Tucson is Arizona’s second-largest city. The University of Arizona – Arizona’s first university and home of the Wildcats – is at the center of it all. Learn more about things to do in Tucson, our famous culinary scene, what the weather’s really like, and about the region’s culture and history. Here are some facts that you might not know.
- Tucson is surrounded by five mountain ranges.
- Tucson is ideal for stargazers with its “International Dark Sky City” designation.
- Tucson’s Sonoran Desert is one of the most biodiverse deserts in the world.
- Tucson ranks as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States.
- “The Loop,” a 130-mile paved pathway encircling the city was named “Best Recreational Trail” in the U.S. by USA Today readers in 2021 and 2022.
- Tucson is known for “The Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food” and was the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States.
- Tucson has amazing outdoor opportunities at Saguaro National Park, Mt. Lemmon, Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, Sabino Canyon, Tucson Botanical Gardens and Tohono Chul. (You can snowboard on Mt. Lemmon.)
- And Tucson has the best Sonoran Hot Dogs, sunsets, cacti and arts.
- (We have over 100 murals, many by University of Arizona alumni.)
52 Places for Travelers to Visit in 2023
Honduras, Istanbul, Lithuania, Algeria … and Tucson, Arizona.
The New York Times published its “52 Places for Travelers to Visit in 2023” and listed Tucson as No. 15, stating that the city is a “rebounding center of art and adobe.”
The article featured several interesting restaurants and businesses like Borderlandia, a binational organization committed to building public understanding of the Borderlands; the coffee shop Exo Roast Co.; art venues Etherton Gallery and Andrew Smith Gallery; boutique hotels, The Downtown Clifton and The Citizen Hotel; and the Coronet & Nightjar.
World’s Greatest Places 2023
Tucson was also listed on Time Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places 2023,” referring to the Old Pueblo as “the soul of the Sonoran Desert.” Tucson was America’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy. The article focuses on Don Guerra, founder of Barrio Bread, a renowned artisanal bakery. Guerra won the 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker. A James Beard Award semifinalist, Chef Maria Mazon of BOCA Tacos y Tequila and TV’s “Top Chef” is also featured.