By Phoenix packs a real downtown, a serious mountain-hiking scene, and some of the best museums in the Southwest into one metro area, which is why “things to do in Phoenix” covers so much ground. This guide is built as a starting point. Each section below answers one specific version of that question, whether you’re planning a full weekend, filling a free evening tonight, or looking for something to do with kids on a 110-degree afternoon. Where a topic deserves its own full breakdown, we link out to that dedicated guide.
The Best (and Top) Things to Do in Phoenix Right Now
If you only have time to skim one list, start here. Camelback Mountain is the signature hike, with two routes (Echo Canyon and Cholla) that each gain roughly 1,200 feet to the summit, according to Visit Phoenix. The Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo share Papago Park, so you can pair a short hike with two major attractions in one afternoon. The Heard Museum and the Musical Instrument Museum, which Visit Phoenix notes is the world’s largest of its kind, cover culture on the days the desert is too hot to be outside. Old Town Scottsdale rounds it out for shopping, galleries, and nightlife a short drive from downtown.
Full guide: Best Things to Do in Phoenix (Top Things to Do in Phoenix)
Things to Do in Phoenix This Weekend (and This Week)
Weekend planning in Phoenix comes down to timing more than options. Saturday mornings are the best window for Camelback Mountain or South Mountain Park and Preserve, since parking fills up fast and, in summer, trails close by 8 a.m. under an Excessive Heat Warning. Save Saturday afternoon for an indoor stop like the Phoenix Art Museum, then use Saturday evening for Roosevelt Row, which runs a self-guided art walk on First Fridays specifically. Sunday works well for a slower morning at Papago Park followed by brunch in downtown or Old Town Scottsdale. If your weekend falls on a First Friday, build the evening around Roosevelt Row and expect a busier, more festival-like crowd than a typical weekend.
Full guide: Things to Do in Phoenix This Weekend
Things to Do in Phoenix Today and Tonight
For same-day plans, the practical question is time of day, not day of the week. During the hottest months, check the City of Phoenix trail closure status before committing to any hike today, since Camelback, Piestewa Peak, and parts of South Mountain close from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Excessive Heat Warning days. If it’s already past that window, shift to an indoor option (see below) or wait for evening, when Roosevelt Row, downtown restaurants, and Old Town Scottsdale’s restaurant and bar scene pick up. Phoenix doesn’t have a single “nightlife district” the way some cities do. Downtown, Old Town Scottsdale, and Tempe’s Mill Avenue each offer a different flavor of evening, so “what to do tonight” really depends on which of those three you’re closest to.
Full guide: Things to Do in Phoenix Today / Tonight
Free Things to Do in Phoenix
Several of the best things to do in Phoenix cost nothing beyond gas or a rideshare fare. Papago Park’s hiking and biking trails are free, as is walking through Roosevelt Row on any day of the week. Several museums, including the Phoenix Art Museum, offer reduced-price or donation-based admission during specific hours, listed on each museum’s own site since these change. Camelback Mountain and South Mountain Park and Preserve charge nothing to hike, though Camelback’s trailhead parking lots are small and fill early.
Full guide: Free Things to Do in Phoenix
Things to Do in Downtown Phoenix
Downtown is the most walkable part of the city and the easiest to reach without a car, since Valley Metro’s light rail runs directly through it. Within a few blocks you can cover the Arizona Science Center, Chase Field, Footprint Center, the Phoenix Art Museum, and Roosevelt Row’s gallery district. Heritage Square preserves several of the city’s oldest homes and sits within walking distance of most of the above, making it an easy add-on rather than a separate trip.
Full guide: Things to Do in Downtown Phoenix
Things to Do in Phoenix with Kids and Family
Family days in Phoenix work best when they alternate outdoor and indoor stops, given how much of the year runs hot. Papago Park is the easiest starting point, since the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden sit next to short, manageable trails. The Musical Instrument Museum includes hands-on activities built for kids, and the Arizona Science Center downtown is designed entirely around interactive exhibits, which makes it a reliable option regardless of the weather. For families with younger kids who want to hike, the shorter loop trails at Papago Park are a better fit than Camelback Mountain, which is strenuous even for many adults.
