Phoenix is the Valley of the Sun: a desert city of saguaros and sunrises, where you can float over the Sonoran Desert at dawn, hike a mountain in the middle of town and still make dinner downtown. This guide gathers the best of Phoenix, with the places and tours our readers love most.
Camelback and the desert peaks
Camelback Mountain is Phoenix’s iconic desert summit, watching over the valley from the middle of the city. Locals swear by Piestewa Peak for their fitness climb, the drive-up panorama of Dobbins Lookout on South Mountain, and the natural window of Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park — the easiest great sunset in town.
Desert history: Pueblo Grande and Heritage Square
The city is older than it looks: Pueblo Grande preserves 1,500 years of Hohokam desert history minutes from the airport, and Heritage Square is Phoenix’s Victorian time capsule, the last original block of the 1895 townsite.
Downtown: Roosevelt Row and the parks
Roosevelt Row is Phoenix’s colorful arts district — murals, galleries and First Fridays. Cool off in Encanto Park, the oasis of central Phoenix, or on the green rooftop of Margaret T. Hance Park above the freeway deck.
Balloon sunrises over the Sonoran Desert
The quintessential Phoenix morning: a sunrise hot air balloon ride with bubbly and breakfast over the desert, the classic balloon flight over a sea of saguaros, or a golden-hour afternoon balloon when the mountains turn pink.
Off-road thrills and canyon day trips
Trade pavement for dust on the guided desert ATV tour through the Sonoran Desert. For the big icons, the Grand Canyon & Sedona small-group tour is the best day trip from Phoenix, and the Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon tour pairs two desert wonders in one unforgettable day.
Hikes, river days and desert flavors
Hike the icon itself on the Camelback Mountain hiking adventure, paddle past wild horses on the Salt River kayak tour, and taste the city on the Roosevelt Row food tour — seven tastings through the coolest neighborhood in Phoenix.
Planning your days? Our Phoenix itineraries — from one perfect day to five — map out the balloons, hikes and canyon trips hour by hour. And subscribe to the Happy City News newsletter for Phoenix’s best events, every week.
