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

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

Sanibel in September
Estimated hotel price
$160
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sanibel in September
Estimated hotel price
$160
1 night at 3-star hotel

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, Frontier and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Atlantic City and takes around 2h 37m.

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 Hertz and Budget, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

RedCoach operates bus routes to Sanibel. From Fort Lauderdale, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $60. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $70 for a journey of 125 miles.

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, Frontier and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Atlantic City and takes around 2h 37m.

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 Hertz and Budget, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

RedCoach operates bus routes to Sanibel. From Fort Lauderdale, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 125 miles and will cost you around $60. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $70 for a journey of 125 miles.

Airlines serving Sanibel

Lufthansa
Good (4,692 reviews)
KLM
Good (844 reviews)
SWISS
Good (954 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,574 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,607 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,278 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (488 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,114 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,956 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,441 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,928 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (226 reviews)
Finnair
Good (864 reviews)
LOT
Good (681 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (923 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,173 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,718 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (834 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,595 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Sanibel

Most booked hotels in Sanibel

Island Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9, 117 reviews)
$333+
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ft Myers Beach-Sanibel Gateway
2 stars
Excellent (8.7, 831 reviews)
$116+
Diamondhead Beach Resort
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 502 reviews)
$276+
The Lighthouse Resort Inn & Suites
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 18 reviews)
$142+
Latitude 26 Waterfront Boutique Resort - Fort Myers Beach
2 stars
Good (7.9, 1116 reviews)
$163+
Sunset Beach Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 19 reviews)
$206+

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 78% 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.

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 78% 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.