Full guide: Things to Do in Phoenix with Kids (Family Things to Do in Phoenix)
Unique and Fun Things to Do in Phoenix, AZ
A few Phoenix experiences don’t have a close equivalent elsewhere. The Musical Instrument Museum’s global collection is one, and Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another, offering guided tours through grounds he designed specifically for the desert. Sunrise hot air balloon rides over the Sonoran Desert are a popular seasonal activity offered by several local operators; check individual company sites directly for current pricing and availability, since we can’t verify third-party tour pricing here. For an easier, one-of-a-kind stop, Papago Park’s Hole-in-the-Rock formation gives you a short walk and a genuinely different desert view than a standard hiking trail.
Full guide: Unique Things to Do in Phoenix / Fun Things to Do in Phoenix, AZ
Indoor Things to Do in Phoenix
Phoenix’s museum scene exists partly because of its climate, and it shows. The Heard Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, and the Arizona Science Center all give you a full, air-conditioned afternoon without setting foot on a trail. This matters most from roughly late May through September, when the City of Phoenix recorded 121 days at or above 105°F in 2024. Pairing an indoor stop with an early-morning outdoor one is the most reliable way to build a full day here in summer.
Full guide: Indoor Things to Do in Phoenix
Tourist Things to Do in Phoenix: A First-Timer’s Starting Point
If this is your first trip, aim for one outdoor stop, one museum, and one neighborhood per day rather than trying to cover the whole list above at once. A realistic first day: an early hike at Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden or Phoenix Zoo in the late morning, and an evening in downtown Phoenix or Old Town Scottsdale. Three to four days covers the highlights in this guide comfortably; add extra days if you plan to fit in a day trip.
Full guide: Tourist Things to Do in Phoenix
Things to Do In and Around Phoenix (Day Trips)
Phoenix’s location puts a few major destinations within a manageable drive. The Superstition Mountains and Goldfield Ghost Town sit about an hour east. Sedona is roughly two hours north. The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is a longer day trip at around three and a half to four hours each way, more realistic as an overnight than a same-day round trip. Closer to town, tubing the Lower Salt River is a popular warm-weather activity through the Tonto National Forest, which manages the area.
Full guide: Things to Do In and Around Phoenix
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Phoenix?
Camelback Mountain, the Desert Botanical Garden, the Heard Museum, and Old Town Scottsdale consistently top most lists. The right mix for you depends on whether you’re prioritizing the outdoors, culture, or nightlife.
What can you do in Phoenix this weekend?
Plan outdoor activities for Saturday morning, an indoor museum for the afternoon, and downtown or Old Town Scottsdale for the evening. If your weekend includes a First Friday, build the evening around Roosevelt Row’s art walk.
What is there to do in Phoenix tonight? Downtown Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, and Tempe’s Mill Avenue each offer a different evening scene, from restaurants and bars to live entertainment. Which one makes sense depends on which part of the Valley you’re staying in.
What are good indoor things to do in Phoenix when it’s too hot outside?
The Musical Instrument Museum, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and Arizona Science Center are all fully indoor and air-conditioned, making them reliable options during the hottest months.
Are there free things to do in Phoenix?
Yes. Hiking at Papago Park, walking Roosevelt Row, and hiking Camelback Mountain or South Mountain Park and Preserve all cost nothing, though some museums charge for general admission.
What are unique things to do in Phoenix you can’t do elsewhere?
Touring Taliesin West, visiting the world’s largest Musical Instrument Museum, and taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert are each fairly specific to the region.
Final Thoughts
Phoenix has enough range that “things to do” looks different depending on your timeline, budget, and who you’re traveling with. Use this guide as the map, then follow the linked deep-dive guides above for the version of the question that matches your actual plan. Conditions, hours, and prices change, so confirm details on each attraction’s official site before you go.
For more on how our guides are researched, see our editorial policy and why trust us pages. Spot something out of date? Let us know.