Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting? My Honest Review in 2026

I had absolutely no idea I would love Palm Springs as much as I did, looking back, I think it might actually be one of my favorite places I visited in California.

We just got back from a weekend here and, yes, it was ridiculously hot, but it was also so much fun. We rode our bikes around town, passed all these incredible mid-century modern homes that I’m completely obsessed with, we went hiking, spent plenty of time by the pool and just enjoyed the whole Palm Springs vibe.

Well, after that, you can probably already guess my answer to “Is Palm Springs worth visiting?”

But regardless, I decided to put together this guide to give you a better idea of what Palm Springs is actually like, including what I loved about it, what I didn’t like quite as much, and some of my favorite things to do while you’re here.

Is Palm Springs Worth Visiting? My Quick Answer

So yes, to keep it quick: Palm Springs is absolutely worth visiting, 100%. At the time of our visit, we had actually originally planned a trip to Los Angeles, but at the last minute we decided to go to Palm Springs instead, and I’m so thankful we did.

Palm Springs had such a chill vibe, there was tons of good food, we stayed in a cute hotel that fit that iconic Palm Springs style, and we still had plenty of cool activities to fill our weekend. Looking back, I honestly think we made the right call swapping LA for Palm Springs.

If you want to come here for a vacation, though, you kinda need to decide what you’re looking for. We only did a weekend trip, and we visited in the summer, so it was ridiculously hot. I’d definitely rather come back in the fall or winter when the temperatures are more manageable. And if you’re staying longer, you can also easily add Joshua Tree and a bunch of other activities to the trip, so you could definitely spend more than just a weekend here.

Since we visited Palm Springs as part of a 4-week road trip down the California coast, I also really loved having this little detour inland. The landscapes and overall vibe were completely different from the coastal California towns we had been visiting, and it was just really cool to see a totally different side of California.

What I Love About Palm Springs California

Iconic Architecture

I don’t think I had ever really seen anything quite like the houses in Palm Springs before I came here. Of course, I’d seen pictures of them before, they’re so iconic, but seeing all those buildings everywhere in person was just so much cooler.

I was constantly in disbelief that people actually live in some of these houses. I’d be riding my bike around town and basically just staring at every house we passed. So yeah, if I had to pick my favorite activity in Palm Springs, house watching would honestly be pretty high on the list.

The Landscape

Since I’ve mostly experienced the coastal side of California, driving into the desert was actually pretty crazy. Even the drive into Palm Springs was awesome.

Suddenly you’ve got these huge mountains all around you, completely flat desert landscapes, palm trees and basically a completely different environment from the California coast. It was such a cool change of scenery, especially since we were doing a road trip down the coast and had spent so much time around the ocean.

Awesome Weather

Well, the “awesome” part is kinda up to you.

For me, the weather was awesome because Palm Springs had blue skies and sunshine pretty much all day long. I mean, we’re in the desert after all, so that’s kind of what you expect.

But yeah, it can get ridiculously hot. Someone working at our hotel told us that the temperature had reached 128°F (53°C) there before, which is absolutely insane. So if you’re not a fan of extreme heat, I’d definitely recommend visiting in the fall or winter instead.

Palm Springs Is Just Cool

Palm Springs is just so damn cool, and I know that doesn’t really explain what I mean by that, but it’s true.

I remember lying by the pool at the Skylark, which was the hotel we stayed at, with palm trees and mountains all around us, a drink in my hand, and honestly, I kinda felt like a movie star myself!

There’s just something about the combination of the architecture, the desert landscape, the palm trees, the pool culture and the whole mid-century vibe that makes Palm Springs feel completely different from anywhere else I visited in California.

What I Didn’t Like About Palm Springs California

The HEAT

We visited in July, which is basically one of the worst times to visit Palm Springs if you’re not a fan of extreme heat. Everyone will tell you that, and yeah, there’s a reason for it.

It was basically 100°F (38°C) pretty much every day, and considering we were right in the middle of the desert, it was hot all day long.

But you know what? It really didn’t bother us that much.

We just adjusted our schedule around it. We got up early and headed out to explore before it got too hot, spent the middle of the day at the pool, and then headed back out again in the evening once things started cooling down.

So yes, Palm Springs in July is HOT, but I still had a great time. You just have to accept that you’re probably not going to be casually walking around outside in the middle of the afternoon.

It CAN Be Expensive (But Doesn’t Have to Be)

Funny enough, I actually thought Palm Springs was pretty cheap. In fact, it was one of the cheapest places I visited in California.

But there was a pretty obvious reason for that: we visited in the summer, when far fewer people come to Palm Springs because of the heat.

Our hotel was not only super cheap, but also basically empty, which honestly I didn’t mind at all. 

However, during the high season, especially roughly January through April, prices can be a completely different story. Hotels, restaurants and pretty much everything else can get significantly more expensive, so don’t assume that the prices I paid in summer are what you’ll pay if you visit during peak season.

It Can Get Busy in High Season

Again, this was another issue I didn’t have because we visited in the summer. Palm Springs was actually really quiet while we were there, which I loved.

