The Best Things to do in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona, is a young, hip city that’s also one of Arizona’s main creative hubs. I’ve explored a lot of Arizona and Tempe’s been on my radar for a while. That’s why I was so excited to spend a weekend in Tempe with Tempe Tourism.
Note: This post was written in partnership with Tempe Tourism. Of course, as always, all opinions are my own.
With about 330 days of sunshine a year, so many of the best things to do in Tempe, AZ, involve getting outdoors year-round. Which, I can really appreciate since I grew up in a part of Canada that has 6 months of winter a year!
Plus, since the median age in Tempe is just 28 (the national average is closer to 38), there are a ton of great restaurant and nightlife options.
I’d also heard a lot of great things about Tempe, Arizona, from my sister. She lived there for about a year while she was in dental school and still raves about it. Especially Tempe’s walkability factor. Unlike a lot of the surrounding areas, you can explore much of Tempe without having to jump in the car.
Now that you know why your next trip should be to Tempe, keeping reading for the best things to do in Tempe, Arizona!
About Tempe
Tempe, Arizona, is a city of about 200,000 people in Metropolitan Phoenix. The entire metro area is also known as the Valley of the Sun since it’s warm and sunny nearly year-round.
Tempe is home to Arizona State University, or ASU, which is one of the largest (and, according to its reputation, most fun) public universities in the United States.
Tempe is also a popular place for creatives and young professionals to live, with more and more startups opening up offices in the area.
Getting to Tempe
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the nearest major airport – it’s 4 short miles from Tempe.
We flew from New York City to Phoenix, spent a few days in Scottsdale at my parents’ house there, and then drove about 25 minutes to Tempe.
If you’re flying into Phoenix and prefer to take public transit, you can also take the PHX Sky Train. The PHX Sky Train runs 24 hours a day and connects the airport to the 44th Street and Washington light rail stop. From there, you can take the Valley Metro Rail into Downtown Tempe.
Getting Around
A huge benefit of staying in Tempe is its walkability and access to public transit.
Unlike a lot of other parts of Metropolitan Phoenix, you can explore Downtown Tempe without a car. You can also take public transit to explore other neighborhoods in Tempe, as well as head to Phoenix and Mesa.
I’ve lived in New York City since 2008 and I’m used to walking everywhere. So, I felt right at home in Downtown Tempe.
Valley Metro Rail
The Valley Metro Rail connects Tempe with Downtown Phoenix and Downtown Mesa. There are nine light rail stops in Tempe, with two stops in Downtown Tempe. The first is at 3rd Street and Mill Avenue. The second is at the Transportation Center and Veterans Way/College Ave.
Public Bus
Free FLASH busses are a great way to get around the perimeter of Tempe’s ASU campus.
You can also take free ORBIT busses from Downtown Tempe if you want to explore other Tempe neighborhoods.
Streetcar
A new streetcar through Tempe was in the process of being built when we visited Tempe in early November 2019. The completion date is in 2021.
Uber/Lyft
Uber and Lyft both operate in Tempe if you want to use a ride sharing company to get around.
Bike Share
Bike sharing through Grid Bikes is a cheap, fun and fast way to get around Tempe.
Scooter Share
You can also rent an electric scooter from Bird and scoot around Tempe. As a heads up, scooters are NOT allowed on the ASU campus. So, you should plan to explore the campus on foot.
When to Visit Tempe
The best time to visit Tempe, Arizona, is October through May. My favorite time of year in the Metropolitan Phoenix area – which includes Tempe – is the fall. In the fall, the skies are blue, the days are sunny and warm, and the nights cool off a bit.
If you’re planning to visit Tempe in the summer, you can expect very hot dry sunny days. Pretty much everywhere is air conditioned and all the big hotels have pools, so you’ll easily be able to take a break from the heat.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. This full-service hotel has a very convenient location just off Mill Avenue. You can easily walk from the hotel to nearby restaurants, bars, coffee shops and also to Tempe Town Lake.
