From cool cafés and symphony orchestras, to hiking trails and sports stadiums, Phoenix has something for everyone. Explore the diverse culture and history of Arizona in Phoenix’s many museums and galleries. You can see, and hear, over 6800 instruments from around the world at the Musical History Museum. Uncover Native American art and culture at Heard Museum, or ponder pieces from the Far East and the American West at Phoenix Art Museum, where Renaissance and Baroque works sit alongside modern and contemporary art.

Fancy something a little different? Visit the Hall of Flame Fire Museum to learn about 300 years of fire-fighting. Step into the Wild West at the mysterious Goldfield Ghost Town. Or, for a family day out, you can stroll around Phoenix Zoo or take the kids to Castles N’ Coasters for theme park thrills.

From art and history, to music and fire-fighting, Phoenix has a museum for everything – but it's in the suburbs and districts that you’ll truly discover the modern culture of Arizona’s biggest city. Roosevelt Row, in the heart of the CBD, is lined with small galleries, boutique shops and family restaurants serving local and international flavours.

Upmarket Scottsdale is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, while the district's Old Town offers luxury spas, trinket shops and indulgent restaurants, where you can sit on a sun-soaked patio and watch the world go by. Take a Segway tour along the waterfront and pass an evening listening to the invigorating sounds of the city’s symphony. Make sure you also find time for a visit to see the unique Arizona flag, made from 113,998 Lego bricks, at the State Capitol Museum.

In Phoenix, “getting away from it all” doesn’t mean leaving the city. Dozens of hiking trails and parks weave between the city’s suburbs and around its edges. An escape into nature starts in Papago Park, where you’ll find the Desert Botanical Gardens, outdoor art exhibits, extensive trails, and the eye-catching Hole in the Rock formation.

North of the city, you’ll spy the peaks that create Phoenix’s famous mountain skyline. Camelback Mountain, Pinnacle Peak, North Mountain and Shaw Butte all stand out proudly from the desert, while South Mountain Park looks back from the other side of the city. You can hike, horse-ride or mountain bike to Dobbins Lookout, then gaze back at the urban skyline from your 2,330-foot natural perch. If you really want to get into the wilderness, Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains are waiting, just a few miles to the east.

Explore Mesa’s Sonoran Desert playground for incredible, sought-after outdoor adventure, named the “Best Place for Outdoor Lovers”. The Salt River is great for paddle boarding or kayaking your way through mild rapids while watching for wild horses. Or cruise the Saguaro Lake with live music and wine on The Desert Belle.

Come hungry and take a culinary road trip full of Arizona flavours on the award-winning Fresh Foodie Trail®, declared the country’s best farm-to-table food crawl. Pair this with an exciting downtown with a bustling craft beer scene and eclectic nightlife options.

With a dry climate all year, the best time for your Phoenix holiday depends on how hot you’d like it to be. November to April is favoured by many, as clear blue skies and temperatures around 20°C make for a pleasant and comfortable stay, particularly if you want to get active in Phoenix’s parks, trails and mountains. The city has a nice buzz during the winter months, when many Americans migrate from the northern states to spend the snowy months somewhere warmer.

Temperatures soar between May and October, reaching up to 40°C in the height of summer between June and August. The dry heat of Arizona makes the high temperatures easier to bear than the humidity of the more southern or coastal cities – but you should still take care in the desert heat, and take plenty of water with you if you’re planning a hike.