Phoenix in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, and one of the most visited cities for a tour to the Grand Canyon. But, of course, it's more than just a stop-over city, and in two days you can marvel at all there is to see and do in Phoenix, with both cultural and outdoor offerings in its natural parks.

This city is home to a wide variety of museums for both children and adults, archaeological reserves, mysterious buildings and natural parks that offer beautiful views of the surrounding area. Here is an itinerary of highlights for you to get to know the city in 48 hours, although there is much more to discover with more time.

On your first day in Phoenix I suggest you visit the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in the morning and then return to the city centre to visit the Heard Museum and Pueblo Grande, which is an archaeological reserve and museum. In the afternoon, you can go to Papago Park for hiking and visit the Desert Botanical Garden, the Hall of Flame Museum and/or the Zoo.

The MIM is about an hour and a half bus ride from downtown Phoenix or about 20 minutes by car, so I recommend you start your tour early, or if your time is shorter, start directly at the Heard Museum, which is only 2 km from downtown Phoenix.

Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum is the furthest from the rest of the attractions on the itinerary, being about 33km from downtown Phoenix. The best option is to take a taxi or car, which will only take about 20 minutes. You can also go at the end of the day if you visit on a Wednesday, as it is open until 9pm.

The MIM is one of the best museums in Phoenix, where you can see a collection of some 7,500 different instruments from all over the world and from different eras, and you can even play some instruments in their experimental rooms.

• Location: 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
• Hours: Thursdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm, and Wednesdays from 10am to 9pm. Some Fridays it can be visited at 6pm and 7pm.
• Admission: from approximately €22 per person. On Wednesdays there is no fixed price, so you can pay whatever you want.

Heard Museum

From the MIM you have to go back to downtown Phoenix to go to the Heard Museum, the next point on the itinerary. I also recommend taking a taxi instead of the bus, as the bus will take you over an hour to get there. Another great option is to join a bike tour, as it's a very convenient way to get from one point to another and see the main attractions of Phoenix.

The Heard Museum is very interesting, as it exhibits Native American art and tells its history in first person. It also has a shop selling Native American art and artifacts, and a restaurant, the Courtyard Café, which is highly recommended for lunch.

• Location: 2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
• Admission: about 22 € for adults and about 9 € for children and teenagers. Children under 5 years old are free.

Rosson House

3.5 km from the Heard Museum is the Rossom House Museum, a historical museum which is part of Heritage Square, a block where you can see the legacy of the Victorian era in the city. You can reach the house by bus in about 25 minutes, or by taxi in about 10 minutes.

In addition to its iconic architecture, inside the museum you can see antique furnishings and artefacts that reflect the life of the era, and learn more about the life of the Rosson family who lived there. The house is often included in Phoenix ghost tours because of the strange occurrences that have been reported after one of its caretakers was murdered.

• Location: 113 N. Sixth St., Phoenix, AZ 85004.
• Hours: Friday-Sunday, 10am-3pm. Tours begin every hour.
• Admission: about €15 for adults and about €8 for children.

Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Park

Located about 6.5 km from the Casa Rosson, and can be reached by bus in about 20 minutes. In Pueblo Grande you can visit the museum and the archaeological park, where there are about 1600 petroglyphs made by Native Americans and you can see the remains of an ancient village and replicas of dwellings.

The park is not very large, and is about 400 metres from the museum. I recommend you visit the museum first to better understand the significance of the petroglyphs and ruins, and don't forget to bring a hat, water and sunscreen, especially if you're in Phoenix in the summer.

• Location: 4619 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85034.
• Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4:45pm, Sunday 1pm-4:45pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays in summer.
• Admission: about €6 for adults and €3 for children.

Papago Park

About 3 km from Pueblo Grande is Papago Park, where you can go hiking and/or see the attractions. I recommend taking a taxi, bike or car, as the bus takes the same time as walking.

Papago Park offers typical desert scenery, with sandstone and rock floors and characteristic flora and fauna. There are easy trails through the park, such as the 4km Double Butte Loop. These interpretive trails provide information about the park's flora and fauna.

• Location: 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008.
• Hours: Daily from 5am to 11pm. Hiking trails open at 11am.

Hall of Flame

Papago Park is home to the Hall of Flame, a Phoenix landmark museum with a large collection of vintage and modern fire vehicles, as well as artwork, fire extinguishers, clothing and other items related to the firefighting profession. It is the first attraction you come across when you arrive at Papago Park from Pueblo Grande and pays tribute to all firefighters and those who have died in service.

• Location: 6101 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008.
• Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
• Admission: about €16 for adults, about €14 for teens and from €10 for children.

Phoenix Zoo

One kilometre from the Hall of Flame is the city's Zoo, a great place to visit if you're in Phoenix with children. In addition to seeing animal species from around the world, you may be able to watch some of the animals being fed, if this coincides with your visit.

