Palm Springs is where desert design, canyon trails, mountain views, and downtown dining all shape the stay. Start with the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Indian Canyons for the landscape, then use the Art Museum, architecture tours, and downtown districts to build a trip that feels specific to the city.
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Yes, 200 of our Palm Springs homes allow dogs—so feel free to bring Fido along. (Just make sure to check individual home listings for any limits on the number and size of dogs they allow).
Browse dog-friendly homes >Yes. 411 of our Palm Springs vacation rentals have internet access, so you can stay connected throughout your trip.
Browse homes with internet access >Absolutely. Our local Palm Springs team includes professional housekeepers who care for all our homes here. They’ll clean thoroughly and restock amenities, so everything is ready for your arrival—and all you have to do is settle in and relax.
Learn more about Vacasa Premium Clean >Every visit to the Coachella Valley surfaces its own unique experiences. Here are a few tips from locals on what to keep in mind ahead of your visit:
Looking for things to do in Palm Springs, CA? Start with the city’s big scenic and cultural anchors: the tramway, Agua Caliente canyon landscapes, modernist architecture, and museums that connect art, design, and desert history.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries visitors from the desert floor into the Mt. San Jacinto State Park wilderness, making it the city’s signature way to trade palm-lined streets for alpine views. It’s a strong first-time visitor anchor when you want one big scenic experience without leaving Palm Springs.
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Indian Canyons is a sacred Agua Caliente landscape of palm oases, canyon trails, streams, and cultural history at the edge of Palm Springs. It’s a defining outdoor stop for hikers, photographers, and travelers who want the desert landscape to feel specific to Palm Springs.
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Modernism Week Architecture Tours take visitors through Palm Springs neighborhoods shaped by desert modernism, preserved homes, and design culture. It’s a strong fit for design-minded travelers and repeat visitors who want context for the homes, rooflines, and streetscapes they see around town.
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Palm Springs Art Museum anchors the city’s arts scene with downtown museum spaces, an Architecture and Design Center, and exhibitions that connect art, design, and desert culture. It works well as the strongest indoor cultural stop when you want to balance outdoor days with museums and architecture.
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum tells the story of the Agua Caliente People through permanent galleries in downtown Palm Springs. Pair it with Indian Canyons for a fuller understanding of both the living culture and the landscapes central to the destination.
Learn more: Travel guide: things to do in Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs dining is best planned by district. Downtown Palm Springs is the classic walkable dinner area, with fine dining, patios, steakhouses, Mexican restaurants, lively group-friendly spots, shops, and galleries close together.
The Uptown Design District pairs midcentury design browsing with brunch, chef-driven restaurants, sushi, Italian dining, and cocktail bars. The Arenas District adds a compact LGBTQ+ nightlife and dining area with bars, clubs, patios, restaurants, and late-day social energy.
Melvyn’s Restaurant and Casablanca Lounge is a classic Palm Springs supper-club experience at Ingleside Estate, built around old-Hollywood atmosphere, cocktails, live music, and polished dinner service. It’s a strong choice for celebratory dinners or travelers who want the glamour side of Palm Springs.
Las Casuelas Terraza is a long-running downtown Mexican restaurant tied to the Delgado family’s Palm Springs history and known for patio dining. It works well as an easy first-night downtown pick for groups who want a local institution with a festive setting.
Palm Springs makes a practical base for national parks, oasis preserves, date farms, and Southern California desert-to-mountain landscapes. Plan these as separate outings, and check current road, weather, hours, trail, and access details before you go.
Joshua Tree National Park brings together Mojave and Colorado Desert landscapes, surreal rock formations, Joshua trees, dark skies, and wide-open hiking terrain. It’s the marquee national-park day trip when you want a much bigger desert landscape than the Palm Springs core.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a Morongo Valley oasis and birding destination where marshland, desert, boardwalks, and shaded trails meet. It’s a quieter nature-focused outing for travelers who want wildlife viewing and desert shade outside Palm Springs.
Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve protects palm woodland, wetland, desert wash, and dune habitat within the Coachella Valley Preserve system. It’s a strong regional nature stop for travelers interested in palm oases and fragile desert ecosystems beyond the city.
Shields Date Garden in Indio is a classic Coachella Valley date stop with farm-fresh dates, a garden walk, and the region’s date-shake tradition. Use it as a food-culture outing when you want the date-growing side of Greater Palm Springs.
Sand to Snow National Monument spans desert, wilderness, mountain habitat, and Pacific Crest Trail terrain west and north of Palm Springs. Treat it as a rugged public-lands outing for travelers who want a broader Southern California desert-to-mountain landscape.
Travel guide: Things to do in Palm Springs, CA
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