A first-timer’s guide to Phoenix, Arizona

10.06.2024 - 20:57 / lonelyplanet.com

Phoenix is the heart of the Valley of the Sun. It is the fifth-largest metro area in the US, but this city does not enthusiastically embrace the hustle and bustle of its counterparts. Instead, sunshine and saguaro cacti rule supreme, setting the scene for an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise.

Hikers, bikers, golfers and kayakers can find adventure anywhere in the Valley, from the White Tank Mountains on the west to the Salt River on the east. Poolside is rarely a bad place to be in Phoenix, especially as your Instagram feed shows you the latest bomb cyclone on the other coast. (Take a sip of your margarita every time a Phoenix local says, “At least it’s a dry heat!”)

The pink-streaked sunsets will stop you in your tracks, so take the time to savor them before diving into Phoenix’s buzzing nightlife.

And, please, don’t forget to hydrate.

Here’s everything you need to know for your first visit to Phoenix.

For your first trip, you can cover a lot of ground in three days. Add a fourth – or even a fifth – for a road trip to the hiking trails in Sedona, the ponderosa pines in Flagstaff, or the criminally underrated food scene in Tucson.

Let’s get the obvious part out of the way: summers are hot in Phoenix. As in, 110°F (43°C) – or worse – on a normal summer day. Yes, the air conditioning will be on full blast indoors, but it is dangerously warm for those hoping to enjoy Phoenix’s stunning outdoors. Avoid the worst of the heat by visiting late October to early May, and be sure to pack layers! Even the winter afternoons will have you ditching your jacket.

Luxury seekers, on the other hand, have a strong case for a summer visit to the Valley. Most resorts and spas offer hefty discounts to soften the blow of their slow season, so you can stay at award-winning properties for 20-40% off standard rates, plus other perks. The same goes for golf fanatics: You can score majorly discounted tee times at some of the best, most beautiful courses on the West Coast, but aim for the earliest available slot so you aren’t playing during peak heat.

Unlike most of the US, Phoenix is at its best in the winter. Mornings and nights are chilly, but most days you’re met with sunshine, bright blue skies and 60-70°F (15-21°C) temperatures. It’s chamber of commerce-type stuff. In February, the WM Phoenix Open, Scottsdale’s signature PGA Tour event known as “The Greatest Show on Grass,” attracts golf fans and partiers alike from across the country. That event rolls right into Major League Baseball’s Cactus League spring training, which runs mid-February through the end of March. If you want to be in the middle of the action, that’s the perfect time to visit the Valley. If you’re a budget-minded traveler, pounce on flights and hotels as early as