Tempe Mission Palms is built around a gorgeous courtyard full of tall palm trees and you can find its pool and hot tubs (with a view!) on the second floor.
There are multiple outdoor fireplaces for you to enjoy during the cooler fall and winter evenings in Arizona in the courtyard and on the pool deck. When the evening temperatures drop into the 50s – which is cold by Arizona standards – these outdoor fireplaces are the perfect place to warm up.
General Travel Tips
Here are a few general travel tips for visiting Tempe:
- Bring sunscreen, even in the winter. The sun can be strong year-round.
- When the weather is hot, schedule outdoor activities for the morning or late afternoon. Hiking in peak Arizona sun is usually a bad idea!
- Don’t forget to drink enough water. It’s easy to get dehydrated when the weather is hot and dry.
- Plan for rain in the summer. Although Tempe is usually a dry place, it does have a monsoon season in July and August. If you’re visiting during either of those months, bring closed toe shoes and a light waterproof jacket.
- If you’re visiting Tempe in the fall or winter, bring at least one sweater or light jacket for the evenings. Even if the days are warm, it cools off at night during those seasons.
Things to do in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe offers a wide variety of activities for all types of traveler. Some of the best things to do in Tempe, Arizona, include getting outside, experiencing the art and culture and shopping local.
Outdoor Activities
Tempe Town Lake
Tempe Town Lake is a manmade lake in the heart of Tempe. I didn’t know this until recently, but Tempe Town Lake is the second most visited public attraction in Arizona.
Tempe Town Lake is a great place to stay active. The lake is bordered by walking, jogging and bike trails.
You can also rent stand up paddle boards, kayaks, paddle boat and electric boats. We decided to rent a swan shaped paddle boat to cruise around Tempe Town Lake. I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so hard.
Also, if you have time to watch the sunset from Tempe Town Lake, I highly recommend it. Tempe has incredible sunsets nearly every evening.
“A” Mountain
“A” Mountain (100 S Mill Ave, Tempe) – which is officially named Hayden Butte – is a popular 1-mile hike in Tempe. It’s been nicknamed “A” Mountain because of the 60-foot tall letter A that’s on display near the top. This hike is short but steep and offers a great view of Tempe.
Since the weather in Tempe is usually hot and sunny, the best time to hike in the area is either in the morning or closer to the end of the day when the temperatures are a bit cooler.
Papago Park
Papago Park is a municipal park of both Tempe and Phoenix. It has eye catching red rock formations, plenty of hiking trails, a fishing lagoon and a golf course.
It’s probably best known for Hole-in-the-Rock, which is quite literally a rock formation that has a big hole in it. It’s a popular place to watch the sunrise or sunset.
The hike to and from Hole-in-the-Rock is about 0.3 miles round trip.
Desert Botanical Garden
If you’re a cactus and succulent lover like me, you’ll love the Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix). Although technically located in Phoenix, it borders Tempe.
Here, you can walk the paths and trails and see the gorgeous plants and flowers that thrive in hot and dry climates. It’s the perfect place to spend a couple of hours at the end of the day.
The Desert Botanical Garden also hosts a variety of special exhibits and events. We were lucky enough this time to visit during a Día de los Muertos celebration. I’ve also previously attended Las Noches de las Luminarias, which is a special ticketed event where the Desert Botanical Garden paths are lined with 8000 flickering luminaria bags.
Hours:
- Open daily from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Admission:
- Adults: $24.95
- Youth 3-7: $12.95
- Please note that special events have separate tickets/prices
Art + Culture
ASU (Arizona State University) Art Museum
ASU Art Museum (51 E 10th St, Tempe) is a free contemporary art museum in Tempe that focuses on innovative contemporary art, Latin American art and contemporary ceramics.
The museum’s exterior is also a gorgeous photo op that’s very #plantsonpink.
Hours:
- Tuesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during academic semesters, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer
- Closed Sunday, Monday and university holidays
Admission:
- Free!
Tempe Center for the Arts
Tempe Center for the Arts (700 W. Rio Salado, Tempe) is a modern glass building by Tempe Town Lake that’s one of Tempe’s most important cultural centers.
