Cheap flights to Phoenix
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Phoenix and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
PHX
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-7 all year (Arizona does not use daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Phoenix
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
Loading examples…
Why track Phoenix with SniperAir
You do not need to compare prices every day
Choose your departure
Enter your departure airport and your maximum budget for a flight to Phoenix (PHX).
SniperAir keeps watch
Our systems continuously compare new prices with the real price history of the route. SniperAir monitors prices and alerts you: it does not sell or book tickets.
You receive an alert
As soon as a price matches your criteria, you are notified, without having searched for anything yourself.
Airport and getting into town
Sky Harbor sits in the city, linked to the light rail by a free SkyTrain
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
Sky Harbor Airport is inside the city, at the southeast end of downtown according to Wikivoyage (EN). The free PHX Sky Train runs to the 44th Street and Washington station of the Valley Metro light rail, which serves downtown, Tempe and Mesa (Wikivoyage EN). Taxis, ride-hailing and buses (route 13 according to Wikivoyage DE) complete the options. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA), in Mesa, is served by low-cost carriers and is worth tracking too. There is no passenger train: Amtrak no longer serves Phoenix, and the nearest stop is at Maricopa, about 56 km (35 miles) south according to Wikivoyage (EN); intercity buses fill the gap.
Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN, FR, DE, ES) and Wikipedia; timetables change, so check them before you travel. We do not quote fares.
Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, had 1,608,139 residents at the 2020 census (Wikipedia EN, DE, ES) and ranks among the largest US cities. It spreads across the Valley of the Sun at 331 m (1,086 ft) of elevation, in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. The Hohokam were already digging irrigation canals here more than 2,000 years ago according to Wikipedia (DE); the modern city dates from 1867 to 1868 and takes its name from the mythical bird that rises from its ashes.
Landmarks
Papago Park, the Sonoran Desert, saguaros and valley evenings
Phoenix is a city of landscape as much as buildings: red rocks, giant cacti and long sunsets. The places below are illustrated; Camelback Mountain, South Mountain and Taliesin West are covered in text.
Papago Park and Hole in the Rock
Papago Park holds red sandstone buttes pierced with hollows, one of which frames the city like a window. Wikivoyage (FR) mentions an accessible 2 km loop trail there. The Desert Botanical Garden and the zoo are in the same park according to Wikivoyage (EN).
The Valley of the Sun at sunset
Phoenix is nicknamed the Valley of the Sun according to Wikipedia (DE), with about 300 sunny days a year depending on the source. Evening is the best time: the light turns the rocky hills around the city gold and the neighbourhoods light up one by one.
The Sonoran Desert and its saguaros
Saguaros, the tall columnar cacti that symbolise the Sonoran Desert, cover the hills around the city. Several mountain parks have trails to see them up close; Wikivoyage (EN) advises bringing plenty of water and not underestimating the heat.
The Desert Botanical Garden and its cacti
The Desert Botanical Garden, in Papago Park, shows about 50 acres of Sonoran Desert plants according to Wikivoyage (EN). Wikivoyage (DE) suggests going in April or May, when the cacti bloom. Prickly pear pads, columnar cacti and yellow flowers make very photogenic scenes.
Phoenix evenings
At dusk the sky shifts from orange to pink above rows of palm trees, a familiar image of the city. Winter is the peak tourist season according to Wikivoyage (EN), because the evenings are mild.
Camelback Mountain, South Mountain and Taliesin West
Camelback Mountain rises to 825 m (2,707 ft) according to Wikivoyage (FR); the Echo Canyon trail is about 4 km (2.5 miles) round trip and very difficult. Piestewa Peak (795 m, 2,608 ft) is a one to two hour climb with no shade according to Wikivoyage (EN). South Mountain Park, with more than 65 km2 (25 sq mi) and 80 km (50 miles) of trails, is billed as the largest municipal park in the United States (Wikivoyage FR). Taliesin West was Frank Lloyd Wright's winter studio (Wikipedia FR, EN).
Museums and culture
Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Musical Instrument Museum and Arizona Science Center
The Heard Museum
The Heard Museum is devoted to Native American arts and cultures: Wikivoyage (EN) names Hopi kachina dolls among its holdings, and Wikivoyage (FR) speaks of more than 40,000 objects. It is a good introduction to the Indigenous peoples of Arizona.
Art and musical instruments
The Phoenix Art Museum, open since 1959, holds 16,000 to 18,000 works depending on the source, and the Musical Instrument Museum shows instruments from around the world; sources disagree on their number, from 6,500 to 15,000. We do not quote fares: several museums have discounted evenings or days, but these conditions change.
Science and history
The Arizona Science Center offers more than 300 hands-on exhibits, an IMAX theatre and a planetarium according to Wikivoyage (EN). The Hall of Flame fire museum and the Victorian Rosson House round out the visit. The city also has an active music scene around Roosevelt Row (Wikivoyage DE).
Food and drink
Plenty of Mexican food, starred tables and barbecue
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine is the most prominent in Phoenix, ahead of the other international cuisines that have grown, according to Wikipedia (ES) and Wikivoyage (DE). You find it in tacos, burritos and family restaurants, often inexpensive.
