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Frommer’s, a well-established travel guide publisher that’s shared guides for destinations worldwide, offering practical tips and itineraries, just tossed Tucson on its list of “Best Places to Go in 2025.”
Tucson is named among other destinations around the globe including Madagascar, Bolivia, Crete, Greece, and Slovenia, which is about the size of Massachusetts, allowing folks to “crisscross the Eastern European country easily.”
However, Tucson, a city that’s turning 250 years old next year and known for its culture and historic architecture, is also one of the best places to visit because of its outstanding food scene.
Gregory McNamee, who wrote the guide to Arizona and the Grand Canyon for Frommer’s, had the following to say about our beloved city in the Southwest:
“In 2025, Tucson turns 250 years old, which is one year older than the United States. The city is planning commemorations of all sorts for every month of the year, culminating in a grand pachanga (a party, in the Spanish spoken here) with plenty of dancing to the sounds of traditional Mexican music, on August 23 at the Presidio de San Agustin in the heart of historic downtown. An official calendar has been created to keep track of all the happenings, and more events will be added throughout the year.
“A few Tucson celebrations involve another anniversary: A decade ago, Tucson became the first U.S. city to be named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, an honor recognizing the 4,000 years of food culture here (the land was originally settled by farmers known as the O’odham people), and today’s rich mix of Mexican and Native American culinary traditions.
“In September, Sonoran Restaurant Week brings specially priced meals to restaurants across the city; October 3 – 6 is the 51st Tucson Meet Yourself (pictured above), a festival with dozens of food stands and trucks representing every corner of the world. For a schedule of culinary events throughout 2025 — and there’ll be many, including mid-April’s Indigenous-themed Pueblos del Maíz (Peoples of Corn) Festival — visit TucsonFoodie.com for the full rundown.”
Hey, thanks for the shoutout, McNammee!
If you’re new to Tucson’s culinary scene, check out a few of our interactive guides.
It was founded in 1957 by Arthur Frommer, whose book Europe on 5 Dollars a Day became a groundbreaking resource for budget-conscious travelers, making international travel accessible to many. Frommer’s began as a personal project while Arthur was stationed in Europe as a soldier. His initial guidebook, The G.I.’s Guide to Traveling in Europe, gained popularity and evolved into a broader series of travel guides.
Arthur passed away on November 18 of this year at the age of 95 — at home and surrounded by loved ones.
Read the full “Best Places to Go in 2025 at frommers.com.
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