5 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

      Bring a warm layer even in summer, and in winter check for snow at the top; the trails can need proper footwear from December to March. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   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. (2–3 hours, free).

   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

      Pick up the free wilderness permit at the ranger station below the Mountain Station before any hike beyond the short loops, and start the summit trail early. (2 hours to a full day, low cost).

   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. (2–4 hours, low cost).

   3. Late morning

      Tahquitz Canyon

      Visit in winter or early spring, when snowmelt and rain mean the waterfall is actually flowing; by late summer it can be a trickle. (2 hours, low cost).

   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. (1 hour, low cost).

   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

      Allow time for the outdoor plaza and its desert garden, and book a spa slot ahead if you want to bathe in the mineral water itself. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   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. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   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

      Visit before an architecture drive; the shop sells maps and books that identify the modernist homes you will pass. (45 minutes, low cost).

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Joshua Tree National Park

   About 1 hour to the West Entrance each way. Getting there: Car via Highway 62 to Joshua Tree village.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Joshua Tree National Park

      About 1 hour to the West Entrance (Car via Highway 62 to Joshua Tree village); about 70 km.

   2. Day

      Joshua Tree National Park

      Two deserts meet in this national park: the higher Mojave with its forests of Joshua trees and granite boulder piles at Hidden Valley and Jumbo Rocks, and the lower Colorado Desert with the Cholla Cactus Garden. Best for first-timers, families and couples.

   3. Evening

      Back in Palm Springs

      Dinner: try Tacos and Mexican plates.

5. Day 5: Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station) and Palm Springs Air Museum

   Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station), Palm Springs Air Museum and Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, then Hotel pool parties in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Palm Springs Visitor Center (Tramway Gas Station)

      Stop here on the way to or from the tramway to photograph the roof against the mountains and pick up an architecture map. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Palm Springs Air Museum

      Ask at the desk about scheduled flight demonstrations or cockpit days, which run on some weekends. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. 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.

   4. Afternoon

      Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

      Arrive at opening in spring or autumn; the animals are most active and the paths are long and exposed by midday. (3–4 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Snack

      Snack: Desert citrus

   6. Evening

      Hotel pool parties

      Several downtown hotels host DJ pool parties on weekend afternoons in season, especially around festivals and Pride.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Palm Springs Aerial Tramway before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 22–29 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Palm Springs

Questions travellers ask