Food scene
Great patio in an interior court yard. Good for brunch, lunch or dinner.
70 locals recommend
Agustin Kitchen
100 South Avenida del ConventoGreat patio in an interior court yard. Good for brunch, lunch or dinner.
One of the best restaurants in Tucson. Book a table for dinner on the patio on a warm night and enjoy the great atmosphere. The restaurant indoor space is also good. They also sell many of their ingredients, including wines at cost in the store accessible from the patio. Must book. If not space is available, you might be able to get a walk-in table at the attached Nightjar, which has similar food.
78 locals recommend
The Coronet
198 W Cushing StOne of the best restaurants in Tucson. Book a table for dinner on the patio on a warm night and enjoy the great atmosphere. The restaurant indoor space is also good. They also sell many of their ingredients, including wines at cost in the store accessible from the patio. Must book. If not space is available, you might be able to get a walk-in table at the attached Nightjar, which has similar food.
I rarely recommend going to a chain restaurant, but this one hits it out of the park with good food and a playful atmosphere. The Tucson location has a lot of space dedicated to free games, such as foosball, pool, etc.
97 locals recommend
Culinary Dropout
2543 E Grant RdI rarely recommend going to a chain restaurant, but this one hits it out of the park with good food and a playful atmosphere. The Tucson location has a lot of space dedicated to free games, such as foosball, pool, etc.
Great place for lunch, dinner or brunch. Nestled at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountain Range, Hacienda Del Sol is a relaxing refuge with breathtaking views and storied history. You will also enjoy the drive to the foothills. This is also a good place to watch the sunset.
22 locals recommend
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch Resort
5501 N Hacienda Del Sol RdGreat place for lunch, dinner or brunch. Nestled at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountain Range, Hacienda Del Sol is a relaxing refuge with breathtaking views and storied history. You will also enjoy the drive to the foothills. This is also a good place to watch the sunset.
Excellent place and a favorite among locals for Italian food. They also offer outdoor seating and takeout. Also a good reason to venture up to the foothills in the evening and enjoy the drive while the sun is setting.
51 locals recommend
North Italia
2995 E Skyline DrExcellent place and a favorite among locals for Italian food. They also offer outdoor seating and takeout. Also a good reason to venture up to the foothills in the evening and enjoy the drive while the sun is setting.
Great pizza in an intimate setting right along 6th street off of 4th Ave. Reservation is a must.
27 locals recommend
ANELLO
222 E 6th StGreat pizza in an intimate setting right along 6th street off of 4th Ave. Reservation is a must.
Great brunch place on weekends. Also good for a slice of cake or a cookie and coffee. Check out their merchandise if you're looking for a Tucson souvenir. Reservation a must. You have to call in 30 min before you want to go and you'll be added to the waitlist.
92 locals recommend
Five Points Market & Restaurant
756 S Stone AveGreat brunch place on weekends. Also good for a slice of cake or a cookie and coffee. Check out their merchandise if you're looking for a Tucson souvenir. Reservation a must. You have to call in 30 min before you want to go and you'll be added to the waitlist.
Very good food and large plates. Also good for coffee and one of their many excellent cake options. Adjacent to the Tucson art museum.
27 locals recommend
Café à La C'Art
150 N Main AveVery good food and large plates. Also good for coffee and one of their many excellent cake options. Adjacent to the Tucson art museum.
Cute restaurant in a courtyard with shops around it. Live music on the weekends.
101 locals recommend
LaCo Tucson | Outdoor Downtown Tucson Restaurant
76 N Court AveCute restaurant in a courtyard with shops around it. Live music on the weekends.
Great tacos and horchata in a nice courtyard. Can be a bit of a wait to order. Food is fantastic however!
Seis Kitchen
Great tacos and horchata in a nice courtyard. Can be a bit of a wait to order. Food is fantastic however!
Great Mexican food and affordable at the same time. South of the border vibe and good bar.
20 locals recommend
El Torero Restaurant
231 E 26th StGreat Mexican food and affordable at the same time. South of the border vibe and good bar.
Exo Roast Co
403 N 6th AveNearest coffee place to the AirBnB
at the Congress Hotel. I'm only listing this because it's a Tucson institution. I've eaten here multiple times and find the food to be average. However, the setting is nice with live music on the weekend in their own little park. Also, I would rather go here for coffee and one of their amazing cakes.
