Explore Tulsa - The University of Tulsa
Close Menu
Close Menu

Explore Tulsa

Welcome to Tulsa! With a population of 400,000, the City of Tulsa is a bustling center of commerce and industry that also enjoys a thriving arts community. Tulsa’s entertainment options include fine and performing arts, festivals, a water park, pro sports, biking and hiking trails, rivers and lakes.

City of Tulsa districts

  • Greenwood
  • Art Deco
  • Blue Dome
  • The Pearl
  • Tulsa Arts District
    • African American heritage and pride

      While Greenwood and its people suffered from decades of racism, today, this neighborhood is reawakening to a bright, self-made future of community well-being.

      Greenwood

    • Stylish wonder

      In downtown Tulsa, you'll be amazed to discover one of the country's highest concentrations of art deco architecture.

      Art Deco

    • Urban quirky

      On the edge of downtown, you'll find a little district alive with dining, nightlife, festivals and more.

      Blue Dome District

    • A real gem

      Enjoy the reawakening of one of Tulsa's oldest neighborhoods, just a stone's throw from downtown.

      The Pearl

    • Art for all!

      Just north of downtown, you'll find a feast of galleries, clubs, music venues, shops, restaurants and museums, including TU's Henry Zarrow Center for Art & Education.

      Tulsa Arts District

    Concert venues

    • Cain's Ballroom
    • BOK Center
    • Hard Rock Live
    • Tulsa Theater
    • River Spirit
      • The beat goes on

        Cain's is where Western Swing grew up. Today, bands and solo acts from near and far and of every genre play for enthusiastic crowds of music-hungry Tulsans.

        Cain's Ballroom

      • Rock the house!

        With over 19,000 seats, this modern, purpose-built indoor venue draws major recording stars from around the world.

        BOK Center

      • Not your granny's casino

        Head east of the city a few miles and you'll find a stylish hotel, casino and entertainment venue that draws acts both big and small.

        Hard Rock Live

      • Listen up!

        On the edge of the Arts District, this historic theater and convention hall has played host to all the greats — from Bob Dylan to Chet Atkins, Cindy Lauper to U2. Who will you see here?!

        Tulsa Theater

      • Nightlife unbound

        In addition to one of the largest gaming floors in Oklahoma, this luxurious resort boasts fine dining, great music and nationally touring comedians.

        River Spirit

      Area festivals

      • Mayfest
      • Oktoberfest
      • Juneteenth
      • Winterfest
      • Scotfest
      • Greek Festival
        • Art galore

          Join this annual springtime encounter with artists and artisans showcasing and selling their wares.

          Mayfest

        • Wilkommen!

          Ein prosit! You don't have to be German to get your lederhosen on and raise a stein at this much-loved annual festival.

          Oktoberfest

        • Freedom!

          Take part in Tulsa's vibrant celebration of this longest-running African American holiday, which marks the freeing of the last slaves in Texas in 1865.

          Tulsa Juneteenth

        • Tulsa's favorite holiday tradition

          Six weeks of outdoor ice skating, hot chocolate, music, twinkling lights -- get set for the holidays at this family-friendly gathering.

          Winterfest

        • Get yer kilt on!

          Whose blood doesn't thrill to the sound of bagpipes and the sight of brawny men tossing giant tree trunks through the air? Experience the wonders of Scottish and other Celtic cultures right here in Green Country!

          ScotFest

        • Opa!

          The world needs more Mediterranean everything. Here in Tulsa, we rely on this fabulous annual festival for amazing Greek food, drink and culture.

          Tulsa Greek Festival

        A Taste of Tulsa

        • Visit Tulsa Restaurants
        • Best of Tulsa Restaurants
        • Food Trucks
        • Route 66 Dining
          • Bon appétit!

            Tulsans love their foodie paradise. Whether it’s a local diner or an elegant bistro, discover your next favorite eatery.

            Visit Tulsa Restaurants

          • Hungry for awesomeness?

            From coffee shops to pizza joints, taquerias to where to find the most scrumptious garden burger, you’ll savor them all.

            Best of Tulsa Restaurants

          • Deliciousness on wheels

            Over the last five years, Tulsans have enjoyed a proliferation of food trucks — from soul food to vegan fare and good ol' BBQ, the city's rolling menus keep getting more amazing.

            Food Trucks

          • Mother Road mealtime

            A lot of people are aware of Route 66 as a historic highway linking Chicago to California. But here in Tulsa, our stretch of this storied road is also famous for just about every kind of dining experience you could imagine.

            Mother Road Market

          Nature

          • Oxley Nature Center
          • Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
          • Turkey Mountain
          • Tulsa Zoo
          • Oklahoma Aquarium
            • Tranquility now

              Melt your stress away to the sound of birdsong amidst a lush, natural oasis just a few minutes north of the city.

              Oxley Nature Center

            • Roaming wild

              With 2,500 free-range bison, the 39,650-acre Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is the largest protected piece of tallgrass prairie left on earth.

              Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

            • Step on out!

              Part of Tulsa's River Parks system, Turkey Mountain is a haven for hikers, mountain bikers and those just seeking a dose of calm on the edge of the city.

              Turkey Mountain

            • Meet the animals

              Located in Mohawk Park, Tulsa Zoo is an 85-acre environment intended to educate the public about wildlife and conservation.

              Tulsa Zoo

            • Something fishy

              Dive into the largest aquarium attraction in the four-state area.

