Skip to content
© Mark Skalny / Adobe Stock

Cities

Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital city of Arizona and is located in the central region of the state. People may know it for its year-round sun, desert beauty, and world-class resorts and golf, but as the fifth-largest city in the U.S., it also offers sophisticated urbanscapes, southwest culture and lots of outdoor adventure.


The "Valley of the Sun" as Phoenicians refer to it, is surrounded by mountain parks—in fact, South Mountain Park and Preserve is the largest municipal park in the U.S.—so it's easy to get out and enjoy the flora, fauna and some incredible views (and sunsets). And, although Phoenix is in the Sonoran Desert, there are six lakes in close proximity where water lovers can kayak, paddleboard, Jetski, waterski, boat, fish or just lounge on the shore.

For those who prefer indoor pursuits, Phoenix has some unique museums: The Heard Museum, celebrates Native American art and culture; Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, features the art and history of the Old West and the Musical Instrument Museum, the largest museum of its kind in the world with a collection of over 15,000 instruments form 200 countries.

Everyone eats, and Phoenicians are no exception. Greater Phoenix has become a hotspot for local cuisine of every conceivable variety as well as for beverages that are brewed, distilled or fermented.

If you're looking for a destination that is anything but ordinary, Phoenix is an ideal setting for family vacations, Spring Training junkets, girlfriend getaways and weekend adventures. It also happens to be the home to two airports, Sky Harbor International Airport and Williams Gateway Airport, so it's a great starting point for any Arizona adventure.

Visitor Information

Planning

Travel Like a Local

Arizona scenery

Road Trips & Tours

Discover Greater Phoenix: the Valley of the Sun

Join us on a five-day tour through the cultural delights and historic sights of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Chandler.

Odysea in the Desert

Road Trips & Tours

Explore Greater Phoenix's East Valley

Head east of the city lines, and you'll find a swath of Greater Phoenix where bustling communities celebrate their agricultural roots and...

The Wigwam pool

Arts & Entertainment

Explore Phoenix's West Valley

Just beyond Camelback Mountain and a little north of the Salt River lies a region ripe for exploration. In the northwest corner of the Valley of...

Piestewa Peak

Road Trips & Tours

Discover the Best of Central Arizona

Phoenix and Central Arizona offer a plethora of pleasures in the warm desert sun

Matt's Phoenix

Eat & Drink

Eat Like a Tourist: Phoenix

Everyone says to eat like a local, but what about those great tourist spots? Here are 5 legendary Arizona restaurants to try.

More to Explore Near Phoenix

Scottsdale

Cities

Scottsdale

With its acclaimed resorts, dining, shopping and nightlife, Scottsdale offers everything you'd expect from a premier vacation destination, plus...

Tempe

Cities

Tempe

Arizona State University may be Tempe's claim to fame, but there's much more going on in this friendly city just south of Phoenix.

Mesa

Cities

Mesa

Look forward to cultivating and celebrating creativity, filling your closet, and soaking up the sun in Arizona's third-largest city.

Gilbert

Cities

Gilbert

Gilbert's popularity is booming. And it's no wonder: hip restaurants keep popping up in the revitalized downtown; nearby, the arts take center...

Hot air balloons

Cities

Glendale

Glendale, a booming city just northwest of Phoenix, knows how to honor the past while loving today's thrills.

homepage default image