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Tucson Ranked Top 25 for Places to Travel in 2025 by the BBC

Mia Payette, Editor

February 24, 2025

Among the lush landscapes of Dominica, the icy acres of Greenland, and the bubblegum pink lakes of Western Australia, Tucson is ranked number 7 in the 25 best places to travel in 2025 according to journalists at the BBC. Just days before, Tucson also had 6 delectable restaurants make the Top 100 U.S. Restaurants 2025 list on Yelp.

The BBC chose the top 25 destinations based on the following: “Each of these 25 spots is not only welcoming visitors and offering incredible travel experiences, but also using tourism to support local communities, protect the environment or preserve their unique cultural heritage. We compiled the list with input from BBC Travel journalists and some of the world’s leading sustainable travel authorities, such as the United Nations World Travel Organization, Sustainable Travel International, the Black Travel Alliance, and the World Travel & Tourism Council.”

Tucson, which used to be a part of Mexico, is known for its landscapes, culture, and cuisine, and the BBC highlighted just that, starting with the mention of the 10-year anniversary of Tucson becoming the first city in the U.S. to receive a UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation. This year is also the 250th anniversary of the city’s founding, and they also mentioned a free event at the Presidio San Augustin Del Tucson that will feature traditional Mexican music and dancing.

While food and culture play a big role in the city, the history and nature make Tucson truly unique. Tucson is home to a multitude of mountains, as well as the Saguaro National Park, which is home to many hiking trails, something the BBC recognized. The 250-year-old San Xavier Del Bac Mission is one of many historic buildings in Tucson, but one of the most unique. The efforts and preservation of keeping this building in the desert haven’t gone unnoticed and are part of why Tucson is set to receive a Sustainability Index Award from the Global Destination Sustainability Movement this year.

Aside from the iconic building that most Tucsonans know, the nearby gardens were given light in the article. Cindy Aguilar, the senior communications director from Visit Tucson, said in an article for KGUN9, “We have Mission Garden…which is the oldest continually cultivated land in North America. Food has been grown there for over 4,000 years, and so I think that’s a great testament as to our sustainability efforts.”

Finally, the article mentioned the “unique food scene,” which can be found at one of Tucson’s, “city-of-gastronomy-certified restaurants or Heirloom Farmers Markets.” Along with recognizing the city’s food scene, the 6 Tucson restaurants recognized by Yelp were the Baja Cafe at 34, Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe at 38, La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood at 41, Tito & Pep at 56, Penelope at 65, and the Parish at 69 (3 of which are on the east side!).

Yelp said, “To determine Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025, Yelp’s data science team starts by using the data generated from our community submissions. We considered both the rating and the volume of the reviews while accounting for the overall restaurant activity in each business area. From the candidate restaurants, we narrowed the list down with the expertise of our community managers and Trend Expert to curate a list as quirky, interesting, and unique as the Yelp community itself.”

Tucson is a complex city with layers of culture, food, and history. Next time you get the chance to spend time in Tucson, or if you’re looking for something to do this weekend, take a look at and dive into the local businesses, and events that are happening around you!

About the Contributor

Mia Payette, Editor

Mia Payette is a senior, and she's ready to make this year her best one yet. To help her achieve this goal, she's involved herself in many clubs and programs. Some of her roles include running social media for Sahuaro's Book Club (@Sahuaro_bookworms on IG), Link Crew leader, editor for The Paper Cut, and drum major for the marching band. For the past 8 years, Mia has put her heart and soul into band, and this year is no exception. Joining The Paper Cut last year solidified her decision to pursue journalism. More specifically, she wants to be a sports journalist, something she discovered she is passionate about last year. Outside of Mia's Cougar spirit, she loves to read, craft, take photos, and hangout with her friends and family. She's always up for an adventure and likes to be anywhere as long as the people she loves are with her. Her camera contains over 10,000 photos, and as the self-proclaimed photographer friend, the subjects of her photos are mostly her friends, family, and the places she goes. Mia is a nostalgic person, and taking photos helps her remember where she was at that exact moment in time.