23 Amazing Things to Do in Tucson, AZ (for First-Timers!)

Tucson is one of Arizona’s most popular cities, home to a variety of cultural sites, museums, restaurants, and of course, plenty of outdoor adventures. This guide contains the best things to do in Tucson AZ!

Also known as “the soul of the Sonoran Desert,” Tucson is perfect regardless if you’re a foodie or you just want to explore the desert landscapes.

You can indulge in the many restaurants, learn more about the city’s Spanish heritage, and explore one of the country’s most beautiful national parks. It is also a great place to learn about the Indigenous population of Arizona and the Southwest US.

In this article, I’ve compiled a list of the top attractions in Tucson, including canʻt-miss landmarks, breweries, and more! Let me know your favorite places to visit in Tucson in the comments. Thanks!

Best Things to Do in Tucson

1. Check Out Some of the Best Tucson Breweries 

Tucson’s booming craft beer scene deserves special attention, so whether you are a beer lover or not, exploring a few of the town’s over 20 breweries is a good way to get a ‘taste’ of what the city has to offer!

Borderlands Brewing Company is one of the leaders in the Southern Arizona brewing community and they offer Prickly Pear Wheat, Noche Dulce Vanilla Porter, and many other beers that pair perfectly with street tacos from their on-site food truck.

Barrio Brewing Company is another place to stop and it is known for its 12 house-brewed fresh beers on tap and delicious menu.

Tucson’s local brewing culture wouldn’t be complete without the family-owned 1912 Brewing Company which makes some unique brews and has gained special recognition for their signature sours.

2. Escape to Mount Lemmon 

With sweeping views all around, Mount Lemmon offers a picturesque getaway from the city. Being one of the Sky Islands in Coronado National Forest, this 9,171-foot giant is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The winter months make Mount Lemmon Ski Valley a winter playground by providing 22 trails for skiing and sledding. Regardless of whether you have a weekend in Tucson or longer, checking out Mount Lemmon is a must!

Take in the breathtaking views by driving the 26-mile Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, enjoy more than 2,000 rock climbing routes, hike Butterfly Peak Trail or Meadow Trail, camp in one of five Mount Lemmon campgrounds, or experience the thrill of cycling up the mountain along Catalina Highway.

Just note that a few of the areas do require either a Coronado Recreational Pass or a National Pass/America the Beautiful Pass. 

3. Stroll through the Tucson Botanical Garden

If you ask locals what the must-see attractions in Tucson are, chances are the Tucson Botanical Garden will make their top five list. This 5-acre complex operating since the 1970s consists of 16 individual gardens and is a must-visit.

Here you can check out tropical butterflies from around the world at the Cox Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion, let the kids loose at Children’s Discovery Garden, learn about the area’s diverse native flora in the Cactus & Succulent Garden, take a relaxing stroll through Zen Garden, and so much more.

Everyone can take part in the tours that are offered throughout the year or community classes to learn gardening, watercolor techniques for botanical art, the reasons birds migrate, and many other exciting topics.

The adult ticket price for daily admission to Tucson Botanical Garden is $19 for adults, $15 for students/military/seniors over 62, and $10 for children ages 4-12 The Tucson Botanical Garden is open from 8:30am until 4:30pm daily with special hours for Butterfly Magic and the Great Garden Express.

Address: 2150 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712

4. Visit the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniature

Visit the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniature, and you’ll feel as though you’re in a scene from Gulliver’s Travels!

The museum features 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art exhibit space, which showcases antique dollhouses dating back to 1742, miniature houses, room boxes, historical figures, snow villages, Bugatti Type 57SC coupes, fairy castles, among other awe-inspiring miniatures from many captivating exhibits.

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniature is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 9am to 4pm (closed Mondays). Admission is $15 for adults with reduced prices for seniors, students, kids, and the military. 

The main highlights are the Silver Queen Collection Cameo, Weaving Studio Collection Cameo, Colonial Room Collection Cameo, and more.

Make sure to check out the Museum during HalloWEEn and Wee Winter Wonderland to encounter fantastic creatures. Before leaving, don’t forget to browse through the gift shop to take home a piece of miniature art with you.

Address: 4455 E Camp Lowell Dr, Tucson, AZ 85712

5. Do the Tumamoc Hill Hike

Adventurers shouldn’t miss hiking challenging Tumamoc Hill, which is home to the University of Arizona Desert Laboratory. This 3.1-mile out-and-back concrete trail is packed with lovely wildflowers, iconic cacti, rich wildlife, and interpretive plaques and serves as a popular exercise site for locals and tourists alike. It can be highly trafficked as a result.

