Best Things To Do In St. Pete

When you're looking for the top things to do in St. Pete, we've got you covered.

Two couples enjoy drinks and food at Pier Teaki at the St. Pete Pier.

Gather with family and friends at Pier Teaki or other fun spots at the St. Pete Pier.

From museum-hopping and an exciting culinary scene to fun family attractions and visiting America's Best Beaches, here are the "can't-miss" things to do in St. Pete, Florida. With so many exciting things going on, it's no wonder that St. Pete was recently named one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top U.S. Cities!

1

Visit the Amazing St. Pete Pier

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Experience the $92 million St. Pete Pier District on the city's beautiful bayfront and you'll find a green space unlike any other, including several waterfront restaurants (with plenty of outdoor dining), play areas for families, a nature center (Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center), a bayfront beach, marketplace with local artisans, amazing public art and more. Even better: much of it is free. Bring the family, plan a date night or enjoy a sunset cocktail at Pier Teaki overlooking downtown.

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2

Museum Hop

A view of the unique architecture of the Dali Museum at sunset.

The Dali Museum in St. Pete's Waterfront Museum District welcomes more than 400,000 visitors each year.

Explore our world-famous museums anytime you’re looking for a dose of art and culture. One can’t-miss stop is the new Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement. The Dalí Museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of Salvador Dali's works, the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center features unique sculptures by legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly and the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art is where you’ll be transported through the rich and diverse heritage of the American West. With dozens of museums and art galleries to choose from, you’ll never run short of inspiration. And if the weather is so perfect that you don't want to go inside, peruse our outdoor art gallery – more than 600 murals line the streets of St. Pete.

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3

Roll Like a Local on Central Ave.

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Get a taste of St. Pete’s eclectic local culture and experience Central Ave. Shop funky and unique finds at local boutiques and galleries, pause for a craft brew or cocktail at one of the many restaurants and bars, and stop for a photo op in front of some of the hundreds of murals that paint St. Pete vibrant. There’s so much to discover on Central Ave., you really have to stroll it to believe it.

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4

Shop the Saturday Morning Market

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The Saturday Morning Market is truly a St. Pete staple. Among the top 20 markets in the country and the largest in the southeast U.S., it has more than 100 vendors to shop at. On a typical Saturday, about 10,000 visitors dig into gourmet ready-to-eat food, dance the morning away with live music and take home fresh produce, flowers or even a souvenir or two. During the cooler months (October-May) you can find it in the Al Lang Stadium parking lot. During the summer (June-September) it moves to Williams Park.

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5

Chill at a Breezy Waterfront Park

Aerial photo of St. Pete waterfront with parks in the foreground

St. Pete’s bayfront is lined with parks ideal for walking, rollerblading or just relaxing.

St. Pete has one of the prettiest urban park systems in the nation including a string of wide, shaded greenspaces fronting Tampa Bay. In North Shore Park, burn calories on the tennis or volleyball courts, or let Fido stretch his legs in the dog park. Just to the south, Vinoy Park is 11 acres adjacent to the Renaissance Vinoy – a perfect place to perch beneath a live oak tree with a good book. Grab a picnic lunch or a gelato from a shop on Beach Drive and enjoy your treats cooled by bay breezes in North Straub Park. And at Demens Landing Park, watch sailboats heading out from the St. Petersburg Yacht Club battle for position during a regatta.

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6

Sip on Craft Cocktails at Mandarin Hide

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The Mandarin Hide sees itself as a steward of the craft cocktail culture and it’s easy to see why. While their elevated, cozy, retro vibe might be what draws you in, their cocktails will be the reason you stay. Housing one of the largest inventories of spirits in the area, their menu features a blend of old-school and specialty cocktails along with a fine selection of craft beer and wine. Don’t see what you want on the menu? Let them know! Their mixologists behind the bar can build a signature cocktail just for you. 

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7

Discover a Lush Hideaway at Sunken Gardens

Family walks down path lined with plants

Families enjoy following the paths and looking for the parrots at Sunken Gardens.

A 100-year-old botanical paradise on four acres in the Historic Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Pete, Sunken Gardens is one of Florida’s original roadside tourist attractions. They began a century ago, when a plumber and avid gardener bought a plot of land including a shallow lake, which he drained to create his own private sunken garden. Today, visitors wander along meandering paths to discover more than 50,000 tropical plants, a butterfly garden, cascading waterfalls, 11 resident parrots and a flock of flamingos. Snap a photo of the kids by the koi pond, and relish the shade of towering trees on a sunny Florida day. 

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8

Get Your Hops at Green Bench Brewery

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Green Bench Brewery delivers the perfect combination of craft beer and community. They specialize in IPAs and ales in their main tasting room, and mixed-culture and wild brews in their second tasting room, Webb’s City Cellar,  next door. Outside of amazing beer, Green Bench hosts creative events all year long and has an open-air bier garden where truly anyone is welcome - kids, dogs, adults and all. 

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9

Paddle at Weedon Island Preserve

A couple paddleboards through the mangroves at Weedon Island

Paddlers to Weedon Island Preserve can now rent a canoe, kayak, or SUP.

Go on an adventure and kayak Weedon Island Preserve - where you’ll be surrounded by twisting mangroves, lush plants and Florida wildlife. Take it slow and enjoy the peaceful Florida scenery, or pick up the pace for a good workout on the water. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a manatee, dolphin or both! 

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10

Have Fun in the Sun on St. Pete Beach

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In case you haven’t heard, we’re home to some of America’s best beaches, including St. Pete Beach, Tripadvisor’s No. 1 Beach in the U.S. in 2021! Pack up your beach chair, towel and sunblock and see what the hype is all about! Get ready for a day of fun in the sun with beach bars lining this stretch of sugar white sand and warm Gulf waters to take a dip in. You might even want to splurge and stay a night or two at the legendary Don CeSar, or one of several other lovely, beachy hotels.

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11

Get your Shuffle on at the St. Pete Shuffleboard Club

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Who knew shuffleboard courts would be a hot-spot for the young, hip crowd on a Friday night?! St. Pete Shuffleboard, the world’s largest and oldest shuffleboard club, has managed to reinvent the activity with a youthful spin on it. Every Friday night, crowds are drawn to Free Shuffleboard Fridays where visitors and locals alike are invited to BYOB and challenge friends to a friendly game of shuffleboard. Not sure how the game works? Volunteers will help you get set up on a court and show you the ropes of this timeless activity. 

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