I only lived in Tucson for two years, but I was a hotel concierge and writing my Arizona guidebook at the time. So I feel fairly well-qualified to compile a comprehensive list of the best things to do in Tucson. This “best of Tucson” bucket list runs the gamut from shopping to eating to Tucson tours and day trips from Tucson. The “Old Pueblo” is largely an outdoor town, so on the rare occasion we get cold or rainy weather, even we locals are stumped for ideas. I’ve included a separate section on things to do in Tucson when it’s raining. I’ve covered some of these spots in other blog posts; while in other instances, I’ve curated the list based on recommendations from more seasoned locals. As always, I welcome questions or suggestions in the comments section at the end of this post.  

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Where to Eat in Tucson

Where do I even start?! Tucson has an amazing food scene and was the first US city to receive the UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation. Sonoran-style Mexican food is the local specialty, but it’s possible to get any cuisine you want, from Italian, Sushi, BBQ, and even Native American cuisine. If you are looking for some good deals on food and drink, check out my list of the best happy hours in Tucson. 

• BOCA by Chef Maria Mazon – if you’re looking for amazing street-style tacos on Tucson’s 4th Avenue, hit up this award-winning, woman-owned restaurant. This is usually my first stop anytime I visit Tucson!
• El Charro Cafe is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Tucson. Family-owned since 1922, and the originator of the Chimichanga. Save room for the tres leches cake for dessert! 3 locations, plus one at the airport
• Guadalajara Grill – another Tucson classic, with salsa or guacamole made fresh at your table. 2 locations
• El Minuto Cafe – for a more low-brow but authentic and delicious Mexican option, near the Convention Center downtown. 354 S Main Avenue
• Charro Steak & Del Rey – for a classic steakhouse with a Southwest flair and a fantastic seafood menu, I recommend Charro Steak & Del Rey, from the same family that owns El Charro Cafe. 188 E Broadway Blvd
• Trident Grill – owned by a famous Navy SEAL, this bar & grill has fantastic food, especially the fish tacos. 3 locations
• Wildflower – California-French cuisine with European and Asian influences. 7037 N Oracle Road
• Union Public House – Craft Beer + Whiskey Bar + American Comfort Food in St. Phillip’s Plaza. The bacon confit in the Meat Cutting Board is to die for. 4340 N Campbell Ave
• Vivace – A fine Italian dining experience in the Catalina Foothills. 6440 N Campbell Ave
• Bottega Michelangelo – Southern Italian comfort food in Oro Valley 420 W Magee Road
• Tavolino – Northern Italian cuisine, with wood-fired pizzas and an open kitchen concept. 2890 E Skyline Drive
• Caffe Torino – Northern Italian cuisine and pizza with two locations in the Foothills and Oro Valley
• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill – a woodfire grill restaurant in La Encantada shopping center. 2985 E Skyline Drive
• Mr. An’s Tepanyaki Steak and Seafood – Benihana-style Japanese steakhouse 6901 N Oracle Road
• Bisbee Breakfast Club – more of a classic breakfast spot with a filling breakfast menu. Several locations
• Chain Restaurants: I was surprised to find that Tucson has a large number of chain restaurants, some of which I’d expect to find in larger cities. Cheesecake Factory, Carrabba’s, YardHouse, RA Sushi, Fleming’s Steakhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s, and Sullivan’s Steakhouse, just to name a few. First Watch is one of my favorite breakfast spots.
• For the best dessert in Tucson, check out my list of the best frozen treats in Tucson or the best bakeries in Tucson.

Where to Hike in Tucson

Tucson is a prime hiking destination, and a big reason many people choose to live here. The city is surrounded by five mountain ranges: Santa Catalina Mountains to the North, Rincon Mountains to the East, Santa Rita Mountains to the South, and the Tucson Mountains to the West. There’s also the small Tortolita Mountain range to the North. You’re never far from amazing trailheads in Tucson. If you want to know the best dog-friendly hiking trails near Tucson, I’ve covered that at GoPetFriendly.com.

