Tampa and St. Petersburg – Leisure and Entertainment in Tampa Bay

Tampa and St. Petersburg are the central cities in the Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater Metropolitan area. This region is called Tampa Bay for the deep bay it surrounds. It's the second-largest urban area in Florida after the giant Miami metropolis but, more importantly, it's the largest urban area along the Gulf of Mexico on Florida's west coast. Tampa Bay is full of excellent museums, recreational and leisure areas, and stunning sandy beaches that are very popular with domestic American tourists.

How many days are needed for a trip to Tampa and St. Petersburg?

A full trip around the metropolitan cities of Tampa Bay requires about two to three full days. The itinerary includes a day in Tampa, half a day in St. Petersburg, and another half a day on the beaches stretching south from Clearwater. It's worth setting aside another half day for fun with the kids at Busch Gardens amusement park.

Most travelers in Tampa Bay find accommodations in Downtown Tampa or at the resort hotels south of Clearwater.

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14 Must-See and Do Things in the Tampa Bay Metro Area

1. Stunning paintings by Salvador Dalí at the Dalí Museum
2. Fun with the kids at Busch Gardens amusement park
3. Relax on one of the stunning sandy beaches from Clearwater south towards St. Pete Beach
4. View of the Hillsborough River and Downtown Tampa from the Rivergate Tower
5. Enjoy (without the kids) at Ybor City
6. Unique cinema experience at Tampa Theatre
7. The free-spirited Florida vibe at the original Hooters restaurant in Clearwater
8. Pirate experience in the historic heart of Tampa Bay and a visit to the warship Victory
9. Magnificent glass art at the Chihuly Collection
10. The stunning Moorish architecture of the Henry B. Plant Museum on the University of Tampa campus
11. St. Petersburg History Museum and a stroll on the St. Pete Pier
12. Hands-on fun with museum games at the popular Great Explorations Children's Museum
13. Fresh air in the exquisite Sunken Gardens
14. A baseball, football, or hockey game featuring one of Tampa's professional teams

Click here for all the information on visiting Tampa…

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Click here to purchase the Tampa CityPASS, including discounted entry to Busch Gardens and the Aquarium…

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What is the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area?

Tampa Bay is a large metropolitan area on the western coast of Florida, facing the Gulf of Mexico. Around the large bay are three main cities that form the metropolis known as Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater – Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater Metropolitan.

• The center of the metropolitan area is the city of Tampa, home to around 400,000 people.
• St. Petersburg has about a quarter of a million residents.
• Clearwater, the smallest of the major metropolitan cities, has about 120,000 residents.
• The three cities stretch across the northern part of the bay, with St. Petersburg and Clearwater located on the western peninsula and Tampa to the east.
• Each city in the continuous metropolitan area has its own character and downtown, and each one is worth visiting.

Although the Tampa metropolitan area is larger than Orlando's, the latter is more famous due to its tourist attractions, especially Disney parks. Tampa, therefore, is the smaller sister in terms of tourism compared to Orlando.

• The geographical location of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area makes it humid, hot, and particularly rainy during the summer months, but the winters are dry, sunny, and wonderfully pleasant.
• The city of Tampa is the business hub of the metropolitan area and also hosts the large international airport.
• St. Petersburg is the more prestigious and youthful area of the metropolitan area. The city is a long peninsula with luxurious estates on its shores and a fascinating downtown.
• The last city in the metropolis is Clearwater, located west of the other two cities. Clearwater is a city with a beach strip situated on an elongated barrier island – much like Miami Beach. Clearwater's beaches are repeatedly voted the most beautiful in the United States and are famous for their white sand.
• Clearwater attracts tourists similarly to Miami Beach, mainly from the northern parts of the United States, and many of them even purchase vacation apartments in the residential buildings along its famous beaches.

Map of Tampa and St. Petersburg

How to get to Tampa and St. Petersburg?

How to get to Tampa and St. Petersburg by flight?

Tampa International Airport (TPA) – This is the major airport of the metropolitan area, located west of downtown Tampa towards Clearwater. The airport is relatively large and connects Tampa with many destinations across the USA, as well as some select destinations in Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe. It's a ten-minute drive from the center of Tampa, a half-hour drive from Clearwater, and twenty minutes from St. Petersburg via the Howard Frankland Bridge.

