The Best Free Things To Do In Phoenix, Arizona, According To Travelers

You might be a ways away from Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills in Phoenix, Arizona, but there's a reason this Southwestern city is dubbed "LA without the Pacific." Here, designer shops, acclaimed 5-star restaurants, spas, and golf courses are aplenty, so if you're looking to visit this top most populated city in the country, it'll cost you. Each day, you can bet to spend an average of $276, which makes Phoenix one of the most expensive cities in the country. However, all hope is not lost if you want to explore this famed Sonoran Valley escape on a budget.

To save a few bucks, you should consider visiting from May to October, when hotels offer up to 40% discounts. You should also add some of the city's best free attractions to your itinerary, and as Explore learned firsthand, there are tons to choose from. Explore dug through online reviews from sites such as Tripadvisor and Google to determine which free Phoenix destinations were worth visiting. We only considered spots with at least 4 stars and hundreds of reviews. We discovered a range of free fun, from museums to hikes that don't cost a dime but will leave you with a lifetime of memories. Here's what we found.

One of the reasons Phoenix is such a happening city is because it's the capital of the Grand Canyon State. There's no better place to see those civics in action than the Arizona Capitol Museum. And no matter when you choose to visit, you'll enjoy a free history lesson — and escape from the heat — as the Arizona Capitol Museum always has free entry. It's open for self-guided tours between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Or, if you want an expert to show you through the museum, book a free, 45-minute guided tour in advance. 

This government building on the National Register of Historic Places houses historical artifacts, interactive fun, and ever-changing exhibits under its copper dome. It has been educating visitors and residents on Arizona's rich history and culture since 1979. One standout exhibit that's fun for all ages is the Lego Flag, a 7-foot Arizona flag comprising 114,006 Legos — the total square miles of Arizona. The Arizona Capitol Museum has garnered 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor from more than 240 reviews. One Tripadvisor user wrote, "We spent about an hour inside. There are tons of exhibits, all very well done. We walked through them all, spending more time on those we found interesting. There's definitely something for everyone!"

You probably packed your hiking boots for your trip to Arizona since the state offers great opportunities for outdoor exploration. And there's no place in Phoenix to enjoy Mother Nature better than Camelback Mountain, one of the most famous sites to hike in America. Every year, thousands of people put their wallets away for free fun atop Camelback Mountain, named for its hump-like shape. But don't get it twisted; you won't pay dollars to hike this monster in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, but you will pay in sweat. Hikers can choose from the Echo Canyon Trail or Cholla Trail; both are about 2.5 miles and take two to three hours to traverse. 

On your way, you'll spot animals like rattlesnakes, lizards, Harris' antelope squirrels, and various cacti species. Both trails here are rated extremely difficult due to their steep elevation gains, uneven ground, and exposed nature. That's why if you hike here, it shouldn't be your first rodeo, and the weather should be ideal. However, if the stars align and you reach the top of the 2,704-foot summit, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of Paradise Valley. Just ask one of the mountain's over 2,500 Tripadvisor reviewers who gave Camelback Mountain 4.5 stars. "This is the most rewarding hike in the Phoenix area!" wrote one Tripadvisor user. "The views from the top are worth the effort."

Arizona's flora is unaffected by its dry heat. The state is rich with colorful plants, making for a unique outdoor adventure you won't find in any old forest. The Desert Botanical Garden offers such an experience throughout its 55 acres of the Sonoran Desert. If you visit on the second Tuesday of the month, you can explore its gems for free, preventing you from paying an entry fee of about $25 to $35 per adult and $15 to $20 per child. However, kids under age 2, members, and active-duty military personnel enjoy free entry every day. 

Make sure you get here early enough to explore the trails of the Desert Botanical Garden. These are the Sonoran Desert Nature Trail, the Center for Desert Living Trail, the Desert Discovery Trail, the Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail, and the Plants & People of the Sonoran Desert Trail. After exploring, you can eat a meal inspired by the desert. On-site restaurant Gertrude's serves fare with ingredients from the garden's farm. The restaurant is far from your typical museum eatery — it has won an OpenTable Diner's Choice Award.

More than 9,200 have detailed their Desert Botanical Garden experiences on Tripadvisor, granting the destination 4.5 stars. One Tripadvisor user wrote, "I cannot express how exhilarating it was to be at the Desert Botanical Garden. Nature is so beautiful so to sit back and observe was fulfilling. I didn't know what to expect, but this garden surpassed my expectations."

