   1. Breakfast

      Breakfast: Weekend brunch

   2. Morning

      Indian Canyons

      Start at Andreas Canyon for an easy shaded walk, then drive on to Palm Canyon; carry plenty of water, as there is little shade on the upper trails.

   3. Late morning

      Tahquitz Canyon

      A loop trail of about 3 km climbs rocky steps into a canyon sacred to the Cahuilla, ending at an 18-metre seasonal waterfall.

   4. Lunch

      Lunch: Tamales

      Mexican bakeries and restaurants valley-wide, and the Indio International Tamale Festival, usually held in early December.

   5. Afternoon

      Moorten Botanical Garden

      It takes under an hour, so pair it with the Indian Canyons a few minutes further south.

   6. Snack

      Snack: Medjool and Deglet Noor dates

   7. Evening

      Arenas Road

      A short stretch off Indian Canyon Drive with the city's main cluster of gay bars and clubs, busy from happy hour onwards.

3. Day 3: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Palm Springs Art Museum

   Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, Palm Springs Art Museum and Architecture and Design Center, then Palm Canyon Drive in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

      Part of the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza on Tahquitz Canyon Way, this museum tells the story of the Cahuilla people of the Coachella Valley through baskets, oral history and immersive galleries.

   2. Late morning

      Palm Springs Art Museum

      The museum has offered free entry on some evenings; check its website before you go and pair a visit with dinner downtown.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Deli pastrami and rye

      Sherman's Deli and Bakery, open since the 1960s, has branches in Palm Springs and Palm Desert.

   4. Afternoon

      Architecture and Design Center

      The Palm Springs Art Museum's design outpost occupies E.

   5. Café break

      Café break: Margaritas and poolside cocktails

   6. Evening

      Palm Canyon Drive

      Cocktail bars, rooftop terraces and restaurants with late bars along the main street downtown.

Before you go

• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: On peak winter and spring weekends, buy timed tickets online in advance to avoid long waits at the Valley Station.

If it rains

• Swap in Palm Springs Air Museum (Palm Springs Airport): Ask at the desk about scheduled flight demonstrations or cockpit days, which run on some weekends.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Downtown Palm Springs keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Uptown Design District ($$$) suits couples, shopping and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–23 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Palm Springs
• 2 days in Palm Springs
• 5 days in Palm Springs

Questions travellers ask