The University of Arizona is a public research university located in Tucson, Arizona in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Close to 30,000 undergraduates call the 380 acres home, proud to be part of the Wildcat family. The heart of campus is Old Main, UA’s oldest building, on the National Register of Historic Places, where classes began back in 1891. The University of Arizona is recognized for its quality programs in engineering, medicine, and education.

Visitor Information: Register in advance for your Campus Ambassador Tour

Transportation: The closest airport to the University of Arizona is Tucson International Airport, 9 miles from the campus. Many families choose to fly into one of the two airports in the Phoenix metro area. The two airports options in Phoenix are Phoenix Sky Harbor and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, both approximately two hours away. Amtrak rail services and Greyhound bus services both serve Tucson. If arriving to Tucson via Amtrak or Greyhound you may take a taxi or the Sun Tran bus or light rail to the campus. The University of Arizona is located about two miles from both the Amtrak and Greyhound stations.

Stay: Located adjacent to campus book a room at The Aloft Tucson University. The Tucson University Park Hotel (formerly the Marriott) is within walking distance.  One mile from UA, check into the Best Western Royal Sun Inn. For a special stay, reserve one of the casita-style rooms at the historic and charming Arizona Inn, close to the university.

Coffee: Cartel Coffee, founded by a Tucson native, now has six locations across Arizona, known for excellent crafted coffee. The Campbell Avenue branch caters to students from AU. On campus, get your caffeine fix at Starbucks, Espresso Art Café or Caffe Luce.

Breakfast:  Rushing for the tour grab a bagel at Einstein Bros Bagels in the Student Union. The Welcome Diner replaced beloved institution Chaffins and has quickly become a new local favorite for comfort food with Southwestern and Cajun-Creole influences. The University crowd heads to The B Line for homemade pancakes, granola and breakfast burritos. (Later in the day students come for fish tacos, tortilla soup or veggie burritos.) Students and parents rave about breakfast at Prep & Pastry.

Lunch:  For a quick meal after your visit and to see students in action head to the Student Union for fresh wraps from IQ Fresh or Mexican fare at Sabor. Other student favorites at the Union include Cactus Grill, On Deck Deli or Chick-fil-A. Off-campus students love to get their fix of pizza, salads, and pasta at Sauce. Go hungry to Sushi Garden, where it’s all you can eat sushi for $22 or enjoy the Japanese buffet for $10. With over 20 different flavors to choose from enjoy gourmet tamales at Tucson Tamale Company—highly recommended. If you’re in the mood for wood-fired pizza, head to Time Market.

 Dinner:

Casual: You have to try a Sonoran hot dog, the local food craze, when you’re in town and one of the best is at BK Tacos, also known for their carne asada. Head to Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ for killer brisket served in a cool industrial space. Mexican food reigns in Tucson, and nowhere is more talked about than El Charro Café, a Tucson institution, and the oldest family-owned restaurant in the United States. Try the Carne Seca or their famous chimichangas. Their new restaurant, Charro Steak is fast becoming a local favorite. Another local pick Cafe Poca Cosa is a hip Mexican bistro. For street style tacos and elevated Mexican bites, everyone talks about Blanco Tacos and Tequila.

A Step Up: Downtown Kitchen showcases dishes with a global influence from a James Beard award-winning chef with a fun, lively atmosphere. Maynards Market and Kitchen, a gourmet met shop by day with a takeaway counter, casual eatery and bar transforms into a dinner venue at night--all in a historic railway depot downtown. Embrace the cowboy in you at Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse and Saloon, serving Tucson steaks, ribs, and burgers for over 50 years.  serves melt in your mouth sushi.

Late Night Eats or Sweets: Satisfy your sweet tooth at Frost Gelato. Taco Shop is open 24 hours; students come hungry after the bars close. In N' Out Burger is a California based chain with a cult following, open late till 1:00 am.

 Local Attractions: Experience the culture of the American Southwest at the Arizona State Museum, the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the region. We’ve heard great things about the Pink Floyd show at the UA Planetarium. View American and European fine art at the University of Arizona Museum of Art or visit the unique Desert Museum, a fusion experience of zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium. The UA campus is itself considered an Arboretum with a unique collection of shrubs, trees, and plants from all around the world. Download a self-guided mobile tour before your arrival. Photography fans make time for a stop at the Center for Creative Photography, with an impressive collection of prominent name 20th-century photographers such as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Garry Winogrand. Just north of Tucson, enter a world under glass at The Biosphere 2, housing seven model ecosystems. Want to be active? Put on your sneakers and head to Sabino Canyon for a hike.