Updated November 3, 2026
Tampa is the big-city half of the Bay. A weekend here usually means the 2.6-mile Riverwalk, a night in Ybor City or Water Street, and a day at Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium or ZooTampa.
Tampa doesn't have its own Gulf beach. The closest sand is across the bay in Pinellas (about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic), so plenty of visitors pair a Tampa night with a beach day.
Jump to: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars & nightlife · Hotels · Golf & tee times · Springs & manatees · Boat tours & water fun · Tours & adventures
Things to do in Tampa
Photo: ClaudiaTampa39 · Public domainBusch Gardens Tampa Bay
Large theme park pairing big roller coasters with African-themed zones and animal habitats.
Adventure Island
Seasonal water park beside Busch Gardens with slides, wave pools, a lazy river and kids' splash zones.
The Florida Aquarium
Waterfront aquarium with coral reef, wetlands and shark exhibits plus an outdoor splash area.
Photo: TampAGS, for AGS Media · CC BY-SA 3.0ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Nonprofit zoo known for Florida wildlife and manatee rehabilitation, with animal encounters and family rides.
Photo: Barbthebuilder · CC BY-SA 3.0Tampa Riverwalk
Waterfront path of about 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River linking parks, museums, restaurants and hotels.
Glazer Children's Museum
Hands-on play museum in Curtis Hixon Park built for young kids, with role-play and science exhibits.
Tampa Museum of Art
Riverside art museum showing antiquities alongside modern and contemporary works, beside Curtis Hixon Park.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Gilded Age museum inside the minaret-topped 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel on the University of Tampa campus.
Ybor City Museum State Park
State park museum in a historic bakery telling the story of Ybor's cigar industry and immigrant communities.
Tampa Bay History Center
Riverwalk museum covering regional history from native cultures to cigar workers, pirates and Florida film.
MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
Science center with interactive exhibits and hands-on STEM experiences aimed at families and school groups.
Sparkman Wharf
Waterfront hangout in the Water Street district with a lawn, eateries, game-day screenings and live events.
Raymond James Stadium
Home of the Buccaneers and USF football, also hosting concerts, Monster Jam and stadium tours.
Benchmark International Arena
Downtown arena, formerly Amalie Arena, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning and major touring concerts.
Tampa Theatre
Nonprofit 1926 movie palace screening films and hosting concerts beneath its atmospheric starry ceiling.
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Riverfront performing arts complex staging Broadway tours, opera, concerts and comedy across several theaters.
Pirate Water Taxi
Pirate-themed hop-on, hop-off boats shuttling riders between stops along the Riverwalk and Channel District.
Bayshore Boulevard Linear Park
Long bayfront sidewalk beside Hillsborough Bay, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists for its water views.
Restaurants in Tampa
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY 4.0Columbia Restaurant
Florida's oldest restaurant, founded 1905, serving Spanish-Cuban dishes in tiled dining rooms with flamenco shows.
Bern's Steak House
Landmark steakhouse famed for dry-aged beef, a massive wine list and its separate upstairs dessert room.
Ulele
Riverwalk restaurant in a restored waterworks building, drawing on native Florida ingredients and its own brewery.
Armature Works – Heights Public Market
Restored streetcar depot housing a food hall of local vendors, sit-down restaurants and bars on the river.
Rocca
Michelin-starred Italian spot known for handmade pastas and polished modern technique in the Heights.
Rooster & the Till
Michelin Bib Gourmand pick serving inventive seasonal small plates from an open kitchen.
Oxford Exchange
Stylish atrium restaurant combined with a bookshop, coffee bar and tea bar, popular for brunch.
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0La Segunda Bakery
Century-old bakery producing Cuban bread, with a café serving Cuban sandwiches and café con leche.
Carmine's Restaurant & Bar
Longtime Ybor 7th Avenue spot serving Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and Cuban-Italian comfort food.
Big Ray's Fish Camp
Casual seafood spot recognized by the Michelin Guide, with an outpost by the Riverwalk at the convention center's Sail Plaza.
Lilac
Michelin-starred Mediterranean dining room by chef John Fraser inside the Tampa EDITION hotel.
Boulon Brasserie and Bakery
French-style brasserie and bakery on Water Street with classic bistro plates and live music nights.
Predalina
Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and lounge on Water Street open late on weekends and serving weekend brunch.
Anchor and Brine
Seafood restaurant with a raw bar and outdoor waterfront terrace inside Tampa Marriott Water Street.
Jackson's Bistro Bar & Sushi
Harbour Island waterfront bistro with sushi, a bar and lunch and dinner menus.
Bars & nightlife in Tampa
Photo: Bryan Weinstein · CC0The RITZ Ybor
Concert and event venue in a 1917 former theater on Ybor's 7th Avenue, hosting touring acts and DJ nights.
Skipper's Smokehouse
Open-air roadhouse since 1980 mixing live music, an oyster bar and Floribbean food like grouper Reubens.
M.Bird
Art Deco-style rooftop lounge above Armature Works pouring tropical cocktails with downtown skyline views.
Bar AW
Central bar in the Heights Public Market with 20-plus craft taps and cocktails to take out to the lawn.
