Cities

Tucson

Visit Arizona’s second-largest city, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a year-round outdoor playground.

You can be secluded or social in Tucson. The city’s central core is a vibrant area with the University of Arizona, Fourth Avenue and a lively downtown. Stray in any direction from the interior to find endless outdoor space. Tucson is known for its culture and incredible dining, which can be found no matter where you are.

Tucsonans support Tucsonans. Sit down at a craft brewery and the bartenders will likely recommend another you’d like down the street. Shopping in Tucson is a popular activity for visitors and locals alike. Walk into one-of-a-kind shops to discover only-found-here goods, Tucson pride t-shirts and hats, and an enthusiasm for talking about the locals behind every product. The people are also enthusiastic about the place: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum showcases wildlife, flora and fauna that’s as engaging for residents as it is for visitors.

Outdoors

There are more than 350 days of sunshine in Tucson, and people here love to soak it up. Golfing? Got that! On warm summer days, hiking trails that end in monsoon-rain-filled watering holes rise in popularity, and adventurers flock to the Sky Island of Mount Lemmon, where temperatures are cooler and pine trees offer an escape from the Sonoran Desert. Closer to the city, Tumamoc offers miles of views. Surrounding it all is The Loop, a paved multipurpose trail that’s more than 130 miles in length for bikers, horseback riders and power walkers. Saguaro National Park straddles the east and west sides of the city, with more than 91,000 acres to explore.

Centuries-old culture

Step back through the history of Tucson to see how the city today unifies Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures. Mission San Xavier del Bac has seen the region transition from New Spain to Mexico to Arizona. Explore the remnants of the 1775 Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón, from where the City of Tucson was established. Wander the colorful adobes in Barrio Viejo, one of Tucson’s first neighborhoods. Every February, the rodeo shows off with horse and cattle events, and the world's longest non-motorized parade. And in November, the All Souls Procession unites cultural traditions — like Dia de los Muertos — to memorialize and celebrate love and loss. But nowhere combines Tucson’s cultures better than the menus of local restaurants.

World-renowned dining

Flavors here are centuries in the making. A driving force behind Tucson’s designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy was the embracing of native ingredients such as tepary beans, chiltepin and prickly pear — chefs here use them creatively and boldly fuse the region’s cultural influences. The Tucson Meet Yourself festival lets you sample dozens of traditional dishes. If you have to choose one item to try: Sonoran hot dogs are a claim to fame.

Visit City Website

Saguaro National Park

See giant symbols of the Southwest in the only place where saguaros grow in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson.

Sabino Canyon

On the northeast edge of Tucson, Sabino Canyon is a popular gateway to outdoor adventures in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Madera Canyon

Just south of Tucson near Green Valley, the Santa Rita Mountains offer spectacular outdoor excursions.

Catalina State Park

Visitors lace up their hiking boots to enjoy this magnificent natural area north of Tucson.

Outdoor Adventures

Birding in Arizona: A Guide to Tucson & Southern Arizona

A foremost bird expert shares his favorite Arizona birding spots in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

Search Filters

Search Results

Horseback Riding

360 Adventures

Arizona adventure tours by 360 Adventures take the worry out of exploring so you can focus on having fun. While Arizona features some of...

Outdoor Adventure

Altitude Mountain Guides

Altitude Mountain Guides offer guided climbing and canyoneering trips in Arizona’s beautiful and vast desert landscapes. Based out of...

Boating & Water

Arizona Boat Rentals

At Arizona boat rentals we work hard to offer the best quality boat and jet ski rentals on the market at any lake in the state. Enjoy the...

Tours

Arizona Climbing Guides

Rock Climbing and Canyoneering. Tours and Courses.Join our friendly knowledgeable guides for a trip that you're sure to remember. Come...

Tours

Arizona Golf Trails

Arizona Golf Trails provides luxury golf vacations to Arizona destinations. With a focus on Scottsdale, Phoenix and Tucson, we can put...

History

Arizona History Museum

Explore downtown Tucson history at the Downtown History Museum, which features exhibits that depict early Tucson businesses and homes,...

History

Arizona History Museum, Tucson

Experience the stories and artifacts of Arizona personalities such as Geronimo and Wyatt Earp, as well as Emperor and Empress Maximilian...

Performing Arts

Arizona Opera

Arizona Opera produces fully-staged operas, concerts, and collaborative programs throughout the state of Arizona each season. We are among...

Boating & Water

Arizona Rafting by Wilderness Aware

Head into the mountains of Arizona to experience a truly unique whitewater adventure on the Upper Salt River. As soon as you hit the river,...

American Indian

Arizona State Museum

Arizona State Museum offers many opportunities to experience the Native cultures of Arizona, the American Southwest, and northern Mexico...

Hiking & Trails

Arizona Trail Expeditions

Arizona Trail Expeditions is a division of Hermosa Tours located in Sedona, Arizona. AZT Expeditions is a new program offered in...

Nature & Wildlife

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

This indoor and outdoor museum is dedicated to conserving the Sonoran Desert by protecting native plants and animals, providing educational...

Discover

Cities & Regions

From the abundance of Saguaro cactuses and unique wildlife in the Sonoran Desert to the high country and forests of the White Mountains to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Arizona’s regions are full of experiences that don’t disappoint.