10 Best Things to do in Tucson, Arizona

Planning a trip to Tucson and wondering what to do? You’re in the right place!

Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, Tucson is just the type of place we love to explore. There are giant saguaros pretty much everywhere you look, mountains just outside the city, and lots of different ways to explore these epic landscapes. You’ve got your typical hiking and biking, but also horseback riding and hot air balloon rides – how cool is that?

But Tucson isn’t all desert adventures. The food scene here is fantastic; there are some amazing museums that you shouldn’t miss, either. In short, there’s a LOT to fit in, which is why we’ve rounded up our top 10 favorite things to do in Tucson. Let’s get into it!

Tucson At A Glance

Dress in layers: Tucson is a desert city, but don’t assume that means it’s hot 24/7! Temperatures can change a lot between day and night, especially outside of summer. Layers are your friend here because you can be freezing first thing in the morning, but trust us, you’ll be peeling them all off a few hours later.

Keep monsoon season in mind: This rainy season runs from roughly mid-June through September. Storms often roll in later in the day, so always check the forecast before heading out hiking, biking, or doing anything else outdoors. Desert weather can change FAST!

Getting around: Tucson is pretty spread out. You’ll probably want to rent a car, especially if you’re planning to visit places like Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, or Mount Lemmon. Public transportation is available in the city, but having your own wheels will make exploring everything on this list much easier.

How We Would Spend 3 Days in Tucson

🌮Day 1: Start with the Tucson Botanical Gardens, eat your way around the city on a food tour, then explore colorful Barrio Viejo before dinner.

🌵Day 2: Visit the Pima Air & Space Museum or San Xavier del Bac Mission, then spend the afternoon on an e-bike adventure through Saguaro National Park.

🏇Day 3: Explore the desert on this horseback tour before exploring the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Then finish your trip with stargazing or a fun final night out in Tucson – the choice is yours! 

Things to do in Tucson

1. Taste your way around Tucson

We love doing food tours at the start of a trip because you get to eat your way around the city AND figure out where you want to come back to later. So naturally, this Tucson food tour was at the top of our list! 

Over four hours, we wandered through Downtown Tucson with our guide and stopped at local spots for six different tastings. The food focused on Southwestern flavors, so we got to try things that felt specific to Tucson rather than places we could find anywhere else. The tamales were a particular favorite!

But this tour is about more than just the food. Between stops, we learned about Tucson’s history and the different cultures that have shaped the city’s cuisine. We also passed places like Hotel Congress, the Fox Tucson Theatre, and the Pima County Historic Courthouse, so it almost felt like a walking tour and food tour rolled into one.

Our group was small too, which made the whole thing feel really relaxed. Our guide was full of stories and historical tidbits, but it never felt like a lecture. It was much more like wandering around Tucson with a local who knew all of the good food spots! For us, this was such a fun introduction to the city, especially because Tucson’s food scene is such a huge part of what makes it so interesting.

2. See Saguaro National Park on an e-bike

Saguaro National Park was high on our Tucson list anyway, but exploring it by e-bike made it even more fun! This 2.5-hour tour takes you around the park’s paved 8-mile (12-kilometer) loop, surrounded by those huge saguaro cacti that Arizona is famous for.

Before we set off, our guides fitted everyone with helmets, adjusted the bikes, gave us a quick safety briefing, and let us get used to the e-bikes. They’re really straightforward once you get going, and the electric boost makes a HUGE difference on the hills!

The ride itself is absolutely gorgeous. The road winds through the Sonoran Desert, with mountains in the distance and giant saguaros everywhere you look. We stopped regularly along the way while our guide pointed out native plants and wildlife and told us more about the desert ecosystem. There’s also a stop at the visitor center before heading back.

The route isn’t particularly difficult, but you do need to already feel comfortable riding a regular bike. There’s also very little shade out here, so bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and dress for the weather.

