One day in Phoenix

Day by day

1. Day 1: Desert Botanical Garden and Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock

   Desert Botanical Garden, Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock, Phoenix Zoo and Camelback Mountain, then South Mountain Park and Preserve in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Desert Botanical Garden

      Visit at opening or in the evening in warmer months; in December, the luminaria nights light the paths with thousands of candle bags. Allow 2–3 hours.

   2. Late morning

      Papago Park and Hole-in-the-Rock

      Combine an early-evening climb to Hole-in-the-Rock with dinner nearby after a day at the zoo or Desert Botanical Garden. Allow 1 hour.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sonoran hot dog

      Hot dog stands and food trucks across south and west Phoenix, especially in the evening.

   4. Afternoon

      Phoenix Zoo

      Go at opening outside winter; in December the evening ZooLights display is a family favourite. Allow 3 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Camelback Mountain

      Start at first light, carry more water than you think you need and turn back when half of it is gone; the city may close the trails on extreme heat days. Allow 2–3 hours.

   6. Evening

      South Mountain Park and Preserve

      Drive up to Dobbins Lookout around sunset, then stay to see the city lights spread out below.

Before you go

• Desert Botanical Garden: Timed tickets are needed for busy periods and the December luminaria evenings sell out early.

If it rains

• Swap in Heard Museum (Midtown Phoenix): Allow time for the boarding school exhibit and the museum shop, which sells work bought directly from Native artists.
• Swap in Musical Instrument Museum (North Phoenix): Plan at least half a day; most visitors underestimate how long the geographic galleries take.
• Swap in Phoenix Art Museum (Midtown Phoenix): Ask for a timed entry to the Kusama room on arrival; visits inside are short and spaced out.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–14 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Tram. Valley Metro Rail runs through downtown Phoenix, past the Heard Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum, to the airport's Sky Train link, Tempe and Mesa.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Phoenix
• 3 days in Phoenix
• 5 days in Phoenix

Questions travellers ask