Tampa travel guide
Tampa Tourism | Tampa Guide
You're Going to Love Tampa
With a population of 335 709, Tampa is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Tampa deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Tampa
Tours
Museums
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Where to Eat in Tampa
Downtown is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Tampa. These include popular favorites such as CW's Gin Joint (633 N Franklin Street), Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria (514 N. Franklin St.) and Bamboozle Cafe (516 N Tampa St). If you’re looking for affordable options, Oxford Exchange (420 West Kennedy Blvd) and Maggiano's - Tampa (203 Westshore Plaza) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Rox Rooftop Bar (2545 N Rocky Point Dr) and Melting Pot Social - Tampa (105 W Tyler St) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Tampa.
When to visit Tampa
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Tampa in June, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 89.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 51.8 °F, with an average temperature of 60.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 7.8″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Tampa, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.
How to Get to Tampa
Plane
Tampa is served by 2 airports: Tampa Airport (TPA) and Tampa St. Petersburg (PIE). The closest to downtown Tampa is Tampa Airport, which is located 8 km from the city center. Further away is Tampa St. Petersburg, 23 km from the center of Tampa. Tampa Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Tampa departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 23m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Tampa. The train journey from Tampa to Orlando takes 2h 08m and costs around $13 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Winter Park, expect to pay about $13 for a 2h 45m trip. The train station in Tampa is called Tampa, and is located 0.6 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Tampa is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 124 km from Tampa. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Tampa, including RedCoach, FlixBus and Greyhound. From Sarasota, the bus ride to Tampa takes 97 km and will cost you around $71. From Fort Myers, the ticket costs about $42 for a journey of 217 km. The most popular bus station is Tampa Marion Transit Ctr - 1211 N Marion St, located 0.2 km from downtown Tampa. Tampa 1609 N Tampa St is also a commonly used station, and is 0.6 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Tampa
Where to stay in Tampa
Average rates range from around $179 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $285 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Tampa-Rocky Point and Hampton Inn Tampa International Airport/Westshore.
Downtown - In Tampa’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown and Tampa Marriott Water Street.
South Tampa - Here you’ll find travelers’ favorites such as TownePlace Suites by Marriott Tampa South, Sleep Inn & Suites Tampa South and La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tampa Bay Area-Tampa South. The average nightly price for a double room in South Tampa is $122.
Where to stay in popular areas of Tampa
Most booked hotels in Tampa
Renting a car in Tampa
Renting a car in Tampa costs $40 per day, on average, or $81 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Sixt are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Tampa is the Easirent branch at 5146 West Cypress Street, which is 7 km from the city center.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Tampa (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Tampa is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Renault Clio or similar) are, on average, 77% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.