10 Best Things to Do in Phoenix

Looking for what to do in Phoenix? As the vibrant, sun-drenched capital of Arizona and the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix offers a captivating blend of outdoor adventure, deep cultural heritage, and modern urban sophistication. Surrounded by iconic mountain ranges and striking desert landscapes, the city masterfully combines rugged exploration—from saguaro-studded hikes to desert garden strolls—with world-class museums, a celebrated Native American arts scene, and a fast-growing culinary landscape that rivals any in the Southwest. Whether you’re escaping winter, road-tripping through the region, or discovering Arizona for the first time, Phoenix serves as a dynamic gateway to the state’s beauty and culture.

The Valley of the Sun offers a remarkable range of experiences within its sprawling metropolis and the surrounding cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa. From conquering panoramic mountain summits and exploring ancient petroglyphs to indulging in innovative Southwestern cuisine and wandering vibrant arts districts, planning your visit requires an appreciation for both vast natural spaces and creative urban energy. Here are the 10 best things to do in Phoenix to help you plan the perfect trip.

1. Explore the Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park is far more than a collection of plants; it is a profound celebration of desert life and a masterpiece of landscape design in one of the world’s most beautiful arid settings. Spread across 140 acres, the garden showcases over 50,000 desert plants from around the globe, organized along five thematic trails that explore topics like desert living, conservation, and the Sonoran Desert’s unique flora. Visitors walk among majestic, arms-upheld saguaros, forests of whimsical cholla cacti, spectacular agave fields, and rare, endangered species from distant deserts.

The garden is a dynamic, year-round destination that marries nature with art and culture. It is famed for hosting breathtaking exhibitions, such as the monumental glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly, which glint among the spines and pads. Seasonal events like the electric Las Noches de las Luminarias holiday display, evening concerts under the stars, and the spring butterfly exhibit in the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion ensure there’s always something new. For the most magical experience, visit in the late afternoon to witness the sunset ignite the red sandstone buttes of Papago Park in a fiery glow, casting long shadows across the garden’s beautiful, resilient landscapes.

2. Hike Camelback Mountain

Rising dramatically from the heart of the metro area, Camelback Mountain is Phoenix’s most iconic natural landmark and a rite of passage for locals and visitors alike. Its distinctive humpback silhouette offers two intensely challenging and rewarding summit trails: the steep, boulder-strewn Echo Canyon Trail and the slightly longer, switchback-heavy Cholla Trail. Both routes require scrambling over rock, navigating exposed sections, and enduring a significant elevation gain, making them suitable only for those in good physical condition with proper hiking shoes and—crucially—more water than you think you’ll need.

The unparalleled payoff is a 360-degree summit view that encompasses the entire Phoenix metropolis, the distant silhouettes of the South and White Tank mountains, and the sprawling, grid-like beauty of the Valley of the Sun. It’s a perspective that truly underscores the city’s desert setting. To avoid the intense heat, which can be dangerous, avid hikers start in the pre-dawn darkness to reach the summit for sunrise, when the city lights twinkle below and the sky erupts in color. This hike is less a leisurely stroll and more an accomplishment, offering a profound connection to the rugged landscape that defines Arizona.

3. Visit Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale expertly blends its rustic, Old West heritage with a contemporary, stylish vibe, creating one of the region’s most popular destinations for shopping, dining, and nightlife. The district’s wooden sidewalks wind past historic buildings that now house a captivating mix of high-end art galleries showcasing Native American and Western art, boutique shops selling turquoise jewellery and hand-tooled leather, and quirky souvenir stores. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and numerous public sculptures add a modern artistic counterpoint.

As the sun sets, the energy shifts. The area transforms into a vibrant nightlife hub, with lively saloon-style bars, sophisticated rooftop cocktail lounges offering fire-pit seating and city views, and dance clubs pulsing with music. Whether you’re sipping a craft margarita, enjoying a farm-to-table meal on a patio, or simply people-watching, Old Town Scottsdale delivers a concentrated dose of Southwestern charm and cosmopolitan flair, all within a highly walkable, picturesque setting.

4. Discover the Heard Museum

The Heard Museum stands as a world-renowned institution dedicated to the accurate and respectful presentation of Native American art and culture, with a primary focus on the Indigenous peoples of the Southwest. Its beautifully designed campus houses an exceptional collection that spans centuries, from ancient pottery and intricate basketry to stunning contemporary paintings and sculptures. The museum is particularly famous for its unparalleled collection of Hopi katsina (katsinam) dolls, displayed in a context that explains their spiritual and cultural significance.

Beyond the static exhibits, the Heard is a living cultural center. It hosts major annual festivals like the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market, where visitors can meet artists, watch traditional dance performances, and purchase authentic artwork directly from the creators. A visit here is an essential, respectful, and deeply educational experience that moves beyond stereotypes, offering a true understanding of the vibrant, enduring cultures that have called this desert home for millennia.

5. Wander Papago Park and its red sandstone formations

Adjacent to the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo, Papago Park is a geological wonderland of dramatic, rust-colored sandstone buttes and unique rock formations that seem to glow from within during sunrise and sunset. The park’s trails are generally flat and family-friendly, making it accessible for a quick nature fix. The most famous feature is the Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural geological arch formed by erosion. A short, easy climb leads up to the “hole,” which frames perfect, postcard views of the Phoenix skyline and Papago Butte—a favorite spot for photographers, especially at golden hour.

