Palm Springs Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Palm Springs
Palm Springs showing landscape views and a park
Palm Springs which includes a house, landscape views and fishing
Palm Springs showing landscape views, a lake or waterhole and mountains
Palm Springs

Once a swinging spot for Hollywood’s celebrities, today this Southern California city welcomes holiday makers from across the country to enjoy its warm weather.

Bob Hope, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra and others are perennially remembered in Palm Springs with streets bearing their names. Soon after World War II the city offered a luxurious getaway for an interesting mix of Hollywood celebrities and top politicians. Enjoy your own holiday getaway at today’s Palm Springs with golf and poolside relaxation at lavish resorts.

In one of the world’s most concentrated golf locations, select from more than 120 courses in and around Palm Springs. Get early morning tee times to beat the heat. Then gather floats or frosty drinks to cool off at the pool at your accommodation.

The area experiences very warm and dry conditions, making multiple daily trips to resort swimming pools common for visitors. For another cooling experience, ride on the rotating Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to enjoy views over the valley, noting green areas of civilisation amid the brown rocky topography. At the 8,516-foot (2,596-metre) summit, have lunch or hike on the 50 miles (80 kilometres) of trails through Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Temperatures here are much cooler than in the valley.

Hike or climb winding roads into the San Jacinto Mountains to look down at the oases of the city and see snow-capped mountains in the distance. The Indian Canyons feature additional vegetation varieties and artefacts from early Cahuilla people.

Come to Palm Springs in April for food, art and a range of musical acts at the Coachella festival in nearby Indio. Drive into Joshua Tree National Park to see the unusual spiky trees and nearly 750 other plant varieties growing in the Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert.

Drive about 2 hours east from Los Angeles International Airport to reach Palm Springs or fly to the city’s small international airport. Stop at the Palm Springs Air Museum next to the airport to see numerous aircraft from World War II and beyond. Several miles west, the Palm Springs Art Museum features modern and contemporary artworks including Chihuly glass.

Where to stay in Palm Springs

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Downtown Palm Springs

4.5/5(38 area reviews)

Downtown Palm Springs is known for its popular shops, and with sights like Agua Caliente Casino and Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Palm Springs.

Downtown Palm Springs
Palm Springs featuring wild flowers

Baristo

3/5(1 area review)

While visiting Baristo, you might make a stop by sights like Plaza Theatre and Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center.

Baristo
Palm Springs featuring wild flowers

Midtown

While Midtown may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Agua Caliente Casino and Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.

Midtown
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Tahquitz River Estates

4.5/5(5 area reviews)

Though Tahquitz River Estates may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium and Tahquitz Canyon.

Tahquitz River Estates
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Uptown Design District

4.5/5(12 area reviews)

Uptown Design District is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Las Palmas and San Jacinto Mountains while in the area.

Uptown Design District
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Sunrise Park

If you're spending some time in Sunrise Park, Palm Springs Mall Shopping Center and Palm Springs Swim Center are top sights worth seeing.

Sunrise Park
Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

Palm Mountain Resort and Spa

3 out of 5
155 S Belardo Road, Palm Springs, CA
The price is £112 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
£112
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy a fitness centre, on-site spa services and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,302 reviews)
"I really enjoyed my view of the mountains and the pool. I was unaware upon booking through Expedia that I did not have that view, so I was surprised to have to pay for the upgrade when I arrived onto the property, unfortunately. I treated myself to a facial at the spa, and that was delightful. The ..."

Reviewed on 19 Aug 2025

Palm Mountain Resort and Spa
Hyatt Palm Springs

Hyatt Palm Springs

4 out of 5
285 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA
The price is £92 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
£92
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,063 reviews)
"The staff at the front desk went out of the way to help us"

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2025

Hyatt Palm Springs
Hotel Zoso

Hotel Zoso

4 out of 5
150 S Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy a full-service spa, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the pool and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,455 reviews)
"Greatly exceeded expectations. Everything went smoothly and place looked great.Appreciated having our room nicely cleaned too. Such an improvement from when it was awful Hard Rock. Back on my consideration list for hotel stays next visit."

Reviewed on 18 Aug 2025

Hotel Zoso
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
7 Springs Inn & Suites

7 Springs Inn & Suites

2.5 out of 5
950 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 hot tubs. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,816 reviews)
"This is the best stay I've had in since I can't remember the staff are curious and polite willing to accommodate your every wants"

Reviewed on 11 Aug 2025

7 Springs Inn & Suites
The Cole

The Cole

3.5 out of 5
2323 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Palm Springs. Enjoy parking (surcharge), concierge services and pillowtop beds. Popular attractions Palm Springs Aerial Tramway ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (293 reviews)
"For the price of the rooms this hotel hit the spot. Good location, clean, and easy check in/out process."

Reviewed on 11 Aug 2025

The Cole
Vista Mirage Resort

Vista Mirage Resort

3.5 out of 5
400 S Hermosa Dr, Palm Springs, CA
Stay at this 3.5-star condo in Palm Springs. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (812 reviews)
Nice Room
"The room is very nice and spacious The pool was nice Can't wait to bring my whole family to this Hotel This will be our new spot for Family get aways"

Reviewed on 17 Aug 2025

Vista Mirage Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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