17 Best Things to Do in Phoenix

To see the Arizona desert at its best, start with the Desert Botanical Garden. Located in Papago Park, this 140-acre garden features over 50,000 plant displays showcased in outdoor exhibits, meticulously maintained by nearly 200 staff and 700 volunteers.

From towering cacti to blooming wildflowers, the Desert Botanical Garden features approximately 4,500 unique species that thrive in the Phoenix desert ecosystem. Of these thousands of species, about 544 are rare and endangered, offering a unique opportunity to learn about these plants under the care of attentive cultivators.

The Desert Botanical Garden regularly hosts rotating art exhibits and seasonal events, and its packed schedule features interactive exhibits, educational programs, and family-oriented events.

You'll cover a lot of ground as you tour through the expansive garden. Bring comfortable shoes and hot-weather gear, including sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and water. Aside from service dogs, pets aren't allowed in the garden.

For an active adventure just a short drive from downtown Phoenix, the Hole-in-the-Rock trail provides a look at Papago Park's distinct geological features. This 0.3-mile trail leads to a striking sandstone formation with numerous eroded holes and a center chamber. Historians believe the prehistoric Hohokam civilization used the rock formation to track the sun's position, equinoxes, and solstices. After ascending the 200 steps to the formation, you'll be treated to expansive views of downtown Phoenix, lagoons, and the broader desert landscape.

If 0.3 miles isn't enough hiking, you can also access nearby trails in the park: Nature Trail, Ranger Office Loop Trail, Big Butte Loop Trail, Double Butte Loop Trail, Elliot Ramada Loop Trail, and Papago 5k Fitness Trail.

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is an enriching experience for music and culture enthusiasts. The museum focuses on exhibiting musical diversity, featuring a collection of more than 7,500 instruments from over 200 countries and territories. By offering insights and hands-on experience into the kinds of instruments people play every day around the world, MIM's galleries reflect how music shapes and connects cultures.

MIM features numerous galleries and events to explore. The Experience Gallery is an interactive exhibit where guests can play some of the instruments displayed throughout the museum, such as a Peruvian harp or West African djembe.

Don't miss the Octobasse experience, one of the few replicas of the original 1849 French invention. Over 6.5 feet tall and featuring a system of levers and pedals to play the strings, this instrument has an almost imperceptibly low range. MIM also hosts regular concerts to showcase and celebrate global music.

No trip to Phoenix is complete without a visit to the award-winning Fry Bread House. Established in 1992 by Cecelia Miller, a Tohono O'odham woman, it was a gathering place for those displaced from their ancestral homes to enjoy Native American food. Now operated by Cecilia Miller's children, Fry Bread shares classic sweet or savory fry bread recipes, fry bread tacos, and an assortment of other culinary selections.

The Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately-owned nonprofit zoo in the country and a must-visit center for animal and natural conservation. Home to over 3,000 animals and 400 species, many of which are endangered or threatened species, the zoo focuses on wildlife and habitat conservation. The organization collaborates with universities, private land managers, and other conservation organizations to better understand and support local native species and others worldwide.

Visits to the Phoenix Zoo take you along about 2.5 miles of walking paths divided into the Arizona, Africa, Tropics, and Children's trails. You can see large predators such as cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, monkeys, rhinos, and elephants. The zoo also highlights Arizona's plant life and wildlife, including coyotes, mountain lions, Mexican wolves, and various reptiles and amphibians.

The Phoenix Bat Cave is home to a large colony of Mexican Free-Tailed bats. This unique wildlife viewing experience offers a fascinating glimpse into the bats' migration.

The Bat Cave is technically a storm drain; somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 bats rest in the tunnel during the day. These numbers can double before they migrate. This bat species forms a maternal colony and often births baby bats on their route south. The bats emerge at dusk in droves to hunt insects along the canal, often zooming right past people. While you can't miss the cloud of bats itself, you might miss them as they fly past — these bats have among the fastest horizontal speeds.

Curious Nature may not be a traditional tourist attraction, but it's still an essential visit and one of the coolest things to do in Phoenix. Located in downtown Phoenix, Curious Nature is, in their words, "A natural history and science emporium for all things fantastic and strange."

The emporium is stocked with items from the natural world, such as ethically sourced taxidermy animals, skulls, bones, exotic plants, and other collectibles. It's far from stuffy or creepy — instead, the store is a wonder of elegant oddities. The shop's owner and staff are enthusiasts of the natural world and welcome opportunities to educate their visitors.

Camelback Mountain is a highlight of Phoenix for any hiking enthusiast visitor. Located in the middle of the Phoenix Valley, Camelback Mountain gets its name from its distinctive silhouette, which resembles the hump of a camel's back. With a 2,704-foot elevation at the summit, Camelback Mountain provides panoramic views of the encircling city.

Visitors earn the view — Echo Canyon and Cholla, the two main trails in the area, are strenuous and challenging. Expect steep ascents with handrails, exposed rock, and hand-over-hand climbing. Remember that these trails may not be accessible during peak temperatures, and dogs aren't allowed on the main trails. Visitors should practice proper trail etiquette and leave this natural area as they found it.

Traveling to Phoenix? Book a room at one of our affordable, pet-friendly hotels.