Groups are kept pretty small, which we really liked because it kept the ride relaxed and left plenty of time to ask questions. For us, this was one of the best ways to experience Saguaro National Park. We covered way more ground than we ever could have on foot, but we still felt very much immersed in the desert rather than just driving through it!

3. Visit Tucson’s iconic museums

Part of what makes Tucson so cool is that it has some really amazing museums. Plus, our favorite two are completely different from each other, so we think they’re both worth making time for!

First up is the Pima Air & Space Museum, and this place is HUGE. There are more than 400 aircraft spread across six hangars and 80 acres of outdoor displays, covering everything from early aviation to military planes and space exploration. You can even see aircraft ranging from a Wright Flyer to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Even if you’re not someone who usually gets excited about planes, seeing some of these aircraft up close is pretty impressive. And because so much of the collection is outdoors, it feels more like a giant aviation park.

Then there’s the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which has a bit of everything! It’s part zoo, part botanical garden, part natural history museum, part aquarium, and part art gallery, all focused around the Sonoran Desert. 

There are more than 230 animal species and 1,200 types of plants across the 98-acre site, with two miles of paths winding through the desert landscape. You’ll see everything from native wildlife to cacti, desert plants, birds, and even marine life.

In fact, calling this place a “museum” really doesn’t do it justice. We only expected to spend a couple of hours here, but before we knew it, half the day had disappeared! 

4. Ride horses through the desert 

We would have loved to have done this horseback riding tour, but unfortunately, Bailey is allergic to horses! Even so, we think it looks like such a fun way to immerse yourself in the beauty of Catalina State Park and the Coronado National Forest.

The ride lasts around 90 minutes and takes you through the desert with sweeping views of the Santa Catalina Mountains. You’ll pass Tucson’s famous giant saguaros and other desert plants as you explore the wide-open scenery. It feels like a quintessential Arizona experience! 

Before setting off, the guides take time to match each rider with a horse based on their size and ability. They’ll also go over the basics and make sure you feel comfortable before heading onto the trail, which is always reassuring.

Once you’re out there, the pace is nice and steady, so you can enjoy the scenery rather than worrying about keeping up. There are plenty of chances to take in the mountain views and snap photos along the way, too. We were also really happy to see so many of the glowing reviews talking about how well cared for the horses are. That’s always important to us with any animal experience!

This tour is very popular, so it often sells out ahead of time! For that reason, we recommend taking advantage of Viator’s free cancellation policy and booking at least a few weeks in advance.

5. See Historic Tucson on two wheels

We love exploring cities by bike because you can cover so much more ground than you would on foot, and this historic Tucson bike tour looks like such a fun way to get to know the city!

The ride lasts just over two hours and takes you through some of Tucson’s most interesting historic neighborhoods. You’ll cycle through Barrio Viejo and past the colorful adobe homes that make it so special. Your guide will also take you to places like the Pima County Courthouse, St. Augustine Cathedral, and the Tucson Museum of Art to learn more about the local culture.

One of the quirkiest parts is the Rattlesnake Bridge, which is literally shaped like a giant diamondback rattlesnake. You ride straight through its mouth, which is a little bit mind-bending, but very cool! 

There’s also a stretch along the Santa Cruz River Trail, part of Tucson’s huge cycling network, plus plenty of murals and colorful alleyways along the way. And while you ride, your guide shares stories about everything from early Spanish settlers to old bank robbers.

The pace is relaxed, with lots of short stops, so you’re never just pedaling nonstop for two hours. Bikes, helmets, and bottled water are all included too, so you just need to show up in closed-toe shoes and be ready to ride. We think this is the perfect way to explore Tucson and get to know the history behind all of those colorful streets!

6. Go hiking

With mountains and desert surrounding the city, Tucson is basically made for hiking. And since we LOVE to hike, you can bet that getting out on the trails would be high on our list here!

