Things to do & places to see
Get to know the neighborhood: Spotlight on Tempe, Arizona
Tempe packs a lot into one corner of the Valley. Tempe Town Lake brings the outdoors into the middle of the city, while nearby ASU keeps the calendar full of games, performances, and events. Add downtown dining and nightlife, local arts, desert trails, and plenty of sunshine, and there’s always a reason to get out and explore.
Start along the water with a walk or bike ride on the Rio Salado Pathway, which loops around Tempe Town Lake and connects to Tempe Beach Park, ASU, and downtown. Head toward Mill Avenue for restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, catch a performance at ASU Gammage or Tempe Center for the Arts, or trade city streets for skyline views from A Mountain.
Sports fans have plenty nearby, too. ASU football, basketball, hockey, and other athletics bring year-round energy to Tempe, while Sloan Park welcomes the Chicago Cubs for spring training. Tempe Marketplace offers another nearby stop for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
For a quick trip or an extended stay in Tempe, having more room makes it easier to find your own rhythm. Spend the morning by the lake, head out for work or a game, then come home to a furnished apartment with space to cook, unwind, and settle in.
Things to do in Tempe:
- Walk, run, or bike along Tempe Town Lake and the Rio Salado Pathway, with waterfront scenery just outside your door
- Hike A Mountain (Hayden Butte) for desert scenery and views over Tempe
- Catch an ASU football game at Mountain America Stadium or basketball and other events at Desert Financial Arena
- See a concert, musical, or performance at ASU Gammage, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
- Explore exhibitions and performances at the ASU Art Museum and Tempe Center for the Arts
- Head to Mill Avenue and Downtown Tempe for restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and nightlife
- Shop, dine, or catch a movie at Tempe Marketplace
- Take in Chicago Cubs spring training at Sloan Park
Nearby Attractions:
- Spend the day at the Phoenix Zoo or Desert Botanical Garden, both a short drive across the river
- Explore the restaurants, museums, sports, and arts of Downtown Phoenix
- Hike Camelback Mountain for one of the Valley's best-known hikes
- Head to Scottsdale for dining, shopping, galleries, and nightlife
- Get out on the Lower Salt River for kayaking, paddleboarding, and desert scenery
- Make a day trip to Sedona for red-rock trails and scenery
- Go farther north to experience the Grand Canyon's South Rim