The 700-foot rise in elevation over 1.5 miles makes it quite a challenging hike, but the final panoramic views of downtown Tucson and surrounding mountains are well worth the effort.

The trail is open year-round from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but the perfect time to visit is October through April. Park your car on the street along Anklam Road and head hiking up the hill that promises a good intense cardio workout along with spectacular views. 

6. Search for the Best Mexican Food in Tucson

Your Tucson trip won’t be complete without appreciating Tucson’s rich Mexican food legacy! The Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food offers a wide range of dining options that will make you indulge your taste buds with the best Sonoran-style Mexican food north of the border. There is a good reason that Tucson has been named a UNESCO city of gastronomy!

El Charro Café is the nation’s oldest family-owned Mexican restaurant that claims to be the place where chimichanga (a deep-fried burrito) was invented.

Another noteworthy spot is El Berraco, where you will feel as if you’re in a submarine surrounded by scuba diving helmets and savoring fresh seafood inspired by Latin flavors.

Experience smells and flavors of iconic Mexican street food at Seis Kitchen which stands out with its popular burritos spiced up with their signature homemade chipotle sauce. 

7. Explore Saguaro National Park 

Located a 30-minute drive away from Tucson, Saguaro National Park will reward you with the dramatic beauty of the Sonoran Desert. Established in 1933, the park is named for the gigantic indigenous cacti (saguaro) that are sprinkled throughout the park.

The park spans 91,327 acres of land, which is divided into two sections: the Rincon Mountains to the east and the Tucson Mountains to the west.

Each section offers a visitor center, cactus forests, and miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and spotting wildlife, such as Gila woodpeckers, desert tortoises, jackrabbits, and more.

You can also take a scenic drive along the Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive or camp in the nearby Gilbert Ray Campground. The park is open daily from 5am to sunset for a $25 one-week admission fee per car. 

8. Discover Tohono Chul Park 

Founded in 1985, Tohono Chul Park is another botanical garden that will make you experience the nature and culture of the Sonoran Desert region.

The 29-acre park is home to a wide range of themed gardens, including a Hummingbird Garden, Children’s Garden, Performance Garden, and more.

Take part in a daily tour to admire over 500 diverse species of plants or learn more about Sonoran Desert’s rich flora and fauna while walking along the Saguaro Discovery Trail, South Loop Trail, or Desert View Trail.

You can also find several permanent artwork collections throughout the park, showcasing eye-catching masterpieces from Ned Egen, Steven Derks, Fred Borcherdt, and others.

After touring this outdoor oasis, pop over to the Garden Bistro, which serves delicious fare inspired by the Sonoran Desert.

Address: 7366 N Paseo Del Norte, Tucson, AZ 85704

9. Go Underground at Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Colossal Cave Mountain Park is home to one of the largest dry cave complexes in the United States. Depending on how much of an adventure lover you are, you can book one of the following guided tours: a half-mile family-friendly Classic Cave Tour, a Ladder Tour to get through the cave’s secret sections, or a 3.5-hour Wild Cave Tour to explore the cave’s deepest and darkest corners.

If you prefer to stay above ground, this 2,400-acre park offers scenic trails for hiking, running, mountain biking, and horseback riding, as well as the Terrace Café, picnic areas, petting zoo, butterfly garden, wagon rides, and campsites.

The park grounds are open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Address: 16721 E Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641

10. Shop at the St. Philips Farmers’ Market

Get a true taste of the area’s local produce at the St. Philips Farmers’ Market, located at St. Philip’s Plaza near downtown Tucson.

Serving the local community and visitors alike for over 20 years, you can find more than 60 vendors offering fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, soaps, cheese, jams, nuts, hand-roasted coffee, eggs, fresh salmon, grass-fed beef, arts and crafts, and more.

The farmers’ market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 12pm during the summer (May to September) and 9am-1pm during the winter (October to April). After browsing through the market, you can enjoy dining, shopping, live music, and personal celebrations right in the heart of St Philip’s Plaza. 

Address: 4280 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85718

11. Get Refreshed at Kennedy Lake

After exploring the city, it’s time to refresh yourself at the locally, man-made Kennedy Lake. Tucked away in J.F. Kennedy Park, these 10 acres of land are the perfect place for gatherings as they offer group ramadas, picnic tables, grills, playgrounds, benches, and sports fields.

Swimming and wading are prohibited at Kennedy Lake. Fishing is the most popular activity here as the lake is stocked with catfish, white amur, trout, bass, sunfish, and carp.

Canoeing and boating are also available on the lake for those who prefer to take in the views from the water.

