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 one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 2 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sanibel has to offer.

Where to Eat in Sanibel

If you’re looking for affordable options, Crow's Nest Beach Bar & Grille (15951 Captiva Dr) and Normandie Seaside Cafe at West Wind Inn (3345 W Gulf Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Sanibel

Sanibel in November
Estimated hotel price
$205
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sanibel in November
Estimated hotel price
$205
1 night at 3-star hotel
Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Average
Celsius (°C)
Data provided by weatherbase

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, JetBlue and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Raleigh and takes around 2h.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Sanibel.

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 Dollar and Value Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Sanibel, including FlixBus, Greyhound and RedCoach. From Naples, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 55 miles and will cost you around $7. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $55 for a journey of 155 miles.

Airlines serving Sanibel

Lufthansa
Good (2,614 reviews)
KLM
Good (407 reviews)
British Airways
Good (1,766 reviews)
SWISS
Good (537 reviews)
Delta
Good (3,397 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (1,525 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,047 reviews)
Air France
Good (506 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (3,242 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (308 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (1,466 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (131 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (2,087 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (676 reviews)
Finnair
Good (787 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (485 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,398 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (3,109 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (2,885 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (186 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Sanibel

Average rates range from around $380 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $484 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Sanibel

Most booked hotels in Sanibel

Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Ft Myers Beach-Sanibel Gateway, An IHG Hotel
Excellent (8.8, 555 reviews)
$164+
Outrigger Beach Resort
Excellent (9.2, 34 reviews)
$1,295+
Sunset Beach Inn
Excellent (8.4, 49 reviews)
$206+
Sanibel Inn
Excellent (8.2, 47 reviews)
$243+
Sanibel Island Beach Resort
Excellent (8.4, 17 reviews)
$1,137+
The Lighthouse Resort Inn & Suites
Excellent (8.3, 16 reviews)
$206+
See all hotels

Renting a car in Sanibel

Expect to pay $3.79 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 $45.42 and $60.57. The most frequently booked car type in Sanibel is Full-size (Jeep Compass or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Toyota Yaris or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.