10 things to do in downtown Tucson
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
6. Relax at a local coffeehouse
A number of fantastic local coffeehouses can be found scattered amongst the city. When I want top notch quality, I head downtown. Two notable roasters located downtown are Cartel Coffee Lab (started in Tempe) and Exo Roast (started in Tucson). These are hands down the best choices in the city. While they don’t offer the best patio seating, both offer a really interesting indoor aesthetic, plus great drinks.
Exo Roast features historic brick walls and a trendy industrial hipster setting, while Cartel features a huge attractive space with an eclectic mix of southwestern and modern decor. I love the unique design of each: it’s so refreshing over bland chains with zero personality.
Both coffeehouses serve delicious espresso drinks and single origin coffees, with Exo known for its’ wonderful pour over options and cold brew. I am not typically a fan of sweet drinks (although Mike is) but Exo’s mocha is really incredible. Pastries vary daily, but I recommend the carrot cake muffin at Exo and the coffeecake at Cartel, if available.
Both of these roasters roast their coffee on the lighter side, so the complexity of the subtle flavors of each bean shows up in each cup. If you like strong coffee, you should be satisfied.
Location: Cartel (210 E. Broadway), Exo ( 403 N. 6th Avenue).
7. Check out the shops, events, & entertainment offerings of 4th Avenue
4th Avenue, a quirky block, is home to a number of funky restaurants, eclectic shops, galleries, and souvenir shops. Caruso’s Italian Restaurant is the must try in terms of food here. This long time family restaurant serves authentic fare in a cozy laid-back setting. I love that they offer so many vegetarian options including a wonderful lasagna.
A few interesting shops I recommend:
- Antigone Books (the first solar powered bookstore)
- Generation Cool (nostalgic toys & games from the 80’s and 90’s)
- Gone 2 Pieces Mosaic design (mosaic art is so amazing)
- La Iguana Art Gallery
- Rustic Candle Company
- How Sweet It Was Vintage store
Entertainment options include: D&D Pinball, The Rogue Theater, and Tucson Improv. If you need a caffeine fix, check out Cafe Passe, a cute local cafe featuring local art and a nice little patio.
Signature events include the Fourth Avenue Winter Fair, the Spring Street Fair, and Unplugged. Check out the 4th Avenue events page to see what’s going on during your visit.
8. Take a walk across Rattlensake bridge
Rattlesnake Bridge is one of numerous unusual landmarks around the area. Every area has its’ quirky landmarks and attractions and Rattlesnake Bridge is just one of these oddballs sites to check out if you are into weird roadside attractions. Located just east of downtown region, you will find a bridge shaped like a diamondback, complete with fangs and a curvy tail. I visited this bridge on a 110+ degree summer day and no one was around: the benefits of putting up with the extreme temps!
Artist Simon Donovan won an award from the Federal Highway Administration for his clever design which was ranked as one of the best road projects in the nation. You can walk across the bridge or bike the Rillito River path which crosses it at one point. It’s just a quick stop, but worth the detour if you are a fan of seeking out the unusual. On a side note, Tucson is such a wonderful biking city. Definitely take a ride on the Loop (130+ miles of uninterrupted biking) while you are here.
Bridge location: Broadway at Euclid (small free parking lot available).
9. Dine & Drink at Mercado San Agustin
Mercado San Agustin is the central gathering hotspot near downtown, and is a favorite of both locals and tourists. It is my number one spot for a casual breakfast and I often fuel up here before hiking Tumamoc Hill.
This shared used open air courtyard is home to a number of specialty restaurants and shops including the wonderful Seis Kitchen (home to the best breakfast tacos & burritos in town), Presta coffee (one of my favorite local roasters), and La Estrella bakery (offering amazing homemade traditional Mexican pastries).
On a cool dry desert morning, you can linger in the cozy courtyard for hours enjoying the laid-back ambiance, great Mexican food, and amazing drinks. There really is no better choice for breakfast. My go-to here is the Chili Verde Con Papas tacos, a great vegetarian pick.
Mercado location: 100 South Avenida del Convento (Plenty of free parking – get here early to avoid a lengthy wait to order tacos!).
10. Hike up Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill is an iconic landmark for urban recreation within the city limits. Because it is located within such close proximity to Mercado San Agustin, you can treat yourself to some tasty tacos before or after your climb. Plus, you can conveniently grab your morning coffee here too!
The steep 1.5 mile climb up the paved trail is quite a tough challenge, although well worth it for the extraordinary scenery, which includes overlooks of both the city and mountains. I am in pretty decent shape and I find this climb pretty difficult especially when it’s hot. Definitely get here early if you plan on hiking during the hot season (which I don’t recommend) – the trail opens at 4am. Beautiful Saguaros and other exotic desert cacti line the trail. Thankfully, the U of A Science center opened up this beautiful space to the public.
As one of the top sunrise hikes in the region, Tumamoc is well worth the early alarm wakeup (even on vacation!). Where else can you enjoy a magnificent sunrise with a silhouette of a cactus comprising the backdrop? In other words, don’t sleep in!
Tumamoc location: Tumamoc Hill Rd (free parking although the odds of finding a spot increase the earlier you arrive).
More fun in The Old Pueblo if you have extra time!
Here are a few additional attractions to check out in the downtown vicinity
Bike the Santa Cruz river path
This uninterrupted flat bike path is a picturesque means of getting in some exercise. The Rillito River Path and Canada del Oro Path in Oro Valley are much more scenic, however, this is a great option if you are looking for a convenient place to bike near downtown. It’s not especially scenic, but it is flat and uninterrupted.
Explore the Center for Creative Photography
This free museum located on the grounds of the University of Arizona is home to the full archives of over 60 notable photographers.
Breakfast at Maynard’s
Maynards is a wonderful restaurant located in the historic train depot. Featuring a beautifully designed interior, a spacious outdoor patio, great service, excellent drinks, affordable pricing, and a wonderful menu, this is another go-to for brunch.
Lunch at Reilly’s Craft Pizza or 47 Scott. Both are great restaurants which feature excellent lunch specials and an attractive modern interior.
More fun throughout Arizona
If you are looking for more fun things to do/bucket list check off items in both southern and northern Arizona, definitely check out my Arizona Travel Guide. I highlight all the wonderful hikes and attractions in Tucson, plus those in and near Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, and Phoenix. The whole state is just wonderful, especially if you love history, hiking, and/or food – I have not been disappointed much in my 5 years living here. You may want to add on a few more days to explore more!
- 1
- 2
