How to Spend The Perfect Weekend in Phoenix Itinerary

Weekend in Phoenix Day 1: Tourist Attractions

We typically start our trips by visiting a few tourist attractions on the first day and then diving deeper into the surrounding outdoor activities or neighborhoods on the following days.

1. Musical Instrument Museum

4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050, map | Tickets: $20-27

We’re not big on museums, but this one is great for anyone remotely interested in music. It’s the best museum you’ll ever hear, with 15,000 instruments from 200 countries and 400 TVs with 3-10 minutes each showcasing different musical instruments. When you arrive, they give you a headset that’s GPS activated when you walk close to a TV. They also have an Experience Gallery on the first floor where you can play the instruments, and we had a lot of fun there.

Local Tip: On average, people spend 2-3 hours, although it’s easy to spend the whole day here. One of the staff told us if we wanted to read and listen to everything, it could take 14 days.

Travel Tip: If you’re using Uber, search for MIM rather than Musical Instrument Museum and double-check the address. There is a Tempe location in their database that needs to be corrected.

See Related – 41 Amazing & Unusual Arizona Facts

2. Phoenix Art Museum

1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, map | Tickets: $24

Phoenix has a great art scene, and the Phoenix Art Museum has been serving the city since 1959. There are over 20,000 objects in two different wings, one with modern art and a permanent Kusama exhibit, and the other with more traditional art galleries. They also have a rotating exhibit, and when we went, it featured Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town, where you can see a manga-inspired world on giant canvases.

Local Tip: On Wednesdays after 3 PM, it’s Pay What You Wish Wednesdays, where you can decide how much to donate to visit.

3. Taliesin West

12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, map | Tickets: $39-49

Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright’s Desert Laboratory, where he and his apprentices spent their time. It’s the second Frank Lloyd Wright property we’ve visited since the Guggenheim in NYC.

You can go on a self-guided audio tour (60 mins), which is what we did, or a guided tour (90 mins). We liked going at our own pace with the audio tour but later realized a few areas were available only on the guided tour. If you have the time or are a huge Frank Lloyd Wright fan, you should do the guided tour.

We loved that he doesn’t just design buildings but designs spaces connected to their environments.

Local Tip: They run special events on their property, like a book club, a happy hour, and more. Check their site for the most updated info.

Pro Tip: The tour goes in one direction, so spend as much time in each space before moving forward. If you want to learn more before your visit, pre-download the Smartify app (for google play) and listen to the “Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Highlights Audio Tour – Sacred Spaces.” You don’t need to sign up or add any personal info. Just continue as a guest.

4. Desert Botanical Garden, Papago Park

1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, map | Tickets: $24.95-29.95

The Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park has a massive collection of over 50,000 arid plants from deserts around the world. Each area has a different theme, and our fave was the Organ Pipe Cactus garden.

Local Tip: Wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be doing some walking. Also, remember to reapply sunscreen!

See Related – Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens

5. Hole in the Rock, Papago Park

625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, map

Just around the corner from the Desert Botanical Garden is Hole in the Rock, one of Phoenix’s best places to view the sunset, along with downtown, Scottsdale, and Camelback Mountain. You can see the hole from the parking lot, but you follow the trail behind the rock feature and follow the stairs up to the entrance.

Local Tip: Visit during sunrise if you want to avoid crowds. So many people were there during sunset.

See Related – The Ultimate Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Road Trip

Weekend in Phoenix Day 2: Get Outside

As long as it’s not summer, you should get outside! There are amazing hikes within the city and many beautiful spots nearby.

6. Camelback Mountain

5150 N Invergordon Rd, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253, map

You’re bound to notice Camelback Mountain because of its unique silhouette. It’s a popular and challenging hike with two trails to the peak, and you can hike it one of three ways.

Cholla Trail (3 mi RT, 1,279 ft elevation gain, 2 hr 15 min) – longer and easier as long as you’re not afraid of heights. It has more exposure, which felt way scarier.

Echo Canyon Trail (2.5 mi RT, 1,420 ft elevation gain, 2 hr 15 min) – the steeper side with rails, but overall, way less scary than Cholla.