If you checked out the Desert Botanical Garden, don't hustle out quite yet. Papago Park, home to the 55-acre garden, is a free and worthwhile Phoenix attraction in its own right. Here, visitors can find a golf course, the Phoenix Zoo, and a pyramid-shaped tomb where the first governor of the city now lies. There are also three beginner-friendly trails in the park. Visitors can tackle these trails on foot or mountain bike and bask in the sandstone and tall buttes that surround them.

The most famous trail here is the Hole-In-The-Rock Trail, which, as its name implies, offers views from a hole in a rock, which is especially pretty at sunset. It's marked as one of the most scenic views in Phoenix. After hiking for 0.3 miles, you will reach its peak and see lagoons and the Phoenix skyline. Supposedly, the indigenous population of the Hohokam once used the hole to gauge the position of the sun. 

Papago Park has plenty of other history, too. It has been used as a fish hatchery, veterans' hospital, and reservation for indigenous civilizations. Through more than 800 Tripadvisor reviews, Papago Park has earned 4.5 stars. One Tripadvisor user wrote, "Love this park. I've visited it a few times. Pretty fish pond, walking trails, lots of parking, and great place for sunset [views]."

You won't have to pay a penny to "window shop" at the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market — although you'll find it hard to resist not taking your wallet out. That's because this colossal market has nearly 70 vendors, so there's something for everyone here. Vendors range from the traditional farmers' market suspects selling produce and eggs to artisans making soaps, jewelry, woodwork, pet treats, and more. If you get hungry, you'll always find a few food trucks stationed here, too. The only thing that the vendors have in common is that they all make their goods with materials and ingredients sourced in Arizona.

Visitors and residents flock to the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday, no matter the weather. And they sure are loving it, judging by the market's online reviews. The Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market has earned 4.6 stars on Google through more than 800 reviews. One reviewer wrote on Google, "My all-time favorite farmer's market ever! Great location, amazing variety, fantastic and unique food offerings, fresh produce and locally produced art. Amazing energy here! Totally worth the visit and you'll undoubtedly find reasons to keep coming back."

Today, Phoenix is a happening destination. But centuries before, it was a modern city, an epicenter for Indigenous people. The Heard Museum celebrates that by showcasing historic artifacts and art made by these civilizations. And if you time your visit correctly, you won't have to pay to see it. The Heard Museum waives its $10 to $26 admission fee from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of each month except March. Entry is also free from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month from June through August. 

Even if you can't make it on those dates, visiting here on any day is always worthwhile. Just ask Tripadvisor users, as the Heard Museum has 4.5 stars on the site through more than 3,000 reviews. One past visitor wrote on Tripadvisor, "The greatly curated collection of Native American artwork is breathtaking. Not only is it an art museum, but it is also a history museum and there is so much to take in and learn. I loved the museum and will return."

With its dozen galleries and outdoor sculpture garden, the Heard Museum has been educating people from around the world for over a century. But don't expect a run-of-the-mall, classroom-like visit here. Uniquely, the museum's pieces are presented from a first-person viewpoint. The ever-changing exhibits include Substance of Stars, which explores Indigenous peoples' spiritual connection to the planet. There's also HOME: Native People in the Southwest, which features jewelry, pottery, dolls, and more made by Indigenous people.

If you're looking for a Phoenix spot with a little bit of everything, look no further than Heritage Square. This historic area exhibits preserved homes dating back over 200 years, museums, restaurants, events, and more. While viewing some attractions requires payment, it doesn't hurt to look around for free, as the square has no entrance fee. That means you can enjoy the exterior of the stunning homes for zero dollars. Top hits include the Rosson House, a Queen Anne Victorian building, and the Stevens House, a one-stop shop for artisan goods. If you have money to spare, take a tour of the Rosson House and possibly see a few ghosts while at it.

Feeling famished after all that walking? There's no better spot for pizza in Phoenix than Pizzeria Bianco, which has a James Beard-nominated chef at its helm. You'll be in good company, as it's been visited by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jerry Seinfeld. There are tons of other celebrity hotspots in Phoenix, too. No matter what you do in Heritage Square, you'll have a good time, at least according to Google. The attraction has earned 4.6 stars through more than 900 reviews. One reviewer wrote on Google, "What an amazing place in downtown Phoenix. I was in town for 4 days and stumbled onto this on my last day without a lot of time to explore. Beautiful area and great science museum."

