Tampa – All the Info for a Trip to the Vibrant City
The city of Tampa is the largest urban center of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. It boasts a picturesque downtown filled with a plethora of museums and interesting sites. Tampa's neighborhoods are equally attractive, offering great dining and entertainment zones, like Ybor City, SoHo Tampa, and Tampa Heights. The large theme park, Busch Gardens of SeaWorld, offers a taste of Orlando in Tampa, being a popular spot for family fun without the need to drive two hours to Disney World.
How much time do you need for a trip to Tampa?
It's recommended to dedicate a full day for a trip to Tampa (without going to St. Petersburg and Clearwater). For the Busch Gardens theme park, it's best to allocate half a day separately. Most visitors to Tampa stay overnight in downtown Tampa.
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10 Must-See and Do Things in Tampa
- The stunning Moorish architecture of the Henry B. Plant Museum on the University of Tampa campus
- Enjoying a day with the kids at Busch Gardens theme park
- Viewing the Hillsborough River and downtown Tampa from the Rivergate Tower
- Engage the kids at the Glazer Children's Museum
- Marvel with the kids at the Florida Aquarium
- Spend time (without the kids) in Ybor City
- A journey on the TECO Line Streetcar
- Food tours in Hyde Park Village in SoHo
- Unique cinema experience at the Tampa Theatre
- A pirate adventure in the historic center of Tampa Bay and a visit to the Victory warship
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What is Tampa?
- Tampa is the largest city on Florida's west coast and the central city of the Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater metropolitan area, also known as the Tampa Bay metropolitan area or the Tampa Bay area
- The city sits on the eastern shore of Tampa Bay, at the mouth of the Hillsborough River, and is the capital of Hillsborough County
- The city has about 400,000 residents, and the entire metropolitan area has over one and a half million people
- During the Spanish rule, a village of fishermen from Cuba was established on the land of Tampa, and surrounding it were Native American tribes. At this time, the place was favored by pirates who docked in the bay as a refuge from storms or military ships of the Spanish and the British patrolling the Gulf of Mexico.
- The nucleus of the city's settlement began with Florida's joining the United States and the establishment of Fort Brooke. In 1887, Tampa became a city and benefited from Florida's rapid development with the construction of railroads.
- During those years, the tobacco industry also developed in the nearby agricultural area, and the city became an important commercial hub.
- Today, Tampa is a wealthy and relaxed Floridian city with an attractive downtown and plenty of culinary and shopping options.
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Map of Tampa
Tour Route in Tampa
The trip in Tampa starts downtown and then jumps to sites and attractions outside the center.
- Downtown Tampa is located east of the Hillsborough River and features several attractions such as the art museums, the Glazer Children's Museum, and the Tampa Theatre, all under the shadow of the city’s modern and beautiful skyscrapers
- South of downtown, the attractions include Florida Aquarium and Tampa's historic center
- North of downtown, the evolving food district of Tampa Heights
- Across from downtown on the west bank of the Hillsborough River is the University of Tampa campus, where the magnificent building of the Henry B. Plant Museum stands
- South of the campus lies the Hyde Park district and Hyde Park Village
- East of downtown is Tampa’s lively Ybor City district, the place to hang out in the evening
- From the city center, it's worth hopping to the outskirts of the metropolis in the north, to the Busch Gardens theme park by SeaWorld
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Sites and Attractions in Downtown Tampa
Henry B. Plant Museum
The museum of the University of Tampa is located on the eastern part of the campus, next to Plant Park and the banks of the Hillsborough River. The museum is housed in a special building from 1891, which was formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel. The luxury hotel was built for the distinguished guests of the railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant, who connected many places in Florida and Georgia with railways.
The luxurious hotel dominated the city's skyline before the downtown skyscrapers were built, known for its three Moorish minarets that resemble the onion domes of orthodox churches. The hotel was part of the U.S. military operations in the war against the Spanish in 1898. Today, in the museum's gardens, you can see displays of cannons and tools from that war. The museum features exhibits related to the U.S.-Spanish War, as well as a wing dedicated to the life and work of Plant.