111 locals recommend
Cup Cafe
311 E Congress Stat the Congress Hotel. I'm only listing this because it's a Tucson institution. I've eaten here multiple times and find the food to be average. However, the setting is nice with live music on the weekend in their own little park. Also, I would rather go here for coffee and one of their amazing cakes.
Design
This little container village hosts a number of great shops to browse while sipping a coffee or other (non-) alcoholic drink, all available on the premises. It is also a concert venue and has ample free parking all around. It is within less than 5 minute walking distance from Augustin Kitchen.
68 locals recommend
MSA Annex
267 South Avenida del ConventoThis little container village hosts a number of great shops to browse while sipping a coffee or other (non-) alcoholic drink, all available on the premises. It is also a concert venue and has ample free parking all around. It is within less than 5 minute walking distance from Augustin Kitchen.
If you appreciate mid-century modern furniture and style and are looking to find something nice, you’ll like AZ Modern. It’s a bit pricey but has a really nice selection of mid-century furniture for indoors and outdoors.
AZmodern
4469 East 5th StreetIf you appreciate mid-century modern furniture and style and are looking to find something nice, you’ll like AZ Modern. It’s a bit pricey but has a really nice selection of mid-century furniture for indoors and outdoors.
Out of the many antique malls in Tucson, this one is probably the most fun and prices are very reasonable. https://goo.gl/maps/FRBQGfVhyXxc15D46
6 locals recommend
Speedway Antique Mall
5045 E Speedway BlvdOut of the many antique malls in Tucson, this one is probably the most fun and prices are very reasonable. https://goo.gl/maps/FRBQGfVhyXxc15D46
Around Tucson
Visit this historic mission and one of the oldest buildings in the Southwest and the United States. Only 25 min from your AirBnB.
328 locals recommend
Mission San Xavier del Bac
1950 W San Xavier RdVisit this historic mission and one of the oldest buildings in the Southwest and the United States. Only 25 min from your AirBnB.
Located just outside the National Park, this place showcases desert life and plants. It's also a good starting points for hikes in the National Park.
670 locals recommend
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdLocated just outside the National Park, this place showcases desert life and plants. It's also a good starting points for hikes in the National Park.
You'll want to go here to watch the sunset. It takes only about 12 min from your AirBnB to the Gates Pass parking lot. It can get busy, especially on weekends. Do drive down the other side , it's simply stunning. Gates Pass is on the way to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Old Tucson (staged shootouts, etc., but closed).
28 locals recommend
Gates Pass Scenic Lookout
7799 W Gates Pass RdYou'll want to go here to watch the sunset. It takes only about 12 min from your AirBnB to the Gates Pass parking lot. It can get busy, especially on weekends. Do drive down the other side , it's simply stunning. Gates Pass is on the way to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Old Tucson (staged shootouts, etc., but closed).
Great getaway if you are looking for cooler temperatures. Bring a sweater!
485 locals recommend
Mount Lemmon
Great getaway if you are looking for cooler temperatures. Bring a sweater!
Best place for mountain biking and hiking, only 12 min by car from the AirBnB. From the parking lot, take to your right and you'll quickly get into a Saguaro forest. Mornings and evenings are best to avoid the heat. Views of the Tucson area and mountain ranges. Abundant with wildlife such as deer, rabbits, coyotes, tarantulas and so forth :)
31 locals recommend
Sweetwater Trailhead
4001 N Tortolita RdBest place for mountain biking and hiking, only 12 min by car from the AirBnB. From the parking lot, take to your right and you'll quickly get into a Saguaro forest. Mornings and evenings are best to avoid the heat. Views of the Tucson area and mountain ranges. Abundant with wildlife such as deer, rabbits, coyotes, tarantulas and so forth :)
Bisbee is an old mining town that's about 2 hours from Tucson and will lead you through Tombstone, another place you'll want to stop at. Great to walk around in and check out the neatly renovated miner's cottages on the hillsides. Also check out the many little shops and antique stores. Good finds for very cheap. Just south of town, there is a deep open pit mine you can look at from the road. Look for parking. There is also an underground mining tour.
30 locals recommend
Bisbee Grand Hotel
61 Main StBisbee is an old mining town that's about 2 hours from Tucson and will lead you through Tombstone, another place you'll want to stop at. Great to walk around in and check out the neatly renovated miner's cottages on the hillsides. Also check out the many little shops and antique stores. Good finds for very cheap. Just south of town, there is a deep open pit mine you can look at from the road. Look for parking. There is also an underground mining tour.
