Tempe, AZ

Travel Guide

Tempe showing night scenes and a city
Tempe Town Lake Marina which includes a city, a river or creek and views
Tempe Beach Park featuring wildflowers
Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium
Mill Avenue District
Gorgeous gardens and high-rise towers surround the lake at the heart of this town with several baseball arenas and an important university campus.

The bright lights and tall towers of Tempe are beautifully reflected on Tempe Town Lake, where you can try a great range of fun watersports activities. The city itself is a cultural highlight filled with theaters, museums and parks. When you visit Tempe, get a sense of the youthful vibe in and around the campus of Arizona State University.

Explore the nature trails of the LoPiano Bosque Habitat, where you can see native trees and animals. On the southern side of the reservoir is Tempe Beach Park. Let your kids frolic in the splash playground or rent a bike to ride along the shore. The park is an entertainment hub, where many of the city’s festivals and open-air concerts take place. Rent a boat or paddleboard to take out on the water.

Bring the whole family to the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Arizona or the indoor air-conditioned Tempe Paintball, which also has airsoft and nerf circuits. Check out the exhibits at the SEA LIFE Aquarium and visit an interactive tidepool. Watch Major League Baseball spring training at Diablo Stadium. You can also catch a college game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Chat with some of the students at Arizona State University. Learn about the world through the exhibits of the Gallery of Scientific Exploration, the Arizona State University Innovation Gallery and the Center for Meteorite Studies.

The city lies on the eastern side of Phoenix, in the southern part of Arizona. It is between Scottsdale, Mesa and South Mountain Park and Preserve, south of Tonto National Forest. Travel to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and drive east for 4 miles (6 kilometers) to get here in about 10 minutes.

Tempe is a hub of baseball stadiums, family-fun entertainment and intriguing science museums.

Where to stay in Tempe

Sea Life Aquarium

South Tempe

4/5(34 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in South Tempe, Arizona Mills Mall and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center are top sights worth seeing.

South Tempe
Tempe showing night scenes and a city

Downtown Tempe

While you're in Downtown Tempe, take in top sights like Mill Avenue District or Hayden Butte Preserve, and hop on the metro to see more the city at Mill Ave - Third Street Station or 3rd Street/Mill Avenue Tram Stop.

Downtown Tempe
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Alegre Community

Alegre Community might not have many top sights, but Tempe Town Lake and Sloan Park are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Alegre Community
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Guadalupe

The churches and shopping are a few reasons travelers visit Guadalupe. Want to see more of the surrounding area? Arizona Grand Golf Course and Oasis Water Park are a few top sights nearby.

Guadalupe
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Maple-Ash

4.5/5(7 area reviews)

When in Maple-Ash and the surrounding area, you'll want to check out sights like Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium or Mill Avenue District and hop on the metro to see more the city at 11th St - Mill Ave Tram Stop or 9th Street/Mill Avenue Tram Stop.

Maple-Ash
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Riverside

Though Riverside might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Mill Avenue District and Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium.

Riverside
DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Tempe

DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Tempe

4 out of 5
2100 S Priest Dr, Tempe, AZ
$83 nightly
The price is $94 total per night from Aug 8 to Aug 9
$94 total
Aug 8 - Aug 9
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Tempe. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,025 reviews)
"Quiet and friendly"

Reviewed on Jul 11, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Tempe
Wyndham Phoenix Airport/Tempe

Wyndham Phoenix Airport/Tempe

3.5 out of 5
1600 S 52nd St, Tempe, AZ
$89 nightly
The price is $102 total per night from Jul 16 to Jul 17
$102 total
Jul 16 - Jul 17
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Tempe. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,901 reviews)
"It was a nice, clean room and exactly what we needed for our short stay before heading home"

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2025

Wyndham Phoenix Airport/Tempe
Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes

Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes

4 out of 5
2000 W Westcourt Way, Tempe, AZ
$158 nightly
The price is $180 total per night from Aug 1 to Aug 2
$180 total
Aug 1 - Aug 2
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly resort in Tempe. Enjoy 2 outdoor pools, 3 hot tubs, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,017 reviews)
"Price was amazing for the resort experience we received. Room was great and pool was awesome! Will totally come back next time we are in the area!"

Reviewed on Jul 13, 2025

Marriott Phoenix Resort Tempe at The Buttes
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Metro Tempe Apartments

Metro Tempe Apartments

4 out of 5
2301 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ
Stay at this 4-star spa aparthotel in Tempe. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the clean rooms and the overall value in ...
7/10 Good! (1,040 reviews)
Check the room when you arrive
"I stayed her previously and booked again. This room was on a different floor, had live cockroaches coming from the sink, bathtub and under the couch. I contacted the property manager and they were able to reassign me to another room on another floor that was clean without any sign of bugs."

Reviewed on May 21, 2025

Metro Tempe Apartments
Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy Mill Ave Apartments Tempe

Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy Mill Ave Apartments Tempe

3.5 out of 5
750 South Ash Avenue, Tempe, AZ
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Tempe. Enjoy a fitness center, parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Tempe Town Lake and Phoenix ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (703 reviews)
"fav place to stay reliable, cheap, and in an awesome location."

Reviewed on Jul 14, 2025

Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy Mill Ave Apartments Tempe
KB - Trovita Rio

KB - Trovita Rio

4 out of 5
701 West Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly apartment in Tempe. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Phoenix Zoo and Tempe Town ...
9/10 Wonderful! (27 reviews)
"The apartment was modern and clean. It was quiet snd the beds were comfortable. I felt safe."

Reviewed on Jun 18, 2025

KB - Trovita Rio
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Tempe

4.1
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
1013
5 - Excellent 35%
4 - Good
1330
4 - Good 46%
3 - Okay
462
3 - Okay 16%
2 - Disappointing
39
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
27
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I loved tempe it was my first time visiting and it most definitely wont be my last.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

It's different

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

We loved the city. There's many awesome activities, things to do around Phoenix area.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

The cops are more so of criminals and they love to harass & lie. The shopping centers are very convenient and large selections, there is a huge homeless population here but they HV a pretty good homeless coalition and resources. It's beautiful here.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Not much . But enjoyed and relaxed...

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

I love Tempe area

Cities near Tempe