Phoenix walking tour & city guide

Downtown and Roosevelt Row

Downtown Phoenix has grown up quickly in recent years around the Arizona State University campus, sports arenas and the historic Heritage Square, where Victorian houses from the 1890s survive among the towers.

Just north, Roosevelt Row is the city's arts district, with murals, galleries and cafés in old bungalows. On the first Friday of each month, it hosts one of the largest art walks in the country.

Desert gardens and mountains

The Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park shows off thousands of desert plants along easy paths, and Hole-in-the-Rock nearby is a red sandstone formation with views over the city. Camelback Mountain and South Mountain Park offer some of the most popular hikes in the West, but start early and carry plenty of water.

A classic downtown walk

Start at Heritage Square and its restored Rosson House, then walk north past the Arizona Center and the Phoenix Convention Center to Roosevelt Row, where you can wander the side streets looking for murals. From here, head north along Central Avenue, lined with palms, to the Heard Museum.

The Heard is one of the best museums of Native American art and culture in the United States, set around peaceful courtyards with fountains. The walk is about 3 kilometers, and the light rail runs along the same route if the heat becomes too much.

Visiting tips

Visit from November to April, when days are warm and sunny. Summer temperatures often pass 40°C (104°F), so outdoor activity is best limited to early morning. Scottsdale is next door, Sedona is two hours north, and the Grand Canyon is about three and a half hours away.