The 9 Best Things to Do in Palm Springs + 2 Things I’d Skip (2026)

I really tried my best to do as much as possible while I was in Palm Springs because who knows when I’ll be back here, but at the same time, I also wanted to give myself at least a little bit of free time to just hang out by the pool.

I spent a long weekend here, and I think I did a pretty good job of finding that balance. I spent a bunch of time exploring Palm Springs’ iconic neighborhoods, riding around on my bicycle, and I even managed to squeeze in some hiking. But at the same time, I still found plenty of time to relax by the pool, eat some good food and just enjoy being in Palm Springs.

And to be honest, I think that’s the perfect way to do Palm Springs. There’s plenty to see and do, but you’re also kind of supposed to slow down a little and enjoy the whole Palm Springs lifestyle.

Because even I didn’t exactly know what was worth doing here and what wasn’t before I arrived, I’ve now put together this guide with my 9 favorite things to do in Palm Springs, plus 2 things I’d skip or at least do differently the next time I visit.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Palm Springs? I’ve Got the Answers

When I was planning my trip to Palm Springs, I kinda divided everything I wanted to do into two categories.

The first was all the stuff in Palm Springs itself, most of which I could easily do on foot or by bicycle. That included exploring downtown, visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum, and, of course, checking out all the super cool mid-century modern architecture around town.

Then there was everything that felt more like a day trip or bigger activity, like riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, hiking in Indian Canyons, or even taking a day trip out to Joshua Tree National Park.

Out of all those things, I’d say my number one must-do was definitely seeing all the cool houses. I loved being able to ride around on our bikes and explore all those unique neighborhoods with their crazy mid-century homes.

The other thing I really enjoyed, and would highly recommend, was exploring Indian Canyons. The landscape is so cool and completely different from what I’m used to seeing in California, and I had a lot of fun hiking and exploring around there.

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Palm Springs

Where to Stay in Palm Springs

First things first, I personally liked staying somewhere in Palm Springs that was at least reasonably close to downtown. That way, I could walk or take the bike out for drinks or dinner, which is just something I personally enjoy rather than having to drive everywhere.

We stayed at The Skylark Palm Springs, which was in a great location and had a pool and hot tub. It also had that cool Palm Springs vibe and decor, and they even had free bike rentals, which we definitely made use of.

The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs

Personally, I’d recommend early spring or late fall. That way, you can avoid the worst of the summer heat while also missing the busiest and most expensive part of the winter season.

Palm Springs tends to be busiest roughly between November and March, so those shoulder-season months can be a really nice sweet spot.

How Many Days Do You Need in Palm Springs?

I thought Palm Springs was perfect for our long weekend. We had enough time to explore a lot of the city while still having plenty of time to hang out by the pool and actually relax.

So I’d say 2–3 days works really well for Palm Springs. If you want to explore more of the surrounding area, go hiking, visit Joshua Tree National Park or add the Aerial Tramway, I’d give yourself around 4 days.

Be Aware of the Heat

We visited Palm Springs in July, which pretty much everybody told us not to do because it gets too hot.

We had around 100°F (38°C) most days, but apparently it can get up to around 115°F (46°C) pretty easily during the summer, so definitely keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Be Respectful of People’s Houses

I know one of the most popular things to do in Palm Springs is explore all the iconic neighborhoods with their famous mid-century modern architecture. And I did that too!

But I’ll be honest, I did feel a little awkward sometimes because people actually live in these houses.

So if you’re riding around taking pictures, just be respectful of people’s privacy and property. Don’t walk onto private driveways or onto someone’s lawn just because you want a better photo.

My 9 Favorite Things I Did in Palm Springs

1. Explore the Iconic Mid-Century Architecture in Vista Las Palmas

My favorite thing I did in Palm Springs was checking out all the incredible mid-century modern architecture around town.

Especially for me, as someone who isn’t from California and had mostly been visiting seaside towns during this trip, all of this was completely new. I’d seen pictures of Palm Springs before, but seeing these houses in person was so much cooler.

My favorite area for this was Vista Las Palmas, but the Indian Canyons neighborhood is also really good if you want to see more of them.

A couple of quick things to keep in mind, though: these are people’s actual homes, so please be as respectful as possible when taking pictures.  Also, since we visited in July, a lot of these houses were actually empty, which made me feel a little less awkward about riding around taking pictures.

