This is an updated version of a story previously published in This is Tucson.
In what seems like the blink of an eye, Christmas has arrived.
If you are looking for places in town to take out-of-town guests for a family photo, here’s a list of some visually pleasing locations around Tucson for snapping pictures.
When choosing a spot, remember that taking a simple selfie is oftentimes easier than corralling a family of seven to a specific location with a professional photographer.
You should also be mindful of how many people you’re with, where you’re shooting photos and if your entire group will fit comfortably, allowing space for other community members to easily walk by you if you’re in public. If you’re hoping to take photos inside or in front of a private business or organization, call them ahead of time.
Obvious choice: saguaro backdrop
If you want something truly Tucson, the most obvious choice is a photo in front of our favorite giant cacti. Lucky for us, they’re all over the place.
Some suggestions:
Sabino Canyon Recreational Area.
Saguaro National Park East, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail — If you don’t want to trek for miles to get to your photo destination, try an easier hiking trail such as Mica View Trail within the park. It’s paved and less than a mile long, with beautiful views from the get-go.
Gates Pass at Tucson Mountain Park is a popular spot to go hiking and watch the sunset.
Tucson Mountain Park and Gates Pass, 7799 W. Gates Pass Road — Pro tip: Go during golden hour to set up your camera and snap away at sunset.
Sabino Canyon, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road — Walk as far into the hiking trails as you can handle, but you’ll find picturesque spots everywhere.
Hikers walk along the Douglas Spring Trail in Saguaro National Park East.
Striking murals are everywhere
If you’re looking for a mural that quite literally screams Tucson, try the “Greetings From Tucson” mural at 406 N. Sixth Ave.
The "Greetings from Tucson" mural at 406 N. Sixth Ave.
Four new murals throughout the downtown area were unveiled this summer to celebrate the founding of the Spanish presidio here 250 years ago, which is considered the birth of modern Tucson. The artists were Pen Macias, Ignacio Garcia, Joe Pagac and Camila Ibarra, and the murals are at: West Ochoa Street between Church and Stone; North Scott, just north of Pennington Street; North Church, just north of Congress Street; and Arizona Avenue, just south of Congress Street.
Share your love of Tucson food with Ashley White’s gastronomy mural at Zio Peppe, 6502 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Lalo Cota’s mural proves that saguaros are the heart of the desert. Find it at 3443 E. Speedway.
An admirer takes some cell phone images of Ignacio Garcia’s 2025 work in Arizona Alley at Congress Street, one of four murals commissioned downtown to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Tucson presidio’s founding.
Pro tip: Take the mural’s location into consideration before heading out. Some murals are very tall or on a busy street, making them hard to photograph. Depending on the mural you choose, it can be even trickier posing multiple people in front of it.
Go downtown and look around
Take a walk through Tucson’s downtown area and see what pops out at you.
Maybe pose in front of Old Town Artisans, the Historic Pima County Courthouse, in Armory Park, or atop a parking garage with tall buildings towering behind you. Maybe your favorite restaurant will allow you to take photos in front of their buildings.
The Old Pima County Courthouse downtown.
A scene in historic Barrio Viejo downtown.
There’s also Barrio Viejo, a historic neighborhood south of downtown with colorful homes and ghost art still lingering on some of the walls. People live in this neighborhood, so be respectful.
Show off your Wildcat pride
Head over to the University of Arizona campus to show some love to the Wildcats in your holiday photos.
The fountain in front of Old Main at the University of Arizona.
It’s probably a given that Old Main is one of the UA campus’ most iconic symbols. Other beautiful photo opportunities on campus include outside the Arizona State Museum and the rows of olive trees west of it, or outside Steward Observatory — especially if you’re a family that’s into astronomy.
The UA has a beautiful campus filled with stunning buildings. Photo ops abound.
Think outside the ordinary
Maybe you want to drift away from the Tucson scenery you see every day. If that’s the case, head to these spots:
Windy Point Vista on Mount Lemmon Highway in the Catalina Mountains.
Anywhere on Mount Lemmon — Windy Point Vista, hiking trails, picnic areas, Summerhaven, Rose Canyon Lake.
Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E. Roger Road, amid palm trees and water.
Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte, but check out their photo policies first to see where you might fit in.
Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, allows for personal photos, but commercial use isn’t allowed without written consent from the gardens.
Tip: You may need to pay admission fees to enter certain spots on this list.
The top stories from the Arizona Daily Star’s Caliente section for this week.