• Location: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir Suite 145, Tempe, AZ 85282.
• Hours: daily from 11am to 5pm.
• Admission fee: about €28 per person.

Optional: Hole in the Rock

If you enjoy hiking, don't miss the Hole in the Rock rock formation, which is located east of the park, about 600 metres from the Phoenix Zoo. It's a must-see for sunset viewing, as it has a beautiful panoramic view of Phoenix.

As the name suggests, this rock formation consists of a kind of hole in the rocks, a picture of which is often featured on postcards of Phoenix.

Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden is located about 2.4 km from Hole in the Rock, or 2 km from the Phoenix Zoo, in Papago Park itself. If you drive, you can take a paved road to get there, or you can walk (30 min) or bike (5 min). In this garden you can see about 20,000 plants, mainly cacti and desert plants, and the artistic decoration of the garden with beautiful sculptures.

The place is open until 8pm and often hosts shows, concerts and other events that may coincide with your visit. The garden with the illuminated plants at night is one of the best things to see in Phoenix.

• Location: 1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008. USA.
• Hours: daily from 7am to 8pm.
• Price: from €15 per person. Children under the age of 3 are free.

Start your second day in Phoenix at Camelback Mountain, where you'll have a 360° panoramic view of the city. On the way down you can see the street art of Roosevelt Row and pass by the Phoenix Art Museum before heading to South Mountain Park and the Mystery Castle near the entrance.

As for distances, these attractions are a bit far apart, so it's a good idea to start your tour early in the morning. Also, on extremely hot days, such as in December and January in Phoenix, Camelback Mountain cannot be climbed between 11am and 5pm due to the high temperatures.

Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain is located 20 km from downtown Phoenix. You can get there in an hour and a half by bus or about 25 minutes by car or taxi. There are two trails, the Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail, that you can take to ascend the rock formations, which offer unmissable panoramic views of the city. Keep in mind that you need to be in good physical shape to do the trails, and that each trail can take 2-3 hours.

You can also opt not to hike to the top, and simply walk around and take in the scenery from the viewpoints. You can even enjoy the views from the patio of a bar or restaurant over coffee, a refreshing drink or brunch.

Phoenix Art Museum

From Camelback Mountain to the Phoenix Art Museum is about 20 km (12 miles), which can be done by bus in an hour or by car or taxi in 20 minutes. Here you can see some 20,000 pieces from different historical periods, including works by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Gilbert Stuart.

On Wednesdays from 3 p.m. onwards, admission is free, so you can leave your contribution at the museum.

• Location: 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
• Hours: Thursdays to Sundays from 10am to 5pm, and Wednesdays from 10am to 9pm. Some Fridays it can be visited at 6pm and 7pm.
• Admission: from approximately €22 per person. There is no fixed price on Wednesdays.

Roosevelt Row Arts District

About 1.5 km from the Phoenix Art Museum is the street known as 1 ½ Street, where you will find the art of about 12 local artists in street murals. This street is located in the Roosevelt Row Arts District, a neighbourhood known for its art galleries, festivals and cultural offerings.

You can reach this street by bus in 10 minutes, by car in 5 minutes or by walking in about 20 minutes. If you're walking and have time, you can stop by the Phoenix Japanese Garden, where you can relax and unwind by the water fountains and waterfalls, and the harmony of the gardens.

Mystery Castle

12 km from 1 ½ Street is Mystery Castle, a castle that can be reached in an hour by bus or 20 minutes by car or taxi. The castle, built by Boyce Luther Gulley for his daughter in 1930, has a very original architecture. In addition, recycled materials such as tyres, plough discs and telephone poles were used in its construction.

You may not be able to get in, as it closes early and is not open to the public year-round, but it's a castle worth seeing from the outside and is a great stop on your way to South Mountain Park.

• Location: 800 E Mineral Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85042.
• Hours: Thursdays to Sundays 11am to 3pm, October to May only.
• Admission: from €10 for adults and €5 for children.

South Mountain Park

The Mystery Castle is located in the southwestern part of South Mountain Park. It is the largest municipal park in the United States, covering some 6,500 hectares. You can hike some of its low, medium or high difficulty trails to see the region's desert landscape and learn about its distinctive plants and animals.

South Mountain Park offers incredible views of Phoenix from high above, and the chance to see some unmissable sunsets. It's ideal if you visit Phoenix in October, when it's autumn and the weather is nicer for hiking.

Itinerary summary: 2 days in Phoenix

This is the end of my suggested itinerary for getting to know Phoenix, with a variety of activities to get to know both the cultural life and the natural desert landscapes. If the day's activities haven't exhausted you, there are many interesting things to do at night in Phoenix, such as the bars and restaurants of the Roosevelt Row District.

If you stay an extra day in the city, I recommend you visit the city of Sedona, where you can take some of the best desert tours from Phoenix.