If you want to know more about the architecture and where to find the coolest houses, check out my guide on where to see the coolest houses in Palm Springs.

2. Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum

I’m usually not someone who is huuuge on museums. And when I do enjoy museums, they’re usually culture, science or history museums. I rarely ever go to art museums.

The Palm Springs Art Museum however surprised me because there was so much quirky, over-the-top and genuinely cool stuff inside that even I actually really enjoyed it.

So if you’re like me and normally wouldn’t prioritize an art museum, I’d still recommend checking this one out. It’s fun, it’s very ‘Palm Springs’, and it’s also a great place to escape the heat for a little while.

Regular tickets are $25, but here’s a little tip: the museum is free every Thursday evening from 5 PM to 8 PM, which is what we did. Definitely worth taking advantage of that, especially if you’re traveling with the whole family.

3. Rent a Bike and Explore Palm Springs

In my opinion, the best way to explore Palm Springs is on a bicycle. Obviously, this depends a little on where you’re staying, but we stayed at The Skylark Palm Springs, which is up in North Palm Springs, and they had free bike rentals for guests.

From there, it took us literally about 10 minutes to bike into downtown, and it was so much fun.

We actually tried exploring Palm Springs both by car and by bike, and I’m telling you, biking was 1000 times better. You can actually slow down, look around at all the cool houses and neighborhoods.

4. Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was probably one of the coolest and bigger major activities we did during our time here.

The cable car takes you from the desert floor just outside Palm Springs all the way up Mount San Jacinto, where the scenery completely changes. At the top, you’re surrounded by pine forests and mountain landscapes, and the temperature is way cooler than down in Palm Springs.

And honestly, that alone was pretty damn nice when we were visiting in the middle of summer.

5. Take a Picture with Marilyn Monroe

A lot of people actually think the huge Forever Marilyn statue is part of the Palm Springs Art Museum, mainly because it’s just around the corner.

It’s not, though! It has nothing to do with the museum. The statue is part of Palm Springs’ collection of quirky public art and has become one of those random landmarks you’ll probably want to see while you’re here.

And obviously, I had to take a picture with it.

I mean, when else do you get the chance to take a picture with a 26-foot-tall Marilyn Monroe?!

6. Visit Moorten Botanical Garden

A little more random, but one thing I really enjoyed was visiting Moorten Botanical Garden.

This isn’t some massive botanical garden like you might find in a bigger city. It’s actually much smaller, and it’s more like a little desert greenhouse, but they have so many cool cacti and succulents that it’s a really fun place to walk around.

Everything here just feels very desert-y, with all these weird and interesting plants everywhere, and then there’s even a random tortoise walking around!

They also have a little nursery where you can actually buy some of the plants if you find one you really like.

7. Get a Milkshake in Downtown Palm Springs

Okay, I know $14 for a milkshake is absolutely insane, but this thing was sooooo good.

We went to Brandini Toffee in downtown Palm Springs, which is actually a really cool little place because they make their toffee in-house every single day.

And obviously, we had to try their toffee milkshake.

Was it worth $14?

Honestly… I don’t know.

Was it hella delicious?

Yes. Absolutely.

8. Go Hiking in Indian Canyons

If you want to get out into nature while you’re in Palm Springs, I personally think Indian Canyons is by far one of the best options.

It’s only about a 15-minute drive from downtown, so it’s incredibly easy to get to, and the landscapes are just gorgeous. You’ve got canyons, palm trees, rivers and all this desert scenery that I thought was really cool.

And to be fair, I preferred it for a shorter trip because it’s much easier to fit into a Palm Springs itinerary than spending an entire day going out to Joshua Tree National Park.

If you’re short on time, or you just want something a little more relaxed, Indian Canyons is perfect. You can get out into nature, do a hike, enjoy the scenery and still be back in Palm Springs for lunch or a cocktail by the pool.

We did the Murray Canyon Trail, which was pretty easy and family-friendly, and I’d definitely recommend it if you want a relatively relaxed hike while you’re here.

9. Visit Robolights

And lastly, another really quirky Palm Springs landmark is Robolights, which is located in the Movie Colony neighborhood.

It’s basically a house that has been completely taken over by art installations, with robots, animals, dinosaurs and all kinds of other weird and colorful creations made from recycled materials. The whole thing was created by artist Kenny Irwin Jr..

