Things to Do in Palm Springs: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
Wondering what to do in Palm Springs? Go up first: the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (about $34) is the most-reviewed attraction in the Coachella Valley, a ten-minute rotating ride from the desert floor to alpine forest at 8,516 feet. Then out to Joshua Tree — a guided scenic tour costs $127–249, the self-guided audio drive $14 — and back for the things only Palm Springs has: the Modernism architecture bike tour ($115), the celebrity-homes tours ($140–145), the windmill tour ($60) and an e-bike and hike in the Indian Canyons ($169). Give yourself two to three days — one for the tramway, Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest, one for Joshua Tree, one for the canyons, the Art Museum and a pool afternoon. Much is free: the Thursday VillageFest street fair, Sunnylands Center and Gardens, the Museum Trail hike, the Art Museum on Thursday evenings and the windmill views cost nothing. Below you can compare every Palm Springs tour and ticket by rating and price, with free cancellation on most.
141 tours · prices per person, book with partner
All experiences in Palm Springs — FAQ
What are the top things to do in Palm Springs?
By traveller reviews: the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the Joshua Tree self-guided driving audio tour, the Joshua Tree National Park scenic tour, the Modernism architecture and history bike tour, the celebrity-homes tours by bus or e-bike, the Palm Springs windmill tour, the Indian Canyons e-bike and hike, the Legends and Icons tour, the golf-cart tour and the sunrise hike and meditation. Compare all of them below.
How many days do you need in Palm Springs?
Two to three days. Day one: the Aerial Tramway in the morning, the Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Canyon Drive and the Uptown Design District, VillageFest if it is Thursday. Day two: Joshua Tree National Park — Hidden Valley, Keys View, Cholla Cactus Garden — or the Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon hikes. Day three: a Modernism or celebrity-homes tour, the windmills, Sunnylands and a pool afternoon. Add a day for Idyllwild or the Salton Sea.
What can you do in Palm Springs for free?
VillageFest on Palm Canyon Drive every Thursday evening, Sunnylands Center and Gardens (the estate house is a paid tour), the Museum Trail and Araby Trail hikes, the Palm Springs Art Museum on Thursday evenings, the Walk of Stars, the Coachella Valley Preserve’s palm oasis, the Whitewater Preserve, the windmill fields along Interstate 10, the Uptown Design District’s mid-century storefronts and the free ‘Buzz’ trolley along Palm Canyon Drive. Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon charge modest entry fees.
Do Palm Springs tours offer free cancellation?
Most experiences listed here can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time. The policy is shown on each tour before you book.