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How to get to Tampa and St. Petersburg by car?

• The main highway of the Tampa Bay metro area is the I-75 branch, Highway 275, connecting St. Petersburg with the southern metro area (Sarasota city) via the breathtaking Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
• To the north, the 275 connects downtown St. Petersburg with the airport and downtown Tampa via the Howard Frankland Bridge.
• The metro area is connected to the Atlantic coastline through Orlando via the I-4, which links Tampa with Daytona Beach, where it connects with I-95.
• The Tampa Bay metro area is linked with Miami via the I-75 highway, about a 5-hour drive. For those coming from Miami, flying is recommended.

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When to Visit Tampa and St. Petersburg?

• The weather in the Tampa Bay area is quite similar to the weather throughout Florida
• In every season except summer, staying in the bay area is very pleasant and comfortable. The weather allows for a sunny and enjoyable trip even in the middle of winter
• The winter in Florida is probably the most perfect weather in the entire Western world. The winter temperatures are extremely pleasant, around 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit with not much rain
• Unlike the pleasant winter, summer in Tampa Bay is quite harsh. The summer temperatures are high and the humidity is simply dreadful
• As August approaches, the days become more rainy, with showers starting in the afternoon and onward
• In summer and fall, significant tropical storms can also occur, including occasional hurricanes that noticeably affect the Gulf coast
• Despite this, it's definitely worth traveling to Florida even in the peak of summer. Just be aware of the weather conditions, and if a significant storm is expected, simply skip the stay.

Click here for a dolphin watching cruise in Tampa Bay…

The Gasparilla Pirate Festival – Tampa's famous pirate festival takes place from mid-January to mid-March every year. The highlight of the event is on the last Saturday of January. The festival is based on the story of Jose Gaspar, a pirate who terrorized all of West Florida in the early 19th century.

During this period, the entire city dresses as pirates. This season is also the highlight of the football season leading up to the Super Bowl, and the games of the local team, the Buccaneers (pirates), are part of the holiday folklore.

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How to plan a trip itinerary in Tampa and St. Petersburg?

Itinerary in Tampa

The trip in Tampa starts by focusing on the city's downtown and from there, jumping to sites and attractions outside the center.

• Downtown Tampa is located east of the Hillsborough River and has several attractions such as the art museums, Glazer Children's Museum, and the Tampa Theatre
• South of downtown, you'll find attractions like the Florida Aquarium and Tampa's historic center
• North of downtown is the developing food scene of Tampa Heights. Across from downtown on the west bank of the Hillsborough is the University of Tampa campus, where the impressive Henry B. Plant Museum building is located
• South of the campus is the Hyde Park district and Hyde Park Village
• East of downtown is Tampa's vibrant Ybor district, the place to enjoy nightlife
• From the city center, it's worth jumping to the northern outskirts of the metropolis to the Busch Gardens theme park of SeaWorld

Click here to purchase the Tampa CityPASS, including discounted entry to Busch Gardens and the Aquarium…

Travel Itinerary in St. Petersburg and Clearwater

• The main part of the trip in St. Petersburg takes place in the city's relatively small center, known as downtown. The main street – Central Avenue, is a lively spot full of restaurants, bars, and also some important museums.
• Along the street, you'll find the Florida Holocaust Museum and the Chihuly Collection.
• On its eastern end, the street reaches the pier of St. Pete, where the city's history museum is located.
• Along the waterfront, a bit to the south, you'll find the large museum dedicated entirely to Salvador Dalí.
• The most attractive spot outside the city's downtown lies to the north, along North 4th Street. There, you'll find the Sunken Gardens and the Great Explorations Children's Museum.

The Clearwater trip centers around the city's main street – Cleveland Street, which ends at the Clearwater Memorial Park and the city marina. From the park, the Causeway Byway bridge heads west towards the city's aquarium and the stunning beach of Clearwater on the barrier island.

Click here for a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico off the shores of Clearwater + dinner at sunset…

South of Clearwater Beach over ten kilometers of wonderful beaches stretch along many towns towards St. Pete Beach to the south.

