You're Going to Love Tampa
With its beaches, amusement parks, sporting attractions and an endless array of shopping venues, the "Big Guava" has it all.
If all you want to do is ride the rollercoasters at Busch Gardens and dine on BBQ meat and tacos, get stuck straight into it. If you want to laze around on beaches like Clearwater, there's no better place to roll out your towel. If you love golf, Tampa's got your back - with superb courses like Pebble Creek within the city limits. And if culture is your passion, you can dive into the Tampa Museum of Art, which holds works from ancient Greece to the latest contemporary art.
Whatever your vacation dreams, Tampa will welcome and entertain you like no other American city. So make it the destination for your next sunshine getaway.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Tampa
The Weather
Tampa is one of America's sunshine capitals, enjoying 361 days of sunshine every year. Average highs are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit every month of the year, making it a year-round destination.
Sport
Tampa may only have 350,000 residents, but it has three elite sports teams. Check out the Buccaneers in the NFL, the Rays in Major League Baseball or the Lightning in the NHL.
Ybor City
Ybor City is a beautiful part of Tampa that has hardly changed since its construction in the late 19th century. Still home to a mainly Italian, Cuban and Spanish population, it's a great place to eat and purchase souvenirs like freshly rolled cigars.
Food and Drink
Tampa has an incredibly varied dining scene. You can try Colombian cuisine at Cafe Don Jose, Brazilian beef at Fuego or German sausages at Mr. Dunderbak's. The craft ale scene is similarly vibrant, with well-known brands like Yuengling based in the city.
Busch Gardens
For many tourists, Tampa is mainly famous for Busch Gardens. Built by the Busch brewing company, this massive amusement park in northern Tampa will keep adults and kids entertained for days.
When to Visit Tampa
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There's no single time to visit Tampa. After all, with 361 days of sunshine and a warm climate, the beaches are attractive almost all year round. You might want to time your visit to secure cheaper accommodation prices. Between September and December, crowds tend to thin out and the leading hotels dramatically lower their rates.
How to Get to Tampa
Plane
Tampa International Airport is the most popular entry point for visitors to Tampa, and it's very easy to get into town after your plane touches down. Just take local bus number 30 to Marion Transit Center, catch one of the shuttle buses to major resort hotels or pick up a rental vehicle from outlets like Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz.
Train
Tampa's Amtrak station is centrally located at 601 Nebraska Avenue, so it's a good option if you want to arrive close to city center hotels. Union Station is on the Silver Star route, which connects Tampa to New York, Washington and Philadelphia to the north, and Miami to the southeast.
Car
The best route to take if you are driving to Tampa will probably be I-75, which links the city to destinations in the north. I-4 also connects the city to I-95, the coastal road from New York, while those coming from Texas and the west can take I-10 and transfer to I-75 in northern Florida.
Bus
Greyhound is the major bus operator in town, running interstate services into their stop at 610 Polk Street. Their buses are a great way to travel from cities as diverse as Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and New York. However, Megabus offers an alternative, running buses from major northern cities, while New York's Chinatown service also connects the Big Apple and the Big Guava.
Airlines serving Tampa
Where to Stay in Tampa
Most of the best hotels in Tampa are located on the waterfront, near the Downtown district or the many beaches. If you want to be near the coast, check out options in Beach Park like the Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore or the Grand Hyatt. In the center of town try the Meridien or the Embassy Suites, which offer spacious apartments that families will appreciate. For budget accommodation, have a look at Gram's Place or the Amerisuites Budget Hotel, both of which provide comfort and convenient locations at an affordable price.
Popular Neighborhoods in Tampa
Downtown – Downtown Tampa is where you'll find most of the tourist attractions, such as the Museum of Art, the Florida Aquarium, and the beautiful Tampa Theater - so it's the place to stay if you love culture. It's also home to the Amalie Arena, the home of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning.
North Tampa – Slightly to the north of Downtown Tampa, you'll discover the city's center for family entertainment. Instead of art galleries, North Tampa hosts Busch Gardens, a massive amusement park and zoo - and the city's premier family attraction. Beer lovers will also be in their element, thanks to the presence of the popular Yuengling Beer Company brewery, with a trendy brewpub and tours that ale fans will enjoy.
Ybor City – Ybor City is Tampa's Cuban district, and it's completely unique. In the past, locals made their living by rolling cigars, and you can still buy high-quality products at stores like La Herencia. Nowadays, Ybor is the place to be for great food and nightlife. Try Latin-American eateries like El Puerto, the Italian food at Bernini and wash it down with cocktails at the Mist Martini Lounge.
Most popular hotel in Tampa by neighbourhood
Where to stay in popular areas of Tampa
Most booked hotels in Tampa
How to Get Around Tampa
Public Transportation
The HART public transit system is a useful way to get around the center of Tampa and provides regular shuttles to Busch Gardens as well. Bus fares are $2, but be sure to find time to ride the city's streetcars as well. The TECO line covers Ybor City and the center and passes by the major sights. A single fare is $2.50. You can also purchase day passes for $5, and family tickets for $12.50 (3 children and 2 adults, all-day travel).
Taxis
Generally, Tampa's taxi fleet charges a meter drop of $2.50, then $2.40 for every subsequent mile. However, Uber offers a cheaper alternative. Their UberX vehicles charge $1 for the initial meter drop, then $0.80 per mile after that.
Car
Having a car makes a lot of sense in Tampa. It allows you to visit St Petersburg, Orlando and even Miami and the Everglades, and to reach out of the way beaches. Navigating the city shouldn't be hard, and there's plenty of city center parking available. There are thousands of metered spots, but you'll save money by parking at public garages maintained by the Tampa Downtown Partnership.
Car hire agencies in Tampa
The Cost of Living in Tampa
Shopping Streets
Tampa has several popular shopping neighborhoods. Just south of the center, SoHo is the place to head, where boutiques like Smack Apparel and Urban Body Clothing combine with some of the most stylish restaurants in the city. Slightly to the southeast, you can find Palma Ceia - a strip of clothing stores like Ship Chic and Kate McKenzie and accessory outlets like Zoey Bloom. There are also plenty of popular malls. Both the Westshore Plaza Mall and the International Plaza Mall are near the airport and worth checking out before you fly home.
Groceries and Other
Tampa is full of places to buy cheap groceries, including major supermarkets like Walmart, Publix and Whole Foods. So if you are self-catering during your stay, saving money should be simple. Grocery costs are quite low, with a gallon of milk likely to cost $3.90 and a pound of apples $2.
Where to Eat in Tampa
Food is one of the greatest attractions in Tampa, particularly if you love Latin American. Head to Cafe Don Jose to try Colombian cooking, or Fuego to dine on huge plates of Brazilian BBQ meat. You can order Delmonico steaks at Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City or grab a gourmet taco on the go from El Taconazo (the taco bus). SoHo is also full of great sushi restaurants, including Sushi Ninja, while there are excellent Caribbean eateries like the Jerk Hut and upscale European style restaurants like NoHo Bistro to explore as well. Expect to pay $15 or so for a medium-range meal.