              Oklahoma Aquarium

            Tulsa's Performing Arts

            • Tulsa Performing Arts Center
            • Tulsa Ballet
            • Tulsa Opera
            • Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
            • Theatre Tulsa
              • It's show time!

                Ever since it opened in 1977 with a performance by jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald, the Tulsa PAC has enriched our city's cultural life with an array of top-flight music and theater.

                Tulsa Performing Arts Center

              • Bodies in motion

                Let your spirit soar with outstanding ballet performances. Then further your love of the art by enrolling in a class at the Center for Dance Education!

                Tulsa Ballet

              • Bravissimi

                Oklahoma's first performing arts organization continues to enchant audiences by staging bold, brave and brilliant productions of opera classics.

                Tulsa Opera

              • All the notes

                Tulsa's professional orchestra inspires, entertains and educates audiences across the city and region through excellence in classical music.

                Tulsa Symphony Orchestra

              • The play's the thing

                Homegrown theatre delivered according to professional standards for over a century — book your ticket to the magic of live performance today.

                Theatre Tulsa

              Museums

              • Gilcrease Museum
              • Philbrook
              • Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium
              • Bob Dylan Center
              • Woody Guthrie Center
              • Outsiders House Museum
                • Come explore with us

                  Beyond the beautiful grounds and gardens, Gilcrease houses a comprehensive collection of the art, culture and history of North America — from thousands of years of Indigenous material culture to 350 years of American paintings, sculptures and works on paper.

                  Gilcrease Museum

                • Artistic oasis

                  Housed in one of Tulsa's most ornate 1920s mansions and set within acres of Italianate gardens, the Philbrook is your destination for inspiring art and exhibitions.

                  Philbrook

                • We have liftoff!

                  Discover historical exhibits, hands-on activities for all ages and vintage aircraft at this astonishing aerospace museum. Then check out the full-dome planetarium for a glimpse of the cosmos beyond!

                  Tulsa Air & Space Museum

                • Bard power

                  Opened in spring 2022, this center showcases the life and works of one of the United States' most respected, prolific and influential singer-songwriters.

                  Bob Dylan Center

                • Made for you and me

                  Immerse yourself in the life, mind and music of Wood Guthrie — beloved Oklahoma-born folk singer, songwriter and rabble-rouser!

                  Woody Guthrie Center

                • Stay gold!

                  Fans of Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders now have their very own pilgrimage site, preserving one of the main locations and oodles of memorabilia of that classic and beloved Tulsa film.

                  Outsiders House

                Local professional teams

                • Baseball
                • Hockey
                • Basketball
                • Soccer
                • BMX
                  • Take you out to the ballgame

                    Buy some peanuts and Cracker Jacks and settle in to watch the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A affiliate of the National League's Los Angeles Dodgers.

                    Drillers Baseball

                  • Shoot and score!

                    Roar with the crowd as you cheer on the Tulsa Oilers, our city's powerhouse ice hockey team!

                    Tulsa Oilers

                  • Thunderous applause

                    Catch a game with NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder — just an hour and a half away down the turnpike.

                    OKC Thunder

                  • The beautiful game

                    Few evenings are more enjoyable than those spent at ONEOK Field and watching FC Tulsa trounce their competition.

                    FC Tulsa

                  • Two wheels in flight

                    Visit the Hardesty National BMX Stadium, the ultimate BMX facility in the U.S. and home of USA BMX and USA Cycling's Olympic BMX Training Center.

                    National BMX Stadium

                  Shopping

                  • Utica Square
                  • Brookside
                  • Woodland Hills Mall
                  • Boxyard
                  • Cherry Street
                    • Elegant and welcoming

                      Tulsa's oldest outdoor shopping plaza is an inviting oasis of independent boutiques and restaurants plus major retailers, all under a canopy of stately magnolias and festooned with vibrant flower beds.

                      Utica Square

                    • Urban pulse

                      This strip of Peoria Avenue hums with energy. It's a great place to dine with friends or nestle in with a book at your favorite coffee shop.

                      Brookside

                    • Retailing abundance

                      Plan at least half a day to wander the bright spaces of this mall, featuring over 140 stores — from anchors like JCPenney and Dillard's to favorites like Gap, J. Crew and American Eagle.

                      Woodland Hills

                    • Beyond the box

                      Hang out with your friends in this unique environment inspired by London but utterly Oklahoman.

                      Boxyard

                    • Independent spirits

                      Imagine six blocks of vintage Tulsa chock full of independent shops, bistros, pubs and coffee shops. We all need more Cherry Street!

                      Cherry Street

                    Recreation and fitness

                    • The Gathering Place
                    • River Parks
                    • Climbing
                    • Guthrie Green
                      • A day at the park

                        Tulsans come together to explore, learn and play at the Gathering Place, a nearly 70-acre riverside park that offers outdoor fun for all ages and abilities.

                        The Gathering Place

                      • Down by the riverside

                        Explore trails for pedestrians and cyclists, plus seasonal enjoyment of rowing, kayaking, disc golf, the Sand Bar restaurant and an outdoor café.

                        River Parks

                      • Rock your world

                        With more than 20,000 square feet of climbing walls, Tulsans easily break a sweat with this challenging fitness activity.

                        Climb Tulsa

                      • Exercising on the green

                        Reach for the sky in the middle of the Arts District, with classes like boot camp, zumba and yoga.

                        Guthrie Green