The obvious place to start is Saguaro National Park, which is actually split into two separate sections on either side of Tucson. Saguaro National Park West is the more popular side and a little easier to reach, with tons of trails winding between those enormous saguaros. Then there’s the Rincon Mountain District, or Saguaro East, on the opposite side of the city if you want even more options.

But don’t stop there! Sabino Canyon is another fantastic place to get your hiking boots on, with trails running through the Santa Catalina Mountains. There’s also Catalina State Park, where you can hike through the Sonoran Desert with the mountains rising behind you. They’re all super beautiful, so you’re really spoiled for choice here, which is no bad thing!

The main thing to remember is that this is the desert. We recommend getting onto the trail early, especially during the warmer months, and carrying WAY more water than you think you’ll need. Bring snacks, sunscreen, and a hat too because there isn’t always much shade out there. But all in all, with scenery this good, you really can’t visit Tucson without squeezing at least one hike into your trip!

7. Enjoy a scenic drive around Mt. Lemmon

Mount Lemmon is one of the best places to escape the desert heat, and this private scenic tour is an easy way to see it without having to do the driving yourself.

Over four hours, you’ll make your way up through the Santa Catalina Mountains, stopping at three different viewpoints along the way. The scenery changes a LOT as you climb, which is part of what makes the drive so cool. 

There are stops for photos and some light hiking too, so you’re not just sitting in the van the entire time. Binoculars are provided as well, which is a nice touch when you’re trying to take in the views and maybe spot some wildlife in the distance!

We think that one of the biggest benefits of this tour is that you can just relax and enjoy the drive. The road up Mount Lemmon is incredibly scenic, but if you’re behind the wheel, you’re obviously going to spend a lot of the time concentrating on the road rather than staring out at the mountains! On this tour, you can just sit back in the air-conditioned vehicle and enjoy it.

It’s also a private tour, so it’ll only be your group, which gives the whole experience a much more personal feel. You can chat with your guide and take your time, rather than being herded around in a big tour bus. We think it’s perfect if you’re traveling to Tucson as a family or with a group of friends! 

8. Stargaze in a dark sky city 

Tucson takes its night skies seriously! The city and surrounding Pima County have had strict rules around outdoor lighting for decades, which helps keep light pollution down and makes this one of the best places in the US to look up at the stars.

The dry desert climate helps too, with low humidity and plenty of clear nights throughout the year. So once the sun goes down, make sure you look up because the sky out here can be absolutely incredible!

For a proper stargazing experience, Mount Lemmon SkyCenter is hard to beat. At around 9,100 feet (2,774 meters), its SkyNights program includes sunset views, astronomy talks, and the chance to look through seriously powerful telescopes at planets, galaxies, nebulae, and more.

Another great option is Kitt Peak National Observatory, southwest of Tucson. It has one of the world’s largest collections of astronomical observatories, and the nighttime program lets visitors explore constellations and view deep-sky objects through telescopes.

Even if you’re not normally an astronomy person, we think this is such a cool thing to do while you’re in Tucson. You’re in one of the best stargazing regions in the country, so it would be a shame to go to bed without taking advantage of it!

9. Try out rock climbing

If you’ve ever wanted to try rock climbing or canyoneering, Tucson is a pretty epic place to do it! This half-day adventure on Mount Lemmon lets you choose between climbing rock faces or heading into the canyon for hiking, scrambling, and rappelling.

And don’t worry if you’ve never done anything like this before. All experience levels are welcome, and your guide will talk you through the equipment and techniques before you get started. Everything you need is included too, from helmets and harnesses to ropes, so you don’t need to show up with a car full of climbing gear!

The exact experience depends on which option you choose. Rock climbing is all about tackling routes suited to your ability and improving your technique as you go, while canyoneering can involve hiking into the mountains and rappelling through rocky gorges and past waterfalls. Either way, you’ll be spending around four hours exploring the mountains outside Tucson.

You do need a moderate level of fitness for this one, but you definitely don’t need to arrive as an experienced climber. We think that’s what makes this tour so fun. It’s a chance to get properly adventurous without having to figure out the ropes (literally!) by yourself.

