Travel guide · United States
Tampa travel guide
Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City, a riverside promenade and Gulf beaches 40 minutes away
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Clément Bardot, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Tampa sits at the top of Tampa Bay on Florida's Gulf Coast, with a compact downtown on the Hillsborough River, the historic cigar-making district of Ybor City and the long balustraded promenade of Bayshore Boulevard. Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa make it a strong family base, and the white-sand Gulf beaches of Clearwater and St. Pete Beach are about 40–50 minutes' drive across the bay. The city's Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrant history shows in its food, above all the Tampa-style Cuban sandwich. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are March–May and November.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- March–May and November
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- TPA, PIE
- Mid-range daily budget
- US$200–350 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Ybor City, Cuban sandwich, Busch Gardens and Gasparilla Pirate Festival
Plan a trip to Tampa
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Why visit Tampa
- Ybor City keeps its 1900s cigar factories, brick social clubs and free-roaming chickens, plus the Columbia Restaurant, open since 1905.
- The Tampa Riverwalk links museums, parks and restaurants for about 4 km along the Hillsborough River and the Garrison Channel.
- Busch Gardens combines big roller coasters with an African-themed animal park and a 65-acre Serengeti Plain.
- Gulf beaches at Clearwater, St. Pete Beach and Fort De Soto Park are within an hour's drive.
- Winter is warm and dry, with baseball spring training, the Gasparilla pirate invasion and manatees gathering in warm water.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Waterfront · Downtown
Tampa Riverwalk
A continuous waterfront path of about 4 km runs from the Channel District along the Garrison Channel and the Hillsborough River to Tampa Heights.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Ybor City
Ybor City Historic District
Tampa's cigar district grew from 1886 into the city's immigrant centre, and 7th Avenue still has the brick factories, social clubs and balconied storefronts of that era.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Free
- Food
- After dark
Theme park · North Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
An Africa-themed theme park with some of Florida's biggest roller coasters, including the dive coaster SheiKra, the inverted Montu and the wooden-steel hybrid Iron Gwazi.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Iconic
- Active
- Nature
Aquarium · Channel District
The Florida Aquarium
The aquarium follows a drop of water from Florida's springs and wetlands to its coral reefs, with a mangrove gallery under a glass dome, a large coral reef tank and a penguin habitat.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Zoo · Lowry Park
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
A medium-sized zoo north of downtown known for its Florida section and its manatee critical care centre, which treats injured and sick manatees from across the state; visitors can watch through underwater windows.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Museum · University of Tampa
Henry B. Plant Museum
Railroad magnate Henry Plant's Tampa Bay Hotel opened in 1891 as a Moorish Revival fantasy topped by 13 silver minarets; it is now the University of Tampa's main building.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Downtown and the Riverwalk is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and solo travellers
Downtown and the Riverwalk
Office towers and hotels along the Hillsborough River, with museums on the waterfront
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury and first-timers
Channel District and Water Street
New towers, the cruise terminals and the Florida Aquarium on Garrison Channel
$$ · Best for nightlife, culture, food lovers and budget
Ybor City
Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, nightlife and luxury
Hyde Park and SoHo
Bungalows and brick streets off Bayshore Boulevard, with a bar strip on South Howard
What to eat
- Tampa Cuban sandwich — Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed in Cuban bread — and, in Tampa's version, Genoa salami, a nod to the city's Italian cigar workers.
- Cuban bread — A long, light loaf with a crackly crust, traditionally baked with a palmetto frond laid along the top to create its distinctive seam.
- Deviled crab — Spicy blue crab meat mixed with sofrito, rolled in Cuban breadcrumbs and deep-fried in a torpedo shape — a cheap cigar-factory lunch that became a Tampa institution.
- Spanish bean soup — Chickpeas simmered with chorizo, ham, potatoes and saffron, served as a hearty starter in Tampa's Spanish restaurants since the early 1900s.
- 1905 Salad — Iceberg lettuce, ham, Swiss cheese, tomatoes, olives and Romano tossed at the table with a garlic and Worcestershire dressing, named for the year the Columbia opened.
- Café con leche and Cuban toast — Strong, sweet Cuban espresso with hot milk, served with buttered, pressed Cuban bread for dunking — the standard Tampa breakfast.
When is the best time to visit Tampa?
The best months to go are March–May and November. June to September is hot and humid with daily storms, and August to October is peak hurricane season, so book flexibly then.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | The best beach weather — warm, sunny and dry — with spring training and spring break making March the busiest and most expensive month. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, humid and stormy most afternoons, with the warmest Gulf water and the lowest hotel prices; mornings are best for outdoor plans. |
| Autumn | September–November | September is stormy and the peak of hurricane risk; by November it is dry and comfortable with stone crab season under way. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild, dry and sunny, with Gasparilla, the state fair and manatees in warm-water refuges; too cool for most people to swim. |
Getting there and around
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is about 10 km west of downtown, roughly 15 minutes by car or rideshare; an automated people-mover links the terminal with the rental car centre. St. Pete–Clearwater International (PIE), across the bay, is served mainly by low-cost airlines and is closer to the beaches.
Tampa is spread out and most visitors rent a car, especially for Busch Gardens and the beaches. Downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City are linked by the TECO Line Streetcar, and the Riverwalk and water taxis connect the waterfront.
How many days do you need in Tampa?
Three days covers the Riverwalk, Ybor City, the aquarium and a day at Busch Gardens. A fourth day adds a beach or St. Petersburg's Dalí Museum; a week leaves room for Tarpon Springs, Weeki Wachee and winter manatee viewing. How to split your days.
Planning a trip to Tampa from the U.S.
Worked out from time zones, airport coordinates and local power standards. Time differences can shift by an hour for a few weeks a year while daylight saving starts or ends on different dates.
Time difference
Same time as New York; 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles
Distance from the U.S.
1,010 miles (1,620 km) from New York (JFK); 2,160 miles (3,470 km) from Los Angeles (LAX)
In a straight line between the airport and the city centre, not a flight route.
Plugs and voltage
U.S. plugs fit (Type A and B sockets). Power is 120 V (120 V at home).
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer filtered water for taste.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tip about 18–20% at table-service restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, and 15–20% for taxis, rideshares and tours.
Visitor areas are generally fine, but keep an eye on belongings in Ybor City late at night and use rideshares between districts. The bigger hazards are natural: summer heat, frequent lightning storms (leave the beach or water when you hear thunder) and hurricanes from June to November — follow official instructions if a storm approaches.
Flights to Tampa
Questions travellers ask
+What is Tampa known for?
Ybor City, Cuban sandwich, Busch Gardens, Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Tampa Riverwalk, Bayshore Boulevard and Gulf beaches. Ybor City keeps its 1900s cigar factories, brick social clubs and free-roaming chickens, plus the Columbia Restaurant, open since 1905.
+Is Tampa expensive?
Tampa is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly US$200–350 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Tampa?
Yes for most trips: Busch Gardens, the beaches and day trips are all easier by car. A car-free stay works only if you base yourself downtown or in the Channel District and stick to the streetcar, Riverwalk and rideshares.