But apparently, during the peak season in winter and early spring, things can get a lot busier.

So if you’re visiting during the popular months, I’d definitely book your hotel well in advance. And if you’re traveling with a larger group, I’d also consider making dinner reservations ahead of time, especially if there’s a particular restaurant you really want to try.

We didn’t have to think about any of that in July, but I can imagine it being a very different experience during peak season.

The Best Things to Do in Palm Springs

1. Explore Palm Springs’ Cool Mid-Century Neighborhoods

My favorite thing we did during our entire time in Palm Springs was honestly just looking at the houses.

Obviously, I always tried to be as discreet as possible because these are still people’s homes, and I didn’t want to be that tourist standing directly outside someone’s front door with a camera. The good thing about visiting in July, though, is that a lot of these houses are second homes, so quite a few of them were actually empty when we were there.

My favorite neighborhoods for seeing the architecture were Vista Las Palmas and pretty much anywhere north of the Indian Canyons Golf Resort.

2. Rent Bicycles

Even though it was absolutely boiling hot in Palm Springs, we obviously had to rent bikes and ride around town. I mean, I’m German after all, right?

I think a bicycle is one of the best ways to explore Palm Springs, especially if you’re interested in the architecture. You can just cruise through all these beautiful neighborhoods, stop whenever you see a house you like, take some pictures and keep going.

Our hotel, The Skylark, actually included free bike rentals, which was absolutely awesome and meant we could just grab the bikes whenever we wanted.

Obviously, I’d recommend doing your biking earlier in the morning or later in the evening if you’re visiting in summer. We learned that one the hard way!

3. Visit the Palm Springs Art Museum

I wouldn’t call myself a huge art person, but I can definitely appreciate a good art museum, and I really liked the Palm Springs Art Museum.

What I enjoyed most was that it felt kinda quirky, which is honestly exactly what I’d expect from Palm Springs. There are huge sculptures, weird installations, paintings and all sorts of random things to look at, so even if you’re not normally someone who spends hours in art museums, I think it’s worth checking out.

4. Take a Photo with Forever Marilyn

Palm Springs is also known for all its public art and larger-than-life installations, and one of the most famous is Forever Marilyn. Obviously, I had to get a picture with her.

I also really wanted to see History of Suspended Time, which is the silver hanging Chevy Malibu that you might have seen in pictures of Palm Springs. It looks just so cool and iconic, but unfortunately, I found out that it’s no longer in Palm Springs.

So just a little heads-up in case you’ve seen it online and were planning on getting a picture there too!

5. Go Hiking in Indian Canyons

There’s actually a surprising amount of hiking around Palm Springs. Of course, you’ve also got Joshua Tree National Park, which is about a 45-minute drive away, but you don’t even have to go that far to find some great trails.

We hiked the Murray Canyon Trail in Indian Canyons, and because we visited in July, we had to get up at around 5 AM to beat the heat.

But it was absolutely worth getting up early, and I can imagine this being a much easier activity if you visit during the cooler months.

FAQs About Is Palm Springs a Good Place to Visit

Should I Visit Palm Springs?

Absolutely! Palm Springs was one of my favorite destinations from my last trip to California, mainly because it’s just so different from the coastal towns and cities I had been visiting. It’s quirky, it’s artsy, and it’s just super cool.

What Is There to Do in Palm Springs?

You mean apart from enjoying a cocktail by the pool?

You can go hiking in Indian Canyons or Joshua Tree National Park, visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, and ride your bike around all the famous mid-century modern neighborhoods. There’s also the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway if you want to add another big activity to your trip.

Is Palm Springs Expensive?

I’d say not necessarily. Sure, prices can go up quite a bit during the high season, roughly from January through April, but we visited in July and Palm Springs was actually one of the cheapest places we stayed during our California road trip.

Our hotel here was also probably the best value for money out of all the hotels we stayed at in California, so I definitely wouldn’t automatically assume that Palm Springs is an expensive destination.

How Many Days in Palm Springs Do I Need?

I’d say a weekend is totally fine if you mainly want to relax by the pool, see all the cool architecture and eat some good food.

However, if you want to add things like Indian Canyons, the Aerial Tramway and Joshua Tree to your itinerary, I’d definitely give yourself a few extra days. There’s enough around Palm Springs to turn it into a proper vacation if you want to.

Final Thoughts on Is Palm Springs Worth It?

To wrap this up quickly: I absolutely think Palm Springs is worth visiting.

I loved it mainly because it was so different from almost everywhere else we visited during our California road trip. I loved San Diego and Encinitas, the coastal towns all the way up to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and of course San Francisco, but Palm Springs just felt completely different from all of them.

It’s quirky, it’s fun, it has this incredible mid-century architecture, and then you’ve got the desert landscape, palm trees and mountains surrounding the whole place.

I hope this little guide on is Palm Springs worth visiting gave you a good idea of what to expect when you visit and whether Palm Springs is the kind of California destination you’re looking for.