Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Sarasota travel guide

Sarasota Tourism | Sarasota Guide

You're Going to Love Sarasota

With a population of 51,917, Sarasota 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 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sarasota has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Sarasota

Downtown is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Sarasota. These include popular favorites such as Indigenous (239 S Links Ave), Lila (1576 Main St) and Marcel DW (1568 Main St). If you’re looking for affordable options, Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota (411 Saint Armands Circle) and Ocean Prime - Sarasota (501 Quay Commons) are great picks.

When to visit Sarasota

Sarasota in September
Estimated hotel price
$166
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sarasota in September
Estimated hotel price
$166
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Sarasota in July, when the average temperature is 82.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 91.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 48.2 °F, with an average temperature of 60.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 9.7″. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Sarasota, with an average rainfall of 2.2″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Sarasota

Plane

When flying to Sarasota, you’ll arrive at Sarasota Bradenton Intl (SRQ), which is located 7 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Sarasota include Southwest, Delta and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Sarasota departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 22m.

Train

Train is the most popular train carrier serving Sarasota, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Sarasota to Orlando takes 2h 08m and costs around $23 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Winter Park, expect to pay about $23 for a 2h 43m trip. The train station in Sarasota is called Sarasota, and is located 0.1 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Sarasota is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 175 km from Sarasota. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and America Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Sarasota 5600 Fruitville Rd, located 7 km from downtown Sarasota. Sarasota Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Sarasota, you’ll arrive at Sarasota Bradenton Intl (SRQ), which is located 7 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Sarasota include Southwest, Delta and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Sarasota departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 22m.

Train

Train is the most popular train carrier serving Sarasota, followed by Amtrak. The train journey from Sarasota to Orlando takes 2h 08m and costs around $23 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Winter Park, expect to pay about $23 for a 2h 43m trip. The train station in Sarasota is called Sarasota, and is located 0.1 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Sarasota is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 175 km from Sarasota. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and America Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Sarasota 5600 Fruitville Rd, located 7 km from downtown Sarasota. Sarasota Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km from the city center.

Airports near Sarasota

SRQSarasota Bradenton Intl
TPATampa
RSWFort Myers SW Florida Intl

Airlines serving Sarasota

KLM
Good (1,461 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,821 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,773 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,242 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,241 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,889 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,130 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,378 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,541 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,745 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,538 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,702 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,770 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,182 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,424 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (388 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,978 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,155 reviews)
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Where to stay in Sarasota

From 5-star hotels such as the The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota to great affordable options like the Twin Palms at Siesta, Sarasota offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $237 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $387 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Magnolia Pointe, BW Signature Collection and Comfort Inn & Suites Sarasota I75. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Sarasota, with prices from $44 to $1,866 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Sarasota are about 1% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Sarasota

Most booked hotels in Sarasota

See all
Captiva Beach Resort (open private beach access)
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, 1241 reviews)
$194+
View
Tropical Beach Resorts - Sarasota
3 stars
Excellent (9, 2710 reviews)
$245+
View
Siesta Key Palms Resort
3 stars
Excellent (9, 2154 reviews)
$258+
View
Seaspray Resort
4 stars
Excellent (9, 328 reviews)
$378+
View
Kompose Boutique Hotel Sarasota
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 2810 reviews)
$125+
View
Siesta Heron Suites & Villas
0 stars
Excellent (8.8, 332 reviews)
$226+
View

Renting a car in Sarasota

Renting a car in Sarasota costs $53 per day, on average, or $160 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Sarasota is the Hertz branch at 6000 Airport Circle, which is 6 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 33% more expensive than at Tampa.

Expect to pay $3.29 per gallon in Sarasota (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.52 and $52.69. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Sarasota, while also 51% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Sarasota costs $53 per day, on average, or $160 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Sarasota is the Hertz branch at 6000 Airport Circle, which is 6 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 33% more expensive than at Tampa.

Expect to pay $3.29 per gallon in Sarasota (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $39.52 and $52.69. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Sarasota, while also 51% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Sarasota

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$27/day

Compact

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$28/day

Intermediate
Find car rentals in Sarasota