Tanah Datar has several tourist attractions including the Pagaruyung Palace (Istano Pagaruyuang) with its museum, Sanskrit and Malay language stone inscriptions from the 14th century, several sites with megaliths (batu tagak), and the village Pandai Sikat (Pandai Sikek), where the traditional songket (kain balapak) is woven.

[7] In general, the climate in Tanah Datar Regency is moderate with temperatures between 12 °C–25 °C with an average rainfall of more than 3,000 mm per year.

Likewise, community businesses in other sectors are also based on agriculture such as tourism and small industry or agro-industry.

Tanah Datar Regency has the potential of almost all agricultural sectors except cloves, tobacco, spinach, and pepper.

Historical tourist attractions in Tanah Datar Regency include the Pagaruyung Palace (Istano Basa Pagaruyuang), Balai Ruang Sari [id], Puncak Pato, Adityawarman Inscription (Prasasti Adityawarman), Angkek-angkek Stone [id] (Batu Angkek-angkek), Balimbing Tower House [id; min] (Rumah Gadang Balimbing), Waterwheel, Basurek Stone [min] (Batu Basurek), Pariangan Old Village (Nagari Tuo Pariangan), Fort van der Capellen, Batikam Stone (Batu Batikam), and King Palace (Istano Rajo).

Meanwhile, for natural and cultural tourism in Tanah Datar Regency, there are Anai Valley, Tabek Pateh Panorama, Pariangan Village, Singkarak Lake, Batu Patah Hill, and Ngalau Pangian.