Guide to Tampa, Florida: Top Things to Do & See (Updated 2026)

Looking for the perfect guide to Tampa, Florida? In this guide we will go over all of the very best things to do, hotels, where to dine, best beaches, coolest coffee shops, and more in Tampa, Florida.

Tampa is the the third largest city in Florida and sits on the west coast of the state. What I always notice on my trips to Tampa is the newness to it. Everything is shiny and clean. I also found that there is so many outdoor activities to do in Tampa - kayaking, outdoor markets, walkways, and much more. Tampa is a great destination for travelers looking for a cool city break or just a relaxing Florida beach vacation. Read on to discover the best guide to Tampa, Florida.

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Where To Stay In Tampa

Budget Tampa Hotels

The Barrymore Hotel - The Barrymore Hotel is located on the popular Tampa Riverwalk. This affordable hotel offers everything you need for a fantastic vacation - an in house restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and more.

Sailport Hotel - The Sailport Hotel is located right on the water (most rooms offering views of old Tampa Bay). The rooms are spacious and comfortable and there is plenty of great amenities at the Sailport Hotel - a pool on the water, restaurant, bar, and more!

Mid-Range Tampa Hotels

ROOST Tampa - Roost is a condo-style boutique hotel that is perfect if you are looking for a trendy hotel that is also reasonably priced. You can find a rooftop pool and hot tub, fitness center, and more anemites at ROOST.

Hotel Haya - Hotel Haya is another lovely boutique hotel that will fit all of your needs. The aesthetically pleasing hotel located in Ybor City offers two restaurants, a bar, a pool, a fitness center, and more.

Element - Element is a modern hotel that offers everything you need for the best trip to Tampa! Enjoy the outdoor pool, gym, bar, and more at the Element Hotel in Tampa.

Luxury Tampa Hotels

The Tampa Edition - The Edition is one of the best hotels in Tampa. While the hotel offers incredible accommodation and top notch rooms the main attraction of the hotel is the rooftop pool and bar. Even if you are not staying at Edition, I recommend checking out the roof for drinks!

Epicurean Hotel - The Epicurean Hotel is a boutique hotel by Autograph that offers elegant rooms and stylish decor. Enjoy three restaurants, a spa, bar, and a pool at the luxurious Epicurean Hotel.

Le Méridien - The Le Meridien Hotel is an excellent choice when deciding where to stay in Tampa. Enjoy the stunning decor, attentive staff, and good food at the in house restaurant.

What To Do In Tampa

Hyde Park

This guide to Tampa wouldn't be complete without Hyde Park. Hyde Park is the place to go in Tampa for everything shopping and food. You can find name brand shops such as Sephora and Anthropology alongside unique boutiques that you cannot find anywhere else.

In terms of food you can find everything from fancy steakhouses to cute coffee shops. Make sure to try The Salty, a donut shop, and On Swann, a high end restaurant.

Bayshore Walk

A few steps from Hyde Park is the Bayshore Walk, the longest continuous sidewalk in the United States. On the four and a half mile sidewalk you can find incredible views of Hillsborough Bay on one side and beautiful homes on the other.

There are often dolphin sightings in Hillsborough Bay, so keep your eyes peeled.

Downtown Tampa Riverwalk

Another lovely walk to do in Tampa is the Downtown Tampa Riverwalk. The two and a half mile walk is perfect for anyone who is looking to explore more of the city, as it stretches along all of downtown Tampa. You can find restaurants and bars along the Riverwalk. The Tampa Riverwalk connects all of the cities main attractions (parks, museums, attractions and businesses).

I recommend visiting at sunset!

Rooftop At Edition

Edition Hotel is the best place to grab drinks and enjoy the sunset. Going to the rooftop is free so only thing you will have to pay for is you drink! Editions rooftop is a lovely place to take photos as well.

If you want to stay at Edition check the latest rates here!

Fort Desoto

Located just south of Tampa in St. Petersburg is Fort Desoto. The uninhabited Fort Desoto is perfect for anyone looking to get away from the city for a while and enjoy the hiking trails, pristine beaches, and historical ruins.

You can find cannons, forts and more left behind from the Spanish American War. Fort Desoto was used to protect Tampa from invaders.

You can drive to Fort Desoto. Parking is only $1.75!

Florida Botanical Garden

The Florida Botanical gardens at USF are an easy add to your Tampa itinerary because of its central location by Tampa Riverwalk in downtown. The garden takes about twenty minutes to get through is and is beautiful. If you are coming from a cold and gray climate than it would be refreshing to see some flowers during the winter months.

Caladesi Island

Caladesi Island is a secluded island off the coast of Clearwater Beach. Offering crystal clear water and white sand beaches, Caladesi Island is a hidden gem in the Tampa area.

The island is on accessible by boat, so you must take the Caladesi ferry. Or you can book this private boat tour that will take with a stop in Caladesi along with other islands.