OK Corral, Old West, Saloons, Shootouts. Reenactment starts at 12pm every day. Check for schedule online. Walk around, peek inside, visit the historic courthouse and main street where the reenactment happens. About 1 hour East of Tucson, and about halfway to Bisbee.
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
223 E Toughnut StOK Corral, Old West, Saloons, Shootouts. Reenactment starts at 12pm every day. Check for schedule online. Walk around, peek inside, visit the historic courthouse and main street where the reenactment happens. About 1 hour East of Tucson, and about halfway to Bisbee.
Remember the experiment from the 80's and also the movie and Netflix series. 45 min north of the AirBnB and well worth a visit. Reservation required.
156 locals recommend
Biosphere 2
32540 S Biosphere RdRemember the experiment from the 80's and also the movie and Netflix series. 45 min north of the AirBnB and well worth a visit. Reservation required.
Botanic Gardens north of Tucson. On the way to the Biosphere Museum if you want to visit both in one day. Bistro on premises.
168 locals recommend
Tohono Chul
7366 N Paseo Del NorteBotanic Gardens north of Tucson. On the way to the Biosphere Museum if you want to visit both in one day. Bistro on premises.
Amazingly beautiful drive and no traffic for hours once leave Tucson and Oro Valley. I only recommend this trip if you either need to cool off from the heat or are headed to Show Low and the Mogollon Rim anyway. Or if you are headed to Albuquerque or Flagstaff, then this will be an alternative route well worth the trip. You will be mostly by yourself for 3.5 hours. There is river rafting on the Salt River at the bottom of the canyon just after the bridge, so check online if you want to go. It feels like driving to the bottom of the Grand Canyon...
Salt River Canyon Rest Stop
Amazingly beautiful drive and no traffic for hours once leave Tucson and Oro Valley. I only recommend this trip if you either need to cool off from the heat or are headed to Show Low and the Mogollon Rim anyway. Or if you are headed to Albuquerque or Flagstaff, then this will be an alternative route well worth the trip. You will be mostly by yourself for 3.5 hours. There is river rafting on the Salt River at the bottom of the canyon just after the bridge, so check online if you want to go. It feels like driving to the bottom of the Grand Canyon...
Neighborhoods
Check out your AirBnB's neighborhood on foot while you're in town. Many sidewalks have been converted into meandering trails with local plants. So-called "curb cuts" and traffic islands open the pavement so run-off water can seep back into the soil. The many well-kept houses and lush backyards offer interesting ideas for how to create a fence or plant your own desert garden (aka Xeriscaping). Turn right from the house and walk a loop in any direction.
Dunbar Spring
Check out your AirBnB's neighborhood on foot while you're in town. Many sidewalks have been converted into meandering trails with local plants. So-called "curb cuts" and traffic islands open the pavement so run-off water can seep back into the soil. The many well-kept houses and lush backyards offer interesting ideas for how to create a fence or plant your own desert garden (aka Xeriscaping). Turn right from the house and walk a loop in any direction.
Sightseeing
Unique museum and one of the largest of its kind in the world. A must see when visiting Tucson!
258 locals recommend
Pima Air and Space Museum
6000 E Valencia RdUnique museum and one of the largest of its kind in the world. A must see when visiting Tucson!
Visit the underground missile silo and launch room from the cold war era with a live demo of a nuke launch. This is the last of the cold war era missile silos. Reservation required! Absolutely interesting!
101 locals recommend
Titan Missile Museum
1580 W Duval Mine RdVisit the underground missile silo and launch room from the cold war era with a live demo of a nuke launch. This is the last of the cold war era missile silos. Reservation required! Absolutely interesting!
Tubac is worth a trip and is about 90 min south of Tucson. It's an artsy town with galleries and artists, plus a few old adobe buildings. There is a nice convenience store in town and also a couple of restaurants. If you're not a US citizen, make sure to bring your passport and green card as there is an immigration stop on the freeway.
15 locals recommend
Tubac Center of the Arts
#9 Plaza RdTubac is worth a trip and is about 90 min south of Tucson. It's an artsy town with galleries and artists, plus a few old adobe buildings. There is a nice convenience store in town and also a couple of restaurants. If you're not a US citizen, make sure to bring your passport and green card as there is an immigration stop on the freeway.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Homegrown Mountain Biking Tours
Please give this outfitter a try. They will typically drop you off and pick you up, provide bike rentals and equipment.