Where to stay · Phoenix · United States
Where to stay in Phoenix
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ciphers, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown Phoenix. Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub. Best alternatives — nightlife: Roosevelt Row.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown Phoenix
- Families
- Downtown Phoenix
- Budget
- Downtown Phoenix
- Nightlife
- Roosevelt Row
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown Phoenix | Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub |
| Families | Downtown Phoenix | Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub |
| Couples | Arcadia | Citrus-tree-lined streets and patio restaurants below Camelback Mountain |
| Budget | Downtown Phoenix | Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub |
| Luxury | Camelback Corridor and Biltmore | Resort hotels, upscale malls and golf around the Arizona Biltmore |
| Nightlife | Roosevelt Row | Murals, galleries and First Friday art walks north of downtown |
| Food lovers | Roosevelt Row | Murals, galleries and First Friday art walks north of downtown |
| Solo travellers | Roosevelt Row | Murals, galleries and First Friday art walks north of downtown |
| Shopping | Camelback Corridor and Biltmore | Resort hotels, upscale malls and golf around the Arizona Biltmore |
| Quiet stays | Arcadia | Citrus-tree-lined streets and patio restaurants below Camelback Mountain |
Phoenix neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and families
Downtown Phoenix
Downtown has the Arizona Science Center, Heritage Square with the 1895 Rosson House, Chase Field and the arena, plus convention hotels and the Arizona State University downtown campus. Valley Metro Rail runs through it to Tempe and the airport's Sky Train connection, making it the most practical car-free base.
- Good
- Light rail to the airport and Tempe; Walk to museums and stadiums; Good-value hotels
- Watch out
- Hot, shadeless streets in summer; Quiet evenings without events
- Nearby
- Heritage Square, Arizona Science Center, Chase Field, Roosevelt Row
$$ · Best for solo travellers, nightlife, food lovers and culture
Roosevelt Row
Roosevelt Row is Phoenix's arts district, a grid of bungalows and low buildings covered in murals, with galleries, coffee shops, bars and restaurants. On the first Friday of each month thousands of people walk between open galleries and street vendors.
- Good
- Street art and independent businesses; Walk to the Heard and Phoenix Art Museum; Lively First Fridays
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Some empty lots between blocks
- Nearby
- Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, Downtown Phoenix
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Arcadia
Arcadia, at the foot of Camelback Mountain, is a residential area of ranch houses on large lots planted with old citrus groves. Restaurants and bars line Indian School Road and 40th Street, and the Echo Canyon trailhead is a short drive away.
- Good
- Close to the Camelback trails; Good restaurants; Between Phoenix and Scottsdale
- Watch out
- Mostly rentals and boutique hotels; Car needed
- Nearby
- Camelback Mountain, Old Town Scottsdale, Papago Park
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and shopping
Camelback Corridor and Biltmore
Along Camelback Road, this area has the Arizona Biltmore, a 1929 resort with design input from Frank Lloyd Wright, alongside office towers, the Biltmore Fashion Park mall and upscale restaurants. It is central, with Piestewa Peak to the north.
- Good
- Classic resorts with pools; Central between Phoenix and Scottsdale; Good dining
- Watch out
- Car-dependent; High winter prices plus resort fees
- Nearby
- Arizona Biltmore, Biltmore Fashion Park, Piestewa Peak
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, shopping, couples and luxury
Old Town Scottsdale
Scottsdale's walkable core mixes Western-wear shops and galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way with an Entertainment District of clubs and bars, and the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall. Resorts, spas and golf courses spread north and east, and Taliesin West is about 20 minutes away.
- Good
- Walkable restaurants, bars and galleries; Best nightlife in the metro; Easy to reach resorts and golf
- Watch out
- Expensive in winter and spring; Busy with bachelor and bachelorette parties at weekends
- Nearby
- Scottsdale Fashion Square, Taliesin West, Scottsdale Museum of the West
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and nightlife
Tempe
Tempe is home to Arizona State University, with Mill Avenue's bars and restaurants, Tempe Town Lake's paths and Papago Park on its northern edge. It is on the light rail line and about 10 minutes from the airport, making it a lower-cost and car-light base.
- Good
- On the light rail; Close to the airport; Lower hotel prices
- Watch out
- Student-heavy nightlife; Busy during big ASU events
- Nearby
- Tempe Town Lake, Papago Park, Arizona State University
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley is a small, wealthy town of large desert homes and some of the region's best-known luxury resorts and spas, set against Camelback and Mummy mountains. There is little to walk to, but views and pools are the point.
- Good
- Top resorts and spas; Mountain views; Quiet
- Watch out
- Very expensive in peak season; Nothing within walking distance
- Nearby
- Camelback Mountain, Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Phoenix | $$ | Heritage Square, Arizona Science Center, Chase Field, Roosevelt Row |
| Roosevelt Row | $$ | Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, Downtown Phoenix |
| Arcadia | $$$ | Camelback Mountain, Old Town Scottsdale, Papago Park |
| Camelback Corridor and Biltmore | $$$$ | Arizona Biltmore, Biltmore Fashion Park, Piestewa Peak |
| Old Town Scottsdale | $$$$ | Scottsdale Fashion Square, Taliesin West, Scottsdale Museum of the West |
| Tempe | $$ | Tempe Town Lake, Papago Park, Arizona State University |
| Paradise Valley | $$$$ | Camelback Mountain, Old Town Scottsdale, Arcadia |
Getting to your hotel
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) is only about 5 km east of downtown, around 10–15 minutes by car. The free PHX Sky Train links the terminals with Valley Metro Rail for downtown and Tempe. Phoenix–Mesa Gateway (AZA), about 50 km south-east, is served mainly by low-cost airlines.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Phoenix for first-time visitors?
Downtown Phoenix. Downtown has the Arizona Science Center, Heritage Square with the 1895 Rosson House, Chase Field and the arena, plus convention hotels and the Arizona State University downtown campus.
+Where should families stay in Phoenix?
Downtown Phoenix: Light rail to the airport and Tempe.
+Which area of Phoenix is best for a budget stay?
Downtown Phoenix ($$): Museums, sports arenas, Heritage Square and the light rail hub.