Steaks and barbecue
Wikivoyage (FR) lists tables ranging from neighbourhood barbecue to high-end steakhouses, and the official tourism site highlights restaurants recognised by the Michelin Guide and by the James Beard Foundation. None of our sources confirms a single signature dish.
Where to go out
Roosevelt Row, an arts, music and bar district, is the address for evenings out (Wikivoyage DE). Drink-driving laws are strictly enforced, notably in Scottsdale and Tempe according to Wikivoyage (EN): use the light rail or a ride-hailing car.
Getting around
Light rail and buses for downtown; a rental car for the rest
Valley Metro
The Valley Metro Rail light rail, opened in 2008 according to Wikipedia (EN, ES), has two lines: the A Line, east-west to Tempe and Mesa and past the airport, and the B Line, north-south along Central Avenue according to Wikivoyage (EN). Buses complete the network, with a reloadable card or the network's app.
Rental car
A rental car is the most convenient way for visitors to get around according to Wikivoyage (EN): avenues are wide and laid out on a grid, parking is plentiful and neighbouring towns are far apart. I-10 leads to Tucson and I-17 to Sedona and Flagstaff.
Bikes, scooters and ride-hailing
Wikivoyage (FR) cites more than 1,100 km (680 miles) of bike paths in the metro area and a bike-share system. E-scooters are common, but riding on pavements can be fined according to Wikivoyage (EN). Uber and Lyft are widely used.
Budget and precautions
An average US price level, with winter dearer
Price level
Phoenix sits at the average for large US cities. The currency is the US dollar, and accommodation costs more in high season, in winter and during baseball spring training in February and March. We do not publish figures: the sources are dated or disagree.
Flights and alerts
SniperAir monitors flight prices to PHX and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Consider tracking Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (AZA) as well, which is served by low-cost carriers according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Heat and safety
Summer is extremely hot and dry: water, a hat and sunscreen are essential (Wikivoyage EN, DE). Downtown is fairly safe by day, but Wikivoyage (DE) reports more theft than the Arizona average and advises avoiding some outlying districts. Foreign visitors should check US entry requirements for their nationality.
When to go
Mild sunny winters, scorching summers, monsoon from June to September
Winter (December to February)
Mild and very sunny: the mean January minimum is about 8 °C (7.8 °C or 46 °F according to Wikipedia EN), with rare frost. It is the peak tourist season according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Spring (March to May)
Cactus League baseball trains in February and March (Wikivoyage EN), and the cacti at the botanical garden bloom in April and May (Wikivoyage DE). Ideal for walking before the big heat.
Summer (June to August)
Scorching: a mean July high of about 42 °C (107 °F) according to Wikipedia (EN, FR) and a record of 50 °C (122 °F) on 26 June 1990 according to most sources. The monsoon officially starts on 15 June.
Autumn (September to November)
The monsoon ends on 30 September according to Wikipedia (EN, FR); October and November bring pleasant days for hiking.
Phoenix has a hot desert climate, with more than 300 sunny days a year according to Wikivoyage (DE) and about 200 mm (8 in) of rain. Thunderstorms and dust storms (haboobs) occur regularly from July to September according to Wikivoyage (EN). If you hike in the hills or mountains, start very early in the morning.
By length of stay
What to do in Phoenix depending on how long you stay
The essentials
Papago Park and the Desert Botanical Garden, a sunrise hike, the Heard Museum and a sunset over the valley.
Museums and districts
The Phoenix Art Museum, the Musical Instrument Museum, Roosevelt Row, Taliesin West and South Mountain.
Arizona
Sedona and Flagstaff along I-17, Tucson along I-10, or the Grand Canyon more than 350 km (220 miles) away, with a rental car.
In pictures
Phoenix in pictures
You might also like
Similar destinations
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Phoenix
How do I get from Phoenix airport to downtown?
Sky Harbor (PHX) is inside the city; the free Sky Train links to the Valley Metro light rail, which serves downtown, Tempe and Mesa. Taxis and ride-hailing are other options. Check timetables before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Phoenix?
From autumn to spring: winter is the peak season, and the cacti bloom in April and May. Summer is scorching and the monsoon runs from 15 June to 30 September.
Do I need a rental car in Phoenix?
It is the most convenient way, especially for day trips. The light rail and buses are enough for downtown, Tempe and Mesa.
Is Phoenix expensive?
It sits at the average for large US cities, with higher prices in high season. We do not publish figures, as sources are dated or disagree.
Can I go from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon?
Yes, by car or on a tour: the Grand Canyon is more than 350 km (220 miles) away, with Sedona and Flagstaff on the way along I-17. Allow a full day.
What can I do in Phoenix when it is very hot?
Walk at dawn, visit the museums (Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Musical Instrument Museum) and keep water, a hat and sunscreen with you.
How much does a flight to Phoenix usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Phoenix drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Phoenix as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
Ready to head to Phoenix?
Set your budget and let SniperAir monitor fares for you.
Create my alert