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 May
Estimated package price
$116
2 travelers
Flight to Sarasota
3 nights at hotel
Sarasota in May
Estimated package price
$116
2 travelers
Flight to Sarasota
3 nights at 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 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Sarasota include Southwest, Allegiant Air and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Sarasota departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 46m.

Train

The train station in Sarasota is called Sarasota, and is located 0.1 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Sarasota is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 109 miles from Sarasota. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Sarasota 5600 Fruitville Rd, located 5 miles from downtown Sarasota. Sarasota Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Sarasota, you’ll arrive at Sarasota Bradenton Intl (SRQ), which is located 4 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Sarasota include Southwest, Allegiant Air and American Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Sarasota departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 46m.

Train

The train station in Sarasota is called Sarasota, and is located 0.1 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Sarasota is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 109 miles from Sarasota. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Sarasota 5600 Fruitville Rd, located 5 miles from downtown Sarasota. Sarasota Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Sarasota

SRQSarasota Bradenton Intl
TPATampa
RSWFort Myers SW Florida Intl

Airlines serving Sarasota

KLM
Good (1,472 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,858 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,797 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,288 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,258 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,898 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,137 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,546 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,431 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,543 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,736 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (900 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,716 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,811 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,184 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,371 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,426 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (391 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,167 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,058 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Sarasota

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 $224 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $340 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 3% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Sarasota

Most booked hotels in Sarasota

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Captiva Beach Resort (open private beach access)
3 stars
Excellent (9.2, 1241 reviews)
$211+
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Tropical Beach Resorts - Sarasota
3 stars
Excellent (9, 2714 reviews)
$233+
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Seaspray Resort
4 stars
Excellent (9, 328 reviews)
$364+
View
Siesta Heron Suites & Villas
0 stars
Excellent (8.9, 332 reviews)
$221+
View
Kompose Boutique Hotel Sarasota
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2816 reviews)
$146+
View
Lido Beach Resort
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2132 reviews)
$418+
View

Renting a car in Sarasota

Renting a car in Sarasota costs $55 per day, on average, or $166 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 3 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 6% cheaper than airport locations in Sarasota.

Expect to pay $3.82 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 $45.88 and $61.17. Standard (Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Sarasota, while also 50% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Sarasota costs $55 per day, on average, or $166 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 3 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 6% cheaper than airport locations in Sarasota.

Expect to pay $3.82 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 $45.88 and $61.17. Standard (Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Sarasota, while also 50% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Sarasota

Standard

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$32/day

Standard

Standard SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$33/day

Standard SUV
Find car rentals in Sarasota