Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, Downtown Tucson is a hidden gem that boasts a rich tapestry of culture, history, and entertainment. With its vibrant streets, diverse culinary scene, and a captivating blend of old and new, this dynamic district offers a unique experience for visitors and locals alike. In this article, we will take a comprehensive journey through downtown Tucson, exploring its captivating landmarks, artistic enclaves, culinary delights, and the pulsating energy that makes it a must-visit destination.
Downtown Tucson was a vibrant hub of commerce and culture from the early 1900s through the 1960s. The Main Library opened in 1901, Rialto Theatre opened in 1920, and Fox Tucson Theatre opened in 1930. All three remain bedrocks of the downtown area.
Stores that were once in Downtown Tucson, but have since closed include Steinfeld's, Levy's, Dave Bloom & Sons, Albert Steinfield Hardware, Skaggs Drug Center, and J.C.Penney.
After falling into a slump in the 1960s through the 1990s, Downtown Tucson experienced a rebirth in the early 2000s with a new vision, refurbished streets, and a plethora of dining options.
Begin your day at the Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center at 115 N. Church Avenue. Located inside the Pima County Historic Courthouse, this is a MUST-DO stop for both locals and tourists. The nearly hundred year old building is an architectural and artistic marvel, which make it a destination in and of itself. Painted in a distinctive southwestern pink hue, the multi-story complex features a gorgeous mosaic dome, which has become an iconic Tucson symbol.
What can you do at the Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center?
The center currently houses offices for some of the major Tucson attraction corporations: Pima County Attractions & Tourism, Pima County Administration, and Visit Tucson. That being said, it's so much more than just offices!
During your visit, you can:
When is the Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center Open?
The center is open daily from 10:00am-5:00pm. Closed on holidays. Admission is free. Note that The University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum is also on-site and is ticketed.
Parking downtown in any city can cause even the best drivers to be apprehensive. As far as downtowns go, though, it's relatively easy to park and get around Downtown Tucson.
There are more than 3,000 covered spaces in parking garages and almost 1,000 spaces in surface lots. Parking meters are located throughout downtown and range from 1/2 hour to 6-hour limits, at a rate of 50 cents per hour. There is no charge for metered parking after 5:00pm and on weekends/holidays.
The three largest parking garages in downtown Tucson - Pennington Street Garage, Centro Garage, and Depot Plaza Garage - all start at $2 for 1-2 hours. Stay for 7+ hours for only eight dollars!
You may also want to hop on and off the Tucson Streetcar as you explore the area. It's affordable (currently free!), comfortable, climate-controlled, and eco-friendly. Click here for a full guide on Where to Park in Downtown Tucson.
If you're looking for things to do in downtown Tucson and trying to put together an itinerary for a day or weekend, you'll want to make note of the below attractions. We've organized them in thematic categories so that you can quickly jump to the places you most want to go.
There are currently 5 museums in Downtown Tucson:
Although not in Downtown Tucson proper, other nearby museums include Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, UA Poetry Center, and The University of Arizona Museum of Art.
If you are hoping to attend a concert, musical, symphony, or Broadway show in Tucson, there's a good chance you'll end up in downtown Tucson.
The theatres in Downtown Tucson are:
191 Toole, Club Congress at Hotel Congress, and Jácome Plaza also host musicians and bands throughout the year.
Most concerts and symphonies play at the above venues, however, it is not uncommon to find musicians at a variety of spaces around downtown - especially on 2nd Saturdays.
Although development has been robust in downtown Tucson in recent years, family-friendly attractions are lagging behind and sorely needed. We'd love to see additions of any of the following: an old-fashioned soda shop, a candy store, a family-friendly dinner theatre, a large playground, a splash pad, a children's destination bookstore, an elegant place to have afternoon tea, and more theatrical shows geared toward youth.
That being said, don't be discouraged! Downtown Tucson is still a fun experience for the whole family! Kids will naturally be drawn to the area as it is full of activity.
If you are planning a day downtown with your kids or grandkids, add these to-dos to your list:
Foodies: rejoice! Downtown Tucson is truly shining when it comes to dining and no visit to downtown Tucson is complete without indulging in its culinary offerings. The district is a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of cuisines that reflect the city's multicultural heritage. In fact, there are over 50 restaurants to choose from and most are adorable, interesting, unique, and locally owned - with fresh ingredients and fun interiors. You'll also find many sidewalk and patio dining options so that you can fully enjoy the sun-soaked Tucson weather.
As you will note from the below list, stability has been somewhat of an issue in recent years - with at least half of the restaurants opening in the past five years. The fact remains, however, that if you want to experience the best and brightest chefs and the most cutting edge restaurants in Tucson, you will probably want to head downtown.
Although there are many excellent options, we would recommend that you start with the ones in bold.
To get a better grasp of the food scene in Downtown Tucson, consider booking a walking tour with Tucson Food Tours.
* NOTE: The restaurant scene in Tucson evolves rapidly - with restaurants opening/closing their doors and/or moving locations at a pace that is difficult to keep up with. Although our editorial team strives to keep up with and publish all new changes, you will want to call ahead to confirm address and hours.
There are currently 9 hotels in Downtown Tucson and many of them are very new!
After many years without chain hotels, Downtown Tucson is now home to quite a few options at a variety of price points. Hopefully a full-scale resort will be next!
Is Downtown Tucson walkable?
Yes. Most of the streets have sidewalks and you can walk around and through the entire circumference of the downtown area (it's not huge). Alternatively, you can jump on the Tucson Streetcar to conveniently get from place to place .
Can you bike in Downtown Tucson? Are there designated bike paths?
You certainly can, but it can feel dangerous due to vehicle traffic - particularly if you are not an experienced biker. This is an area that Downtown Tucson could grow in. We'd love to see car-free streets, bicycles parking, and expanded safety measures.
TuGo bikes are available with a pay-as-you-go pass: $1 to unlock and 25 cents per minute. Monthly and annual passes can also be purchased by regular users.
A wedding in Downtown Tucson is a wonderful idea! The urban, artsy, and green spaces will lend themselves fabulously to one-of-a-kind wedding photos. Consider these stunning venues for ceremonies and receptions:
Downtown Tucson hosts numerous events throughout the year. In addition to concerts and shows, some of the larger events that come to mind include:
Downtown Tucson is alive and well. Visit on any weekday or weekend evening and you will find couples walking hand in hand, families licking ice cream cones, bands performing live on outdoor patios, and people standing in ticketed lines for all kinds of shows.
The editorial team at TucsonTopia is hoping that the following spaces will be added to Downtown Tucson in the coming year(s):
There is always something new in Downtown Tucson! New shops, offices, restaurants, and cultural attractions open frequently. The best way to stay in the know is to subscribe to TucsonTopia's free weekly THIS WEEK IN TUCSON newsletter.
MUST-DO lists are highly subjective to a person's interests, hobbies, and travel style/pace. That being said, if I had only one day in Downtown Tucson, I would make an itinerary like this:
One Perfect Day in Downtown Tucson
Have a great time in Downtown Tucson!
SEE A FULL LISTING OF DOWNTOWN TUCSON EVENTS BELOW.
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