10. Get the best views on a hot air balloon flight

If this sunrise hot air balloon flight isn’t a bucket-list experience, then we don’t know what is! After all, what better way to experience the Sonoran Desert than floating above it while the sun comes up?

The actual flight lasts around 45 to 60 minutes, and the balloon can reach anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 feet above the desert (around 600 to 1,500 meters). From up there, you’ll get huge views across the Tucson area, surrounding mountains, and miles of desert below. And unlike sightseeing from a plane or helicopter, hot air ballooning is quiet, so there’s something pretty special about just drifting along with the breeze.

The experience lasts around 3.5 hours altogether because there’s more to it than just the flight. Once you’re back on solid ground, you’ll sit down for a continental breakfast and champagne toast in the desert, which we think is a very nice way to celebrate making it back down! 

Of course, this tour does mean a very early start, but in this instance, we think that dragging yourself out of bed before sunrise would be completely worth it. Just wear closed-toe shoes and bring a light jacket because it’s chilly out in the desert first thing. 

Oh, and don’t forget your camera. These are views you’re going to want evidence of!

Related Read: Need help organizing your trip? See our 3-day Tucson itinerary for many of these top activities, all planned out for you!

Where to Stay in Tucson

Now that you know what to do in Tucson, you just need somewhere to stay! For a first visit, we recommend staying Downtown Tucson because you’ll have lots of restaurants and bars close by, so it makes a fun base when you’re not out exploring the desert. Below, we’ve picked three great hotels for a range of budgets.

Luxury – $$$

If you want somewhere really special, Arizona Inn is our luxury pick. It’s not right downtown, but it’s only a short drive away, and we think the gorgeous setting more than makes up for it!

This historic hotel dates back to 1930 and has pink adobe buildings surrounded by palms, lawns, and pretty garden paths. It feels like a little desert oasis! There’s also a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, complimentary bikes, and a beautiful fireside library, so there are plenty of reasons to hang around the hotel rather than just using it as somewhere to sleep.

Nightly rates range from $ 250–$500+ USD, depending on the time of year. Read the amazing reviews and book your stay here!

Mid-range – $$

If location is your priority, AC Hotel Tucson Downtown puts you right in the middle of Downtown Tucson’s Entertainment District. You’ll have restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries right outside, so this is a great choice if you like being able to walk out of your hotel and immediately find something going on.

The rooms are modern and sleek, with huge windows overlooking the city or mountains. But our favorite feature has to be the rooftop pool! There’s also an AC Lounge serving cocktails and small plates, and grabbing a drink by the pool while the sun goes down sounds like a pretty good way to end a day in Tucson if you ask us.

Rooms go for about $130-$280 USD per night, depending on room type and season. Check availability and secure your stay here!

Budget – $

For a wallet-friendly downtown stay, Home2 Suites by Hilton Tucson Downtown gives you a lot for your money. It’s right in the center of Tucson, close to places like the Fox Theatre and Rialto Theatre, so you’re still in a fantastic spot for exploring.

The rooms have kitchens, which is always handy for keeping drinks and snacks around or making something simple when you don’t feel like eating out again. A hot breakfast is included every morning too, plus there’s an outdoor rooftop pool and a fitness center. For a budget option, we think that’s a pretty impressive list of extras!

Nightly rates go for about $120-$200 USD per night. Find the best prices and book your stay here!

For more options, see all of the hotels in Tucson here!

Thanks for reading!

We loved exploring Tucson, from its historic buildings and amazing food scene to its desert landscapes and beyond. This list of top things to do covers the best of the best, so follow along, and I know you’ll love the city as much as we did.

If you need help planning the rest of your travels, check out all of our USA blogs. We have tons of resources to get you started, including choosing the best place to stay and planning your itinerary. Here are a few related blogs you might be interested in. Cheers!

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