Travel guide · United States
Phoenix travel guide
Desert mountain hikes, saguaro gardens, resort pools and Sonoran food
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: DPPed, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Phoenix sits in the Sonoran Desert, ringed by rocky mountain parks such as Camelback, Piestewa Peak and South Mountain, where saguaro cacti grow minutes from downtown. Winters are sunny and warm, which makes the Valley of the Sun a major escape from November to April for golf, spring-training baseball, spa resorts and desert hiking, while summer heat regularly passes 40°C. The Desert Botanical Garden, the Heard Museum's Native American collections and the Musical Instrument Museum are the cultural highlights, and Scottsdale, Tempe and Sedona extend the trip. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are November–April.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- November–April
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- PHX, AZA
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$380 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Sonoran Desert, Camelback Mountain, Saguaro cacti and Spa resorts
Why visit Phoenix
- Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and South Mountain Park put serious desert hikes and saguaro-studded trails inside the city limits.
- The Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum explain the Sonoran Desert and the Native peoples of the Southwest better than anywhere else.
- From November to April the weather is sunny and warm, ideal for resort pools, golf and Cactus League spring training.
- Sonoran hot dogs, carne asada, cheese crisps and fry bread make the food scene distinct from Texas Tex-Mex.
- Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Tucson and the Superstition Mountains are all within driving range.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Garden · Papago Park
Desert Botanical Garden
Set among Papago Park's red buttes, the garden displays tens of thousands of desert plants, from towering saguaros and boojum trees to agaves and wildflowers, along trails that explain how people of the Sonoran Desert used them.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
Nature · Arcadia
Camelback Mountain
The city's signature hike climbs the 'hump' of Camelback Mountain, whose summit stands about 820 metres above sea level.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Museum · Midtown Phoenix
Heard Museum
Founded in 1929, the Heard is one of the leading museums of American Indian art, with galleries on the Native peoples of the Southwest, a large Hopi katsina doll collection and a moving exhibit on the boarding school era, set around courtyards with sculpture.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Nature · Phoenix Mountains Preserve
Piestewa Peak
The Summit Trail up Piestewa Peak is a steep, popular climb of about 1.9 km with views over downtown and Camelback.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
Park · South Phoenix
South Mountain Park and Preserve
One of the largest city parks in the country, covering about 6,500 hectares of desert ridges with more than 80 km of trails.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Outdoors
- History
- After dark
Park · Papago Park
Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock
Red sandstone buttes, fishing ponds and easy trails between Phoenix and Tempe.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Downtown Phoenix is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and families
Downtown Phoenix
Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub
$$ · Best for solo travellers, nightlife, food lovers and culture
Roosevelt Row
Murals, galleries and First Friday art walks north of downtown
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Arcadia
Citrus-tree-lined streets and patio restaurants below Camelback Mountain
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and shopping
Camelback Corridor and Biltmore
Resort hotels, upscale malls and golf around the Arizona Biltmore
What to eat
- Sonoran hot dog — A bacon-wrapped hot dog in a soft, split bolillo roll, piled with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, jalapeño salsa, mustard and mayonnaise, often with a roasted chile on the side.
- Chimichanga — A burrito deep-fried until crisp, filled with shredded beef or chicken and topped with sauce, cheese and sour cream.
- Cheese crisp — An Arizona speciality: a large, thin flour tortilla baked flat until crisp and covered with melted cheese, sometimes with green chiles.
- Carne asada tacos — Mesquite-grilled beef chopped and served in small corn or thin Sonoran flour tortillas with guacamole, salsa and grilled onions.
- Fry bread and Navajo tacos — Puffy, chewy discs of deep-fried dough, eaten with honey and powdered sugar or topped with beans, meat, lettuce and cheese as a Navajo taco.
- Prickly pear — The magenta fruit of the prickly pear cactus is turned into syrup for margaritas and lemonade, as well as candy, jam and ice cream.
When to go
The best time to visit Phoenix is November to April, when days are warm and sunny, the desert trails are comfortable and spring training, golf and resort life are in full swing. February and March are the busiest and most expensive months. From June to September temperatures often pass 40°C, though resort prices fall sharply.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warm and sunny, with spring training and wildflowers in March; heat builds quickly through May. |
| Summer | June–September | Extreme heat, monsoon storms and dust storms; best for discounted resort pool stays and early-morning activities only. |
| Autumn | October–November | Heat breaks through October, and November is warm, dry and ideal for hiking. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild, sunny days and cold nights; peak season for golf, resorts and events, with high prices. |
Getting there and around
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) is only about 5 km east of downtown, around 10–15 minutes by car. The free PHX Sky Train links the terminals with Valley Metro Rail for downtown and Tempe. Phoenix–Mesa Gateway (AZA), about 50 km south-east, is served mainly by low-cost airlines.
The Phoenix metro area spreads across more than 20 cities on a grid of wide roads and freeways, and most visitors drive. Valley Metro Rail links Sky Harbor Airport with downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, which is enough for a short car-free stay focused on those areas.
Plan your days
Two days covers a sunrise hike, the Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum. Four days adds Taliesin West, the Musical Instrument Museum, Old Town Scottsdale and a pool day; with a week, add Sedona or the Grand Canyon.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though some find the taste mineral; carry far more water than usual in the dry heat.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
Heat is the biggest risk: hikers are rescued every year, so start at dawn, carry plenty of water and turn back early. During monsoon season, avoid flooded washes and, if a dust storm hits while driving, pull off the road and turn off your lights. Leave nothing visible in parked cars.
Flights to Phoenix
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Phoenix?
Two days covers a sunrise hike, the Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum. Four days adds Taliesin West, the Musical Instrument Museum, Old Town Scottsdale and a pool day; with a week, add Sedona or the Grand Canyon. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Phoenix?
The best time to visit Phoenix is November to April, when days are warm and sunny, the desert trails are comfortable and spring training, golf and resort life are in full swing. February and March are the busiest and most expensive months. From June to September temperatures often pass 40°C, though resort prices fall sharply.
+What is Phoenix known for?
Sonoran Desert, Camelback Mountain, Saguaro cacti, Spa resorts, Spring training baseball, Extreme summer heat and Golf. Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and South Mountain Park put serious desert hikes and saguaro-studded trails inside the city limits.
+Is Phoenix expensive?
Phoenix is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$380 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Phoenix?
Yes for most visits: trailheads, resorts, Scottsdale and day trips are spread out. A short stay in downtown Phoenix or Tempe can manage with light rail and ride-hailing.