Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)

The museum is in a former movie theater, so tours sometimes pass by to admire its notable architecture on the way through Old Town to the Scottsdale Waterfront shopping mall. But the best way to see the museum is on your own—it's a relatively small museum and only takes 1-2 hours to explore. To visit, you'll need to book timed-entry tickets available at 30-minute intervals online, in-person, by email, or by phone. Online tickets have a modest discount.

• Students, seniors, veterans, active-duty military, and teachers receive discounted admission.

• People 18 and under, healthcare workers, and first responders enter for free.

• ADA-accessible parking is available nearby at the Civic Center Garage, Civic Center Library Garage, Old Town Parking Corral, and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

The museum is in the heart of Scottsdale on the southern end of the Old Town District. The Valley Metro 72 bus line stops nearby at North Scottsdale Road and East Second Street. Like most Arizona cities, driving is the easiest way to get around Scottsdale.

The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from mid-morning until late afternoon, though it closes a couple of hours later on Thursdays. It’s shut on Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays. On Thursdays and every second Saturday of the month, you choose how much you pay for admission. 30-minute tours led by curatorial staff are offered on a first-come, first-served basis every first Friday at 11am and are free with admission.

The Knight Rise installation is one of the highlights of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s one of 14 built around the world and is in the Nancy and Art Schwalm Sculpture Garden. Plus, it’s free to visit. If you're in the area or the museum during the evening, visit the skyspace to watch the sunset through the enclosure’s roof opening.