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.


Sometimes, bigger really is better. Phoenix (the "Valley of the Sun" to locals) invites you to enjoy major destinations for recreation and relaxation, must-visit venues in the culinary and cocktail kingdoms, and long-standing arts, civic and cultural institutions. And that just scratches the surface of things to do in Phoenix.

Be a good sport(s fan)

The Valley Metro public light rail system pulls up right outside Chase Field, the downtown Phoenix ballpark that's home to MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks. Footprint Center, the arena that's home to the NBA's Phoenix Suns, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the IFL's Phoenix Rattlers, is just a few blocks west. On any game day, you'll find flocks of fans pre- and post-gaming at nearby sports bars, upscale eateries and neighborhood taquerias.

Get back to nature

South Mountain Park Preserve, the nation's largest municipally managed park, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts to experience Phoenix activities. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders have more than 50 miles of trails, while bicyclists can test their endurance on the roadways that climb across three mountain ranges. On "Silent Sundays," the park even closes its main road to motor vehicles, allowing cyclists and hikers to enjoy the roadways without the buzz of automotive traffic.

Discover next-level relaxation

The luxury resort scene in Phoenix includes a long list of historic and modern properties that go big. Families enjoy epic-sized pools with monumental play features. Wellness travelers find spa treatments and fitness programs that add euphoria to vacation days. And for those who find their bliss on a golf course, many of the area's top resorts boast some of the best year-round courses in the country.

Whet your palate …

Some of the country's most innovative restaurateurs hone their culinary creations and prowess in Phoenix. The best-known restaurants in Phoenix have racked up regular plaudits from national newspapers and magazines and nominations from the James Beard Foundation. In 2022, local chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists in eight different categories.

… Then wet your whistle

The city's cocktail and craft brew culture are as strong as some of the pours you'll find therein. While beer and cider drinkers sample flights and drafts at a local microbrewery or meadery, those in search of higher spirits can content themselves with a well-composed tipple in one of the city's many other popular gathering spots.

Embrace creative culture

The galleries and exhibits at the Musical Instrument Museum draw from a collection of more than 8,000 instruments from around the globe, including opportunities to see and hear the instruments played … and sometimes play them yourself. Those who might prefer to leave the playing to the professionals, meanwhile, can reserve tickets for a Phoenix Symphony or Arizona Opera performance at Symphony Hall, one of many performance venues that make downtown a cultural center with a vibrant arts scene all around.

Discover more about desert life—then and now

One of Phoenix's first cultural institutions, the Heard Museum has grown into an international destination to learn about Native American art and history, while the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park is a must-see Phoenix attraction that takes visitors on a path to remnants of a ballcourt and platform created by the Hohokam people who lived in this area from A.D. 450 to 1450. And at the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden, more than 50,000 desert plants illustrate the beauty and variety of desert plant life.

Visit City Website

Planning

Travel Like a Local

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.

Must Do

Offbeat Phoenix

There's more to Phoenix than golf and resorts. Look closer, and you'll find unusual attractions and off-the-beaten-path delights in this "Valley...

Trip Tips & Ideas

25 Things to Do in Phoenix's East Valley

Consider this your introduction to the East Valley of Arizona's largest city—the essential, can't miss, make-sure-you-check-out things to see...

Eat & Drink

Girl Power, Good Vibes and Natural Wine in Phoenix

Koral Casillas and Michela Ricci, owners of Monsoon Market, strive to bring a carefully-curated selection of the best natural wine, gifts and...

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...

Leisure & Relaxation

Shop Local in Phoenix

Forget drone deliveries and big-box greeters. Phoenix is bristling with indie boutiques that sell everything from locally made cocktail mixers...

Eat & Drink

Arizona's Best Sweets: Phoenix

In a city as vast as Phoenix, the options for sweets and desserts are equally endless. From cream cheese pies to creamy strawberry milkshakes,...

Insider Guides

Ask a Local: Marshall Shore

If you want to know what makes Arizona such a special place to visit, ask a local — so we did. Join us as we explore Phoenix with Marshall...

Eat & Drink

6 (Mostly) All-Vegan Phoenix Restaurants

Cookbook author and vegan chef, Tess Challis, shares her insight on greater Phoenix’s vegan food scene, including her favorite vegan and...

Eat & Drink

16 Phoenix-Area Restaurants to Dine Outside

Why dine inside when these Phoenix-area restaurants give you "al fresco" options like airy patios and drinks with rooftop sunset views.

Eat & Drink

Arizona's Metro-Area Tasting Rooms

Visiting Arizona’s wine country makes for a delightful day trip from Phoenix or Tucson. But if you can't make the trek, taste the fruits of our...

Search Filters

Search Results

History

Arizona Capitol Museum

The Arizona Capitol Museum serves as a symbol of the state's vast and colorful history. The museum creates authentic educational...

Tours

Arizona Climbing Guides

Rock Climbing and Canyoneering. Tours and Courses.Join our friendly knowledgeable guides for a trip that you're sure to remember. Come...

Tours

Arizona Golf Trails

Arizona Golf Trails provides luxury golf vacations to Arizona destinations. With a focus on Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tucson, we can put...

Golf

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

Nestled at the base of America's largest urban park and wilderness preserve, Arizona Grand Resort & Spa features spacious one-, two-...

The Old West

Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park

The Arizona Heritage Center features exhibits spanning more than 100 years of central Arizona's history and introduces visitors to the life...

Horseback Riding

Arizona Horseback Adventures

Spur Cross Stables is a guided horseback-riding ranch located on the site of an 1870s gold mine near Cave Creek -- just north of...

Tours

Arizona iNG Tours

Passionate Arizona locals lead fun, interactive tours throughout the Phoenix metro area, including a FREE historic Phoenix walking tour...

Galleries & Museums

Arizona Museum of Natural History

The Arizona Museum of Natural History is the premier natural history museum in Arizona dedicated to inspire wonder, respect and...

The Old West

Arizona National Livestock Show

Agriculture plays a vital role in both the history and economics of Arizona. Recent government statistics estimate Arizona agriculture is...

Performing Arts

Arizona Opera

Arizona Opera produces fully-staged operas, concerts, and collaborative programs throughout the state of Arizona each season. We are among...

Boating & Water

Arizona Rafting by Wilderness Aware

Head into the mountains of Arizona to experience a truly unique whitewater adventure on the Upper Salt River. As soon as you hit the river,...

Galleries & Museums

Arizona Railway Museum

The Arizona Railway Museum was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit, educational and historical organization. The Museum features a 1906 steam...

Discover

Cities & Regions

From the abundance of Saguaro cactuses and unique wildlife in the Sonoran Desert to the high country and forests of the White Mountains to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Arizona’s regions are full of experiences that don’t disappoint.