• Catalina State Park – just north of Tucson in Oro Valley, Catalina State Park has two of my favorite Tucson hiking trails. For a short, relatively easy hike, the Canyon Loop Trail is a 2.3-mile dog-friendly loop that has nice views and even some water crossings. The Romero Pools Trail is a challenging 7-mile out-and-back hike with fantastic views and a beautiful place to relax at the end.
• Sabino Canyon – the jewel of Tucson hiking, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area has a plethora of trails and the Sabino Canyon tram that takes visitors into the canyon. The tram makes regular stops to drop off and pick up hikers. See some of my favorite Sabino Canyon hiking trails.
• Saguaro National Park East – the Rincon division of Saguaro National Park is the lesser-visited side, but if you find yourself on the east side of town, it’s worth the extra time to drive the 8-mile scenic loop drive. There are also some great hikes on this side of town.
• Saguaro National Park West – the larger of the two National Park areas, Tucson Mountain Park has something for everyone. Don’t miss the petroglyphs at the Signal Hill picnic area, and allow time to savor the drive over Gates Pass. (best combined with a visit to Old Tucson and/or Arizona Sonora Desert Museum) take an e-bike tour of Saguaro National Park!
• Madera Canyon – south of town in the Santa Rita Mountains, Madera Canyon is especially popular with birders. Water runs nearly year-round here, making this a great warm-weather hike when it’s too hot in the desert.
• Mount Lemmon / Coronado National Forest – where Tucson goes to cool down! Following the Catalina Highway, also known as the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, temperatures at the top of Mount Lemmon are often 20-30 degrees cooler than the Valley, and there’s even a ski resort at the top! I like the Marshall Gulch/Aspen Trail loop, but there are many options here. The village of Summerhaven is a great place for a post-hike bite.

What to Do in Tucson

Hiking and eating are my two favorite things to do anywhere! You can easily fill a whole week with beautiful hikes and amazing meals, but if you want to branch out a bit, these are some of Tucson’s most popular attractions.

• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum – the top attraction in Tucson. See why I love the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.
• Pima Air & Space Museum – a cool air museum near the Air Force Base. Sadly, the Boneyard tours ended in 2020 and have not resumed, but you can get a few glimpses of the Tucson Boneyard from Kolb Road.
• Biosphere 2 – “the world’s largest living research center dedicated to exploring the environment, the future, and our planet.”
• Mission San Xavier Del Bac – the oldest European structure in Arizona, this Spanish Colonial mission is just south of town.
• Old Tucson – a Hollywood film set in the desert. Some of Hollywood’s best westerns were filmed here, and visitors today can witness shootouts, saloons, trail rides, and studio tours.
• Tohono Chul Park – beautiful botanical gardens on the north side of town. Art galleries and shops within the park offer local art and artisan gifts, while the bistro serves up delicious breakfast and lunch made from local ingredients of the Sonoran Desert.
• Tucson Botanical Gardens – best known for the butterfly and orchid garden, open from October through May, featuring butterflies from 11 countries.
• Turquoise Trail – a historic walking tour of downtown Tucson. Great way to see the downtown, and learn some history of the area.
• Trail Dust Town – another “old-timey” Western shopping area with a small-gauge railroad and wild west shows. Don’t miss the Pistoleros Wild West show!

Where to Stargaze in Tucson

Arizona is home to some of the darkest skies in the world, and it’s not by accident. Tucson enacted strict lighting ordinances in 2012 in order to maintain dark skies in the area. Whether you want to attend a star party or just go out on your own, you’ll be amazed at the night skies in Tucson.

• Kitt Peak National Observatory – home of the largest collection of optical research telescopes in the world. Plan ahead to attend an evening program.
• Mount Lemmon Sky Center – home of the University of Arizona’s SkyCenter, also offers a popular evening program.
• Oracle State Park and Saguaro National Park are two International Dark Sky Parks near Tucson
• Flandrau Science Center – on the University of Arizona campus, there is a 16-inch telescope that is open to the public on certain days.

Where to Shop in Tucson

I wouldn’t say that Tucson is a shopping destination, as I often made trips to Phoenix for big shopping. (IKEA, Kiehl’s, and Sur La Table for me!) However, there are some great small businesses and artists in Tucson. To kick off the holiday season, La Encantada has a big tree lighting with mandmade snow falling!