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa…
Address: W Kennedy Blvd. 401, Tampa
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Rivergate Tower, Kiley Gardens, and the Riverwalk
Kennedy Boulevard Bridge is the heart of Tampa. This bridge connects the University of Tampa campus on the western bank of the Hillsborough River with downtown Tampa on the eastern bank. The bridge stretches from the green Plant Park, with its palm trees near the Plant Museum, across to the rounded and unique Rivergate Tower at the downtown gate.
Near the round tower are the Kiley Gardens, which are actually the rooftop of the building's large parking garage. From the gardens, you have a breathtaking view of the river and the magnificent towers of the Henry B. Plant Museum across the river.
On the riverbank by the gardens, you'll find the long Riverwalk promenade, leading to the plaza of the Tampa Museum of Art and the Glazer Children's Museum. There lies Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
Tampa Museum of Art
Close to the Hillsborough River stands the Tampa Museum of Art, housed in one of the city’s most beautiful and modern buildings. The museum offers an extensive display of modern and contemporary art, as well as rotating exhibits of local and international contemporary artists. The museum also features an impressive collection of archaeology, primarily Etruscan and Roman items gathered from excavations throughout Italy and brought to the USA.
Address: 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa
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Glazer Children's Museum
Adjacent to the art museum, you'll find the popular Children's Museum of Tampa. This museum opened in 1986 and is full of exhibits and activities tailored for children. It's a big and particularly fun museum, blending all of a child's interests with interactive activities and lots of hands-on experiences. The star of the museum is Big John, a precise replica of a Triceratops dinosaur skeleton.
Address: 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa
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Tampa Theatre
In the heart of Tampa's downtown lies the unique structure of the Tampa Theatre. The theater is one of the most accurate and well-known examples of the architectural style known as Florida-Mediterranean. This style characterized the rapidly developing modern construction of Florida in the 1920s.
Today, the theater is a home for a commercial cinema, but it's definitely worth visiting the unique building and even catching a movie in one of the most vintage halls around.
Address: N Franklin St. 711, Tampa
Tampa Heights
The southern part of the Tampa Heights district has become another entertainment spot in the city in recent years. The charming Water Works Park is located at the bend of the Hillsborough River, just north of Downtown, right next to the massive interchange of the 275 to its south.
Along the riverbank park, several nice restaurants have opened, and the entire area is pleasant for an afternoon and evening stroll. There, you'll find the Heights Public Market, an indoor food market with several unique eateries.
Tampa Bay History Center
The historic center of Tampa Bay is located south of downtown. These are the buildings and streets near Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park, close to the Amalie Arena, the stadium of the city's hockey team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. In the historic center, you can learn about the rich history of the city, from Native American tribes to the development of the tobacco industry in the city and pirate raids that were particularly fond of the bay. There is an impressive display of a pirate ship that is popular with children.
Address: Water St. 801, Tampa
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The Florida Aquarium and the American Victory Ship & Museum
The Florida Aquarium is located not far from the historic center of Tampa to the east, just across from the Channelside Bay Plaza mall. The large aquarium features displays of fish, amphibians, and other animals, adhering to strict principles of conservation and education. The aquarium houses over 7,000 different species of plants and marine and amphibious animals found in Florida. Next to the aquarium, the warship Victory is docked, which saw action at the end of World War II and during the Korean War. You can board the ship for a tour.
Address: Channelside Dr. 701, Tampa
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Click here for the operating hours and visit to the Victory ship…
Sites and Attractions in the Tampa Districts
Ybor City
Tampa was once known as the cigar capital of the world, although this industry has mostly vanished, there's still some local cigar production. Ybor City District was named after Vicente Martinez Ybor, who brought the cigar industry to Tampa in 1886. This is the Latin quarter of the city, and you can find a few cigar makers and displays mainly aimed at tourists. There's also a small museum here.
