Looking to save money on your trip to Palm Springs? Good news! You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a fun desert getaway. Palm Springs has plenty of free things to do for visitors and locals alike! Check out these top 10 free things to do in Palm Springs.
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Palm Springs Art Museum
If you’re looking for free things to do in Palm Springs, visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum should be high on your list. The Palm Springs Art Museum is always a fun visit, with an impressive permanent gallery and rotating exhibits throughout the year. For travelers looking for free things to do, Thursday evenings are the time to go: admission is free from 5-8 p.m! Plus, the museum offers pop-up events on Thursdays nights (also free!) that include a DJ, bar and pop-up restaurants in the outdoor sculpture gardens. This is so much fun and is perfect for enjoying the next free thing to do, too (hint: VillageFest).
Be sure to register ahead of time on the PSAM website for faster entry!
VillageFest
Call this your perfect pairing to the free museum admission above. Also on Thursday nights, VillageFest takes over Downtown Palm Springs to bring dozens of local vendors, artisans and food trucks to Palm Canyon Drive. This is a fun outdoor event where you’ll find one-of-a-kind jewelry and art, fresh farmers market finds, live entertainment, and great people-watching.
Admission is free, and there’s always plenty to see and explore. Dogs are also welcome!
Photo Ops
If you don’t get the perfect Palm Springs pic, did you even vacation? Kidding of course, but getting envious vacation photos is part of the fun of a Palm Springs getaway! Luckily, there are plenty of free options for great vacation photo backdrops.
You’ll find this beautiful Palm Springs backdrop at the Palm Springs Visitors Center on North Palm Canyon Drive.
And of course, you can’t visit Downtown Palm Springs without getting a picture with Forever Marilyn!
Sunnylands
Sunnylands is really one of the must-visits in Greater Palm Springs. Nicknamed “Camp David of the West,” the estate is steeped in political history. And a visit to Sunnylands is always one of my favorite free things to do in Palm Springs.
While the estate is only available for ticketed tours, Sunnylands Center & Gardens is free to the public! Here, you can explore free art exhibits in the Center or walk the beautifully manicured lawn and gardens outside. This is one of my favorite spots to enjoy a serene afternoon in nature. Throughout the year, Sunnylands will also host special free events like yoga on the lawn or outdoor movie screenings, too!
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is open Wednesday through Sunday, with seasonal closures for the summer months. Be sure to check their website for opening times before your visit!
Hikes in Palm Springs
For more free things to do in Palm Springs, why not explore the outdoors? Plenty of free hikes offer an intimate look at the natural beauty that makes up Greater Palm Springs, and there are hikes available for all skill levels.
In Palm Desert, some of the most popular free hikes include The Cross hike off Monterey/Highway 74 and the Bump ‘n’ Grind behind the Target shopping center. Nearby, Coachella Valley Preserve offers easier hikes (I’d call them nature walks more than hikes), while Painted Canyon in Mecca offers a more rugged experience for hardcore hikers. There are plenty of free ways to explore the outdoors in Palm Springs!
Free Concerts
You’ll find plenty of options for free concerts and entertainment in Palm Springs. In Downtown Palm Springs, Rock the Park concerts are held in the Palm Springs Downtown Park (between the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Forever Marilyn statue) on the first Wednesday of the month. This series usually features tribute bands for iconic legends like Prince, Journey, Queen and the Bee Gees.
Over in Indio, the Rock Yard offers a seasonal lineup of cover bands that’s always a good time. Think tribute bands for Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, and even No Doubt.
Stargazing
The dark desert skies are perfect for stargazing! This might be one of my favorite free things to do in Palm Springs. Every month, The Friends of the Desert Mountains hosts two evenings of “Star Parties” at local desert mountains, where members of the Astronomical Society of the Desert offer sky tours with telescopes and binoculars. This is a great free option for families, too! (Note: While these events are free, $5 donations to support the volunteer programs are encouraged).
Did you know there’s also an observatory in Greater Palm Springs? That’s right! The Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory offers ongoing drop-in nights for the public to explore the night sky.
Tour Mid-Century Modern Architecture
Take a self-guided tour of the midcentury modern architecture of Palm Springs! There are so many iconic houses to explore, such as the Bob Hope House and Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway. And you can spend hours enjoying the architectural styles of the various midcentury designers that left their mark on Palm Springs.
Visit Palm Springs offers a comprehensive guide to exploring the city’s architecture here.
Explore Public Art
There’s so much art to explore in Greater Palm Springs! Downtown Palm Springs is a great place to start. You’ll find Forever Marilyn, Isabelle, and a car suspended over a pool of water just steps from Palm Canyon Drive in the Downtown Park by Palm Springs Art Museum.
In surrounding cities such as Indio and Coachella, you can explore murals and Coachella installations from years past. Plus, every other spring, Desert X returns with a series of incredible outdoor art installations to explore for free.
For a handy guide to local art, check out the artsGPS app!
Shields Date Garden
An oldie but goodie! Shields Date Garden in Indio is a must-visit while in Greater Palm Springs. Shields Date Garden is, you guessed it, a date garden where you can try all sorts of different date varieties and enjoy a classic date shake (a must try!).
But this is also a budget friendly attraction with a couple of free things to enjoy. Start with the garden walk (free and open daily!), and then try to suppress your giggles for a showing of “The Romance and Sex Life of a Date” in the free theater.
What are your favorite free things to do in Palm Springs? Drop a comment below and share!
