Tucson hotels

This family-owned, landmark hotel dates back nearly a century, so if you want to take a step back in time without missing out on modern comforts, this is the ideal hotel in Tucson to do so. You’ll feel right at home at the Arizona Inn, thanks to its historic library and sunny on-site gardens, complete with tinkling fountains and manicured plants.

The hotel was founded in 1930 by Isabella Greenway, Arizona’s first congresswoman. Its casita-style rooms come with inviting amenities like fireplaces, stately furniture and cozy patios.

Summer in Arizona brings major desert heat, but you can cool off in the outdoor pool, which also comes with one major perk both my toddler and I love: the seasonal ice cream sundae bar, ideal for adults and children alike. Arizona Inn also has tennis courts and loaner bikes, if you’re looking to explore the surrounding Midtown Tucson area.

One of the best hotels in Tucson, Leo Kent is located in a high-rise in the downtown area, a hub for art, culture and some of the city’s finest restaurants. It’s one of the top fancy hotels in Tucson—you’ll immediately notice the sophisticated wood floors, leather furniture and contemporary chandeliers—but still retains a Southwest feel, thanks to details like cactus plants and Arizonian art.

Named after Dr. Leo Kent, a local medical professional who was dedicated to helping his community in the 1950’s, this particular hotel is ideal for anyone who wants to explore the downtown culinary scene (starting with the hotel’s very own St. Cruz Restaurant).

This hotel is one of my favourite spots when I’m visiting Tucson with friends. I’ll hit the downtown restaurants, then come back and relax in my Southwest-inspired room, complete with green leather headboard, cowhide-covered chairs and geometric zigzag carpet.

For those who want to be as close as possible to the University of Arizona campus, the Adobe Rose Inn is one of the best boutique hotels in Tucson. Another hotel on this list that dates back nearly a century, this spot is in the Sam Hughes neighbourhood, a national historic district.

Technically a bed-and-breakfast, I stay here when I need some alone time, as the property only has six guestrooms and what feels like your own private pool (even though it’s shared with all the other guests).

It’s the little details that make a stay at this top-rated hotel in Tucson extra special. Each room is different, but all have a chiminea-style gas fireplace and a writing desk that inspires penning postcards to your loved ones or finally starting that novel. Some rooms feature tiled soaking tubs or private balconies. I particularly love wandering the property to admire the original art and blooming flowers.

Set at the foot of Ventana Canyon, the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is one of the best hotels in Tucson for views—they’re so stunning you won’t want to leave. And you don’t really have to, as the hotel has two pools, four tennis courts and five restaurants. I suggest you park yourself at Flying V Bar and Grill for a sunset meal, as the restaurant overlooks a tranquil lake and greenery backed by craggy peaks.

This hotel’s vistas aren’t just limited to the shared spaces. I recommend booking a skyline/mountain view room, which have floor-to-ceiling glass doors that offer sweeping panoramas of the nearby mountains or Tucson expanse.

Although I love visiting with my son thanks to the Loews Little Legends program, which teaches kids about the local flora and fauna, this is also one of the best hotels in Tucson for golfers, who can play on the hotel’s two courses.

Yet another of the best hotels in Tucson that’s nearly 100 years old, Hacienda del Sol encourages connection with the Sonoran Desert, one of the most complex landscapes on the continent. The hotel’s guestrooms and casitas combine indoor and outdoor living with patios that look over the desert and mountains. Hacienda lets you experience these natural wonders first-hand without sacrificing luxury (it was formerly a vacation hotspot for America’s elite, like the Vanderbilts and Clark Gable).

My favourite aspect of this particular hotel is that it has numerous pools and hot tubs, which is exactly what you need after a brisk nature walk or history tour, both of which the hotel offers for free to guests. You can even visit the on-site garden, which is where the hotel’s restaurants source their ingredients.

If you’d rather be closer to the suburban foothills of Oro Valley than downtown Tucson, opt for a stay at Omni Tucson National Resort. This is one of the best hotels in Tucson if you’re looking for a resort feel, complete with two golf courses and a spa.

You can also participate in a variety of activities, like sound healings, tequila tastings, live music, movie sessions and trivia nights. The Spanish-style casitas, guestrooms and suites have a decidedly Southwest appeal, with exposed wood beams, colourful textiles and private patios.

Guests have access to the outdoor pool, but for an extra luxurious experience, I suggest renting a private cabana. Here, I love to relax on a shaded lounger, shutting the curtains for an afternoon snooze and turning on the ceiling fan if it gets hot. Afterwards, I’ll admire the Catalina Mountains from the Sweet Water Terrace, cocktail in hand.

Sometimes, I go to Tucson to immerse myself in nature—and that means cacti. When you roll up to the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass, flanked by saguaros and rocky peaks, that’s just what you’ll find.

One of the best hotels in Tucson for admiring the Sonoran Desert’s most famous succulent, many of the guestrooms at this JW Marriott overlook dozens, even hundreds, of saguaros. You can also view them from the hotel’s lazy river, waterslide or pools.

The sunsets are pretty iconic here, as this hotel sits on the edge of Saguaro National Park West. The best spot to enjoy them is next to a fire pit or chiminea at Salud, the hotel’s Mexican restaurant. It also has a Starbucks for when you need a quick caffeine fix after a mountain hike, bike ride or day out on one of the resort's three golf courses.

This former hacienda-turned-resort is one of the top hotels in Tucson for outdoor enthusiasts. When I stay here, I usually play pickleball or tennis on one of the hotel’s courts, go horseback riding and hike the nearby Sabino Canyon. Its yellow adobe casitas shine under the Tucson sun, surrounded by desert plants and scrub.

It’s also one of the best hotels in Tucson for relaxation. The resort offers activities like sound healing meditations, bird watching and stargazing, three peaceful pools and the Sonoran Spa. If it’s not too hot, I love getting a massage outdoors to the sounds of the desert and then wandering the hotel’s wellness garden. My favourite treatment is the Garden Ritual, where therapists use herbs from the aforementioned garden in a scrub, followed by a relaxing massage.

The best hotel in Tucson to live out your dude ranch dreams, Tanque Verde Ranch is the perfect way to experience the Wild West in all its glory. I recommend this resort for anyone who wants to personalize their accommodation needs—you can book an all-inclusive rate to enjoy things like meals, horseback riding, nature hikes, yoga, archery and more, or enjoy a breakfast package so you can explore Tucson at your leisure.

I prefer staying here when I’m in the mood to get active, since there’s so much to do and see on this resort’s activity calendar. The Santa Fe adobe-style casitas overlook Saguaro National Park East, with rustic, cozy interiors that bring the feeling of the infinite desert landscape into the space, complete with fireplaces, wood beam ceilings, clay pots and Indigenous patterned textiles.

Inspired by the nearby University of Arizona campus, The Graduate is one of the best hotels in Tucson if you want to be right in the middle of the action. It’s close to downtown, the university and all the fun. The funky rooms always perk me up after a long flight or day of travelling.

They feature kitschy patterns, bright colours and quirky decor (yes, those are squirrels on the curtains, and some beds are made to look like teepees). But the place to be at this hotel is the 14th-floor rooftop bar, The Moonstone, which provides stellar city and mountain views.

Many resorts offer up close and personal views of the desert, but I adore the entire Tucson 360 vista, as the city is flanked by mountain ranges on all four sides. Hang here for cocktails or go for a dip in the rooftop pool.