Address: 3357 S La Cholla Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85713

12. Travel Back in Time to Old Tucson

Old Tucson will transplant you back to the old Western days and you’ll feel like you’re watching a John Wayne movie right in the heart of the Arizona city!

Nicknamed “Hollywood in the Desert,” Old Tucson was once the main hub for filming classic Western movies. The set was originally built in 1939 by Columbia Pictures and served as a backdrop for more than 400 films and TV shows, like El Dorado, Arizona, etc.

A general admission ticket is $24.99 for adults (if you want a rider wristband it is $39.99) and discounts are available for kids. You’ll be able to completely indulge in the Wild West atmosphere, visit the Old Tucson Studios, enjoy historic film tours, head down into the iron door mine, see replica saloons, and witness reenactments of gunfights.

Taking a stagecoach ride, shooting at Dead-Eye Dan’s Shooting Gallery, or panning for gold are available for an extra fee.

Address: 201 Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85735

13. Take in the Views at Sabino Canyon

Located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest, Sabino Canyon will treat you to sweeping views of unusual desert vegetation, riparian corridors, and majestic rock cliffs.

The canyon is home to Sabino Creek, waterfalls, and scenic trails that allow hiking, walking, and horseback riding. Make sure to hike the Seven Falls Trail which will take you from the desert to Bear Canyon, where you can even take a dip in natural pools.

Those not into hiking can hop onto the Sabino Canyon Tram for a 4-mile narrated tour that will make you experience the canyon through nine stops along the way. It is $8 per vehicle to visit.

14. Learn Local History at Fort Lowell

If you’re looking for a historical site where you can dig deep into the area’s rich heritage, a visit to Fort Lowell is a must. As part of Fort Lowell Park, Fort Lowell was constructed in 1873 and was mainly used as a US Army post until 1891 to protect Tucson against the Apaches.

The museum gives you an opportunity to ​​try your hand at crafts, see artifacts, and learn more about military life during this era.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 3pm, and admission is $12 for adults $11 for seniors, children, and military. 

After exploring the museum, you can head to the park, which is home to Hohokam sites, a duck pond, sports fields, picnic facilities, a swimming pool, and a playground.  

Address: 2900 N Craycroft Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712

15. Get Fueled Up at Exo Roast Co.

Exo Roast Co. is the perfect place to get your caffeine fix. In operation since 2009, it has been a small-batch coffee roaster that offers specialty coffee, baked goods, and locally sourced breakfast.

You can enjoy breakfast in the outside seating area, which they like to call “Corbett Porch,” or if you don’t have much time, you can take your delicious grab-and-go coffee with you.

Order their must-try Savory Egg Sandwich, Kimchi Bowl, or Breakfast Tacos when there! Exo also allows you to get your coffee fresh at your doorstep monthly or bi-weekly by choosing one of their coffee subscriptions.

Address: 403 N 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705

16. Shop and Eat on 4th Avenue

Fourth Avenue, known to locals as “Fourth,” is a famous street that lures many visitors with its eclectic shopping and dining scene.

Go on a treasure hunt at Desert Vintage, head over to BLX to find the perfect skateboard, get a unique tattoo at Sacred Art Tattoo, uncover hard-to-find books at Antigone Books, and savor Mexican cuisine at La Indita.

Make sure to take part in the iconic family-friendly Fourth Avenue Street Fair, held every year in the spring and winter, which hosts local entertainment, delicious carnival food, and artists from around the globe.

Diverse bars and nightclubs on this street, like Sky Bar Tucson, really spice things up in the evenings, where you can catch a drink and dance until the wee hours. 

17. Stargaze at Kitt Peak National Observatory

Established in 1964 and home to the world’s largest collection of research telescopes, Kitt Peak National Observatory is a gem for astronomers. Located high above the Sonoran Desert, it has 27 telescopes, three of which are dedicated solely to public viewing.

Visitors can tour the observatory grounds through self-guided tours, take part in one of three docent-led tours to get up close and personal with historic telescopes, and even get a behind-the-scenes look at the Kitt Peak’s telescopes not available to the public through VIP tours.

You can see the night sky with the Nightly Observing Program or Dark Sky Discovery Program and discover the Moon’s mysterious secrets with the Night of the Marvelous Moon Program. It is a family-friendly thing to do in Tucson.

18. Visit the Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House

Leave the 21st century behind as you enter the Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House, where you can witness what life and culture were like in 19th-century Southern Arizona. It is one of the oldest buildings in Tucson, built in the 1870s by Jose Maria Sosa.

The Museum allows you to appreciate the real character of the recreated house for free by admiring Sonoran row house design, period furnishings, and special exhibits.

Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House is now owned by the Arizona Historical Society and is the headquarters of Borderlands Theater Company. 

Address: 151 S Granada Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701

19. Check Out the Cathedral of Saint Augustine

The Cathedral of Saint Augustine, located at Stone Avenue, is another architectural gem of Tucson that is worth visiting for its striking exterior.

Built in 1896 and restored in the late 1960s, the Catholic church was designed in a Mexican Baroque architectural style. The cathedral is free to visit so everyone can get spiritual and admire the architecture both inside and outside the church.

The original stone façade features the intricate coat of arms of Pope Pious XI and carvings of local flora and fauna, such as yucca, saguaro, various cacti, horned lizards, etc.

Inside, you can see sloped floors, one of the original bells from the Spanish-era Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, and an impressive crucifix from Pamplona, Spain dating back to the 12th or 13th century. 

Address: 192 S Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701

20. Take a Tour of the Pima Air & Space Museum

The Pima Air & Space Museum is a terrific destination for aerospace buffs! It is one of the world’s largest privately funded aviation and space museums since 1976 and has 80 acres of outdoor display and 250,000-square-foot hangars featuring over 400 aircraft and thousands of flight-related artifacts from around the globe.

Six indoor exhibit hangars showcase the rarest and iconic planes from every era, including WWII fighters, John F. Kennedy’s presidential plane, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a replica of a 1903 Wright Brothers Flyer, etc.

The museum is open seven days a week from 9am-5pm (last admittance at 3pm) with regular admission of $22.50 for adults for a one-day pass (or $29 for a two-day pass). There are discounts for children, seniors, and military.

Tram tours and private walking tours (not included in the admission fee) led by professional guides are also available at the museum. 

Address: 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756

21. Stop by San Xavier del Bac

Founded in 1700 by Jesuit explorer Father Eusebio Kino, San Xavier del Bac, also known as the “White Dove of the Desert,” is a Spanish Catholic Mission church located on the Tohono O’odham San Xavier Reservation.

Visitors can first watch a 20-minute video, and then walk through the old church to check out its frescoes, sculptures, paintings, and detailed carvings.

This European structure in Arizona is open to the public daily from 9am-4pm and draws over 200,000 pilgrims and tourists alike every year. Do know that there is no air-conditioning inside so it is best to visit outside the hotter months.

Address: 1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson, AZ 85746

22. Discover the Arizona Museum of Art

Housed on the University of Arizona Campus, the Arizona Museum of Art is the ideal place in Tucson to quench your thirst for unique art. The museum showcases over 6,000 exhibits highlighting European and American fine art from the Renaissance period to the present era, including sculptures, paintings, textiles, prints, and hand drawings.

The museum’s centerpieces and highlights are as follows:

• Samuel H. Kress Collection (masterpieces from the 14th through 19th centuries)
• Altarpiece from Ciudad Rodrigo (works from 15th-century Spain)
• Robert Priseman Collection
• Modern Art Gallery (including works from the mid-twentieth-century)
• Xinyu Zhang’s “Wander Around” (highlights the role of humans in a technologically-driven world)

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10am-4:30pm. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. General admission is $8. 

Address: 1031 N Olive Rd, Tucson, AZ 85721

23. Have a Picnic at Sentinel Peak

If you want to experience Tucson from another perspective, then you shouldn’t miss visiting Sentinel Peak, also known as “A” Mountain, which stands 2,900 feet above the Santa Cruz Valley.

Once serving as a lookout point for Natives and Spanish settlers, it now offers unparalleled panoramic views of Tucson and the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The giant “A” on the mountain was built by University of Arizona students in 1916, who still organize homecoming celebrations with a ceremonial lighting of the “A” every year.

This park is the perfect place for family picnics, romantic sunset viewing, hiking, biking, walking, or simply driving up and back down along Sentinel Peak Road that encircles Sentinel Peak Park. 

Where to Stay in Tucson

If you are looking for the best places to stay in Tucson, these are some of my top picks in town!

• Lodge On The Desert (outdoor heated pool + on-site restaurant)
• The Blenman Inn (outdoor pool and beautiful gardens)
• Graduate Tucson (design hotel near Arizona Stadium)

What are your favorite things to do in Tucson? Let me know your favorite picks and Tucson attractions in the comments. Thanks!

More Arizona Travel Guides

• Weekend in Tucson itinerary
• Day trips from Tucson
• Hiking in Saguaro National Park
• Day trips from Phoenix
• Weekend trips from Phoenix
• Things to do in Prescott
• Things to do in Sedona
• Best Sedona day trips

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