Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is the perfect city for a desert weekend escape. It offers delicious food and amazing hikes and is a haven for baseball lovers. It is a great place to start an Arizona road trip and is a good base to see other cities in Arizona. Two days in Phoenix will be the perfect amount of time to see some of the main sites and see what Phoenix has to offer. It is also a great addition to a one-week Arizona trip.
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History of Phoenix
The Hokoham people were the original settlers in the Phoenix area over 2,000 years ago. They created canals and grew lots of crops. Later, other Native American tribes, such as the Yavapai and the Apache, took over the area. Once the Mexican-American war ended, the area began to be taken over by American settlers and was originally part of the New Mexico Territory.
On May 4, 1869, the town of Phoenix was born when its first post office was established. In the 1870s, the town continued to grow and expand. The 1880s brought about the arrival of the railroad, which established Phoenix as the capital of Arizona. Throughout the 1900s, Phoenix continued to expand and grow into the metropolis of over one million people it is today.
How to Get to Phoenix
Phoenix has one major international airport. It has flights from across the United States as well as international locations. If you live in the Southwestern United States, Phoenix is also an easy road trip. From Los Angeles and Albuquerque, it takes about 6 hours to drive to Phoenix or around 5 hours from Las Vegas.
Where to Stay During Two Days in Phoenix
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Phoenix hotels here!
Phoenix is actually a very large city with many different neighborhoods and suburbs. I recommend staying in or near Downtown Phoenix so you can walk to some places. Previously, I enjoyed staying at the Grand Canyon University Hotel. It is run by the students of the university to give them practice with hotel skills. It also includes a delicious, healthy breakfast and is centrally located in Phoenix.
Opt to stay near the airport if you want to try and save some money. If you plan on using Phoenix more as a base for day trips, I would look into the Scottsdale area. If going with a larger group, make sure to check out Airbnb to get a house.
Some of the best places to stay are as follow.
- Hyatt Regency Phoenix
- Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
- Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown
- Hampton Inn and Suites Phoenix Downtown
- Hyatt Place Phoenix Downtown
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix Downtown
- Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Phoenix Midtown
- Hampton Inn Phoenix Midtown-Downtown Area
Transportation Around Phoenix
To get around during your two days in Phoenix, it is most convenient to get a rental car. I always use Autoslash to find the cheapest available rental car. If you opt not to get a car, you will need to use Uber and Lyft to get around. This can add up quickly as some sites are 30 minutes from each other.
What to See During Two Days in Phoenix
Day 1
Grab Breakfast at Snooze
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-2pm, Sat-Sun: 6:30am-2:30pm
This morning, start your first of two days in Phoenix off by grabbing breakfast at a classic brunch place: Snooze. Their fun flavored pancakes are easily their most popular item, but they also have a ton of other unique options on their menu. Opt to eat at the Tempe location, which is near Papago Park and the Desert Botanical Gardens.
Desert Botanical Garden
Cost: $25
Hours: 8am-8pm
After breakfast, head over to the Desert Botanical Gardens. The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix offers the perfect escape for an afternoon. There are a variety of trails to take and many gorgeous plants to see. Most of the gardens are native to Phoenix. At select times of the year, they have an evening light display. If interested in seeing the evening light display, head to the Botanical Gardens after dinnertime. You can also get tickets ahead of time as they sometimes limit capacity.
Hike in Papago Park
Cost: Free
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
This afternoon, take an easy hike in Papago Park. The Double Butte Loop showcases various rock formations and desert-scapes of Arizona. Also, stop at Hole in the Rock for a unique view of Downtown Phoenix and the desert area.
The Vig
Cost: $$
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11am-10pm, Fri: 11am-11pm, Sat: 10am-11pm, Sun: 10am-10pm
Tonight, grab dinner at The Vig. The Vig has several locations spread across the Phoenix area. This upscale neighborhood tavern contains delicious American pub fare and some amazing cocktails. If you prefer, it is also a super popular brunch spot. The Vig Arcadia is very close to Undertow. It can sometimes get busy, so reservations are recommended.
Undertow
Cost: $$
Hours: Tues-Thurs: 2:30pm-10:15pm, Fri: 2:30pm-11:15pm, Sat-Sun: 1pm-11:15pm, Closed Mondays
End your night at Undertow, a tiki bar built into an old Jiffy Lube. The top floor is a coffee shop and brewery named Sip Coffee and Beer Garage. This is a great place to relax and get some work done while sipping on your favorite coffee beverage or brew.
Underneath the top floor in what used to be the bay where the mechanics worked, is the tiki bar. Visitors descend a staircase and enter the belly of a ship, complete with wood-paneled walls and portholes. Behind the portholes are projected images that continually change throughout your visit. There are a wide variety of tropical drinks to order. Reservations are needed to visit Undertow as it gets very busy. Guests are limited to a 90-minute visit due to its popularity.
Day 2
Matt’s Big Breakfast
Cost: $$
Hours: 7am-2pm
Begin your second of two days in Phoenix with a hearty breakfast at Matt’s Big Breakfast. Matt’s Big Breakfast is another awesome breakfast place in Phoenix. There are several locations in the Phoenix area. Breakfast and light lunch options are served. Despite the small menu, the food is excellent and many of the ingredients are fresh. The pancakes were a personal favorite and everything was flavorful.