• Old Town Artisans – local shops and galleries in a 150-year-old adobe building in the Presidio District.
• Mercado San Agustin – fun boutiques (and restaurants) encircle a cozy courtyard on Congress Street.
• La Encantada – Tucson’s upscale outdoor shopping mall, with a unique mix of national brands, specialty stores, and several excellent dining options
• Casas Adobes Plaza – upscale outdoor mall anchored by Whole Foods. Several boutiques and restaurants to choose from.
• St. Phillips Plaza – a beautiful plaza courtyard surrounded by boutiques and restaurants; the perfect detour from the Rio Rillito bike path.
• The Lost Barrio – 3 blocks of shops and galleries located in an old warehouse district.

Tucson Tours

If you have limited time in Tucson, I highly recommend taking a tour so that you can be efficient with your time and take advantage of the tour guide’s expertise. These are a few Tucson tours that I’ve personally taken, and I happily recommend all of them. Some places are just best explored with a tour guide!

• Tucson Bike Tours – learn about Tucson history and neighborhoods on this two-hour historic bike tour.
• Tucson Food Tours – There are several Tucson Food Tours to choose from; each offers a nice intro to the foodie scene of Tucson. Just a taste will leave you wanting more from each stop!
• Sonoran Tasting Tours – tour Southern Arizona’s wine region from the comfort of a chauffeured van.
• Arizona Zipline Adventures – head up to Oracle for the Eco Tour which includes five zip lines with amazing views of neighboring mountains. Don’t skip the burgers at Peppersauce kitchen when you’re done…they have some of the best burgers in Tucson!

Day Trips from Tucson

There are so many things to do in Tucson, it would be hard to run out of options, but if you feel the need for a small road trip, these destinations within two hours make for good day trips from Tucson. Bisbee and Tombstone are also probably the most popular weekend getaways from Tucson!

• Bisbee – a historic mining town that is now a popular getaway destination in Southern Arizona. Mine tours, ghost tours, and Jeep tours are some of the more popular things to do in Bisbee.
• Tombstone – a true Wild-West town, and site of the shootout at the OK Corral, which is re-enacted each day
• Casa Grande Ruins National Monument – a great stopping point between Phoenix and Tucson, the showcase here is the four-story Hohokam structure. Find other ruins in Arizona!
• Nogales, Sonora, Mexico – Tucson’s nearest border town, Nogales is about 90 minutes away. Border crossing is fairly easy, and you’ll find lots of pharmacies, dentists, and souvenir shops. Stop at Yaqui’s for street tacos before crossing back to the U.S. (I park on the U.S. side and walk over rather than taking a car into Mexico)
• Tubac – historic artist’s village about 45 minutes south; a great place to shop for art, home goods, and jewelry. Join a guided walking tour of Tubac.
• Chiricahua National Monument – a bit farther, but a unique landscape of sandstone hoodoos, and fascinating history including the Cochise Stronghold
• Kartchner Caverns State Park – only recently discovered in the 1970s, this is one of the best-preserved cave systems in the country. Book your tour online in advance.
• Colossal Cave Mountain Park – a privately owned cave system, offering cave tours and horseback riding. Walk-up tours are available.
• Tumacacori National Historical Park – next to Tubac, featuring the ruins of three Spanish mission communities. The Christmas Eve Luminaria is spectacular!
• Whitewater Rafting in Salt River Canyon – if the water is running, don’t miss this amazing spot for rafting in Arizona!

What to do in Tucson Indoors

We generally have pretty good weather in Tucson, even if the mornings and evenings are a bit chilly, but sometimes it can be too cold (or too hot) to explore our outdoor activities. In that case, check out some of these indoor attractions in Tucson.

