Being the second-largest city in the state of Arizona, Tucson is divided into neighborhoods with different experiences to offer its visitors. Downtown Tucson is one of the main destinations in the city. This part of the city can let you explore and see hundreds, if not thousands, of years of rich culture. It is ideal to visit the city from April to May, and September to October. Generally, Tucson has a sunny weather, so feel free to go, get tanned, and explore the different things to do in the city. If you enjoy going to museums, appreciating art collections, and eating Mexican food, the city has places to visit like Tucson Museum of Art. If you’re worried about where to stay, a metropolitan city like Tucson will of course have plenty of options for you. Read further to discover the top things to do in Downtown Tucson.
1. Solve puzzles and answer trivia in a puzzling game (from USD 34.0)
While vacationing in Tucson, Arizona, you can indulge in a game of trivia and solve mind-bending puzzles in the downtown area of the city. If you are traveling in a large group of up to 12 people, you can even enter a scavenger hunt tour here. Do note that drinks and food items are not provided on this three-hour tour. You can use your own phone to select a neighborhood in the city and start exploring after downloading the activity.
The meeting point for the tour is 110 E Pennington Street, and you will be returning to the same point after the tour is complete.
Tucson Puzzling Adventure
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
2. Explore 4th Avenue
The 4th Avenue in Downtown Tucson is a historic center of the city. When vacationing in or passing through this beautiful city, make sure to explore 4th Avenue and experience all the delights it has to offer. Moreover, the construction of the Fourth Avenue Underpass in 1916 turned the attraction into a commercial district, attracting tons of tourists.
Apart from seeing the historical attractions in the area, you can also enjoy exploring the various food and drink options available here. Also, find shopping outlets and tattoo parlors! Furthermore, attending the various events and festivals at 4th Avenue, including the Annual Winter Street Fairs, promises a wonderful time on your trip!
Explore 4th Avenue
Address: N 4th AveTucson, AZ 85705, USA
Website: Explore 4th Avenue
3. Learn how to rock-climb at Rocks & Ropes of Tucson, Inc
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Rocks & Ropes of Tucson, Inc is a huge indoor rock climbing facility in Downtown Tucson. The fully equipped and air-conditioned rock climbing center features many types of flat walls and boulders to cater to both beginners and experts. If you haven’t experienced rock climbing before, this is the perfect place for you to learn this exciting sport that combines balance, flexibility, strength, and problem solving—definitely a great cardio workout. Experts, on the other hand, will have a great time honing their skills on the challenging boulders.
The place also has a small studio on the second floor where experts teach yoga, meditation, and mat pilates.
Rocks & Ropes of Tucson, Inc
Address: 330 S Toole Ave #400, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Rocks & Ropes of Tucson, Inc
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6am - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 9:30am - 7pm
4. Play, create, and learn at Children's Museum Tucson
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Thinking about what to do in Downtown Tucson with your kids? Spend some quality time with your little ones at the Children’s Museum! The place features more than 11,000 square feet (1,021 square meters) of space dedicated to providing kids (and kids at heart) a super fun way to learn about many things such as science, math, history, culture, and the arts.
Aside from the interactive exhibits such as Bodyology, Techtopia, and Electri-City, this amazing place also offers some workshops that encourage kids to build and create from their wildest imagination.
Children's Museum Tucson
Address: 200 S 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Children’s Museum Tucson
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 8 USD (free admission for children under 1)
5. Admire the different collection of arts at Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
Tucson is rich in culture, art, and history. When you’re in the city and curious to know more about it, you can head over to Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, of the top Downtown Tucson attractions. Its vast art collection is a mixture of modern and contemporary. It has five houses where you can see Tucson’s history. It is conveniently located downtown so after a visit to this museum, your other attractions are a few minutes away.
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
Address: 140 N Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block
Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed from Mon - Wed)
Price: From 7 USD
6. Have fun at Get Air Trampoline Park
For the active ones, Get Air Trampoline Park is a place that offers fun Downtown Tucson activities you cannot skip. It is best to come with your friends or family when you visit. It is creatively designed with eye-catching neon colors. Enjoy jumping in the air on its enormous set of 20,000-square-feet (1,858-square-meter) trampolines. It is also not exclusive to trampolines as they have foam pits, a space for dodgeball, and a basketball hoop. Even if you come alone, you can get to meet co-jumpers during your visit.
Get Air Trampoline Park
Address: 330 S Toole Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Get Air Trampoline Park
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 10pm
7. Play life-size Jenga at Jacome Plaza
Who says you cannot work while enjoying the outdoors? Jacome Plaza is a place where you can hit two birds with one stone. Here, you can socialize with locals or fellow travelers in Tucson. There is free WiFi in the outdoor office area, so if you need to work on anything while outside, you can attend to it conveniently. If you are coming for the sole reason of meeting people, there are areas where you can sit and mingle with them. You can also bond over games such as Jenga, chess, ping pong, bean bag toss, and Connect Four.