If you're a car racing fan, you'll find an unexpected and affordable highlight in Phoenix — the Penske Racing Museum, which offers free admission every day. Here, visitors can gander at Penske Racing's half-century history, which includes more than 600 victories. Some of those winning automobiles and Penske Racing's most unique competitors are exhibited here. You can even gawk at this museum's treasures while chowing down on breakfast or lunch. The on-site eatery, Turn 4 Café, has Penske Racing trophies on display and overlooks a test track and off-road course.

The Penske Racing Museum has collected 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor through more than 300 reviews. One past visitor wrote on Tripadvisor, "Brilliantly done and very cool. If you are a racing fan, this is a must. This museum is sandwiched between top-end car dealerships. It is like going to a car show. Must do."

Seeing the city's art is one of the best locals-recommended activities when visiting Phoenix. However, one structure has more art than the rest: the Phoenix Art Museum. With more than 20,000 pieces, the museum is the biggest of its kind in the region. Just a few types of art you will see here are fashion, photography, modern and international works, and even miniature replicas of famous rooms. It's also always hosting limited-time exhibits, which have included a firefly mirror room and a collection of pieces that pay homage to famous Southwestern landscapes.

Plus, you can see it all for free if you visit on the first Friday of each month, one of the quarterly Sunday Family Fundays, or on a Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesday. Otherwise, tickets are $28 per adult and $18 per child. Through more than 1,000 reviews, the Phoenix Art Museum has earned 4.5 Tripadvisor stars. One Tripadvisor user wrote, "Phoenix should be very proud to have this exceptional museum in their city. It's a real gem! My wife and I spent more than 4 hours checking out every single exhibit. There are some exceptional works here, and the collections are extensive."

It may not look like Paris or Florence, but Phoenix has a happening arts scene that includes art museums, galleries, public murals, shops, and more. The city makes it easy to access it all, no matter your budget, thanks to its First Friday program. On the first Friday of every month, tens of arts businesses open up shop for free, and streets close to cars from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thousands of people — visitors and residents alike — head to this beloved event, making it one of the biggest art walks in America. 

If you're unsure where to start, begin your evening by strolling through the Roosevelt Row Arts District neighborhood, home to tons of arts and cultural venues. Called one of the 15 great places in the country by the American Planning Association, you'll find a bilingual bookstore, a 50-year-old gallery and venue, and one of the best jazz venues in America. You'll also gain free access to tons of local cultural institutions on First Fridays. That means you'll be able to walk the halls of spots like the Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and Japanese Friendship Garden without breaking the bank. 

The Japanese Friendship Garden has 4 stars through more than 400 Tripadvisor reviews. "This is serene oasis, almost in the heart of the city ... " wrote one past visitor on Tripadvisor. "Admission is free on First Fridays, with nice entertainment and a decent bar featuring Japanese drinks."

You won't feel anywhere close to Phoenix city proper with a visit to the South Mountain Park and Preserve. With 16,000 acres, this park is one of the biggest municipal parks in America and has just as many opportunities for outdoor adventure. For those looking for an easy stroll to a hearty workout, 58 miles of trails are available for hiking, biking, or horseback riding. If you fall into the latter category, trek about 2,300 feet to Dobbins Lookout, which offers panoramic views of some of Phoenix's most well-known landmarks. For more amazing treks, check out this hike near Phoenix that's not for amateurs. 

This park and preserve is even home to what's known as Mystery Castle. It's an 18-room, Southwestern-style castle that has been a fixture of the park since 1945 and is open for seasonal tours. South Mountain Park and Preserve has 4.5 stars on Tripadvisor, thanks to more than 1,300 reviews. One past visitor wrote on Tripadvisor, "What an amazing park to enjoy the views of Phoenix! Take your time and enjoy the scenery. Many photo opportunities. I recommend this park as a must visit."

Phoenix, Arizona, is an outdoors person's dream destination. It's also a paradisal desert metropolitan with incredible cultural landmarks and colorful, unique plants that give it an otherworldly aesthetic. Unsurprisingly, visiting this city will cost you, as Phoenix is no economic respite. However, with the right strategy, you can fill your trip with free activities that will keep you and your wallet happy. Those jaunts include hitting Phoenix's best stargazing spots for breathtaking views.

Explore rounded up the best free activities in Phoenix by evaluating which had the most and best reviews. As such, we only included spots with at least 4 stars and hundreds of reviews on sites like Tripadvisor and Google. We also considered which Phoenix attractions were the most distinctive, ranging from a colossal desert botanical garden to one of the biggest art walks in America. Plus, we measured which Phoenix activities were the most acclaimed and well-known, even internationally. What we found was a long list of surprisingly free fun so you can still afford your plane ticket home — even if you wouldn't mind staying for just a bit longer.