It has a 600-seat theater, a 200-seat studio theater, a 200-seat multipurpose space, a free art gallery and a central gathering space.
When we visited Tempe, the events calendar for Tempe Center for the Arts was jam packed with musical performances, open mic nights, film screenings and live theater.
We stopped by on a Friday evening for their EDGE Happy Hour, where we watched free live music (we saw a jazz band), saw a free contemporary art exhibit in the gallery and enjoyed happy hour drink specials. EDGE Happy Hour runs from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night from September through May.
ASU Gammage
ASU Gammage (1200 S Forest Ave, Tempe) is a performing arts space at ASU.
The history behind the construction of the auditorium is pretty unusual! Then-ASU President Grady Gammage decided to build a new auditorium on campus. He asked his friend and famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design it.
Luckily, Frank Lloyd Wright already had the perfect design in mind. He had already designed an auditorium that was supposed to be built in Baghdad, Iraq at the request of King Faisal II. Plans for the project were abandoned after the King was assassinated. Instead, Frank Lloyd Wright used the design for the ASU Gammage.
If you’re interested in visiting ASU Gammage, you can check ahead and get tickets for whatever is playing at the theater during your trip. A lot of traveling Broadway shows make a stop here. Or, you can call ahead and book a tour of the building.
Public Art
The streets and public spaces of Tempe are full of art. My favorite is this mural outside Social Hall (715 S McClintock Dr, Tempe). You can also check out this handy interactive map of Tempe’s public art and build your own walking tour.
Harkins Theater Valley Art
Harkins Theater Valley Art (509 S. Mill St., Tempe) is an adorable vintage movie theater that screens independent movies.
Alamo Drafthouse
If you’re more of a movie person than a theater person, Alamo Drafthouse has a location in Tempe (1140 E Baseline Rd, Tempe).
Alamo Drafthouse is a chain of movie theaters where you can watch new and old movies on the big screen while enjoying food and drinks from a full menu (think burgers and craft beer, rather than stale candy and soda). We love going to the one in NYC.
Shopping
If you want to hit the shops for some retail therapy, Tempe has a solid mix of local stores and larger retailers.
6th Street Market
6th Street Market (6th Street Park, 24 E 6th St., Tempe) is a great way to shop local and support small businesses. This weekly outdoor market runs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting in early November until early April. The market offers a mix of local artisan wares, food trucks, produce stands and live music.
Old Town Books
Old Town Books (518 S Mill Ave, Tempe) is a treasure trove of old, used and out of print books. If you’re not ready to make the switch to e-books, this shop is a Tempe hidden gem.
The bookstore’s official hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. but apparently the owners treat this as more of a suggestion so there’s always a chance they might be closed when you swing by.
Candy Addict
Candy Addict (414 Mill Avenue, Tempe) is a family-owned candy shop that’s sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Tempe Marketplace
Tempe Marketplace (2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe) is an outdoor-style mall that has fast casual restaurants and chain stores like H&M and Ulta.
Instagrammable Pop Ups
Tempe is a young city, which means there’s usually something fun and Instagrammable going on.
Tacotopia
Tacotopia (2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy #1024, Tempe) is a playful, colorful and often silly homage to the taco. When we visited Tempe in November 2019, this pop-up installation had temporarily set up shop in Tempe Marketplace.
Stop by for some selfies, dive into a pit of (faux) guacamole and enjoy the taco that comes with your ticket.
Hours:
- Weekdays: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Weekends: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission:
- Adults (Admission & 1 Taco): $25
- VIP (Admission & 3 Tacos): $35
- Students (Admission & 1 Taco): $20
- Ages 4-11 Years (Admission & 1 Taco): $15
- Ages 0-3: Free
Where to Eat + Drink in Tempe
As a college town and hotspot for 20-somethings, unsurprisingly Tempe has a lot of great restaurant and bar options. It’s safe to say that experiencing the food and drink scene is one of the best things to do in Tempe, AZ. And since the weather is so good in Tempe, it’s pretty much always patio season.
