Palm Springs is the perfect desert oasis escape from Los Angeles during the wintertime. Once a haven for Hollywood stars, Palm Springs offers plenty of opportunities for lounging by the pool and a plethora of hiking opportunities. It is the perfect weekend getaway! There are so many of the best photo spots in Palm Springs that are perfect for the photographer and Instagrammer.
US Ghost Adventures is an awesome company that offers a variety of guided tours and haunted experiences across different cities in the United States. Visitors can learn the compelling history and stories of the paranormal and the city’s darker side. Make sure to check out the variety of tours offered in Palm Springs here. They are very affordable too!
Please remember some of these places are hotels or private places. You may need to pay an admission fee to get in. Be respectful when taking photos and the people around you.
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Where to Stay
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Palm Springs hotels here!
Palm Springs is known for having a ton of amazing resort hotels. There really is not a bad location. Rather, you will want to look at the resort amenities or find a place that is the best deal. Several of them are also some of the best photo spots in Palm Springs.
Some of the places I recommend for two days in Palm Springs include the following:
- The Saguaro Palm Springs
- Embassy Suites La Quinta
- La Quinta Resort
- Omni Rancho Las Palmas
- Ace Hotel Palm Springs
Make sure to also check out Priceline Express Deals as you can usually find a good deal.
When to Visit
I recommend visiting Palm Springs in the late fall, winter, or spring. Unless you love temperatures over 100 degrees, avoid Palm Springs at all costs during the summertime. The cooler weather will make for better pictures anyways.
The Best Photo Spots in Palm Springs
The Windmills
Cost: Free
The first classic and one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs is the windmills. If traveling to Palm Springs from the Los Angeles area, you will pass right by all of these windmills. This is your clue that you are getting very close to Palm Springs!
Palm Springs Sign
Cost: Free
A sign of the city name is always a classic photo stop and thus is one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. There is a small parking lot next to it, and it usually is not too busy of a spot.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Cost: $29
This is one of the pricier of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. The tramway runs up the side of the mountain and offers some of the best views of the Palm Springs area. It is the world’s largest rotating tramcar, so you will get 360-degree views all the way to the top.
Palm Springs City Hall
Cost: Free
The Palm Springs City Hall is a unique spot as it has palm trees coming out of the middle of it (classic California). Plan to visit here early in the morning, in the evening, or on the weekends when fewer people will be around. It really is one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs thanks to the palm trees.
Robolights
Cost: Free
Robolights is a quirky exhibit and light display by Kenny Irwin. In total, the exhibit is spread across two acres of land. Sometimes the exhibit is open, other times you may have to make an appointment. Check the website for operation times.
Moorten Botanical Gardens
Cost: $5
Hours: 10am-4pm, closed Wednesdays
The Moorten Botanical Gardens is all over Instagram as being one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. The Botanical Gardens is a small botanical garden with thousands of specimens from all over the world. There are a ton of places set up around the garden that is perfect for taking a picture.
Kreem
Not only is Kreem a fantastic stop to grab an ice cream, but there is also an adorable brick wall out front that is perfect for taking pictures. You can get some super Instagrammable looking ice cream cones as well.
Hotel California
Almost everyone knows the infamous Hotel California song, so snapping a picture in front of the Hotel California makes for one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. Although it may not be the same one as in the song, it is still a gorgeous stop for the architecture. Keep in mind that if going into the resort, you should ask permission to shoot photos!
Ace Hotel & Swim Club
The Ace Hotel and Swim Club has some super cool vintage-looking letters on the outside of the building. You could do a fun photoshoot there thus making it one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs.
Mid-Century Modern Houses with Colorful Doors
You may have heard of #thatpinkdoor. Although you are no longer allowed to take photos of it, (and please do not ignore the signs… it is just rude), it is worth taking a cruise in that neighborhood to see the houses and the many colorful doors. PLEASE be respectful of the residents and do not disturb the residents while taking pictures.
Indian Canyons
Cost: $12/person
Hours: 8am-5pm
Indian Canyons is another place that has recently grown in popularity due to Instagram. This hidden oasis has a ton of awesome hiking trails. I recommend taking the 4.7-mile Murray Canyon Trail. Along the way you will have the opportunity for some amazing photos.
The Saguaro Palm Springs
Cost: $$
The Saguaro Palm Springs is a super popular hotel and one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. The colorful balconies and decor of the hotel make for some super cute photos. Note that you will need to stay at this hotel to take photos, or you can try to eat in the restaurant and take some photos after you eat. You can also opt to get a day pass and spend time lounging by the pool!
The Best Photo Spots in the Palm Springs Area
Although not directly in Palm Springs, these places are in the area and also worth a stop for photos!
Living Desert
Cost: $28
Hours: 8am-5pm
The Living Desert is a zoo and botanical gardens. Here, you can take a picture with a giraffe. Also, during certain seasons of the year, they have an evening light display that makes for some awesome photos.
El Paseo
Cost: Free
El Paseo in Palm Desert is an extensive shopping district with a ton of cool-looking buildings. Make sure to get there early in the morning if you want to grab pictures without a ton of people in them. During the holidays, it also has a ton of cute holiday decorations up.
Shields Date Garden
Cost: $
Shields Date Garden in Indio is such a fun place to visit and also a fun photo spot in Palm Springs. Here, make sure to grab a picture with your date shake in front of the sign. While you are at it, you can check out the film about dates.
Cabazon Dinosaurs
Cost: $13
The Cabazon Dinosaurs are on the way to Palm Springs and are always a fun stop. They have been featured in a couple of movies and make for one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs!
Joshua Tree National Park
Cost: $30/car or free with America the Beautiful Pass
Joshua Tree National Park is about an hour’s drive from Downtown Palm Springs. You can easily spend an entire day in the park. Some of the best photo spots in the park include the Cholla Cactus Garden, Skull Rock, and Baker Dam. You will get some great shots with Joshua Trees!
Desert X
Cost: Free
Desert X is a seasonal spring art exhibition, but typically the installations make for some of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. The artwork is scattered throughout the desert and changes each year, so make sure to check out what installations will be around each year. Some of them require reservations to view them but they are all free!
Salvation Mountain
Cost: Free
Hours: 8am-5:30pm
Another one of the best photo spots in Palm Springs (area) is to take a day trip out to Salvation Mountain. This is a funky religious artwork located in the lower desert. It was created by Leonard Knight and made of adobe brick, discarded tires and windows, and other automobile parts. It has a ton of murals and religious sayings painted on the mountain.
Bombay Beach and Slab City
Along with a visit to Salvation Mountain, you can visit Bombay Beach, part of the Salton Sea, to see various other pieces of artwork and an abandoned community. Slab City, an art community, is also near this area.
As you can see there are so many of the best photo spots in Palm Springs. It is a fun place to spend a weekend relaxing or a great stop on a Los Angeles to Phoenix road trip.
