Phoenix, AZ

Best time to visit Phoenix

• Winter (December to February): One of the best times to visit Phoenix. Relatively cool temperatures provide excellent conditions for hiking and other outdoor activities, with holiday celebrations as a bonus. 
• Spring (March to May): This time of year offers lovely Phoenix weather, with baseball spring training and exciting events, including the Arizona Renaissance Festival.
• Summer (June to August): Higher temperatures, so plan to do outdoor activities early in the morning and indoor museum visits later in the day.
• Fall (September to November): The weather starts to cool, and the month-long Arizona State Fair offers plenty of vacation entertainment.

How many days to spend in Phoenix

Three to four days lets you tour top sights like the Musical Instrument Museum and Desert Botanical Garden on your Phoenix visit. Extend your trip to five to seven days if you want to do all-day activities like golf, hiking, excursions to Sedona’s red rocks or Flagstaff skiing.

The vibe of Phoenix

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, it's no wonder Phoenix, Arizona is known for lifting spirits. Both residents and visitors embrace the great weather year-round while taking part in outdoor adventures, from hiking and ATV desert rides to teeing off at world-class golf courses or strolling through the city’s unique desert botanical garden. As you explore this vast metropolis, the fifth-largest in the U.S., you’ll feel the city’s welcoming energy. Phoenix offers a rich tourism experience, blending historic cowboy culture and Mexican heritage with a vibrant modern scene, filled with creative attractions, dining hot spots, nightlife and professional sports.

What is Phoenix famous for?

Phoenix is famous for year-round sun and gorgeous mountain and desert beauty; featuring both, Desert Botanical Garden is a top attraction. Golfers are drawn to 100+ courses and the PGA Phoenix Open. It’s also known for spectacular outdoor trails for hikers of all abilities. Follow the wheelchair-accessible Judith Tunnel Trail in the South Mountains or challenging Camelback Mountain trails. Does the Phoenix city scape and landscape look familiar? The cult movie classic, Raising Arizona, was filmed here. Phoenix pro sports are big, with the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) and Phoenix Mercury (WNBA).

Events in Phoenix

Phoenix hosts major sports events year-round, starting with January’s college football Fiesta Bowl. February brings the fan-favorite Phoenix Open golf tournament, followed by baseball’s Cactus League Spring Training (February-March), Arizona Diamondbacks games (late March-November) and WNBA Mercury games (May-September). The city’s multicultural celebrations honor Indian, Chinese, Japanese (February), South Pacific Islander (March) and Greek cultures (October). Don’t miss LGBTQ+ events like the Phoenix Rainbows Festival (April) and Phoenix Pride Festival (October). Other unique Phoenix events include the Hoop Dance Contest (February), Ostrich Festival (March) and Flashlight Nights at the Desert Botanical Garden (June-September). For music lovers, April’s Country Thunder is a must.

Food in Phoenix

If you're heading to the heart of the American Southwest and hoping to find authentic Mexican food, you won’t be disappointed. In Phoenix, you’ll find classic staples like tacos and burritos, or you can try chilaquiles (tortillas, salsa, eggs and cheese), nogales (cactus) and mole (spicy chocolate sauce). Accompany your meal with a prickly pear lemonade or margarita, deliciously cold and refreshing. Downtown Phoenix has all this plus other exciting dishes, from Japanese sushi and wagyu beef to African piri piri (pepper) chicken. Cowboys drove cattle through the streets of Scottsdale until the 1950s. Today, reminders of that history are still around in Phoenix’s many high-end steakhouses.

Nightlife in Phoenix

Head to Downtown Phoenix for vibrant nightlife, where you can enjoy an evening concert at the Phoenix Symphony Hall or catch a stage performance at the historic Orpheum Theatre. Join locals cheering on the Suns, Mercury or Diamondbacks and celebrate their win afterward by hopping between sports bars and listening to live music. You’ll also find late-night rooftop bars, comedy clubs, cigar bars and tucked-away speakeasies that open their doors for you to linger over beer or margaritas. Old Town Scottsdale is a walkable neighborhood with additional eclectic choices. Think line dancing, wine bars, quiet lounges and outdoor fire pits when the weather takes on a chill.

Shopping in Phoenix

Fashion shopping in Phoenix runs the gamut, from bargains at Tanger Outlets to upscale boutiques and national brands at Biltmore Fashion Park. Browse or buy vintage treasures at one of the two Brass Armadillo Antique Malls. Roosevelt Row Arts District is the place to see street art, visit artists-in-studio and purchase one-of-a-kind items that bring you joy. Foodies can find Southwest specialties at farmers market locations in Uptown, downtown and surrounding town centers. Desert Ridge Marketplace has a bit of everything, with national brand and boutique shopping, casual and fine dining and a Sunday farmers market. The mall also features regular live music, kid-friendly activities and seasonal events.