24 Of The Best Things To See And Do In Scottsdale, Arizona

A desert escape

Offering 300 or more days of sunshine per year, five-star resorts, world-class golf courses, prime mid-century modern landmarks, fine dining and some of the most affluent neighbourhoods in the US, Scottsdale is nothing short of a desert oasis. Scottsdale’s visitors bask in a dry heat, perfect for hiking among saguaro cacti, practising on the driving range or lounging by the pool with a prickly pear margarita in hand. Here are the top things to do.

Explore Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale is a charming district with a distinct Southwestern flair. The architecture exudes a time-capsule charm, featuring adobe-style buildings, wooden storefronts and terracotta roofs, and the area is teeming with art galleries, boutique stores, Wild West style saloons and restaurants too. Visitors can explore Native American arts and crafts, browse trendy boutiques, savour spicy Southwestern cuisine and enjoy regular live music and cultural events.

Hike the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Spanning more than 30,000 acres, the preserve protects a diverse and pristine landscape with stirring desert vistas, towering mountains and abundant wildlife. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore an extensive network of well-maintained trails suitable for various skill levels – perfect for hiking, biking and horseback riding amid the captivating beauty of the Arizona desert.

Take a hot air balloon ride

A hot-air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset is unforgettable. As you gently ascend into the vast desert skies, the Sonoran landscape unfolds below, showcasing its rugged beauty. Experienced pilots ensure safety while narrating fascinating tales about the history of ballooning and the region’s geology. After landing, you’ll celebrate with sparkling wine mimosas and a traditional toast. 

Tour Taliesin West

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, Taliesin West was the winter home and architectural laboratory of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Built by Wright and his apprentices in the 1930s, and constantly expanded and modified until his death in 1959, the site is a masterpiece of Wright's design principles and organic architecture. Taliesin West rises from – and is part of – the Sonoran Desert, built by gathering rocks and sand to keep the design in balance with its environment.

The most beautiful building in every state

Visit the Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) houses over 15,000 musical instruments from around the world, including Prince’s piano, Keith Moon’s drum kit, and guitars belonging to Steve Vai, Santana, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash and Johnny Ramone. MIM offers an immersive journey through the global history of music and its diverse cultures, and visitors can marvel at beautifully crafted instruments and enjoy live performances representing a wide range of musical genres. Don’t miss the Experience Gallery, where guests of all ages will find guitars to strum, rattles to shake and gongs to bang. 

Enjoy ArtWalk

Thursday Night ArtWalk in Old Town Scottsdale is a lively event that showcases the city's thriving art scene. Every Thursday evening, art enthusiasts flock to the streets to explore a diverse array of galleries and studios that throw their doors open for the night. Expect paintings, sculptures and photography from talented local artists and international legends. As visitors meander through the charming Old Town, they can engage in conversations with artists, attend art demonstrations and purchase unique pieces to take home. 

Explore the Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden features a diverse collection of 50,000 arid-land plants from deserts worldwide, set amid the striking red rocks of Papago Buttes. The garden's thematic trails showcase conservation, desert living, Sonoran Desert plants and people, and desert wildflowers. Visitors can also participate in workshops and lectures on landscaping, horticulture, art, photography and wellness. The garden offers specialised tours, seasonal exhibits, concerts, family activities and a gift shop, and as an Arizona icon for over 82 years, it serves as a pioneer in desert conservation.

Shop at Scottsdale Fashion Square

Scottsdale Fashion Square – one of the largest malls in the Southwest –  is a premier shopping destination renowned for its upscale offerings and chic ambiance. With more than 200 stores, including luxury brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel, the mall caters to discerning shoppers seeking the latest fashion trends and high-end accessories. Besides fashion, visitors can explore an impressive selection of dining options, beauty products and home furnishings. 

These are the best shopping malls in the US

Play golf

Despite its location in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale is a golfer's paradise. The area is home to more than 200 courses, ranging from world-renowned championship layouts to scenic desert oases for both novices and seasoned pros. Visitors can tee off at prestigious courses like Troon North, TPC Scottsdale and Grayhawk, which all host major tournaments. For a unique experience, there are desert-style courses, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. 

Incredibly beautiful golfing destinations you have to see to believe

Learn about the Wild West

Learn about the rich history of the American frontier at Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. Located in Old Town Scottsdale, the museum houses a collection of artefacts, artworks and exhibits that showcase the spirit of the frontier and its diverse peoples. Visitors can learn about Native American tribes, pioneers and iconic figures of the West through displays and interactive experiences. 

Hike Camelback Mountain

The area’s most prominent landmark, Camelback Mountain features sheer red cliffs, the Praying Monk rock formation and the familiar camel's silhouette. The 76-acre park is a favourite hiking and climbing spot, and Camelback Mountain’s titular hump draws thousands of hikers each year. It’s not for the faint hearted, however: the two main trails – Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail – comprise the vast majority of hiking opportunities, and are rated 'extremely difficult'. Trekkers are subject to steep elevation gains, very uneven terrain and a traverse that is unprotected from the elements. 

Visit SMoCA

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) offers a diverse collection of contemporary artworks, showcasing cutting-edge, political and thought-provoking pieces from both established and young, emerging artists. Designed by award-winning architect Will Bruder, SMoCA's minimalist building is an ingenious renovation of a former cinema. A key attraction is Skyspace by acclaimed artist James Turrell – one of only a handful of public Skyspaces in the world, where visitors can experience the ever-changing light of the desert sky. 

