Best Things To Do In St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg can hold its own with any culinary destination you can imagine. In fact, Travel + Leisure recently called out St. Pete as the "Best Food City in the U.S." and the city has three MICHELIN-recommended restaurants. The dining and cocktail scene here is vibrant and always changing (check out these exciting new restaurant concepts). Dine at celebrated spots such as Il Ritorno, Fortu, Sushi Sho Rexley, Wild Child, Brick & Mortar, Juno & The Peacock and many more. While you're at it, explore the craft cocktail scene at popular spots such as Pluma Lounge, Mandarin Hide, Bar Mezzo and others. Many spots offer outdoor dining so you can enjoy the beautiful weather while savoring great food and drink.

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, play areas for families, boat tours, a nature center (Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center), a bayfront beach, marketplace with local artisans, public art and more. Bring the family, plan a date night or enjoy a sunset cocktail at Pier Teaki overlooking downtown.

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. Petersburg vibrant. There’s so much to discover on Central Ave., you really have to stroll it to believe it.

Explore our world-famous museums anytime you’re looking for a dose of art and culture. One can’t-miss stop is the Dalí Museum, home to a comprehensive collection of Salvador Dali's works. Also visit the Museum of the American Arts & Crafts Movement, Imagine Museum (contemporary glass art), the Chihuly Collection (unique sculptures by legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly) and the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, 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. Petersburg.

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.

St. Petersburg 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.

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 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. 

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. 

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! 

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. Every Friday night, visitors and locals alike are invited to BYOB and challenge friends to a friendly game. Not sure how the game works? Volunteers will help you get set up on a court and show you the ropes. 

In case you haven’t heard, St. Pete-Clearwater is home to America's Favorite Beaches, including St. Pete Beach. Pack up your beach chair, towel and sunscreen 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.