• Mini Time Machine Museum – a museum of miniatures, surprisingly more interesting than you’d think!
• Arizona History Museum – see Geronimo’s rifle and other Southwest treasures
• Titan Missile Museum – super cool Cold-War relic. Knowledgeable docents lead tours into the underground launch control center
• Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block – art museum, cafe, and historic buildings in the Presidio district
• Franklin Auto Museum houses one of the largest private collections of Franklin Automobiles, manufactured between 1902 and 1934.
• Arizona State Museum – The oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest is a great place to learn about the evolution of cultures in the region. (The Arizona State Museum is closed indefinitely for major renovations)

Why not take a day trip to visit these Phoenix Museums?

Tucson Events

If all that still leaves you wanting more things to do in Tucson, check out the robust Tucson event calendar. There’s always something going on in Tucson!

• January: Tucson Jazz Festival
• January/February: Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase
• February: Tubac Festival of the Arts
• February: Tucson Rodeo / Fiesta de Los Vaqueros
• March: Tucson Festival of Books, Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair
• April: Agave Heritage Festival
• September: Tucson Pride, Mount Lemmon Ski Valley Oktoberfest
• October: Tucson Meet Yourself
• November: All Souls Procession / Dia de Los Muertos
• December: Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair

Where to Stay in Tucson

Tucson has many amazing resorts tucked into the various valleys and mountain ranges around town. There are also dude ranches, all-inclusive spa & wellness retreats, and a ton of chain hotels. Surprisingly, there are very few hotels right downtown. Some of the more popular resorts in town include the following:

• El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort (I worked here as a concierge) check rates
• Westin La Paloma check rates – I stayed here on my last visit. I love the location as it’s near my old neighborhood and favorite restaurants!
• JW Marriott Starr Pass check rates
• Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain
• Omni Tucson National Resort check rates
• Loews Ventana Canyon check rates
• Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa check rates
• Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort check rates
• Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa
• Canyon Ranch Tucson check rates
• Arizona Inn check rates
• AC Hotel by Marriott – the best location if you want to stay downtown. check rates
• Hotel Congress check rates
• Casino del Sol check rates
• White Stallion Ranch – awesome Tucson dude ranch experience!
• Tanque Verde Guest Ranch is another great Tucson dude ranch, set in the Rincon Mountains East of Tucson. They offer dozens of daily activities!

Browse Tucson Hotels at Booking.com

Tucson Travel Tips

As you plan your visit to Tucson, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• The climate is super dry; plan to drink a ton of water, and ask your hotel if they offer humidifiers. If not, I highly recommend a travel humidifier that works with an 8oz bottle of water. Humidity is often below 10%, which can cause headaches and dry out your nose and skin.
• Tucson is a dusty town, and it doesn’t take long to get dirty. Leave your brand-new white tennis shoes at home.
• It does get cold here! January mornings have been around 30 degrees, but it quickly warms up. Dressing in layers is a must. And if you must visit in the summer (May – September), plan to get up early to beat the heat.
• Tucson is a laid-back town, which can be frustrating at times. Everything moves at a slower pace, especially if you’re from a big city, and customer service is not great. It is what it is, and the beauty and weather make up for it, but I’ve definitely had many frustrating experiences around town.
• Tucson’s Monsoon Season is from mid-June to mid-August. It gets humid and we have terrific thunderstorms. However, monsoon storms can be deadly, especially for drivers who try to cross a flooded wash. Pay attention to signs and don’t enter a flooded area. After spending two hours stranded between floods, I now keep snacks in my car!
• Phoenix is less than two hours from Tucson, and you may find better airfare flying in and out of Phoenix. I fly out of Phoenix about half of the time, depending on fares, so don’t forget to check both airports when planning your Tucson vacation.
• Your cell phone won’t work everywhere. There are even a couple of dead zones right in town. With five mountain ranges around the town, it’s not hard to lose your signal while driving around. Always have a map as a backup. Also, the streets in Tucson can be super confusing. They change names without warning. In the north foothills, you can drive on Sunrise, Skyline, and Ina Road, all without making a single turn.

Three areas where I’m lacking experience are golf, cycling, and the arts. What can I say, I love to hike and eat! Tucson has many world-class golf resorts and is a very bike-friendly town. People come from all over the world to golf and bike in Tucson. As for the arts, well, it’s just not my forte, but I welcome any suggestions in the comments! Tell me: Have you been to Tucson? What do you think are the most fun things to see in Tucson?