Surrounded by five mountain ranges and the Sonoran Desert, Tucson is a city where Mexican culture, Indigenous history, and the borderlands spirit of the Southwest meet. It is famous for forests of giant saguaro cacti and a deep culinary heritage. Recognized as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, Tucson is nationally recognized for Sonoran and Mexican-influenced food traditions supported by thousands of years of agricultural history. With historic adobe neighborhoods, Spanish missions, and a vibrant arts scene, Tucson offers a rich and contextual view of the Southwest.
Why visit
- First UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States
- Saguaro National Park
- home to the iconic giant cacti of the Southwest
- Mission San Xavier del Bac
- a jewel of Spanish colonial architecture
- Historic neighborhoods like the Presidio and Barrio Viejo with adobe houses
- The "Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food" in the United States
Top things to do
Explore Saguaro National Park
Divided into two districts (east and west) flanking the city, this park protects the symbol of the American Southwest: the giant saguaro cactus, which can live up to 200 years. Drive the scenic loops or hike the trails at sunset for spectacular silhouettes.
Visit Mission San Xavier del Bac
Known as the "White Dove of the Desert," this Spanish Catholic mission founded in 1692 (current building dates to 1797) is the oldest intact example of European architecture in Arizona. Its painted interiors and sculptures are breathtaking.
Tour the "Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food
Tucson is famous for its Sonoran food. Try the Sonoran hot dog (bacon-wrapped and topped with beans, onions, tomatoes, mayo, and mustard), chimichangas (invented here), carne seca, and hand-stretched flour tortillas at family restaurants along 12th Avenue.
Stroll through Barrio Viejo
This historic neighborhood south of downtown features one of the largest surviving concentrations of 19th-century Sonoran adobe buildings in the United States. Its colorful thick-walled houses and carved wooden doors evoke 19th-century Tucson.
Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Much more than a museum, it is a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert. It is the best place to see mountain lions, coyotes, javelinas, and hummingbirds in natural habitats.