Jacome Plaza
Address: 101 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Jacome Plaza
Opening hours: 6am - 10:30pm (daily)
8. Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at El Charro Café
Nothing beats a classic, so if you want to eat during your stay, you can pay El Charro Café a visit. The family behind the success of this restaurant is always ready to serve its customers with Mexican dishes in traditional and modern styles. This iconic restaurant offers a variety of dishes based on one’s diet and taste preference. One thing is for sure, if you crave Mexican food, you cannot be disappointed here.
El Charro Café
Address: 311 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: El Charro Café
Opening hours: 11am - 8pm (daily)
9. Light a candle and make a wish at El Tiradito Wishing Shrine
If you are of Christian faith, visiting El Tiradito Wishing Shrine can be a solemn experience for you. However, if you are not a believer but are open to learning religious customs, you can still come to pay respect. People come to this place to light a candle and make a wish. Some people opt to write their prayers on paper and leave these pieces in the shrine. While visiting, you may want to ask the locals about the urban legends about the shrine.
El Tiradito Wishing Shrine
Address: 418 S Main Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: El Tiradito Wishing Shrine
Opening hours: 6am - 10:30pm (daily)
10. Discover the history of Tucson at Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum
A place where you could learn about Tucson’s history is Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum. There is a recreation of Tucson Presidio, a fortress built by the Spanish in the 18th century. This museum can make you feel nostalgic with its exhibits that show the early life of the Native Americans. You can also see how the residents of Presidio lived. They perform re-enactments for a more demonstrative experience.
Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum
Address: 196 N Court Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum
Opening hours: Thu - Sun: 10am - 4pm (closed from Mon - Wed)
Price: 5 USD
11. Explore the mini garden at Alene Dunlap Smith Garden
Appreciate nature and art at the same time when you come to Alene Dunlap Smith Garden. This garden was built to honor Alene Dunlap Smith, who was a community leader in Tucson. The place is adorned by beautiful plants and trees. There are also sculptures in place to complement the greens. It can be a relaxing experience to just breathe in fresh air while you adore this peaceful garden.
Alene Dunlap Smith Garden
Address: 355 N Granada Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Alene Dunlap Smith Garden
Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)
12. See some old photographs at Etherton Gallery
If you are one of those people who appreciate photography, you can spend some leisure time at Etherton Gallery. Be amazed by their huge collection of photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries. Entrance is free, so no need to have second thoughts about coming even if you think you do not have an artistic eye. This gallery also features five exhibitions annually, so you may want to check out which would be on display on your visit. Terry Etherton, the gallery owner, is also available for consultation if you would like to learn more about photography.
Etherton Gallery
Address: 135 S 6th Ave B, Tucson, AZ 85701, United States
Website: Etherton Gallery
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 5pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
13. Have a glass of craft beer at Barrio Brewing Co.
If you’re of legal drinking age, you can try the beers at Barrio Brewing Co., a brewery established by the couple, Dennis and Tauna Arnold, after the success of their first brewery, Gentle Bens Brewing Company. Now one of the largest breweries in the state, Barrio Brewing serves a range of craft beers that are very much liked by the natives of Arizona. Pair it with the delicious food that they serve in their main taproom. Enjoy the beers, but drink responsibly.
Barrio Brewing Co.
Address: 800 E 16th St, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States
Website: Barrio Brewing Co.
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 11am - 9pm; Thu - Sat: 11am - 10pm
14. Challenge yourself with a quest scavenger hunt around Downtown (from USD 44.0)
Spice up your sightseeing experience by doing quests while exploring Downtown. This a new way of visiting places because you’d be looking forward to accomplishing tasks at each stop. Participating in a group of five can be ideal when playing this game. This quest is fully digital and accessible from any smartphone. Feel free to finish the challenges however you want in the span of three hours. Make sure your smartphone is fully charged to avoid any inconvenience during the quest. It is advisable to have enough supply of drinking water and something to eat. The tour requires walking for about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers), so make sure all participants are fit to join this activity.
Tucson: 3-Hour Urban Adventure Quest Scavenger Hunt
Duration: 3.0 hour
Explore the history of Downtown
A few days might not be enough to cover all the nice places in Downtown. You can visit other Spanish neighborhoods, better known as barrios, that also have their own history to tell. Do not forget to socialize with the locals to get first-hand information if you want to know more. Make your trip more memorable by exploring the top things to do in Downtown, Tucson.
History
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