5-star hotels in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a desert city known for modernist architecture, the Palm Springs Art Museum and the heritage of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The Coachella Valley climate is dry and sunny most of the year, with summer daytime temperatures that can be extreme. Visitors base themselves downtown, in the design district or in the resort neighbourhoods, and use the city as a hub for the wider valley and Joshua Tree National Park to the north.

These properties are spread rather than clustered. The Colony Palms Hotel and Bungalows Adults Only is 1.1 km from the centre on North Indian Canyon, and Villa Tanisha sits 1.2 km out on North Chiquita Circle. Along East Palm Canyon Drive are La Maison Hotel, L'Horizon Resort & Spa Hermann Bungalows and, further east, Parker Palm Springs, while several villas lie north and east of downtown. Couples have adults-only and spa options, families and groups have houses with kitchens and pools, and business travellers have meeting rooms and a business centre at Parker Palm Springs.

Getting there and around

Palm Springs International Airport is served by major airlines and sits just east of downtown, with taxis, ride shares and rental cars available. By car the city is reached via Interstate 10 and California State Route 111. Amtrak's Sunset Limited stops in nearby Palm Springs, though service is limited. Getting around is easiest by car, but downtown is compact and walkable. SunLine Transit Agency runs local buses, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway climbs into the San Jacinto Mountains, and bicycle rentals are available for the flat valley floor.

When to go

The most comfortable months are November to April, when daytime temperatures are mild and suited to outdoor activities. June to September brings extreme heat, often above 100°F (38°C), so a summer visit means indoor activities and early mornings. Winter and spring also host major events such as the film festival and Modernism Week, which fills the calendar and the hotels.