Sanibel travel guide
Sanibel Tourism | Sanibel Guide
You're Going to Love Sanibel
With a population of 6,469, Sanibel is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sanibel has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Sanibel
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Where to Eat in Sanibel
If you’re looking for affordable options, Cielo (1244 Periwinkle Way) and Il Tesoro-Sanibel (751 Tarpon Bay Road) are great picks.
When to visit Sanibel
How to Get to Sanibel
Plane
Although Sanibel doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to SW Florida Intl Airport (RSW), which is located 17 miles from Sanibel. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Cincinnati and takes around 2h 20m.
Car
Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 150 miles from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Hertz, among others, in Orlando.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Sanibel, including RedCoach, Tornado Bus and FlixBus. From Fort Lauderdale, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $50. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $51 for a journey of 125 miles.
Airlines serving Sanibel
Where to stay in popular areas of Sanibel
Most booked hotels in Sanibel
Renting a car in Sanibel
Renting a car in Sanibel costs $24 per day, on average, or $97 if you want to rent if for 4 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 81% cheaper than airport locations in Sanibel.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Sanibel (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.