Besides the trip along the Gulf of Mexico beach and the big downtown areas of the Tampa Bay metropolis, it's worth taking a drive over the breathtaking Sunshine Skyway Bridge towards Sarasota.

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Everything you need to know about lodging in Tampa and St. Petersburg

The Tampa Bay metropolitan area has 4 main clusters of accommodations:

1. Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach Resort Hotels – Wonderful beach resorts of various levels, adjacent to the wide sandy beach of the barrier island. Accommodations include all major American brands such as Marriott, Hilton, and IHG brands (Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, etc.). The largest cluster on the beaches is at the spectacular Isle Of Palms Beach and St. Pete Beach.
2. Downtown Tampa Hotels – Downtown Tampa hotels are large urban hotel institutions rated four and five stars. In the heart of the city are giant, sparkling hotels from Hilton, Hyatt, Meridien, and more. Just outside the city center, there are urban hotels rated three stars.
3. Tampa International Airport Hotels – The hotels around Tampa International Airport are often high-quality motels. The location is great, right in the middle between Tampa, the beaches, and St. Petersburg.
4. Downtown St. Petersburg Hotels – The hotels in downtown St. Petersburg are similar in nature to Tampa's hotels. They are usually large and modern hotels belonging to major American chains like Marriott, Hilton, and others.

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Map of Recommended Accommodation Areas in Tampa Bay

Everything to See and Do in Tampa

The city of Tampa is the urban center of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. It boasts a photogenic downtown filled with plenty of museums and interesting sites. Tampa's neighborhoods are also attractive, featuring great dining and entertainment areas such as Ybor City, Soho Tampa, and Tampa Heights.

The large Busch Gardens theme park by SeaWorld is a little piece of Orlando within Tampa. It's a popular outing spot for families with children who don't want to drive two hours to Disney World.

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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 or 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 a population of about 400,000 residents and the entire metropolitan area has more than one and a half million. During the Spanish rule, a fishing village originated by Cubans was established in Tampa's area and nearby were Indian tribes. During this time, the place was popular with pirates who docked in the bay as a refuge from storms or the Spanish and British military ships patrolling the Gulf of Mexico.
• The city's settlement nucleus was formed 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 railways.
• During those years, the tobacco industry also developed in the adjacent agricultural area, making the city an important trading place.

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Everything to See and Do in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is one of the most pleasant cities to tour in Florida. The city center touches the Tampa Bay from the west and is connected to Tampa and Sarasota by a series of stunning bridges, the centerpiece being the unique Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Downtown offers a range of important museums, topped by the Dalí Museum, dedicated entirely to the works of the Spanish surrealist artist.

Click here for everything you need to know about touring downtown St. Petersburg…

What is St. Petersburg?

• St. Petersburg, or by its American name St. Pete, is the second largest city in the Tampa Bay area (Tampa – St. Petersburg – Clearwater)
• The city is named after the beautiful Russian city of Saint Petersburg, initiated by the city's Russian founder, Peter Demens (Pyotr Dementyev).
• The city sits on the edge of a peninsula created by the Tampa Bay's intrusion into the mainland. It is connected to its neighbor Tampa (and the international airport) by the Howard Frankland Bridge.
• On the western side of the city, you'll find the barrier island beaches where the resort town of St. Pete Beach sits along the Gulf of Mexico. The barrier island and the peninsula are separated by the Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve.
• Today, St. Petersburg is home to about a quarter of a million residents, living in more than one hundred suburban neighborhoods stretching along the peninsula towards neighboring Clearwater to the north.

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Everything to See and Do in Clearwater

The third vertex in the Tampa – St. Pete – Clearwater triangle. This is the beach and resort city of the metropolis, located on the northwest side. Clearwater's beaches consistently rank as some of the best in the U.S. (and the competition is tough – remember, Hawaii is also in the U.S.!!).

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Clearwater Beach boasts white sands and warm, calm waters – the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the people living along the beach are retirees or own vacation homes to escape the cold of the northern states. The entire Tampa Bay area is a popular destination for retirees looking to spend their golden years under the warm sun and blue skies. Clearwater is very reminiscent of Miami Beach, but instead of the Cuban/Latin vibe, it has a more Southern American character and is quieter and more relaxed.