I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t necessarily call this a must-do in Palm Springs. But I loved the quirky, artsy side of the city, so I was definitely keen to stop by and take a few pictures.

It’s one of those things that doesn’t take very long to see, but if you’re already exploring the Movie Colony area and you like weird public art, I thought it was pretty damn cool.

Things I’d Skip the Next Time in Palm Springs

Joshua Tree National Park

Okay, hear me out on this one.

I’m not saying Joshua Tree National Park isn’t worth visiting. Quite the opposite, actually. I loved it, and I definitely want to go back.

What I’m saying is that I wouldn’t want to rush Joshua Tree into a half-day or quick day trip again just because I’m staying in Palm Springs.

When you only have two or three days in Palm Springs, I’d personally rather stay in Palm Springs and actually enjoy the city, rather than spending a big chunk of the day driving out to Joshua Tree, rushing around the park, and then driving all the way back.

Joshua Tree is so damn cool that I think it deserves its own trip.

The Pink Door in the Indian Canyons Neighborhood

Okay, I’ll admit it: I was also guilty of trying to find the famous pink door like there was no tomorrow.

And yes, I got my picture with it, and yes, I think the picture is pretty damn cute.

But honestly, I don’t think the front of the house itself is anything particularly amazing.

The house is called Villa Sierra and is located in the Indian Canyons neighborhood, and I think there are much cooler houses in Palm Springs, especially around my favorite neighborhood, Vista Las Palmas.

FAQs About the Best Activities in Palm Springs California

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! I loved Palm Springs, and it ended up being one of my favorite places in California, mainly because it’s just so quirky, artsy and sooo different from so many of the other places we visited.

Where Should I Stay in Palm Springs?

I’d recommend staying somewhere with a pool and a cool Palm Springs-style design. We stayed at The Skylark Palm Springs, which I really loved. It was recently renovated, had that classic Palm Springs vibe, and had a huge pool and hot tub.

Is Palm Springs Walkable?

Some parts definitely are. From the hotel we stayed at, we could bike into downtown pretty easily, and once we were there, we could walk around without any problems.

If full walkability is important to you, though, I’d recommend staying right in downtown Palm Springs so you can walk straight out of your hotel and have restaurants, shops and bars right on your doorstep.

Is Palm Springs Expensive to Visit?

I actually didn’t think so, at least compared to many other places we visited in California.

However, we visited in July, which is definitely the off-season because of the heat. And in terms of value for money, our hotel, The Skylark Palm Springs, was actually one of the best deals we had anywhere in California.

What Are the Best Free Things to Do in Palm Springs?

For me, one of the best free things to do is simply exploring the cool neighborhoods, especially Vista Las Palmas and the Indian Canyons neighborhood.

And if your hotel offers free bike rentals like ours did, even better. You can just grab a bike and spend a few hours riding around Palm Springs, checking out all the incredible houses and architecture without spending a dime.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Palm Springs for Kids?

I’m sure kids would absolutely love riding the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The Palm Springs Air Museum could also be a really cool option if your kids are into planes, and of course, you’ve also got the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens nearby if you want a more traditional family activity.

Final Thoughts on What Is There to Do in Palm Springs

All in all, I think Palm Springs is the perfect weekend getaway.

It has such a cool, laid-back vibe that I never felt bad about just spending a few hours by the pool with a cocktail. And trust me, I definitely did that more than once!

But then, whenever we felt like actually getting out and doing something, there were plenty of options. We explored all the cool neighborhoods and downtown, went hiking, visited the museum, rode the Aerial Tramway and explored some of the incredible desert landscapes around Palm Springs.

I hope this guide on the best things to do in Palm Springs gave you a good idea of what’s going on here, what there is to do, and what you can expect from a weekend in Palm Springs.

Check Out My Other Palm Springs Guides

The Best Restaurants in Palm Springs: My Favorite Food Spots

Coffee Shops in Palm Springs: My Top Cafes & Coffee Spots

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

3 Days in Palm Springs: How I Spent 72 Hours here

Things to Do in Palm Springs: My Favorite Activities

Where to Stay in Palm Springs: The Best Hotels & Areas

How Many Days in Palm Springs Do You Need? My Honest Review

The Best Time to Visit Palm Springs: My Seasonal Guide

Where to See Cool Houses in Palm Springs: The Best Mid Century Modern Homes