Alamos, Mexico
Interlaken,
Switzerland
Kingston,
Canada
Marrakech,
Morocco
Cairns,
Australia
Haikou,
China
Uasin Gishu,
Kenya
Killarney,
Ireland
Our Sister Cities
Alamos
Sonora, Mexico
Alamos is a tranquil colonial city located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Sonora, Mexico. Visitors will enjoy learning about the history of this small silver mining town and how Pancho Villa’s influence saved Alamos from destruction in the 1900’s. Whether it be the arts, bird-watching, touring one of the many historic mansions that have been restored throughout the years, or simply taking in the splendor of romantic Old Mexico, it is sure to be a pleasure experiencing Alamos, a National Historic Monument since 2001 and our Sister City since 1969.
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Cairns
Queensland, Australia
Since 1987, Cairns has been our Sister City down under. Located near the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns offers visitors the opportunity to explore the beauty of the sea with boating, snorkeling or world-renowned Black Marlin fishing. With over 150,000 residents, Cairns has been named Australia’s most liveable regional center. Quite a modern city with the impressive glass-domed Reef Hotel Casino and new Convention Center, Cairns is spectacular!
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Kingston
Ontario, Canada
Kingston, Ontario, Canada became a Scottsdale Sister City in 1994. This historic city is strategically situated on the shores of the St. Lawrence Seaway Corridor and is known for its beautiful waterways. Visitors can sail from Kingston all the way to Montreal or Quebec City. By land, Kingston offers adventure and culture with numerous festivals, fine dining, theater and sports.
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Interlaken
Switzerland
Interlaken is located at the base of the majestic Swiss Alps between two glacier fed lakes. With a population of 6,000, Interlaken is a rare jewel offering tremendous beauty, as well as many activities such as skiing and snowboarding in the winter, and hiking, windsurfing, boating and golf in the summer. Take in spectacular views from the Top of Europe, Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. Scottsdale was proud to have signed Interlaken as its Sister City in 1999. Since that time Interlaken and Scottsdale have enjoyed an active high school exchange program.
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Haikou
Hainan, China
Haikou is located just south of mainland China in the South China Sea on the island of Hainan. Known for its beautiful, crystal clear waters and sandy beaches, Haikou is the perfect warm weather destination for winter visitors. In addition to historical sightseeing, the city offers extensive resorts, spas and golf, as well as windsurfing, sailing, and prized local cuisine. Haikou and Scottsdale signed a Sister City agreement in March 2010.
Marrakech
Morocco
With a population of nearly one million, Marrakech is the fourth largest city in Morocco and is a major tourist destination for many Europeans. Morocco is geographically the closest African nation to the U.S., and was the first country to recognize our independence in 1777. Founded nearly 1,000 years ago, Marrakech is a vibrant and exotic city, with its rose-colored earthen buildings, wealth of cultural monuments, and labyrinthine souks (markets). Marrakech became Scottsdale’s Sister City in January 2012.
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Uasin Gishu
Kenya
Uasin Gishu County, with its main city of Eldoret, is in the western part of Kenya. Located on a high plateau, with a cool and temperate climate, it has primarily an agricultural economy, featuring corn, wheat, passion fruit, oranges and dairy. Uasin Gishu is also famous for being the home of the world’s greatest male and female middle distance and long distance runners. Uasin Gishu became our Sister City in 2013.
Killarney
Ireland
Like Scottsdale, Killarney is a popular tourist destination. Located in southwest Ireland’s County Kerry, the town of 15,000 people is a gateway to the bucolic Killarney National Park, whose more than 100 square kilometers of countryside encompass lakes, mountains, castles and stately homes. It has charming architecture and style reminiscent of the late nineteenth century, with many narrow lanes that present great opportunities for shopping and dining. Outdoor activities include hiking, cyclery, fishing, rowing, rugby and golf. Its relationship with Scottsdale started in 2015, and we officially became Sister Cities in 2020.