Float down the Lower Salt River

A water adventure in Arizona? Why not? Float down the relaxing, class-1 Lower Salt River surrounded by unobstructed views of four different mountain ranges. Flowing from the mountains in Northern Arizona, the Salt River is captured by four dams, while abundant wildlife makes the river home – it’s common for paddlers to enjoy close encounters with animals enjoying their natural habitat. You might see great blue herons and bald eagles, but witnessing wild mustangs wading in the river beside you is something really special. 

Watch a live bell casting

Cosanti is the former gallery, studio and home of Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri. Located just a few miles away from Taliesin West (where Soleri studied under Frank Lloyd Wright), its architecture showcases innovative earth-formed concrete structures. Today, it's the headquarters of Cosanti Originals, a foundry, studio and gallery for Paolo Soleri Bronze and Ceramic Windbells and Sculptures. Crafted individually with bronze and ceramic, these bells offer a mesmerising auditory experience along the meandering paths of the gallery grounds. On weekday mornings, guests can watch as liquid bronze is poured in the casting process. 

Pamper yourself

Set amid the cooling foothills of Pinnacle Peak, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale is a five-diamond resort that offers unparalleled views of the high Sonoran Desert and city below. Designed to blend flawlessly with the surrounding environment, the property's 12,000-square-foot (1115sqm) spa features 14 treatment rooms, including two private spa suites. The spa offers an extensive array of seasonal, Indigenous and innovative skin and body treatments, scrubs, clay wraps, facials and massages. 

America's best weekend wellness retreats for a new you

Try desert bathing

You’ve heard of forest bathing? Well, the Four Seasons offers the Arizonan equivalent: desert bathing. Guests embark on a meditative ‘zen hike,’ where they're encouraged to stop, breathe and take in the beauty of nature. The hike incorporates yoga poses along the way, allowing for a deeper connection with the desert. Listen to the birds chirping, see the different varieties of cacti and native plants, smell the rich scent of creosote bushes and desert sage, and feel the sand underfoot as you perform your sun salutation. 

Buy some Native American art

Native Art Market is a safe and affordable avenue for Native Americans to sell their artwork directly to consumers. The new storefront located in Old Town Scottsdale brings cultural awareness while offering local residents and visitors a chance to immerse themselves in Arizona’s rich Indigenous culture and art. Native owned and operated, all vendors provide only quality Native handmade items and are of Native American descent, giving visitors a chance to interact and directly support Indigenous peoples.

Incredible ancient ruins in the USA you probably didn't know existed

Ride tiny rails

The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is an expansive park featuring a meticulously restored, vintage 5/12 scale train, playgrounds, picnic areas and a charming carousel. The Paradise and Pacific Railroad train runs on a one-mile (1.6km) track around the park, passing through picturesque landscapes and offering a nostalgic journey. The park also boasts a huge, indoor model railway exhibit, and a historical train used by four US presidents before Air Force One was conceived as presidential transport. 

Go to Butterfly Wonderland

This immersive indoor tropical rainforest offers a captivating glimpse into the world of butterflies and their vibrant habitats. Guests can wander through lush gardens and witness thousands of beautiful butterflies fluttering around them. The Butterfly Emergence Gallery provides a unique opportunity to witness the magical transformation from chrysalis to butterfly. Beyond butterflies, the facility also features a live ant colony.

Sip local wines

You might not associate Arizona with wines, but Scottsdale is sloshing with tasting rooms where you can try the produce of the state's three major wine regions: Verde Valley, Sonoita and Willcox. Among many more, Aridus Tasting Room offers an impressive selection of handcrafted wines, while Arizona Stronghold showcases exquisite wines influenced by the state's unique terroir. There's a charming ambiance at LDV Wine Gallery, where you can savour artisanal wines, while the Wine Collective of Scottsdale features a diverse array of local and international varietals.

Go on a desert jeep tour

Guided by experienced drivers, these rugged excursions traverse the Sonoran Desert, offering breathtaking views of the desert landscape, mountains and unique flora and fauna. The open-air jeeps allow for an up-close encounter with the desert's natural wonders and provide thrilling off-road experiences. Through informative narration, participants learn about the region's history, geology and indigenous plants and animals. Several tour operators run desert jeep tours, offering an unforgettable way to explore the untamed beauty of the Arizona desert. 

Ride in a self-driving car

Call for an Uber in Scottsdale and there’s a good chance you’ll be picked up by a completely autonomous automobile. Despite it looking like something out of a sci-fi movie when your car turns up with no driver behind the wheel, self-driving taxis are an everyday reality in Scottsdale. Waymo is the company responsible for these driverless cars and they can drive you anywhere within an area of 225 square miles (583sqkm), including the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Chandler. Nowhere else on Earth offers such a service. Book with the Waymo or Uber app. 

Check into a boutique hideaway

Hermosa Inn is a gem of a bolthole in the exclusive neighbourhood of Paradise Valley. Centred around its restaurant and reception, which was handcrafted in the 1930s by well-known cowboy artist Lon Megargee as his residence and art studio, the Inn’s adobe architecture is striking. Its 43 luxury guest casitas are dotted around the property’s gardens with views of the desert and Camelback Mountain. The culinary centrepiece is LON’s at the Hermosa, a AAA Four Diamond restaurant.

Stay in a mid-century modern marvel

Hotel Valley Ho was a hideaway for Hollywood stars visiting Arizona, including Bing Crosby, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. The hotel was also the location of Natalie Woods and Robert Wagner’s 1957 wedding reception. Valley Ho is one of the best-preserved mid-century modern hotels in the country, and even if you don’t stay here, you can take an architectural walking tour of the property. Led by experts from Scottsdale’s Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours, the walk gives a historical perspective of the design of the hotel, which opened in 1956. 

Now discover more of Arizona's amazing attractions