Point to Point Hike (2.4 mi point to point, 1,322 ft elevation gain, 2 hr 5 min) – will need a way to get back to your car

We did the point-to-point to experience both sides, going up the Cholla trail and down Echo Canyon trail. If you’re driving yourself, doing it point to point will take more coordinating, but if you’re ubering there and back, it’s not an issue. You’ll have a cell signal at both trailheads.

Local Tip: Always carry plenty of water and wear shoes with a solid grip and support. There is little to no shade throughout this hike, and I don’t recommend hiking it in the summer.

See Related – 15 Best Day Hikes in the US to Put On Your Bucket List

7. Desert Belle Cruises

14011 N Bush Hwy, Mesa, AZ 85215, map

The Dessert Belle has been cruising Saguaro Lake for over fifty years. It’s a great way to spot wildlife and see the surrounding canyons and the Sonoran Desert’s lush landscape. Plus, after a morning hike, it was a great way to relax and sit back enjoying the views.

There is an outdoor viewing deck upstairs and an air-conditioned area downstairs.

Local Tip: You cannot bring any food or drinks, but they sell refreshments on board. They also have special wine and live music cruises!

8. Lost Dutchman State Park

6109 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, map

Lost Dutchman State Park gives you amazing views of the Superstition Mountains. There are plenty of trails to hike or enjoy the views from the bottom. We visited previously for a friend’s elopement!

Local Tip: If you plan on going on a longer hike, bring a headlamp in case it gets dark.

9. Dobbins Lookout, South Mountain

33.345455,-112.0607659, map

South Mountain Park and Preserve is another great outdoor spot 6 miles south of downtown. There are 51 miles of trails exploring 16,000 acres of landscape. Since we did a hike earlier in the morning, we decided to drive up to Dobbins Lookout for sunset, where you get amazing views of the whole valley. Plus, if we’re going to hike, it’s not going to be to a drive-up spot.

Local Tip: Service is spotty in the park, so download any info you need to access it offline. We ubered down, and asked our driver if he could wait for us..

Weekend in Phoenix Day 3: Neighborhoods

If you have an extra full day or half day during your weekend in Phoenix or just want to replace one of the other activities, these are the places you should check out.

10. Downtown Mesa

30 S Sirrine, Mesa, AZ 85201, map

Downtown Mesa is a great area to spend a morning or afternoon, especially if you love craft beers. The main street has vintage shops, beautiful murals, sculptures, and a great brew scene. We stopped at Cider Corps, named one of the top ten cideries in the US by USA Today, then walked around and popped into different boutique shops.

Afterward, we headed to the nearby Asian District for some dessert and to pick up snacks for the rest of our trip.

Local Tip: Most spots downtown are closed on Mondays and some on Tuesdays, so go later in the week to take advantage of everything.

11. Old Town Scottsdale

33.4967687,-111.9348771, map

Old Town Scottsdale is another great neighborhood with plenty of shopping, dining, and nightlife. We met our friend for lunch at Farm & Craft. Afterward, we did some eye shopping around Old Town for western jewelry, decor, and art, before making our way over to Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, the largest luxury shopping mall in the greater Phoenix area.

12. Roosevelt Row

918 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, map

Roosevelt Row, or RoRo as the locals call it, is a historic neighborhood known for its local eateries, art galleries, small venues, boutiques, bars, and more. It also has murals that you can find throughout the area.

Local Tip: They hold a First Friday Monthly Art Walk that is popular among locals and visitors. It gets really busy so go early.

Hearth 61 Avocado ToastPostino Highland Bruschetta Board

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour Sake Haus Nigiri OmakaseBarrio Cafe’s famous Guac

We spent our last night at the Mountain Shadows Resort. The beautiful property has a modern, desert-chic aesthetic and is a mix of hotel rooms and private condos. The room was beautiful, and the amenities were even better. They had fitness classes we could join in on and a heated pool. Too bad we forgot our bathing suits!

For more hotel options, check the map below:

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