Beyond the iconic hole, the park offers picnic areas, fishing lagoons, and the historic Hunt’s Tomb, a white pyramid atop a hill. It’s a place where desert wildlife is often spotted, from roadrunners darting across paths to families of quail. Papago Park provides an immediate and stunning immersion into the Sonoran Desert’s beauty without requiring a long drive or strenuous hike, making it an ideal complement to a day of museum-going or zoo exploration.

6. Visit the Phoenix Art Museum

As the largest fine arts museum in the southwestern United States, the Phoenix Art Museum is a cultural cornerstone with a surprisingly diverse and global collection. Its galleries house everything from Renaissance portraiture and Baroque art to a significant collection of American Western paintings, modern Latin American works, and cutting-edge contemporary installations. The museum’s fashion design gallery is a particular highlight, featuring rotating exhibitions of iconic garments from renowned designers.

The museum experience is enhanced by its architecture, which includes serene interior courtyards, a modern sculpture garden, and the whimsical “Your Land, My Land” installation of neon signs by Joseph Yoakum. A robust calendar of events—from film series and artist talks to the popular PhxArt After Hours social evenings—ensures the museum is a dynamic community hub. It offers a contemplative, air-conditioned escape where the creative achievements of humanity are displayed with the same care as the natural wonders outside its walls.

7. Explore South Mountain Park and Preserve

Encompassing over 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park and Preserve is one of the largest municipal parks in the nation—a vast, pristine desert wilderness preserved within the city limits. Its extensive network of trails caters to all levels, from the gentle, paved Judith Tunnell Accessible Trail to challenging mountain-biking single-tracks and long, rocky hikes like the National Trail. The park is a sanctuary for native wildlife, including coyotes, javelinas, and countless species of birds and reptiles.

The must-see destination within the park is Dobbins Lookout, accessible by car or a vigorous hike. Perched at 2,330 feet, it offers the most breathtaking panoramic vista in the Phoenix area. The view stretches from downtown’s skyscrapers across the entire valley to the distant peaks of the Four Peaks Wilderness. Visiting at sunset is a quasi-spiritual experience, as the fading light paints the desert in layers of purple, orange, and deep blue. South Mountain provides a powerful sense of scale and solitude, a reminder of the immense, ancient landscape that cradles the modern city.

8. Experience Roosevelt Row Arts District (RoRo)

Located in downtown Phoenix, Roosevelt Row (RoRo) is the city’s beating creative heart—a walkable, ever-evolving neighborhood where art isn’t just in galleries; it’s on the streets, in the cafes, and part of the very fabric of the community. The area is an open-air museum of vibrant, large-scale murals and street art, with new pieces constantly appearing on the sides of buildings, in alleyways, and on garage doors. Independent art galleries, studios, vintage shops, and some of Phoenix’s best coffee roasters and brunch spots line the streets.

The district reaches its peak vibrancy on First Fridays, a massive monthly art walk that attracts tens of thousands. The streets close to traffic, filling with food trucks, live music stages, pop-up markets, and revelers exploring open studios. Even outside of this event, RoRo pulses with an eclectic, grassroots energy that stands in stylish contrast to the more polished feel of Scottsdale. It’s the place to feel Phoenix’s youthful, artistic, and entrepreneurial spirit in action.

9. Visit the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in north Phoenix is a one-of-a-kind global treasure that delights visitors of all ages and musical backgrounds. Its innovative design takes you on a geographic journey through over 200 countries and territories, each display case filled with exquisite, historical, and sometimes bizarre musical instruments. The genius of the experience is the wireless headset you wear, which automatically plays the music and sounds of the instruments as you approach each exhibit, from the kora of West Africa to the bagpipes of Scotland.

The museum is highly interactive. The Experience Gallery invites you to strum, drum, and play instruments from around the world. The state-of-the-art Music Theater hosts an impressive lineup of concerts by globally renowned artists. With its thoughtful curation and celebration of music as a universal human language, the MIM is not just a museum; it’s an uplifting, immersive, and unforgettable experience that consistently ranks as a top attraction in Phoenix.

10. Enjoy Phoenix’s food scene

Phoenix’s culinary landscape has exploded into one of the most exciting in the nation, masterfully blending its rich Mexican and Native American heritage with modern culinary innovation. The city is the birthplace of the Sonoran hot dog (bacon-wrapped and loaded with toppings) and claims the chimichanga as its own. You’ll find exceptional examples of these, along with smoky, mesquite-grilled steaks, fiery green-chile stews, and some of the best carne asada tacos north of the border.

Beyond the classics, a new generation of chefs is pushing boundaries with hyper-local, farm-to-table Southwestern cuisine, creative food halls like The Churchill and Century Grand, and a thriving craft brewery and cocktail scene. Neighborhoods like Arcadia (for upscale eateries), Melrose (for trendy bistros), and Downtown Mesa (for a more relaxed vibe) each offer their own culinary personality. From James Beard Award winners to hidden family-run taquerías, eating in Phoenix is a delicious adventure through flavor, history, and innovation.