Things to Do and See in Phoenix During Your Layover

Are you planning a trip that will have you spending a few hours in Phoenix due to a layover? Are you wondering if you can get outside the airport and actually see some of the city before heading to your final destination? Well, you can! Central Phoenix is packed with things to see and do, and you'll be limited only by the amount of time you have. If you have the whole day, consider renting a car to get you around. If not, there are plenty of cabs at the airport to get you around!

Located less than four miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the Phoenix Zoo. If you're looking for a way to amuse yourself or tire the kids out before a long, second-leg flight, this may be your best bet. If you have a layover of at least four hours, you can likely swing this Phoenix attraction. Admission to the Phoenix Zoo is at $14 for adults and $6 for children Seniors also get a reduced admission rate. Visit the Phoenix Zoo website to learn about exhibits, facility amenities and current hours (which vary depending on the season). The Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N Galvin Pkwy, and you can call (602) 273-1341 for directions from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

Located less than a mile from the Phoenix Zoo, and about four and a half miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the acclaimed Desert Botanical Gardens located at 1201 N Galvin Pkwy is an attraction sure to please visitors who have only a few hours to experience the beauty of the American Southwest's desert region. The gardens feature stunning displays of myriad variety of cacti, succulents, desert scrub and more, and many plants are available for purchase in the Desert Botanical Garden's gift shop.

The Desert Botanical Garden is a great place to spend two hours out of a four-or-more hour layover in the Phoenix area, though one could spend far more time exploring the stunning exhibits of natural desert life. The gardens are open seven days a week, except for some major holidays. The gardens open early in the morning (7 am and 8 am, seasonally) and remain open until 8 pm nightly, though some trails close in the evenings. Admission ranges from $5 for kids 3-12, $7.50 for students, to $13.50 for seniors and general adult admission for $15.00. Call DBG at (480) 941-1225 for directions from Sky Harbor Airport or visit their website for more information.

Papago Park is another fun place to spend a few layover hours in Phoenix, and is located right around the corner from the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Gardens, at 625 N. Galvin Pkwy. Papago Park is renowned for its breath-taking scenery, with caves and holes carved in stunning red rock formations, as well as small, hidden fishing spots and oodles of hiking trails. There's a museum on the grounds, and the proximity of Papago Park to the Phoenix Zoo and Botanical Gardens makes it a great way to round out a whole day of Phoenix fun, if you can spare the time.

If you aren't a fan of zoos, botanical gardens aren't your thing, or you only have an hour of "city time" to allow yourself, Papago Park will provide whatever level of adventure or relaxation that you desire, and for however long you want. Choose to pick up lunch somewhere local and go for a quick picnic at Papago before heading back to Sky Harbor Airport, go for a leisurely walk to take pictures and see the desert, or exert yourself with a two-hour, fast-paced hike to get that blood pumping and get your day's work out in before sitting nearly immobile in you seat on the plane for hours. It's all up to you and your schedule!

Papago Park is open to the public most days from 5:30 am to 11 pm and admission is free. for more information on the park, call (602) 256-3220.

Looking for a quick bite to eat outside the airport? Check out Pizzeria Bianco for a delicious dinner with menu items that even Oprah herself has raved about. Pizzeria Bianco is located at 623 E Adams St, about three miles west of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Pizzeria Bianco offers upscale pizzas, salads and drinks for reasonable prices, but keep in mind this will only work for a dinner-time layover, as the pizzeria is open from 5 pm- 10 pm, dinner only.

If you want a true taste of the "Old West" before departing Phoenix airport, check out Bill Johnson's Big Apple restaurant at 375 E Van Buren, which is about a mile and half from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Call (602)275-2107 for hours and direction from the airport.

Steaks, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and brisket, all slathered in Bill Johnson's authentic barbecue sauce, keep American food connoisseurs eagerly coming back to BJ's Big Apple time and again. There is also an impressive array of seafood and salad options on the menu for lighter pre-flight fare. Prices are affordable, and portions are large enough you can bring a doggy bag on the plane for later.

Phoenix is a wonderfully diverse city, full of life and things to see, do and taste. If you only have a short layover, the options listed above should help you make the most of your few hours in the beautiful desert city of Phoenix, Arizona.