Things to do in Palm Springs
Activities, attractions and tours
Visit Palm Springs
Explore activitiesExplore thousands of experiences from activities and attractions to day tours and transfer.
Book with easeSkip the line- book tickets online in minutes to top attractions with free cancellation on many activities.
Treat yourselfMembers save % or more when you book activities.
Top places to visit
1. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
To gain a bird's-eye perspective over some amazing scenery, take the 14-minute ascent on the Palm Springs Ariel Tramway, where passengers start in the desert and end up in an alpine forest. Electrical engineer Francis Crocker first proposed the Aerial Tramway in the mid-1930s, although work on actually building it didn't start until 1960. The only way up was via helicopter, and these undertook more than 20,000 missions to take materials and workers up the mountain during construction.
Learn more
2. Indian Canyon
First settled in by ancestors of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Native Americans hundreds of years ago, who transformed the canyons into communities where they could thrive, Indian Canyons is now a recreational park. Made up of three distinct canyons, the park's popularity is down to its extensive hiking network and well-preserved historical sights.
Learn more
3. Palm Springs Art Museum
Few visitors to this resort city would imagine that there was such a high-calibre art museum within the city limits, but don't overlook this well curated collection, located in a stunning building. Established in 1938, the Palm Springs Art Museum has grown immensely from a single room to a permanent collection of over 20,000 different works of art. Now in its third location, the museum has three main components: contemporary art, natural science and the performing arts.
Learn more
4. Mount San Jacinto State Park
San Jacinto State Park and Peak offers 86 kilometres of hiking trails, and the sheer variety of the scenery on offer lures back hikers year after year. Few places can offer the contrasts seen at this range, from desert to alpine scenery. Easily accessible via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, there are unbelievable views across the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley from here, but head further into the wilderness and the views get even better.
Learn more
5. Palm Springs Air Museum
The Palms Springs Air Museum has a vast and varied collection of World War II aircraft and memorabilia. This highly interactive, non-profit museum can be found next to Palm Springs International Airport, and even non-aviation buffs will enjoy the huge variety of classic aircraft. The museum's volunteers are eager and willing to share with you the history of the planes, and through them, remember the men and women who kept them in the skies. There are group tours available, although you need a minimum of 15 people for them to go ahead.
Learn more
6. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
There's a lot more to Palm Springs than its reputation for fun and frivolity suggests; the town has a strong association with its Native American past and present, and the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum does a great job in explaining the area's history. Since 1991, the museum has shared its vast collections of more than 50,000 artefacts with locals and visitors from all over the world.
Learn more
What to do in Palm Springs
Popular places to visit
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Enjoy panoramic views over the Coachella Valley on the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world.
Palm Springs Convention Center
Learn about the events happening in Palm Springs Convention Center during your trip to Palm Springs. Discover the area's spas or seek out its golf courses.
Palm Canyon
Palm Canyon is just one of the places to see in Palm Springs, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Discover the lively festivals in this family-friendly area or seek out the hiking trails.
Indian Canyon
Hike along ancient walking trails through palm-dotted canyons at this stunning recreational park.
Palm Springs Art Museum
With more than 20,000 exhibits, this art museum has something for everyone.
Mount San Jacinto State Park
Explore the highest peak of the San Jacinto Mountains and hike through awe-inspiring scenery.
Palm Springs Air Museum
Imagine life as a WWII pilot at this excellent museum with one of the largest collections of wartime aircraft in the world.
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
This small but fascinating museum tells the history of Palm Springs' native people.
Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium
This peaceful and family-run garden is one of Palm Springs' best-loved attractions.
Areas of Palm Springs
Downtown Palm Springs
4.5/5(38 area reviews)
Join the many Angelenos that flock to Downtown Palm Springs to quench their vacation thirst in the Sonoran Desert.
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.
Midtown
If you're spending some time in Midtown, Agua Caliente Casino and The Spa at Se-che are top sights worth seeing.
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.
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.
Warm Sands
When in Warm Sands, you can plan a visit to Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Plaza Theatre, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.
Frequently asked questions
Explore a world of travel with Expedia
- Hyatt Hotels in Bermuda Dunes
- Bighorn Hotels
- Cathedral City Hotels
- Desert Park Estates Hotels
- Budget Hotels in Downtown Palm Springs
- Downtown Palm Springs Hotels
- Fern Valley Hotels
- Diamond Resorts in Indian Wells
- Indian Wells Hotels
- La Quinta Hotels
- North Palm Springs Hotels
- Villas in Palm Desert
- Condominium Resorts in Palm Springs
- Condo Rentals in Palm Springs
- Hotels near Palm Springs Convention Center
- Boutique Hotels in Palm Springs
- Gay friendly Hotels in Palm Springs
- Hotels with free parking in Palm Springs
- Hotels with Gyms in Palm Springs
- Hotels with indoor pool in Palm Springs
- Luxury Hotels in Palm Springs
- Hotels with Spa in Palm Springs
- Palm Springs Hotels
- Budget Hotels in Rancho Mirage
- Hotels near Sea Mountain Resort Nude Spa
- Serenity Cove Hotels
- Skyborne Hotels
- Apartments in Thousand Palms
- Thousand Palms Hotels
- Flights to Cathedral City
- Flights to Desert Hot Springs
- Flights to Rancho Mirage
- Flights from Palm Springs Intl.
- Flights from Bermuda Dunes
- Flights from Wilkes-Barre (AVP) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Hartford (BDL) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Bata (BSG) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Baltimore (BWI) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from Cincinnati (CVG) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from The Dalles (DLS) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from El Paso (ELP) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from New Bern (EWN) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Gap (GAT) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Goa (GOI) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Greenville (GSP) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Hong Kong (HKG) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Nasik (ISK) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Kinston (ISO) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Sobral (JSO) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Kayes (KYS) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from La Crosse (LSE) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Kansas City (MCI) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from Medford (MDF) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Miami (MIA) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Manila (MNL) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Monterey (MRY) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Paramaribo (PBM) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Phoenix (PHX) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Phoenix (PHX) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from Parma (PMF) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Palma de Mallorca (PMI) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Redmond (RDM) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Rome (RMG) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Sedona (SDX) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from Seattle (SEA) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Flights from Spokane (SFF) to Bermuda Dunes (UDD)
- Flights from Tennant Creek (TCA) to Palm Springs (PSP)
- Cabazon Outlets
- Visit Coachella Valley
- El Dorado Country Club
- Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway
- Hovley Soccer Park
- Indian Wells Holidays
- La Quinta Resort Mountain Course
- Visit La Quinta
- Monterey Market Place
- Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium
- Morongo Valley Holidays
- Visit Palm Desert
- Palm Royale Country Club
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
- Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center
- Visit Downtown Palm Springs
- Visit Uptown Design District
- Palm Springs Holidays
- Visit Palm Springs
- Pine Cove Holidays
- Rancho Las Palmas Shopping Center
- Ruth Hardy Park
- Sea Mountain Resort Nude Spa
- The Shops at Palm Desert
