Where to stay · Tampa · United States
Where to stay in Tampa
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa · Photo: Bbphotos, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown and the Riverwalk. Office towers and hotels along the Hillsborough River, with museums on the waterfront. Best alternatives — budget: Ybor City; nightlife: Ybor City.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown and the Riverwalk
- Families
- Downtown and the Riverwalk
- Budget
- Ybor City
- Nightlife
- Ybor City
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Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown and the Riverwalk | Office towers and hotels along the Hillsborough River, with museums on the waterfront |
| Families | Downtown and the Riverwalk | Office towers and hotels along the Hillsborough River, with museums on the waterfront |
| Couples | Hyde Park and SoHo | Bungalows and brick streets off Bayshore Boulevard, with a bar strip on South Howard |
| Budget | Ybor City | Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street |
| Luxury | Channel District and Water Street | New towers, the cruise terminals and the Florida Aquarium on Garrison Channel |
| Nightlife | Ybor City | Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street |
| Food lovers | Ybor City | Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street |
| Solo travellers | Downtown and the Riverwalk | Office towers and hotels along the Hillsborough River, with museums on the waterfront |
| Shopping | Westshore | Business hotels, the International Plaza mall and quick airport access |
| Quiet stays | Seminole Heights | Craftsman bungalows, independent restaurants and craft breweries north of downtown |
Tampa neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and solo travellers
Downtown and the Riverwalk
Downtown Tampa is the main hotel base, with the Riverwalk running past Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Glazer Children's Museum and the Straz Center. Across the river, the silver minarets of the Henry B. Plant Museum make the skyline's best-known view. The TECO Line Streetcar links downtown with the Channel District and Ybor City.
- Good
- Walkable riverfront; Streetcar to Ybor City; Close to the airport
- Watch out
- Office district is quiet at weekends; Hotel parking is expensive
- Nearby
- Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa Museum of Art, Straz Center
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury and first-timers
Channel District and Water Street
The Channel District, next to Port Tampa Bay's cruise terminals, holds the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Bay History Center and the downtown arena. The Water Street Tampa development has added new hotels, restaurants and walkable streets, and Sparkman Wharf has a container food garden by the water.
- Good
- Walk to the aquarium and cruise terminals; Newest hotels in the city; On the streetcar line
- Watch out
- Expensive; Event nights at the arena bring heavy traffic
- Nearby
- Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay History Center, Sparkman Wharf, Port Tampa Bay
$$ · Best for nightlife, culture, food lovers and budget
Ybor City
Founded in 1886 by cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor, the district drew Cuban, Spanish and Italian workers whose mutual-aid clubs and bakeries still stand. By day it is a National Historic Landmark District with museums and cigar shops; by night 7th Avenue (La Séptima) is Tampa's main nightlife strip. Chickens roam the streets and are protected.
- Good
- Most historic part of the city; Excellent Cuban and Spanish food; Streetcar to downtown
- Watch out
- Loud and crowded on weekend nights; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City Museum State Park, J.C. Newman Cigar Company, 7th Avenue
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, nightlife and luxury
Hyde Park and SoHo
Hyde Park is one of Tampa's oldest residential areas, with early 20th-century homes and Hyde Park Village's shops and restaurants. South Howard Avenue (SoHo) has bars and restaurants, including Bern's Steak House, and Bayshore Boulevard's waterfront walk is a few blocks away.
- Good
- Attractive, walkable streets; Good restaurants; Bayshore running and cycling path
- Watch out
- Few hotels; mostly rentals; SoHo is noisy late at weekends
- Nearby
- Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park Village, Bern's Steak House, University of Tampa
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and solo travellers
Tampa Heights
Tampa Heights, just north of downtown, centres on Armature Works, a restored early 20th-century streetcar depot housing the Heights Public Market food hall, restaurants and a lawn on the river. The Riverwalk continues past it, and the neighbourhood's older wooden houses and newer apartments hold small cafés and breweries.
- Good
- Food hall and riverfront lawn; Walk or water-taxi to downtown
- Watch out
- Limited hotels; Some blocks still under redevelopment
- Nearby
- Armature Works, Water Works Park, Tampa Riverwalk
$$ · Best for food lovers, quiet stays and budget
Seminole Heights
Seminole Heights, along the Hillsborough River north of downtown, is a historic district of 1910s–1930s bungalows. Florida Avenue and Central Avenue hold some of the city's most creative independent restaurants, coffee roasters and breweries. It suits travellers who want a local, residential feel and have a car.
- Good
- Local atmosphere; Strong independent food scene; Closer to Busch Gardens
- Watch out
- Mostly vacation rentals; You will need a car
- Nearby
- Hillsborough River, Florida Avenue, Busch Gardens (15 minutes by car)
$$ · Best for shopping, budget and families
Westshore
Westshore sits beside Tampa International Airport and the Courtney Campbell Causeway towards Clearwater. It has many mid-range chain hotels, International Plaza and WestShore Plaza for shopping, and Raymond James Stadium nearby. It is a practical base for short stays, early flights and beach day trips.
- Good
- Minutes from the airport; Good value hotels; Fast route to Clearwater
- Watch out
- Car-dependent; Little character
- Nearby
- Tampa International Airport, International Plaza, Raymond James Stadium, Ben T. Davis Beach
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and the Riverwalk | $$$ | Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa Museum of Art, Straz Center |
| Channel District and Water Street | $$$$ | Florida Aquarium, Tampa Bay History Center, Sparkman Wharf, Port Tampa Bay |
| Ybor City | $$ | Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City Museum State Park, J.C. Newman Cigar Company, 7th Avenue |
| Hyde Park and SoHo | $$$ | Bayshore Boulevard, Hyde Park Village, Bern's Steak House, University of Tampa |
| Tampa Heights | $$$ | Armature Works, Water Works Park, Tampa Riverwalk |
| Seminole Heights | $$ | Hillsborough River, Florida Avenue, Busch Gardens (15 minutes by car) |
| Westshore | $$ | Tampa International Airport, International Plaza, Raymond James Stadium, Ben T. Davis Beach |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Tampa for first-time visitors?
Downtown and the Riverwalk. Downtown Tampa is the main hotel base, with the Riverwalk running past Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Glazer Children's Museum and the Straz Center.
+Where should families stay in Tampa?
Downtown and the Riverwalk: Walkable riverfront.
+Which area of Tampa is best for a budget stay?
Ybor City ($$): Brick cigar factories, wrought-iron balconies and the city's busiest bar street.