Stones Throw
Open-air riverfront pavilion at Armature Works for oysters, cocktails, sunset happy hours and Tuesday live music.
Champagne Porch
Armature Works bar focused on champagne cocktails and bottles of bubbly.
The Champagne Bar at Oxford Exchange
Daytime pink-and-red bar inside Oxford Exchange's shop pouring champagne, rosé and themed cocktails.
Punch Room at The Tampa EDITION
Intimate hotel cocktail lounge known for shareable punch bowls; smart casual dress expected.
Pool Bar at The Tampa EDITION
Rooftop poolside bar with panoramic views, craft cocktails and casual bites from late morning on.
Beacon at JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Rooftop lounge on the JW Marriott's upper floor, regularly cited among Tampa's best spots for skyline views.
Pool Bar & Grill at Tampa Marriott Water Street
Weekend rooftop pool bar overlooking the bay, serving drinks and sandwiches Friday through Sunday afternoons.
Hattricks Tavern (Downtown)
Downtown Franklin Street sports tavern with daily happy hours, wings and game-day drink specials.
The Sail
Outdoor, dog-friendly Riverwalk bar beside the Tampa Convention Center with handmade cocktails and weekend live music.
Gasparilla Distillery & Cocktail Bar
Ybor City craft distillery and cocktail bar making Gasparilla rum, with a tasting room and cocktail menu.
Hotels in Tampa
The Tampa EDITION
Luxury design hotel in Water Street home to Michelin-starred Lilac, a rooftop pool and several bars.
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Upscale high-rise hotel on Water Street with a rooftop pool and the Beacon sky lounge.
Tampa Marriott Water Street
Large bayfront hotel next to the convention center and Riverwalk, with a rooftop pool and seafood restaurant.
Hilton Tampa Downtown
Full-service downtown high-rise within walking distance of the Riverwalk, museums and the Straz Center.
Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
Independent hotel listed by Friends of the Riverwalk, giving easy walking access to the riverfront path.
Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
Riverside hotel listed by Friends of the Riverwalk, set directly on the Hillsborough River downtown.
Hyatt Place Tampa Downtown
Midrange downtown hotel with spacious rooms and breakfast options, handy for Riverwalk and arena events.
Hyatt House Tampa Downtown
Extended-stay style downtown hotel with kitchen-equipped suites suited to families and longer visits.
Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection
Boutique Autograph Collection hotel in Tampa's SoHo district, next door to Bern's Steak House.
Hotel Haya
Boutique hotel in the historic Ybor City neighborhood.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
AAA Four-Diamond-rated hotel with a casino, restaurants and a pool area with private cabanas.
The Westin Tampa Waterside
Downtown hotel on Harbour Island with water views, a pool and on-site dining, a short walk from the Riverwalk.
Le Meridien Tampa, The Courthouse
Boutique hotel housed in a historic courthouse in downtown Tampa's arts and entertainment district.
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Full-service waterfront resort on 35 acres near Tampa International Airport with two pools and two restaurants.
Golf & tee times in Tampa
Babe Zaharias Golf Course
City of Tampa course with tee times booked through Chronogolf.
Rocky Point Golf Course
18-hole, par 71 course in Tampa with tees from 4,925 to 6,328 yards.
Rogers Park Golf Course
Tampa golf course listed on Chronogolf; the City of Tampa has dedicated a historical marker to it.
TPC Tampa Bay
TPC Network course in Lutz that lists a public tee-time booking page.
Topgolf Tampa
Topgolf venue with climate-controlled hitting bays; open Mon-Thu 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-1am, Sun 10am-midnight.
PopStroke Tampa @ Wesley Chapel
Tiger Woods-designed putting-course entertainment venue listed on PopStroke's locations page.
Springs & manatees in Tampa
TECO Manatee Viewing Center
Free Tampa Electric viewing center at the Big Bend power station with an observation tower and habitat trails where wild manatees gather in the warm discharge canal.
ZooTampa Manatee Critical Care Center
ZooTampa's David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center rehabilitates sick and injured manatees; the zoo also offers a manatee underwater live stream.
Boat tours & water fun in Tampa
Lettuce Lake Park Canoe & Kayak Rentals
Hillsborough County park with canoe and kayak rentals at the entry station; rentals are also offered at E.G. Simmons, Edward Medard, Lake Conservation and Upper Tampa Bay parks.
Tours & adventures in Tampa
TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park
Aerial adventure park with zip lines and treetop courses, including a Little Lemur's kids course and cosmic night climbs; tickets cost $6 more at the door.
Ybor City Food Tours
About three-hour walking food tour of historic Ybor City with tastings; also dessert, pet-friendly dog, and private tours.
Good to know
- The free TECO Line Streetcar links downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City, so you can skip parking between them. See our getting around page for parking and rides.
- Game days and big concerts at Raymond James Stadium and Benchmark International Arena fill hotels and slow traffic. Check the event calendar when you book.
- Ybor City is busiest late on Friday and Saturday nights. Go earlier in the evening if you want a quieter dinner on 7th Avenue.
- Parking, trolleys, Uber and Lyft: see getting around Tampa.