Furnished apartments in Tempe

Tempe is served by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, located between downtown Phoenix and Tempe, making travel to and from the airport very convenient. There are bus routes that connect Tempe and other parts of the metro area to the airport, and the airport has a Sky Train that connects to Valley Metro Rail.

Valley Metro Rail runs through Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa, and it’s a great way to get around if you don’t want to drive. Tempe is also opening a new streetcar service that will connect riders to frequently visited neighborhoods and business centers.

Taxis and rideshare services are always available in Tempe and the Phoenix metro area generally, and many neighborhoods are easy to travel between with short rides. But if you’re planning on venturing farther out of the city, a car rental is the easiest option.

Parts of Phoenix and Tempe are highly walkable, but depending on when you’re visiting, you may want to stay out of the sometimes extraordinary heat. Biking is another great option, depending on the season.

One of the most exquisite attractions in the Phoenix area is the Desert Botanical Garden, just across the river from Tempe. It’s a wonderland of cactus species and other plants native to the desert, as well as gorgeous butterflies and hummingbirds. It’s 140 acres, with winding trails that connect the living exhibits, so be prepared to do some walking.

North of Tempe, in Scottsdale, Taliesin West was where Frank Lloyd Wright spent his winters. You can learn about Wright’s life here and the architecture school that bears his name while exploring buildings made out of local materials.

The Heard Museum is dedicated to Southwestern indigenous cultures and has excellent exhibits of local crafts.

Old Town Scottsdale is a fun place to shop. You’ll find everything here, from the weird to the high end. The architecture is a throwback to an earlier Western era.

To learn about the history of Arizona, visit the Arizona State Capitol Museum in Phoenix, which was in use as the capitol until 1974 and is now a free way to find out more about the state.

The Phoenix area has terrific dining options with a range of cuisines and in a range of milieus. Tempe has delicious restaurants with global menus, frequented by members of the Arizona State University community. Check out Apache Boulevard and University Drive. For a denser congregation of restaurants, head west and across the river into downtown Phoenix. Keep in mind that the area is particularly well known for its Mexican food. Downtown Scottsdale has more beloved restaurants, and don’t overlook the unfussy eating on Mesa’s Main Street.

The Phoenix region is famed for its natural beauty, and there’s no shortage of spectacular hikes within a short drive from the center of the metro area. Camelback Mountain is a challenging hike with a great payoff. Los Dog Wash Trailhead and Papago Park both offer easier options that are lovely as well. Pinnacle Peak and Mormon Trail are both moderate with excellent views. North Mountain Preserve is another great place to hike, with North Mountain and Shaw Butte both standing more than 2,000 feet tall. You can brave a summit, or you can stick to easier routes lower down.

1.8 billion years ago, long before human beings first walked the Earth, the Salt River Valley was the floor of a shallow, ancient sea. Today, the region receives 320 days of sun each year, the most of any major U.S. metro area.

At Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve, you can see more than 1,500 ancient petroglyphs, or rock carvings, created on boulders by the city’s pre-European inhabitants, including the Hohokam.