Downtown Phoenix

Downtown has museums, venues and light rail close together, which makes it a convenient base. It is fine in daylight and on event nights but quiet the rest of the time, so sort out evening plans and rides ahead.

Downtown Phoenix is the civic and convention core, with the Convention Center, Chase Field, Footprint Center, Arizona State University's downtown campus and the Arizona Science Center. By day it is busy with office workers, students and visitors, and on event nights the streets around the arenas are lit and crowded. Outside of events, evenings can be quiet and empty, particularly on side streets and near surface parking lots. The area south and west of the core around the service agencies has a heavy homeless presence and is best avoided at any hour. Light rail runs through the center, and Heritage Square and Roosevelt Row are a short walk or ride away. It works as a base if you stay on the main streets and take a rideshare at night.