Morning Squeeze
Morning Squeeze (690 S Mill Ave Suite 110, Tempe) is where it’s at for breakfast, lunch or brunch in downtown Tempe. Their menu is a mix of healthy options and heartier breakfast fare.
We went for omelets at about 11 am on a Saturday morning and it was bustling when we left. As a bonus their patio is dog-friendly, so we got to say hi to some cute pups on our way out.
Ghost Ranch
Ghost Ranch (1006 E Warner Rd #102-103, Tempe) serves modern Southwestern cuisine in a colorful and stylish setting. We went for dinner and enjoyed the guacamole, queso fundido, corn salad and mesquite grilled flank steak salad.
The portions were bigger than we expected, and we definitely ordered too much for 2 people. Oops!
Tempe Public Market Café
Tempe Public Market Café (8749 S Rural Rd, Tempe) is an adorable and Instagrammable restaurant that’s perfect for a leisurely brunch with friends. The restaurant has a cute and colorful interior that’s full of lush plants and a big outdoor patio that’s dog-friendly.
We went for brunch and had the frittata and the seasonal quiche with side salads.
Original ChopShop
We stopped off at ChopShop (222 E. University Dr., Tempe) on our first day in Tempe for green juice and healthy chopped salads on the adorable patio.
Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout (149 S Farmer Ave, Tempe) is a lively restaurant where you can order comfort food (we had deviled eggs, perogies and a shrimp salad), grab a cocktail, and play corn hole, foosball and ping-pong.
There was also live music when we went for dinner.
Four Peaks Brewing Company
Four Peaks has been brewing craft beer in Arizona since 1996. The Four Peaks Tempe location (1340 E 8th St #104, Tempe) houses both a working brewery and a bar/restaurant that serves elevated pub food.
You can book a free tour of the brewery on Saturdays where you can walk through the 100 -year-old creamery turned brewery.
The brewery is also supposedly haunted, and they do $20 ghost tours throughout the month of October. Our tour guide was skeptical about the building being haunted (for obvious reasons, he doesn’t lead the ghost tours). But the website says “Bottom line: Our brewery is haunted” so this is probably one of the spookiest things to do in Tempe, AZ!
Postino Annex
I haven’t been to Postino Annex (615 S College Ave, Tempe) in Tempe, but I’ve been to one of their other locations many many times. No joke, I was there twice in the past week because my entire family is obsessed with it.
Postino is a wine bar that also has a wide variety of bruschetta and salad options. Their $5 before 5 happy hour is a favorite – all glasses of wine and pitchers of beer are $5 before 5 pm every day.
Cartel Coffee Lab
Cartel Coffee Lab (225 W University Dr., Tempe) is a popular Tempe coffeehouse that has a hipster vibe.
Cornish Pasty Co.
We didn’t have a chance to go here, but Cornish Pasty Co. (425 S Mill Ave #111, Tempe) is a recommendation from my sister who used to live in Tempe. It’s an English style pub that serves savory meat filled pastries called pasties.
Next time I’m in the area with my British husband, I’ll definitely take him here for a taste of home.
Casey Moore’s Oyster House
Casey Moore’s Oyster House (850 S Ash Ave, Tempe) is another recommendation from my sister that we didn’t have time to visit. It’s an Irish pub with a big outdoor garden where you can grab a beer or cocktail and a dozen oysters (1/2 a dozen is never enough for me!).
That wraps up my list of the best things to do in Tempe, Arizona – and if I’ve missed any of your faves, let me know in the comments!
Also, while Tempe is a fun, walkable and vibrant travel destination on its own, it’s also a great place to explore as part of a longer Arizona trip.
If you’re planning to spend more time in Arizona before or after you visit Tempe, you may find these posts helpful for planning your trip:
- The Best Instagram Spots in Scottsdale, Arizona
- Visiting Antelope Canyon-X in Page, Arizona
- Visiting Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona
- A Quick Guide to Sedona, Arizona
