Best Areas to Stay in Phoenix, Arizona

Downtown Phoenix is a vibrant business and entertainment area.

Part of the Central City District, a massive district encompassing Phoenix’s core’s financial, commercial and residential developments, plus the expansive Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Downtown Phoenix concentrates some of the city’s top cultural tourist attractions.

The Governmental Mall district, on the east end of Central City, is home to Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, a large public square where the state’s main administrative landmarks such as the Arizona Capitol (and its museum), the Arizona State Senate, and the Arizona Supreme Court are located.

The Arizona Science Center, located on Washington Street, offers interactive demos, a planetarium, and an IMAX theater. Next to it, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is home to over 300 hands-on exhibits focusing on science and history for kids 12 and under.

Downtown is also home to some off-the-beaten-track local museums such as the Phoenix Trolley Museum, the Phoenix Police Museum, or the Exotic Art Show @ Alwun House Foundation.

Roosevelt Row, located in Central City’s Evans Churchill neighborhood, and the area around the Arizona State University campus are the best places to go for amazing Sonoran-style Mexican cuisine, lovely cafés, pizzerias, and cocktail bars.

For shopping, dining, and nightlife, CityScape offers bars, restaurants, fashion retailers, nightclubs, and entertainment venues in a chic environment.

Central Phoenix is also where most professional sports and concert venues are found. Chase Field is a stadium and multi-purpose arena home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, PHX Arena hosts professional basketball and big-name concerts.

From a business traveler‘s perspective, Downtown Phoenix is the area where many big Arizona companies have their headquarters. Additionally, the Phoenix Convention Center, one of the largest in the state, hosts national and regional conventions, congresses, and trade shows. Tall office towers, high-rises, and convention centers make Downtown the best area to stay in Phoenix for business.

To move around the various districts in the Central City, the Valley Metro Rail system offers several stations on Washington and Jefferson Streets and 1st and Central Avenues, connecting the area north to Encanto and North Village and east toward the airport Tempe, and Mesa. Additionally, the area is served by many bus routes, and taxis are widely available.

Scottsdale is an independent Greater Phoenix Area city located 10 miles east of Downtown Phoenix.

This city is famous for its high quality of life and its upscale suburbs and country clubs.

Its central area, Old Town Scottsdale is home to the city’s main shopping streets, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Most of the nightlife in Downtown Scottsdale can be found between Camelback and Osborn roads.

Old Town Scottsdale is also a thriving cultural district. This area is known for being a major art center in AZ, home to many galleries, studios, and art museums. The Scottsdale Arts Festival takes place annually and brings visitors from all over the country.

The upscale Scottsdale Fashion Square, located in Downtown Scottsdale, is one of the largest malls in the US.

The Scottsdale Airpark, an important business development serves as the headquarters for major regional and national companies.

To get around the city, the “Scottsdale Trolley“, a free-of-charge trolley-replica bus system, offers two lines connecting at the Loloma Station transit center. Scottsdale is not yet connected by the light rail system. In order to get to Central Phoenix by public transport, you’d need to take the bus, taxi, or Uber.

Encanto Village encompasses the neighborhoods of Encanto, Midtown, and Uptown Phoenix.

Located north of the Central City District, this area is known for its lively nightlife, with a large number of bars and nightclubs catering to the LGBT+ community.

The Museum of Art and the Heard Museum are some of the attractions located within Encanto. Park Central Shopping Center and the Arizona State Fair are also nearby.

Other points of interest include Encanto Park, Steele Indian School Park, and Phoenix College.

In the surroundings of Encanto, you can find different types of accommodation for all types of visitors.

Encanto has great connections to move to and from Phoenix Airport and Downtown Phoenix. Several Valley Metro stations are available on Thomas, Osborn, and Encanto streets.

North Scottsdale and the Paradise Valley area are the most rapidly-growing districts in the Greater Phoenix Area.

This area, located around the McDowell Mountain range, is home to some of Phoenix’s richest residents and is also where some of the most luxurious boutique resorts are located.

In addition to offering an amazing natural backdrop and the opportunity for long walks through its hiking trails, Paradise Valley is home to several restaurants, bars, drive-ins, and diners.

This exclusive area has a wealth of top-notch hotels and resorts offering Hollywood-star services.

To move from Paradise Valley to other Phoenix districts by public transport, you can use the Scottsdale Streetcar or the city’s bus network.

Camelback East is located near Camelback Mountain (hence its name), northeast of downtown Phoenix.

Camelback is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Phoenix and is divided into two cores: 24th Street and Camelback Road and around 44th Street and Van Buren Ave.

In this area, you can find some tourist attractions, including the Shemer Art Center and Museum, which aims to educate its visitors about visual art, through exhibitions, classes, conferences, workshops, and events.

As in the previous areas, in Camelback East you will find bus stations to move to other districts.

Being an upmarket neighborhood, Camelback East is home to many restaurants, cafés and cocktail bars.

Camelback East offers 4 and 5-star hotels with spectacular views of the mountains, as well as some cheaper alternatives.

North Mountain is located, as the name suggests, in the northern part of Phoenix.

This area stands out for its sporting events, Castles N ‘Coasters amusement park, as well as for its cafes and restaurants with live music.

North Mountain is also home to Phoenix’s largest mall, Metrocenter.

The North Mountain area offers some light rail stations along W Dunlap Ave., W. Olive Ave. and Northern/19th Ave.

In the surroundings of North Mountain, there is accommodation options of all kinds.

This district stands out as one of the cheapest areas to stay in Phoenix.