Palm Springs, California. A desert paradise known for its mid-century architecture, old Hollywood glamour, year-round sunshine, laid back, low key vibes and an ever-present atmosphere of complete relaxation + tranquility. We’ve visited Palm Springs three times in recent years + love it for an easy weekend getaway when you’re in need of sunshine and to recharge. Palm Springs is most associated with retirees (true), a large LGBTQ community (true) + bachelorette parties (also true). Our experience is that many people outside of these groups ignore Palm Springs as a potential vacation destination. Our hope with this guide is to convince you otherwise.

We will say if your main goals are to escape winter, party + eat great food, there are other spots that come to mind first + that we’d recommend over Palm Springs - Scottsdale, Los Cabos, Miami, to name a few. However, if you want to maybe do a little of that, but mostly relax + disconnect, there is no better spot than Palm Springs!

WHEN TO VISIT

One of the biggest draws to a Palm Springs vacation is that it’s reliably warm + sunny during a time when many other U.S. cities are cold, grey + rainy/snowy. When you need a break from the monotony of winter, Palm Springs is the perfect getaway, particularly if you’re visiting from anywhere on the West Coast. We’d recommend visiting from November-April when average temperatures will range from 70-85 degrees depending on the month you visit, but an almost guarantee of sunshine + pleasant temperatures. You could get away with visiting during the “shoulder” months of October + May, just be prepared for the potential of a few scorching days. This time frame is generally a good guideline for many of the “resort” towns/destinations in the US - including Arizona + Florida. We’ve visited Palm Springs in December, February + May.

Traveling during these months will certainly be more expensive when it comes to booking flights/hotels + busier when it comes to scoring reservations, but all for good reason. While there are great deals to be found during the summer months, we would recommend against booking these deals, especially if you’re a first-time visitor. There are many 110+ degree days during these months which will limit your ability to enjoy all that Palm Springs has to offer.

GETTING THERE

If you’re a Southern California native, Palm Springs is a quick + easy road trip - just a 90 minute drive from Los Angeles. Many of the biggest names in Hollywood have second homes in Palm Springs due to its proximity + relative privacy, including Leonardo DiCaprio + Kris Jenner.

For those outside of the Southern California area, we’d recommend flying directly into Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). Nonstop flights into Palm Springs operate daily from most everywhere in the United States - New York, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle - as well as major Canadian cities.

Because it’s a smaller airport, flights into Palm Springs can sometimes be pricey. We’d recommend being flexible with your dates, if possible, and using a few of our favorite hacks for flight deals found HERE to secure the best deal. It can definitely be done! If your visit to Palm Springs will be part of a larger California vacation, we’d recommend flying into Los Angeles, San Diego or other area airports + adding Palm Springs as a road trip stop.

HH Insider Tip: Our flights to Palm Springs have always been among the most turbulent we’ve experienced. Palm Springs is located in a valley + the combination of the surrounding mountains and high wind potential can lead to a super bumpy landing or takeoff. This turbulence is totally normal + nothing to be scared of. We aren’t nervous fliers, but our first trip into Palm Springs left us a little shaken up - sharing so that you have a heads up of what to (potentially) expect!

WHERE TO STAY

Our most recent stay at La Quinta Resort. Could not stop taking pics of this stunning property.

Similarly to one of our other vacation favorites, Napa, when people say they are visiting Palm Springs, many are referring to the larger Coachella Valley - which includes the city of Palm Springs, as well as the resort towns of Indian Wells, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage or La Quinta to name a few. Not always the city of Palm Springs itself. When planning your trip for the first time, it’s important to understand the differences.

Palm Springs is the heart + soul (in our opinion) of the Valley. It’s where you’ll find a majority of the best restaurants, bars, boutiques, pool parties, all the fun activities. If you want to be an easy stroll or short Uber ride from all of the action, we’d recommend staying downtown in Palm Springs. There are many options for Airbnbs here, as well as more boutique style hotels - a few of our favorites listed below.

