Tempe, south of Phoenix, is home to Arizona State University. It is the fifth largest university in the USA. The city center, located next to the university, is a mix of restaurants, shops and historic buildings.

One of the biggest attractions near Tempe is the Town Lake. The salt lake is 3.5 km long. Here you can do boat tours or rent boats. Often, smaller events take place on the adjacent meadows around the lake.

In addition to visiting downtown with many historic buildings, the interesting museums on the ASU campus are a must. The ASU Art Museum is located here at the Nelson Fine Art Center. Here you can see contemporary North and South American art as well as handicrafts and sculptures. On campus there are important research centers such as the Museum of Anthropology, the Geology Museum, the ASU Planetarium, the Center for Meteoric Studies and more. The Papago Park, which is particularly prized for its attractions and great recreational value, is directly adjacent to the cities of Tempe, Phoenix and Scottsdale. The Desert Botanical Garden has a 2.4 km nature trail, where you can get to know thousands of cacti and other desert plants.