Southern Arizona
Tucson, the Sonoran Desert's cultural heart, plus mile-high sky islands, the wine country of Sonoita, mining-era Bisbee, and gunfighter Tombstone.
Top 10 things to do
Curated from TripAdvisor, Yelp, U.S. News Travel, and other trusted tourism sources.
- 01
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Part zoo, part botanical garden, part natural history museum.
via TripAdvisor ↗ - 02
Saguaro National Park (East & West)
Scenic loop drives and hikes through the namesake cactus forests.
via TripAdvisor ↗ - 03
Mission San Xavier del Bac
The 'White Dove of the Desert,' a 1797 Spanish mission still in use.
via U.S. News Travel ↗ - 04
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
27-mile drive from desert to alpine forest with a tiny ski area on top.
via TripAdvisor ↗ - 05
Pima Air & Space Museum
One of the world's largest aviation collections, plus the AMARG 'boneyard' tour.
via TripAdvisor ↗ - 06
- 07
- 08
Sonoita & Elgin wine country
Tasting rooms at Callaghan, Dos Cabezas, and Sonoita Vineyards.
via Yelp ↗ - 09
Sabino Canyon tram, Tucson
Narrated electric tram through riparian canyon at the foot of Mt. Lemmon.
via TripAdvisor ↗ - 10
El Charro Café, Tucson
Nation's oldest continuously family-operated Mexican restaurant (1922).
via Yelp ↗
Places to go in Southern Arizona
Bisbee Historic District
A mile-high former copper boomtown turned bohemian arts colony, tucked into the Mule Mountains near the Mexican border.
Mount Lemmon
A 9,159-ft sky island just north of Tucson where saguaros give way to pine forests in a single afternoon drive.
Saguaro National Park
Two desert districts protecting the iconic saguaro cactus on the east and west of Tucson.
Tombstone
The Town Too Tough to Die — the Old West's most famous silver-mining boomtown, frozen in 1881.
Tucson — The Old Pueblo
UNESCO City of Gastronomy with Mexican heritage, mountain hiking, and dark-sky observatories.
Upcoming in Southern Arizona
Festivals, concerts and happenings in the next few months.
- Sep22arts · Tucson
Exhibit: 'Trailblazer: Stewart L. Udall’s Environmental Leadership and Legacy'
A broad array of Stewart L. Udall's legacy through selected photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia featured in this exhibit.
- Oct11Tourism · Tucson
Frida's Garden
Experience 'Frida's Garden' at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, celebrating the connection between nature and the iconic artist's life.
- Mar4Tourism · Tucson
Native Voices: 1950 - 2025
Explore the evolution of Native American art from 1950 to 2025 at the Maynard Dixon and Native American Art Museum.
- May22Tourism · Tucson
Arizona Biennial 2026
Discover contemporary artwork at the Arizona Biennial 2026 hosted by the Tucson Museum of Art.
- Jun2Tourism · Tucson
Rare Works on View: Limited-Time Exhibits
Don't miss this limited-time exhibit showcasing rare works at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum.
- Jun8
- Jun11Comedy · Tucson
Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain't Right Tour
The high-energy observational comic returns to Tucson for a single sold-out night at the AVA Amphitheater.
- Jun11
- Jun16Comedy · Tucson
Laffs Headliner Weekend: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes
Two-night Tucson stand at the historic Laffs Caffé from the SNL alum and viral comic.
- Jun19
- Jun20
- Jun21cultural · Tucson
Make Music Day
Celebrate Make Music Tucson with music performed by anyone and free for everyone throughout city parks, plazas, and public spaces.
Southern Arizona in pictures