Outside of Palm Springs, in the Valley’s smaller desert towns, you’ll find more of the large, expansive resorts (vs the boutique hotels of downtown Palm Springs), a plethora of golf courses + a noticeably more peaceful/quiet and secluded vibe. It’s certainly possible to still visit Palm Springs for dinners or to browse some of the boutique shops if you’re staying in the Valley, but it will just take more time, potentially requiring you to rent a car or to budget for longer Uber rides.

We’ve spent time in a few different areas of Palm Springs + have loved every trip! We’d recommend basing your decision on where to stay based on the vibe of the trip.

For a bachelorette party in which you want to bar hop all day, hit all the pool parties + drunkenly stroll to dinner, absolutely stay in Palm Springs itself. For a more low key girls’ trip where you envision reading + relaxing poolside, making a few meals at home + venturing out to dinner just a few times, we’d recommend booking a larger home/Airbnb or staying at a resort in the Valley. If you’re visiting with kids, we’d likely recommend one of the Valley’s desert towns as well.

Regardless of which city/town you choose to stay in, we’ve compiled all of our favorite Palm Springs accommodation options HERE.

WHERE TO EAT + DRINK

The prix fixe menu at FARM. The menu changes, but just an example of the options on our most recent visit!

Okay, we hope we don’t offend too many with this statement, but in general, we haven’t been blown away by the food scene in Palm Springs. We haven’t eaten anywhere that was bad/terrible, but we also haven’t eaten anywhere there that was “mind-blowing, we’ll remember this forever” status. Whenever we travel, we try to visit the best of the best spots in each area + are always open to splurging/not holding back on a quality meal. As a result, we’ve had some pretty life changing meals + dining experiences that we will always remember. We’ve never regretted any of our meals or spending the money, just overall wouldn’t describe it as a spot for true foodies. Solid 7/10.

FARM - Absolutely love the ambiance of this spot. As the name would suggest, you truly feel as if you’re dining at a chic farm in France, yet are right in the middle of downtown Palm Springs. We’ve visited for dinner + would return. Dinner is a prix-fixe menu for a super reasonable $56/person with a few options to choose from under
each category (appetizer, entree, etc). Reservations are available (and highly encouraged) for dinner. Brunch/lunch are walk-in only. We’ve heard brunch is fabulous too!
Mr Lyons - An upscale steakhouse that is also home to a vintage-inspired, trendy bar in the back called Seymour’s that is worth checking out as well. We’ve visited twice + would actually recommend Seymour’s over Mr Lyons. We’d recommend grabbing cocktails + lunch/apps at Seymour’s either during the day or pre/post dinner drinks!
Mr Lyons was fine for dinner, but didn’t exactly meet our expectations for a steakhouse. Steak frites are for sure in our top 3 favorite meals on earth, so we’ve tried a ton of spots + Mr Lyons hasn’t been particularly memorable. In line with our overall take on the Palm Springs food scene- good, not great. We think one of the indicators of a great steakhouse can often be its wine list. Mr Lyons had just two Cabs to choose from, neither of which was particularly strong.
Tac/Quila - Sister restaurant to FARM, mentioned above. There are few things in life that bring us more joy than guac + margaritas, especially in the sunshine. The cocktails at Tac/Quila are fabulous. They even offer a few different margarita flights - how cute! We’d recommend visiting for drinks + apps or stopping in for lunch.
4 Saints - You know how much we love a rooftop bar! 4 Saints is located atop the Kimpton Rowan Hotel in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, where Lauren had the pleasure of staying on her 2018 trip. It’s a decidedly cool, moody, upscale spot with stunning views of the surrounding mountains + palms. Would definitely recommend for dinner. (The Juniper Table at the base of the hotel is a great spot for a quick morning coffee + grab-and-go breakfast also!)
Bootlegger Tiki - Excellent spot in downtown Palm Springs for cocktails. Would be a great spot to visit with friends or for a date night. Strong, well-crafted drinks + for being a Tiki bar, it didn’t feel cheesy.
Eight4Nine - Would be a great spot for a bachelorette party dinner in our opinion! Easily accommodates a large group, centrally located + decorated with fun pops of colors and string lights. Large menu with primarily American cuisine, so likely everyone in the group can find something that they enjoy!
Other recommendations:
- Workshop Kitchen+Bar (our reservations were cancelled, so haven’t been, but dying to go and have heard amazing things!!)
- Birba (they even offer both GF + cauliflower crusts for their pizzas, love that!!)
- Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey - Sushi obsessed, but living in Seattle, there’s something that makes us nervous about sushi in the desert. We’ve heard it’s incredible though, so we should probably get over ourselves.
- Parker Palm Springs - More info below under “What To Do”
- Rooster and The Pig - Vietnamese. Heard about this spot in the middle of our last trip + it was too late to make reservations. Absolutely dying to go here and after looking at pics/reading reviews, I think it may very well change my opinion on Palm Springs food.
- The Tropicale - Another rec for a bach party or girls’ trip. Coral + neon, festive atmosphere.
- Cheeky’s - I mean, they have a bacon flight. Need we say more? Must visit for brunch + perfect for any group.

