Scottsdale

Best time to visit Scottsdale

Scottsdale enjoys great weather year-round making it the perfect indulgent destination at any time. Here are some things to consider when planning your Scottsdale holiday.

In spring you can expect pleasant weather, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, golfing, and swimming. Enjoy blooming wildflowers and the vibrant atmosphere of the city. Scottsdale can be crowded due to MLB Spring Training and popular events, prices may also be higher during this peak season.

In autumn there are comfortable temperatures, ideal for hiking, biking, and outdoor dining. Enjoy fewer crowds and potentially lower prices compared to spring. However some businesses may close for the season, and certain outdoor activities may be limited due to cooler temperatures.

In summer the temperature can be very warm and humid, but this makes the city’s gorgeous resort pools and water parks all the more enticing. Summer discounts mean you can enjoy Scottsdale’s award-winning golf courses, attractions and more at great discounts compared to the high season.

In summary, the best time to visit Scottsdale depends on your preferences and priorities. Whether you're seeking warm weather, fewer crowds, or specific events, you can find the perfect time to enjoy this beautiful desert city.

Discover Scottsdale

By day, Scottsdale’s quiet, tree-lined streets offer the perfect shady stroll under its year-round sunny skies. Outdoor adventures and championship golf take centre stage against the lush backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, while the city downtown area plays host to al fresco dining and upscale shopping. By night, acclaimed chefs, evening ArtWalks and dozens of sophisticated wine bars, nightclubs and performing arts venues clamour to entertain you. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you’ll be pampered throughout your stay by Scottsdale’s spa resorts and top-tier hotels, all boasting the warm hospitality for which Scottsdale is so well known.

If you thought the desert wasn’t romantic, try horse riding through lush valleys past towering peaks, or enjoy a champagne toast on a soaring hot air balloon ride. Golfers will be in paradise with more than 200 expertly manicured courses to choose from. Try your hand at stunning desert target-style tracks like Troon North and Grayhawk or enjoy lush traditional layouts like McCormick Ranch, Talking Stick and Gainey Ranch.

Shoppers after some exquisite retail therapy need look no further: Scottsdale boasts more than 2,500 boutiques, shops and malls. Options include Scottsdale Fashion Square, the Southwest’s largest shopping destination, as well as open-air centres like Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter and The SHOPS Gainey Village. Culture vultures will delight in Scottsdale’s more than 75 galleries and museums, providing year-round celebration of the arts in the Scottsdale Arts District or they can travel further afield and visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed architectural wonder, Taliesin West.

Things to do on holiday in Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale

Combining new with old west charm, Old Town Scottsdale is nestled within nine different walkable neighbourhoods offering a unique collection of shops, restaurants, art galleries and charming historic sites. The little block of Old Town is lined with preserved frontier buildings from the early 1800s through to the early 1900s, and it was here that Scottsdale was originally founded. From the first general store (now Bischoff’s Shades of the West) to Scottsdale’s first bank (now the Rusty Spur), history buffs, shoppers, and bar hoppers alike will fall in love with Old Town’s charm. Pop into the Rusty Spur Saloon to drink as the locals do and take a pop at celebrity spotting, with stars such as Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughan among those sighted.

Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix

This 140-acre botanical garden in Phoenix’s Papago Park is a wonder for visitors of all ages. It contains more than 4000 different plant species – including 139 which are rare or endangered – as well as acting like a butterfly exhibit for monarchs and other butterflies. Walks around the gardens include the Desert Discovery Trail, and the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail. With events including torch-led night time discovery tours for children and hands on experiences for teens, the whole family will be enthralled by Arizona’s rich natural world.

Swipe left or right for more.

Things to do on holiday in Scottsdale

4x4 tour in the Sonoran Desert

We believe the most exciting adventures take place off the beaten track. If you agree, you’ll leap at this chance to head deep into Scottsdale’s surrounding terrain to discover the secrets of the Sonora Desert. Climb into a Jeep, Hummer or ATV for a wild off-road (way off-road) adventure to take a close-up look at the plants, animals and geological features that make the Sonoran Desert one of nature’s most spectacular playgrounds.

Hot air balloon tour over Sonoran Desert

For unparalleled panoramic views of the breath-taking desert horizon, a hot air balloon tour is the only way to go. This exhilarating experience sometimes skims low enough to see desert creatures scuttle across the sand, or high enough to gaze upon the mountains surrounding Scottsdale. With a champagne toast at the end and the option of having breakfast in the desert when you land, we can’t think of a more beautiful way to experience Scottsdale.

Tucson

The second largest city in Arizona, Tucson lies in a basin on the edge of the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by five mountain ranges. This beautiful historic city dates back to the 1770s and is well worth a visit for its impressive Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Head to the Historic Block of the El Presidio District for some of the best-preserved buildings and be sure to check out the adobe row houses of Barrio Historico. The stained-glass windows in the imposing sandstone Cathedral of St Augustine are well worth a look.