The main attraction in Clearwater, aside from the beaches, is the Florida Aquarium.

Click here to purchase online tickets for the Florida Aquarium…

The first Hooters restaurant

Every American fast-food chain has its original branch, like McDonald’s in Chicago or Starbucks in Seattle. Clearwater also boasts an original branch, fittingly for Florida, of an exceptionally bold and audacious chain. Hooters is a Florida success story that defied conservative American norms (progressive America) and built its success on buffalo wings and, most notably, attractive waitresses dressed in outfits clearly appealing to men.

Hooters became a nationwide chain that distinctly represents Florida’s breaking of conventions against progressive America. The chain combines an unapologetic southern atmosphere with the freedom and permissiveness of Florida.

Address: 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater

Click here for a sunset cruise from St. Petersburg to Tampa Bay, passing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge…

The Beaches of Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico from Clearwater South to St. Pete Beach

Clearwater Beach

Indian Shores

Madeira Beach

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary

Treasure Island

St. Pete Beach

Pass-a-Grille Beach

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North of Tampa Bay

Manatee Springs State Park

The park is open from 8:00 AM to sunset, 365 days a year. Located about two hours north of Tampa, it surrounds a magnificent spring from which about 400,000 liters of fresh water flow each day. The water is always at a temperature of 22°C, attracting manatees in winter from the Gulf of Mexico. Therefore, especially in winter, you can see them at the park.

In the park, there are also other wildlife such as turtles, alligators, birds, otters, and deer. The park offers hiking and biking trails and you can kayak through it. Swimming is only allowed from spring to fall since in winter the manatees are given the quiet they need in the water. Kayaking is allowed all year round.

Underwater, there is a very large tunnel system, and adventurous divers can dive there. You must register at the park offices if you plan to dive.

Throughout the reserve, you can almost everywhere see the cypress trees that have adapted to the swamps so that part of their roots rise above the air to provide the necessary ventilation.

You can rent kayaks or SUPs (SAP) for two hours, and there are also pontoon boat tours for shallow waters (Pontoon Boat).

Address: W French Avenue, 2100, Orange City

Sports and Entertainment in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the city's football team playing in the NFL. The team has won the Super Bowl twice, most recently in 2020 after acquiring Tom Brady, the legendary quarterback from the New England Patriots. Their first victory was in 2002, after the team ownership was transferred to the Glazer family from Palm Beach, who also own the Manchester United football club in England.

The Buccaneers play at Raymond James Stadium, which has a capacity of 70,000 spectators. The stadium is located near Tampa International Airport and you can get tickets to the games, but it's better to arrange them a bit in advance.

Home stadium address: N Dale Mabry Hwy. 4201, Tampa

Click here to purchase tickets on the team's site…

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays (named after the manta ray fish) are the professional baseball team of Tampa Bay. The team was established in 1998 and since then, they have been playing, with partial success, in the MLB league. The team has reached the World Series twice and lost both times, but in recent years they usually make it to the playoffs and play quite well. The team plays in St. Petersburg, at Tropicana Field or ‘The Trop'. The stadium is located at the western end of downtown St. Petersburg, not far from the Chihuly Collection.

Home stadium address: Tropicana Dr. 1, St. Petersburg

Click here to purchase tickets for the team's games on the MLB site…

Tampa Bay Lightning

Surprisingly, the hottest team in recent years in Tampa is actually the city's hockey team. While the Buccaneers have earned a notorious reputation for being unable to win football games below freezing, the Lightning are the masterpiece of ice in one of the hottest cities in the USA. They've reached the Stanley Cup Finals three years in a row and won twice, in 2020 and 2021. Overall, the team has won three Stanley Cups since its founding in 1992, a pretty wild statistic for NHL teams.

The team plays at the Amalie Arena in the southern part of downtown Tampa, near the Florida Aquarium and the city's historical museum. The stadium can hold 20,000 spectators, and it's often quite difficult to get tickets for the team's sizzling playoff games.