Heights Public Market

Heights Public Market is a food hall located in Tampa Heights, right next to the Hillsborough River. At the Market you will find every kind of cuisine (Indian, Italian, BBQ, coffee, drinks). It is the kind of place you can visit for any occasion. Outside you will find plenty of seating and outdoor activities setup (chess, kayaks for rent, cornhole, ect.)

Ybor City

Ybor City is like going to Cuba without a passport. You can find cigars, cuban food, and a stange amount of chickens in Ybor City. If you are looking for a fun night out on the town then Ybor City is the place to go!

Ybor City is only an eight minute drive from downtown Tampa.

A great way to experience Ybor City would be by doing a food tour! I did this one and had so much fun. We got to sample Cuban, Spanish, and Italian foods with a local guide.

Check The Latest Prices - Ybor City Food Tour

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach is the most popular beach in the Tampa area - and for good reason. The water is crystal clear and the waves are minimal. I have found that the beaches on the west coast of Florida have clearer water and almost no waves. So if you are with kids, you may want to opt for the Gulf Coast.

The beach itself is lovely, but you can also find food and shops across the street from the beach. There are many surf and smoothie shops to checkout.

Make sure to go early because you will find there is a ton of traffic getting to Clearwater as there is one road that lead to the beach.

If you are looking for a boat tour out of Clearwater - this one is incredibly affordable and looks so fun (I wish I knew about it when I was in Tampa).

Check The Latest Prices - Dolphin & Island Sandbar Cruise

Swim With Manatees

Manatees are amazing creatures that live in rivers, bays, canals, an coastal areas in Florida. If you plan to visit Tampa in winter you will have to opportunity to swim with manatees in one of the state parks. You can visit the Manatee Mangroves near Tampa, or take a day trip to Blue Springs State Park near Orlando to see the manatees.

When To Visit Tampa

The best time to visit Tampa is winter and springtime! My favorite month in Florida is March because of the perfect temperatures, seaweed free beaches, and the flowers are in full bloom.

Try to avoid the summer months in Tampa because of the splintering heat and intense humanity. Fall and summer is hurricane season, so you may experience heavy rain during this part of the year.

Read Next - The Ultimate Fort Myers Travel Guide

How To Get Around Tampa

Tampa is quite walkable, but there are plenty of options when it comes to getting around the city.

Some of the most popular ways to get around Tampa are the Tampa City Bikes, eBoats, Hillsborough Regional Transit Authority (HART) Busses, In-Towner Trolly, Uber and Lyft, Teco Line Streetcar, and more. Checkout all your options here.

While I was in Tampa I walked most places, but when I was going to the beach I took an uber, which isn't too expensive in Tampa.

Where To Dine In Tampa

Best Breakfast and Coffee In Tampa

Noble Crust - Perfect for brunch! Noble Crust serves up southern style italian food, which sounds weird, but is actually quite good!

Keke's Breakfast Cafe - Keke's serves everything breakfast and is a great place to go with kids!

The Lab Coffee - The Lab has some of the best coffee in Tampa. They also serve pastries - so if you are looking for a quick coffee and breakfast checkout Lab Coffee.

Best Lunch and Dinner In Tampa

Ulele - Ulele is a Native American style restaurant located on Tampa's Riverwalk. Receiving fanamonal reviews, Ulele is a unique restaurant that is a must try in Tampa.

Rooster & The Till - Rooster & The Till is perfect if you are looking for a fancy dinner in Tampa. The tapas style restaurant has something for everyone!

The Columbia Restaurant - Located in Ybor City, The Columbia Restaurant is Florida's oldest restaurant and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. With these stats it is definitely worth checking out.

Best Tours To Take In Tampa

Ybor City Food Tour - Ybor City is home to some of the most unique and delicious food in Tampa. Doing a food tour of the Cuban neighborhood is totally worth it. You will get to eat some amazing food and learn more about Cuba and Ybor City through the eyes of a local on this Ybor City Food Tour.

Tampa Sightseeing Tour - Instead of figuring out transit to see all of Tampa's main attractions, why not hop on a golf cart and do a tour with a local? This affordable Tampa sightseeing tour is so much fun!

Tiki Bar Boat Tour - Why not take your visit to Tampa Riverwalk a step further by hopping on a floating Tiki Bar and cruise down the river? This Tiki Bar Boat tour makes for an unforgettable evening in Tampa.

Private Fishing Charter - The Gulf of Mexico has some of the most diverse fishing in the world. This private fishing charter is the perfect opportunity to experience the Gulf.

The Ultimate Guide To Tampa Wrap Up

Tampa is an amazing place to escape to during a harsh winter. With the white sand beaches, endless opportunity to explore, and incredible restaurants - Tampa is an unforgettable city. If you liked this post be sure to checkout our other Florida posts here!