Heard Museum
Cost: $15
Hours: Tues-Sun: 10am-4pm, Closed Mondays
Located near Downtown Phoenix, the Heard Museum is a museum dedicated to the history, art, and culture of the American Indians in the Southwest. It was founded in 1929 by the Heards and is located in a historic Spanish Colonial-style building. The museum contains various artifacts and art throughout 11 galleries and outdoor spaces.
There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions. It has extensive collections of art, artifacts, textiles, and pottery that represent all the Native Americans in Arizona. The most interesting exhibit was the Indian Boarding school collection (mostly because I have written a paper about them). You can opt to go on a guided tour, and they have a ton of resources for further research.
Visit Old Town Scottsdale
Cost: Varies
Hours: Varies by store
Spend the second afternoon of two days in Phoenix in Old Town Scottsdale This area has a ton of cute restaurants to grab lunch at, shops to browse, and even a few wine tasting rooms! Olive & Ivy is a delicious lunch option. If interested in wine tasting, check out Merkin Vineyards. Plan to spend a couple of hours wandering around the area and the shops. Make sure not to miss Schomooze for a fabulous boozy brunch.
Pomo Pizzeria
Cost: $$
Hours: Sun-Thurs: 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
Tonight, grab dinner at Pomo Pizzeria. This delicious restaurant serves authentic Italian food. All of their dishes include homemade sauce and their pizza is certified authentic Neapolitan pizza. There are four locations in the Phoenix area. After dinner, take a stroll around Downtown to check out the many murals in the area, or head over to the Cobra Arcade Bar for a drink. You could also check out Six Bird Cider if you are more into the cider scene.
Have More Than Two Days in Phoenix?
If you have more than two days in Phoenix, make sure to check out these other things to do in Phoenix. You could also turn your trip to Phoenix into an Arizona road trip and head to the Grand Canyon, Page, Flagstaff, Tucson, or many other amazing places in Arizona.
Attend Spring Training
Cost: Free and up
During February and part of March, Phoenix is home to spring training for the western or “cactus” league MLB baseball teams. During this time, visitors can head over to the various stadiums and facilities spread across Phoenix to watch the players practice and get the chance to interact with some of the players. You can also attend smaller scale games where tickets are super cheap. Spring training is such a fun time to visit Phoenix if you are a baseball lover.
Musical Instrument Museum
Cost: $20
Hours: 9am-5pm
During your second of two days in Phoenix, visit the Musical Instrument Museum. This museum contains over 15,000 instruments with about 7,000 of them on display. It is the largest museum of instruments in the world and contains instruments from all over the world. Any music lover will love a visit to the Musical Instrument Museum. They also often have concerts and concert series. Check the website for more information on special events.
Hiking
Cost: Free
Hours: Dusk to Dawn
Besides Papago Park, there are a ton of other hiking options in the Phoenix area. Another favorite hike I enjoy is Dobbins Lookout. This 5-mile hike takes you up to a lookout with gorgeous views of Downtown Phoenix. Camelback Mountain is another super popular option.
Phoenix Art Museum
Cost: $23
Hours: 10am-7pm
The Phoenix Art Museum has a variety of art, from European to Latin American, on display. There are several days throughout the month where visitors can pay-what-you-wish, which is perfect for the traveling teacher.
Day Trip to Sedona
If you have more than two days in Phoenix, definitely take a day trip to Sedona and/or Cottonwood in the Verde Valley. Sedona offers some great hiking opportunities, such as Devil’s Bridge or Cathedral Rock, and it is a gorgeous area. Cottonwood offers some fun wineries to visit. No matter what, you can have a fun-filled day in this area.
There are so many things in the Phoenix area to keep you busy for several days. Two days in Phoenix lets you experience the best highlights of Phoenix and have you ready for another visit as soon as you leave.
12 thoughts on “Two Days in Phoenix, Arizona: A Perfect Weekend Getaway”
Awesome guide! I didn’t know there was so much to do in Phoenix! The botanical gardens sound beautiful and the view pount looks magical! Hiking in Phoenix is definitely on my bucket list! Thanks for the wonderful guide!
Thank you! There is actually SO many areas in Phoenix and I didn’t even cover them all.
Sounds like you guys had a really awesome weekend in Phoenix! It looks like a really nice and hip city. Great guide 🙂
Phoenix looks so fun! I totally need to get back to Arizona and see more of the South. I’d love to do Phoenix and Scottsdale next. 🙂
Yes! I think you’d love the boutique hotels in Scottsdale
Great guide! Papago Park sounds lovely. My in-laws visit arizona almost every year but I have still yet to have the chance. Hopefully in the next year or so! I will definitely save this one for later.
It’s such an easy hop for me in California!
Phoenix looks like a great place to visit. It’s been on my list for a while, and now I know a few more things I’d like to do there since reading your post!
It’s a great place to base yourself to see some of Southern Arizona.
I have never been to Phoenix but this inspires me to go! Want to learn more about Indigenous culture so def want to check out the heard Museum.
Phoenix is def underrated!
Great article! I live in Colorado and I’ve recently considered visiting Phoenix and Sedona. You gave several fun suggestions! I’d love to do a few of the hikes in the Sedona area.