Home stadium address: Channelside Dr. 401, Tampa

Click here for purchasing tickets to the team’s games on the NHL website…

Casino in Tampa Bay

In the past, casinos in the USA were located only on Native American reservations, which are somewhat extraterritorial and not subject to some state laws. Today, many jurisdictions, particularly in the northeastern USA where there are fewer Native American reservations, are passing laws to allow casinos on their land to enjoy tax revenues and create jobs.

If you come across the name Seminole in Florida today, there's likely a casino nearby. Another rule often not enforced in casinos is the smoking restriction, so smoking is permitted inside—a rather unusual experience in today's USA, especially alongside alcohol. A law that is always strictly enforced is the minimum age for gambling, which is 21—the same age required for legal alcohol consumption in the USA, though poker can be played starting at age 18.

Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa

This is the Tampa casino, and it rivals even Las Vegas. It's probably the best casino in Florida. Located about ten minutes northeast of downtown, just before the interchange of Highway 4 and Highway 75. The casino is open 24/7, 365 days a year. It's a massive casino, with over 5000 slot machines and about 180 gaming tables. Plus, there's a huge non-smoking poker room with 46 tables. Casinos aren't just for gamblers anymore, especially at the Hard Rock Casino where there are live performances, mainly on weekends.

The complex has several bars and a luxurious lounge with live music 7 days a week and a smoke-free environment. There's a popular buffet on-site, alongside numerous restaurants, including two upscale grill restaurants with top-notch meat. The casino also features a luxurious hotel with a large pool. Gamblers are advised to check in advance for special packages.

Shopping in Tampa

International Plaza and Bay Street

This is the most popular mall in Tampa and it is located right next to the airport, hence its name. It's a two-story mall with a third floor that is essentially an open-air street lined with bars and restaurants. The mall features an excellent Nordstrom store, and the second floor is mostly dedicated to luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. On the lower floor, you'll find common chains like American Eagle, H&M, and others. The prices at the mall are a bit expensive, although there are almost always sales, and the atmosphere is very pleasant.

The mall has an excellent food court, and just outside the food court, there's Bay Street, which has restaurants and bars that stay open even after mall hours and late on weekends.

Address: 2223 N Westshore Blvd., Tampa

Tampa Premium Outlet

This is an open outlet mall located about a half-hour drive north of the outlet in the northern suburb of Lutz. The outlet is located on Highway 75 just after the intersection with Highway 275. So we'll drive north on Highway 275 until the roads merge into Highway 75 and immediately take Exit 59.

The outlet is large but not huge, featuring stores of major brands but fewer high-end brands. The Nike, Adidas, Polo, Levi's, and others come highly recommended with good sales. This outlet isn't as diverse and large as the ones in Miami, but it has everything the average shopper needs at good prices.

The outlet doesn't have too many dining options. However, across the road near the Costco store, there are a few restaurants, and further along the road towards the city, there are also some roadside restaurants.

Address: Grand Cypress Dr. 2300, Lutz

The History of Tampa

Tampa, like other cities in Florida, developed after Florida was purchased by the Americans in 1821 around a fort that was established in the area. Tampa's fort was called Fort Brook and it was established in 1824 at the mouth of the Hillsborough River, where Tampa's downtown is located today.

• Tampa was officially established in 1849 after the wars with the Seminole and the departure of Native Americans from Florida
• The railroad that reached the city in 1884 helped develop the area and in 1886 the cigar industry began to flourish there
• The Gandy Bridge connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg was established in 1924
• Ten years earlier, the flight service between Tampa and St. Petersburg was the world's first scheduled flight service
• In 1928, Tampa was connected by a road passing through the Everglades to Miami on the famous Highway 41, known as Tamiami, a combination of the two city names

The port of Tampa on the Hillsborough River estuary is the largest deep-water port in the state of Florida. Most of its export goods are phosphates and citrus products, which are two of Florida's main traditional and historical industries.

Furthermore, due to Tampa's connections through roads, air, and sea to other cities in Florida, it serves as a hub for major companies' distribution centers. Recently, Amazon even opened a huge distribution center there.

Additionally, Tampa hosts a massive United States Air Force base named MacDill, located at the southern tip of the peninsula stretching southward from downtown Tampa.