When evening falls, Ybor City becomes one of the main entertainment hubs of the city, especially on 7th Avenue (E 7th Ave) between 15th and 20th Street North. The street is mainly lined with bars and restaurants, some featuring live music, and most in a Cuban and Latin style that's so characteristic of Tampa. Naturally, on weekends (Friday and Saturday nights), the place gets busier and livelier.
SoHo (South Howard Avenue) and Hyde Park
Tampa's SoHo, or South Howard Avenue, is one of the trendiest places in the city. Together with Hyde Park Village, just to the east, it has become a favorite spot for hanging out, almost like Ybor City. Along South Howard Street, excellent ethnic restaurants (Cuban, Italian, Spanish, Mexican – you name it) have opened, along with Irish pubs, unique shops, and more. It’s all on a wide Floridian avenue lined with palm trees.
Hyde Park Village
Hyde Park Village is located just east of SoHo. It's an open-air mall with shaded streets, offering entertainment and dining options. The neighborhood and area are an ideal hangout for couples. Hyde Park Village is the retreat for local young folks looking for a good meal or an enjoyable and convenient outing just a short distance from downtown. The main and unique attraction here is the exclusive CineBistro cinema where you can watch movies on comfy chairs and enjoy gourmet dining service.
The hall is composed of pairs of spacious armchairs with a table where food and drinks are served. Movie tickets cost just a few dollars more than a regular theater, and the uniqueness of the place lies in the ability to order alcohol and gourmet dishes served to your table. Additionally, the venue provides blankets, allowing you to relax just like on your living room couch while receiving service and watching a movie on a giant screen. This is undoubtedly a unique American experience!!
Teco Line Streetcar
The Tampa streetcar operates along 4.3 kilometers every day of the week from 7 AM to 11 PM. On weekends, it starts running at 8:30 AM and ends its trips at 2 AM. Teco Line has 11 stations, and the ride between the end stations takes 25 minutes. The streetcar passes every 15 minutes and the ride is free!!!.
The trolley began operating in 1892!! Its purpose was to transport workers to the cigar factories in Ybor City and to the factories in downtown and the port in general. Families also used to ride the trolley to the park and nearby baseball games at DeSoto Park. After World War II, in 1946, buses replaced the trolley, and it was shut down. It reopened in 2002 mainly to encourage tourism and to bring locals back to the city's historical centers that had been neglected until those years.
The trolley is a huge tourist success and is also used by locals, especially on weekends and during major events downtown when all the parking spots are taken. It's highly recommended as a family activity and for traveling between the historic parts of Ybor City, the Channel District, and downtown. Alternatively, it's great after or during a night out since the trolley connects these entertainment areas and the cruise ship mooring port. While most cruise tourists head from there to Disney World or Busch Gardens, some also visit historic Tampa.
Busch Gardens Amusement Park of SeaWorld
Busch Gardens is a massive amusement park with some of the fastest and most thrilling roller coasters in the USA. Plus, the place is also a zoo, so in between the rides, you can check out animals from various exotic species.
The park is huge and it takes a whole day to cover even just a part of its attractions, which, like many amusement parks, often involve waiting in long lines. It is the second theme park of SeaWorld, similar to the popular park in Orlando, located between Universal and Disney World.
The park features several roller coasters, two of which climb up to 60 meters above the ground. Throughout the park, blended among the various attractions, is a zoo housing over 200 species of animals, and of course, there are numerous souvenir stands, restaurants, and kiosks between all the experiences.
The park is open all year round, though in the summer it should be noted that it can rain nearly every day. The rain usually starts in the afternoon, so if you're visiting Tampa in the summer, it's recommended to arrive early in the morning as early as possible. It's worth arriving early anyway to avoid the long lines as well. In any case, the park has a policy that if rain prevents your visit, you will receive a free ticket for another day, valid for a year.
If you're not prone to dizziness and headaches, this park is a unique and perfect experience that showcases everything America has to offer.
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Address: McKinley Dr. 10165, Tampa
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