Sanibel travel guide

Sanibel Tourism | Sanibel Guide

You're Going to Love Sanibel

With a population of 6,469, Sanibel is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. Consider staying at least one whole day in Sanibel to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Sanibel

If you’re looking for affordable options, Cielo (1244 Periwinkle Way) and Il Tesoro-Sanibel (751 Tarpon Bay Road) are great picks.

When to visit Sanibel

Sanibel in September
Estimated hotel price
$274
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sanibel in September
Estimated hotel price
$274
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Sanibel

Plane

Although Sanibel doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to SW Florida Intl Airport (RSW), which is located 28 km from Sanibel. The shortest flight to Sanibel from Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 21h 01m.

Car

Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 241 km from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Thrifty, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Sanibel using RedCoach or FlixBus. From Fort Lauderdale, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 201 km and will cost you around $70. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $91 for a journey of 201 km.

Plane

Although Sanibel doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to SW Florida Intl Airport (RSW), which is located 28 km from Sanibel. The shortest flight to Sanibel from Australia departs from Sydney and takes around 21h 01m.

Car

Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car hire from Orlando, which is about 241 km from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Thrifty, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Sanibel using RedCoach or FlixBus. From Fort Lauderdale, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 201 km and will cost you around $70. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $91 for a journey of 201 km.

Airlines serving Sanibel

Lufthansa
Good (4,620 reviews)
KLM
Good (847 reviews)
SWISS
Good (928 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,459 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,603 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,292 reviews)
Air France
Good (972 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (476 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,936 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,125 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,480 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,742 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (878 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,160 reviews)
LOT
Good (682 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (915 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (834 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,520 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (708 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Sanibel

Most booked hotels in Sanibel

Island Inn
3 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
$593+
Sunset Beach Inn
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$314+
The Lighthouse Resort Inn & Suites
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$285+
Sanibel Island Beach Resort
3 stars
Good (7.8, Good reviews)
$399+
Pink Shell Beach Resort And Marina
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
$470+
West Wind Inn
3 stars
Poor (0, Poor reviews)
$146+

Hiring a car in Sanibel

Expect to pay $1.59 per litre in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $19.02 and $25.36.

Expect to pay $1.59 per litre in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $19.02 and $25.36.