Need an offbeat desert escape filled with history and art? Head to Bisbee! Once a booming copper-mining town, Bisbee is now a quirky mountain retreat known for its Victorian architecture, artist studios, and haunted hotels. Whether you’re descending into an old mine, sipping coffee in a restored saloon, or hunting for vintage treasures, Bisbee is a colorful gem in southern Arizona.
Bisbee, AZ Highlights:
- For Adventurous Travelers: Take the Queen Mine Tour – Ride a train deep into a historic copper mine with real hard hats and lanterns.
- For History Buffs: Explore the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum – Learn how copper built the town through immersive exhibits and artifacts.
- For Shoppers: Browse art and antiques along Main Street – Find handmade jewelry, retro goods, and one-of-a-kind items in cozy shops and galleries.
- For Couples: Stay at the Copper Queen Hotel and enjoy ghost stories under the stars – Romantic, historic, and rumored to be haunted.
- For Families: Hike the Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb Route – A self-guided walk up Bisbee’s unique outdoor staircases with sweeping mountain views.
When I like to visit Bisbee, AZ
The best time to visit Bisbee is from October to April, when mild desert temperatures make it perfect for walking tours, gallery visits, and outdoor cafes. Summers are hotter but still cooler than the desert valleys due to Bisbee’s higher elevation.
Tips for getting to Bisbee, AZ
- If you are traveling by car: Bisbee is located off AZ-80, about 1.5 hours southeast of Tucson and 30 minutes from the Mexican border at Naco.
- By Air: The nearest airport is Tucson International Airport (TUS), about 1 hour and 45 minutes away.
- By Bus: Limited shuttle and bus service is available from Tucson; driving is recommended for flexibility.
Where I like to stay in Bisbee, AZ
- Copper Queen Hotel – Historic, haunted, and full of Old West charm in the heart of downtown.
- The Shady Dell – Stay in restored vintage trailers for a retro 1950s experience.
- Letson Loft Hotel – Upscale, stylish hotel with exposed brick and boutique amenities in a restored 1880s building.
Best Things to Do in Bisbee, AZ
1. Tour the Copper Queen Mine
The Copper Queen Mine is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the charming town of Bisbee, Arizona. At the turn of 20th century, it was the most productive copper mine in all of Cochise County. Its rapid development quickly brought thousands of miners and in 1880s led to the growth of the nearby town of Bisbee. Although copper mining declined in the 1930s, the Copper Queen continued to be exploited from its open pit after World War II. It was finally closed in 1985. Today, groups of tourists can take a tour of the famous mine, going deep into the belly of the mountain to try to experience the efforts and hardships old miners endured to get the copper out.
Address: 478 N Dart Rd, Bisbee, AZ 85603, Phone: 520-432-2071
2. See an exhibit at the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum
The Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum is a small local museum that tells the story of the once thriving mining town of Bisbee through fascinating exhibits of artifacts, photographs, tools, and everyday objects. The museum is located in the former headquarters of the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company in downtown Bisbee. The museum is an affiliate of the renowned Smithsonian Institution. The museum’s permanent exhibit, known as “Bisbee: Urban Outpost on the Frontier,” describes the first 40 years of Bisbee, a city built by copper. The exhibit portraits copper mining as it was experienced in Bisbee. The museum, with the help of the Smithsonian, often organizes temporary exhibits combining art and history.
Address: 5 Copper Queen Plz, Bisbee, AZ 85603, Phone: 520-432-7071
3. Visit the Lavender Pit
The Lavender Pit was part of the massive Copper Queen Mine, which was run by the Phelps Dodge Corporation from 1879 to 1975. In 1951 the manager of the Copper Queen Branch of Phelps Dodge, Harrison Lavender, determined that an open pit mine would be a more economical way to increase the ever decreasing copper yield. The Lavender Pit was exploited in 50-foot long shelves or benches blasted to a 60-foot depth. Every blast would break 75,000 tons of rock every afternoon. In 1975 the prices of copper dropped and even open pit mining was no longer economical, so the Lavender Pit was closed. Today, it is visited by hundreds of tourists, who can observe the giant 300-acre hole in the ground from a series of platforms built along the rim of the pit.
Address: Highway 80, Bisbee, AZ 85603
4. Go on a guided tour of The Muheim Heritage House Museum
The Muheim Heritage House Museum is located in a former home of Joseph and Carmelita Muheim, which was completed in 1915. This lovely pioneer home sits on a hill overlooking Old Bisbee and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and homes on Brewery Gulch. The home is a fine example of late 19th century architecture and has been carefully restored to its original look and furnished with original period furniture. The house is a Registered National Historic site. Visitors are offered an informative narrated guided tour and the house is available for rent for special events such as weddings, celebrations, and other events.
Address: 207 Youngblood Hill Ave # B, Bisbee, AZ 85603, Phone: 520-432-7698
5. Step back in time at the Bisbee Restoration Museum
The Bisbee Restoration Museum is a free museum occupying the Fair Store building located on historic Bisbee's Main Street. The museum has three stories of galleries that hold a number of items portraying the early history of mining and ranching in Bisbee. The gallery is run by volunteers. All historic artifacts have been donated by Bisbee residents, from a copper high school diploma to a large collection of textiles that includes exquisite quilts, lavish wedding dresses, and the equipment once used to make them. The museum is a wonderful place to get the feel of life in Bisbee during its mining heyday. There is a small gift shop on the main floor.
Address: 37 Main St, Bisbee, AZ 85603, Phone: 520-249-5742
6. Visit Erie Street
Lowell, Arizona, was a small mining town that was incorporated into Bisbee in the early 1900s. Most of the town’s residential area was torn down to increase the space available for an open pit copper mine. After most of the city residents were gone, the town’s commercial district could not survive and many businesses closed, leaving a ghost town with only Erie Street, which today attracts tourists with its curiosities such as a Harley Davidson repair shop, a defunct gas pump, rusting cars, trucks, an old Greyhound bus, and a department store called Sprouse Reitz Co., with a few appliances and a pile of manikin parts. Erie Street is continually maintained and restored by Bisbee’s passionate residents, who want visitors to get the feel of a different America. There is even a working Bisbee Breakfast Club, famous for its excellent huevos rancheros.
Address: 72 Erie St., Bisbee, AZ 85603
Where I Like to Eat in Bisbee, AZ
- Screaming Banshee Pizza – Wood-fired pizzas, funky decor, and great cocktails.
- Café Roka – Elegant four-course meals featuring local ingredients and seasonal menus.
- Bisbee Breakfast Club – Hearty breakfasts and lunch favorites in a quirky, vintage diner setting.
My favorite local events:
- Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb (October) – A unique race up nine sets of historic stairs with live music and costumes.
- Bisbee Pride (June) – A lively weekend celebrating LGBTQ+ community with parades, performances, and parties.
- Bisbee After 5 Art Walk (Monthly) – Galleries stay open late with music, wine, and meet-the-artist events.
My favorite day trips within 30 Minutes of Bisbee, Arizona:
- Tombstone (30 min) – Walk the legendary streets of the Wild West, visit the OK Corral, and catch a gunfight reenactment.
- Douglas (25–30 min) – Historic border town with architecture, murals, and the iconic Gadsden Hotel.
- Naco, AZ/Mexico (20 min) – Small, quiet border crossing perfect for a quick international detour.
- Mule Pass Tunnel (15 min) – Scenic drive through the Mule Mountains with stunning views on both sides.
- Warren Ballpark (10 min) – One of America’s oldest baseball stadiums still in use, open for self-guided visits.
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