Bests of Tampa Bay
The best beaches, best food, best free things to do and best day trips in Tampa Bay — sorted by category so you can jump straight to what you actually want. Book instantly below, or let a Tampa Bay travel specialist do the work for you.
Some travelers plan by neighborhood. Most just want to know: what’s the best beach, the best thing to do with kids, the best place to eat. This guide sorts Tampa Bay by category instead of by map, so you can skip straight to the list that matters for your trip. Browse and book the best things to do below (many at up to 50% off), or request free quotes from a Tampa Bay travel specialist.
Tampa Bay’s Best, By Category
Beaches
Clearwater Beach is the name everyone knows — wide, white sand and the nightly Pier 60 sunset celebration. St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island run the same stretch of Gulf coast with a quieter, more residential feel. For the best sand with the fewest people, Fort De Soto Park and the ferry-only Caladesi Island State Park are the two most consistently top-rated beaches in the entire bay.
Family Attractions
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay leads for thrill rides and animal encounters set in an African-themed park. The Florida Aquarium puts sharks, rays and a splash pad right on the downtown waterfront. ZooTampa at Lowry Park and the Glazer Children’s Museum round out a genuinely deep bench for family travel — few U.S. regions pack this many kid-focused attractions into one metro area.
Outdoor Adventures
Dolphin-watching cruises and deep-sea fishing charters run out of nearly every marina in the bay. Kayaking and paddleboarding through the mangrove trails at Weedon Island Preserve is the pick for a quieter, self-powered morning. Fort De Soto adds hiking trails on top of its beaches, and jet ski and parasailing operators cluster around Clearwater Beach for anyone who wants speed over scenery.
Historic & Cultural Sites
Ybor City, Tampa’s historic Cuban cigar district, is the bay’s most walkable slice of history — brick storefronts, cigar shops and the Columbia Restaurant, open since 1905. The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg holds the largest collection of Salvador Dalí’s work outside Spain. The restored Tampa Theatre, an ornate 1926 movie palace still screening films downtown, and the Henry B. Plant Museum, housed in the former Tampa Bay Hotel, both reward an hour of wandering.
Food & Drink
Bern’s Steak House in South Tampa, open since 1956 with a dessert room built from repurposed wine casks, is the meal Tampa Bay is best known for. The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is Florida’s oldest, still serving Cuban and Spanish classics. Sparkman Wharf and Armature Works have become the bay’s two best food-hall destinations, and Tampa’s craft brewery scene has grown fast enough to support its own weekend-long brewery tours.
Free Things to Do
The Tampa Riverwalk is free end to end and links Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to several of downtown’s best sights. Sunset at Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach is free and happens every night, rain or shine. St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park and downtown waterfront cost nothing to walk, and every public beach in the bay is free to set foot on — parking is the only real expense.
Day Trips
Tarpon Springs and its Greek sponge-diving docks sit at the north end of the bay, a genuine change of pace and an easy half-day out. Weeki Wachee Springs, home of the long-running live mermaid shows, is under an hour north. For something further afield, Anna Maria Island offers a slower, golf-cart-paced beach town well south of the bay’s busier stretches.
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Popular Attractions & Tourist Sites in Tampa Bay
Unique Tampa Bay Experiences
- Dolphin-watching cruises
- Kayaking & paddleboarding
- Jet ski & parasailing
- Deep-sea fishing charters
- Craft-brewery tours
- Theme-park thrills
- Spring-training baseball
- Sunset sailing on the Gulf
- Museum & culture hopping
- Shopping & dining tours
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Tampa Bay Travel — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best beach in Tampa Bay?
Clearwater Beach is the best-known, with broad sugar-white sand and the nightly Pier 60 sunset celebration. Fort De Soto Park and Caladesi Island State Park are the quieter, higher-rated picks for travelers who want fewer crowds.
What is the best free thing to do in Tampa Bay?
The Tampa Riverwalk is free to walk end to end and connects several of downtown’s best sights. Sunset at Pier 60 in Clearwater and an evening at St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Park are both free as well.
What are the top things to do in Tampa Bay?
Top experiences include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, The Florida Aquarium, Tampa Riverwalk. You can browse and book hundreds more Tampa Bay tours, attractions and activities — many at up to 50% off — right on this page.
How much can I save on Tampa Bay tours and attractions?
Smart Traveler travelers save up to 50% on Tampa Bay attractions, tours and activities through exclusive industry rates and long-standing partnerships.
When is the best time to visit Tampa Bay?
Tampa Bay is at its best from October through April — warm, dry Gulf-coast weather, spring-training baseball and festival season.
Can a travel specialist plan my whole Tampa Bay trip?
Yes. Beyond activities, our Tampa Bay travel specialists arrange flights, hotels, cruises and complete packages. Request up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes and compare.