WHAT TO DO

Honestly, the appeal of Palm Springs for me is simply to disconnect, relax, soak up the sunshine + have a few good meals/drinks. Unlike other travel destinations, it’s not a spot that I want to pack my day with activities and sights. However, if you’re looking for some more activity, here are a few ideas!

Post brunch at The Parker. Be sure to snap a photo outside of the iconic orange doors.

Joshua Tree - Joshua Tree National Park is just about 40 miles from Palm Springs, so a super easy day trip + why not hit another (potential) bucket list destination when you’re in the area!? Check out the iconic trees, take a hike, even consider camping overnight + stargazing. We came across this fabulous Airbnb HERE on Instagram that is on our list to stay in when visiting the park!
Pool Parties - If you’re visiting for a bachelorette party, girls’ trip, birthday celebration, any occasion that you want to let loose for, Palm Springs is known for its pool party scene. Obviously not on the same level as Vegas, but still worth checking out. Two of the most famous? The Saguaro and The Ace. The colorful Saguaro is also a perfect place for an Insta.
The Parker - Mentioned above as a spot to eat + drink, The Parker is worth recommending as an actual activity as well. A famous hotel, The Parker was decorated by famed designer Jonathon Adler + the inspiration for a collection by photographer, Gray Malin. If you have the budget, it’s definitely worth staying at. However, if you just want to check it out + visit, you can make reservations for brunch at Norma’s or for drinks at Counter Reformation. Visiting Counter Reformation will allow you to check out more of the hotel grounds than you’ll be able to see if you just do brunch at Norma’s.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway - A 2.5 mile journey up, the aerial tramway provides the most incredible views of the entire Coachella Valley. Once at the top, you can dine at one of two restaurants, grab drinks, take in the views or partake in a hike! We haven’t actually been able to do this yet, but it’s on our list for sure!
Shopping! While we would never go out of our way to visit a mall or any chain stores while on vacation, we do love to shop or at least browse, when we’re visiting spots with more unique boutiques. Palm Springs is the poster child for mid-century modern + downtown Palm Springs is absolutely full of mid-century modern furniture and home stores which are worth a few hours of browsing if that interest you. Alternatively, every Thursday evening, VillageFest, a lively street fair, takes place downtown.

As always, both our Delta + Chase Sapphire cards help to make all of our trips possible. If you’re interested in signing up for a Delta American Express card, click HERE for a sign up bonus. If you still don’t have a Chase Sapphire card and want to get in on the action, click HERE for a special sign up bonus!

We love nothing more than learning our recommendations helped you to plan a fabulous trip of your own! Tag us (@hellohenrys) on IG when you visit a spot on our list! Email us/DM us with your favorites. Comment below with questions!! We are always here for you!!

For any visual travel planners (like ourselves!)), see below for a custom map highlighting all of our recs! We hope you find this helpful in determining where to stay + the best order to plan your activities!

Map courtesy of Wanderlog, the best trip planner app