Phoenix travel guide

About Phoenix

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, Phoenix is the fifth-most populous city in the United States and the most populous state capital. The Phoenix metropolitan area, with an estimated 5.19 million residents, is the tenth-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. and the most populous in the Mountain states and Southwest. Phoenix is the county seat of Maricopa County in the Salt River Valley and Arizona Sun Corridor and, with an area of 517.9 square miles, is the largest city by area in Arizona and 11th-largest city by area in the United States.

Cheap flights to Phoenix

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $936 from Dublin, travelling 22 May – 5 Jun. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

• LON London to Phoenix8 Feb – 15 Feb · PHX from$990
• DUB Dublin to Phoenix22 May – 5 Jun · PHX from$936
• EDI Edinburgh to Phoenix12 Dec – 15 Dec · PHX from$1,265
• PRG Prague to Phoenix16 Mar – 6 Apr · PHX from$1,314
• MAN Manchester to Phoenix26 Nov – 2 Dec · PHX from$1,346
• CPH Copenhagen to Phoenix13 Sep – 17 Sep · PHX from$1,181
• BHX Birmingham to Phoenix22 Feb – 3 Mar · PHX from$1,158
• GLA Glasgow to Phoenix29 Jan – 3 Feb · PHX from$1,391

Cheapest month to fly

Airlines travellers compared most often: Finnair, Aer Lingus, United Airlines.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 12 Oct and 11 Nov 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

Places to visit in Phoenix

1. 

   Desert Botanical Garden

   Park · 8 mi from centre

   Trails through thousands of cactus and desert plant species set against red buttes in Papago Park; mornings and evenings are the most comfortable times to visit.

2. 

   Heard Museum

   Museum · 2 mi from centre

   A museum devoted to American Indian art and culture, with strong collections of Southwest pottery, textiles, jewelry and kachina dolls, plus contemporary Native work. Its shop sells authentic Native-made art.

3. 

   Camelback Mountain

   Nature · 8 mi from centre

   A steep, rocky summit hike in the middle of the metro area rewarding fit hikers with panoramic views; start early and carry plenty of water in warm months.

4. 

   Musical Instrument Museum

   Museum

   Thousands of instruments from around the world presented with video and audio headsets, plus a room where visitors can try playing many of them. Plan at least half a day.

5. 

   Papago Park

   Park

   Red sandstone buttes and easy trails, including the short climb to Hole-in-the-Rock, offering classic desert scenery and sunset views near the zoo and botanical garden.

6. 

   Taliesin West

   Historic · 17 mi from centre

   Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio in Scottsdale, built from desert stone and canvas, visited on guided tours that explain his organic architecture. Booking tours ahead is recommended.

7. South Mountain Park

   Nature · 8 mi from centre

   One of the largest municipal parks in the U.S., with miles of hiking and biking trails and the Dobbins Lookout offering wide views over the city.

8. 

   Phoenix Art Museum

   Museum · 1 mi from centre

   A broad collection of American, Asian, European and Western art, along with fashion design and the popular Thorne miniature rooms. It sits on the Central Avenue light rail line, making it easy to reach from downtown.

Top experiences in Phoenix

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 5 available.

Travel Services

SmartSIM USA - eSIM All Access Pass

• 1 day
• Free cancellation

From $10 per adult

Shows, sports and special events

Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center

• 2 hours

From $111 per adult

Where to stay in Phoenix

Popular hotels in Phoenix, out of 498 properties you can book.

The McCormick Scottsdale

• Scottsdale

From $90 per night

FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel

• Downtown

From $226 per night

Doubletree By Hilton Phoenix Mesa

• Mesa

From $151 per night

Arizona Biltmore, LXR Hotels & Resorts

• Northern Phoenix

From $803 per night

Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort

• Northern Phoenix

From $138 per night

DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix North

• Northern Phoenix
• 8.03 reviews

From $113 per night

The Scott Resort & Spa

• Scottsdale

From $256 per night

Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix North Happy Valley

• Northern Phoenix

From $230 per night

Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Tempe

• Tempe

From $259 per night

Home2 Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Salt River

• Scottsdale

From $308 per night

Hyatt Place Phoenix/Mesa

• Mesa

From $249 per night

Home2 Suites by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town

• Scottsdale

From $225 per night

Best time to visit Phoenix

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Phoenix is February and November to December, when average daytime highs are around 71–75°F and rain falls on about 3 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Phoenix weather forecast

• Wed 11 Nov 84° 56° 0%
• Thu 12 Nov 85° 55° 0%
• Fri 13 Nov 78° 66° 23%
• Sat 14 Nov 71° 65° 30%
• Sun 15 Nov 71° 64° 5%
• Mon 16 Nov 75° 65° 32%

Know before you go

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English

Calling code

+1

Driving

On the right

Time zone

America/PhoenixUTC−7

Capital

Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

• Wed 11 NovVeterans Day
• Thu 26 NovThanksgiving Day
• Fri 25 DecChristmas Day
• Fri 1 JanNew Year's Day
• Mon 18 JanMartin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mon 15 FebPresidents DayWashington's Birthday

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Phoenix

These are the airports closest to central Phoenix. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• PHX Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport4 mi (6 km) from the city centre
• DVT Phoenix Deer Valley Airport17 mi (27 km) from the city centre
• LUF Luke Air Force Base19 mi (30 km) from the city centre

Getting around Phoenix

Like many metro areas in the Southwest, Phoenix and its surroundings are pretty car centric. If you plan to stay or visit any of the cities on the periphery of the metro area, a car will likely be required. However, if you plan to stick to the immediate Phoenix area (including Tempe), the Light Rail is a viable option, with an all-day adult pass costing $4. So if you are in the United States without a car, consider that. There are also rental scooters with drop-off points at almost every block in the city center.

By e-scooter

The fastest and most comfortable way to get around downtown, especially in summer months when temperatures soar, is by e-scooter. The most popular rental company is Lime, their scooters are easily recognizable by their green and black color scheme. There are over 1000 scooters in the downtown area, which can be rented and dropped off in any of 400 stations.

By car

The new Car Rental Facility for the Phoenix Airport is just west of the airport. National polls have shown that Phoenix is the 4th most expensive city in terms of surcharges in the nation. Car rental companies are required to add 29% (that's twenty-nine percent!) to your bill to pay for this state-of-the-art building. Take a cab or public transit to a local office of a car rental company. Do not tell them you are flying in.

By public transit

Valley Metro provides public transit for the entire Phoenix metro area, with an extensive bus and light rail system. Bus lines run along every major street about every 30 minutes on average, though coverage gets spotty once you get to the further suburbs. There are also two kinds of express busses, the Express and the RAPID, which run from various park-and-ride centers to downtown.

Phoenix travel FAQ