How to Plan a Trip to St. Petersburg, Florida

As a longtime Tampa resident, I often find myself casting an envious eye across the glittering expanse of Tampa Bay at neighboring St. Petersburg (also called St. Pete). The city takes itself a little less seriously, knows how to party, and punches above its weight with museums, breweries, and great restaurants, to boot. Also, some of the Gulf Coast’s best beaches are just a short drive away (just don’t confuse downtown St. Pete — a destination of its own — with neighboring St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach).

“I think the area has the best of both worlds, with the beaches and downtown,” says Kenny Tufo, executive chef at St. Pete’s Urban Stillhouse, who moved to the area a decade ago from New York City. “You can be in Clearwater, Sarasota, and Tampa really quickly, but St. Pete also happens to be absolutely beautiful and with so much to do on its own.”

From a chef’s point of view, the area has really blossomed recently. “The culinary scene has grown to be able to stand on a national level,” says Tufo.

St. Pete has also grown into one of Florida’s cultural heavy hitters, grounded by The Dalí Museum, dedicated to works by the Spanish surrealist and showcasing temporary exhibitions, too. “St. Pete is the perfect blend of a bit of cosmopolitan and Old Florida charm, with cultural influences from elsewhere, too,” says Amber Brinkley, who chairs Studio@620, a space for emerging artists that’s been a creative cornerstone in the community for 20 years.

“We pack a lot for our weight. People always seem pleasantly surprised by the density of cultural opportunities we have in a relatively small downtown,” Brinkley says.

Read on to learn more about how to experience the best of St. Pete on your next visit to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Best Hotels and Resorts

The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection

Downtown St. Pete’s grande dame hotel is this historic, cotton candy-hued beauty just steps from the bay and all of the dining, bar-hopping, and shopping along Beach Drive. Recently refreshed,  The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, Autograph Collection is known for its unique Mediterranean Revival architecture and has 354 modern and comfortable rooms, a great outdoor pool overlooking the bay, and excellent onsite restaurants that include French patisserie Lottie and Paul’s Landing. The latter is my favorite in good weather for sipping a cocktail by a fire pit on the patio and tucking into wings, tuna nachos, oysters, and the smoked fish dip.

Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown

New on the downtown St. Pete hotel scene in 2024, the Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown has a great rooftop pool deck overlooking the surrounding Edge District, a fun lobby bar that opens onto the street, a podcast studio guests can use, and 163 comfortable and contemporary rooms and suites.

The Birchwood

Fronting Beach Drive and with step-out access to restaurants, bars, and shopping, The Birchwood is where you should stay if you’re looking for a centrally located boutique property with a ton of charm. The hotel features 1920s-inspired decor, and some of the 18 rooms even have clawfoot tubs. The rooftop bar, Birchwood Canopy, overlooks the bay and is popular for sunset drinks and partying well into the night.

Hollander Hotel

With free parking and a pool where it’s always a party, Hollander Hotel draws a young and lively crowd for an affordable stay within a quick walk of St. Pete’s best breweries, restaurants, and shopping. There’s a poolside bar, and the onsite Tap Room restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is known for solid cocktails and great steaks.

Best Things to Do

Go museum hopping.

St. Pete is a cultural heavyweight and punches above its class when it comes to the diversity of museums you can visit in its compact downtown. The most famous among them is The Dalí Museum, home to the largest collection of works (over 2,400!) by Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí outside of his native Spain. A short walk away, The James Museum, within a dramatic building that looks like a red rock canyon, houses Western and wildlife works. Near the waterfront, The Museum of Fine Arts’ collection has masterpieces by the likes of Rodin and Monet.

Stroll the St. Pete Pier.

From Beach Drive right in downtown St. Pete, there’s no better wander than a walk out to the St. Pete Pier, a beautiful and modern construction that’s so much more than a place to cast out a fishing line into Tampa Bay. There’s a beach with Adirondack chairs where you can lounge, public art, a rooftop tiki bar (Pier Teaki), a conservation visitor center, a pirate-themed playground, several restaurants, and a marketplace promenade where artisans often sell handcrafted items.

Visit the Saturday morning market.

One of Florida’s very best weekend markets takes over the parking lot by Al Lang Stadium every Saturday morning as locals and visitors descend to browse fresh flowers and produce, sample international street food, stock up on handmade soaps, and browse scores of stalls selling so much more. There’s always live music to add to the festive vibe, too.

Check out all the murals.

Hundreds of colorful murals line St. Pete’s buildings, alleys, and public spaces, and you can explore them on your own or head out on walking tours in the Central Arts District with Florida CraftArt on Saturday mornings. Every fall, the St. Petersburg Art Alliance puts on the SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival, inviting artists to use the city’s walls and streets as their canvases.

Go kayaking through mangrove tunnels in a nature preserve.

Downtown St. Pete doesn’t have any Gulf of Mexico beaches (they’re just a short drive away in spots like St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille, and Clearwater Beach). But you can rent kayaks and get out on the water and deep into Florida’s unique landscapes in Weedon Island Preserve. There are 4.7 miles of walking trails here and two self-guided paddling trails that wind through mangrove tunnels and the open bay. You’ll see all manner of wading birds and may even come across dolphins and manatees.

Best Restaurants

Urban Stillhouse by Horse Soldier

Helmed by executive chef Kenny Tufo, this gorgeous restaurant in St. Pete’s Warehouse District is a beautiful space decked out in velvet, marble, leather, copper, and wood, inspired by the liquor brand owners’ favorite spots in Kentucky, Scotland, Montana, and Canada. Come for the elevated atmosphere, a happening bar and brunch scene, and delicious seafood, steak, bourbon cocktails, and more.

Juno & The Peacock

Just a short stroll from The Vinoy, this Beach Drive newcomer has a lively patio scene and does decadent raw bar platters, dry-aged steaks, and flatbreads. You’ll never go wrong with a blackened grouper sandwich in these parts, either.

Allelo

The region’s Greek history runs deep in this part of Florida, and you can settle in for elevated Mediterranean and Aegean fare at this Beach Drive hotspot known for its elegant bar backed by an incredible mural of Florida birds and for dishes like grilled octopus, truffled arancini, and shakshuka.

Bodega

For something casual and delicious along Central Boulevard, it’s hard to beat a Cuban sandwich or lechon platter with rice, beans, and plantains served with an ice-cold michelada from this Latin American-inspired hot spot.

Wild Child

A beloved neighborhood hangout in the Grand Central district for cocktails, a fun brunch scene, and date-night dinners, Wild Child dishes up international delights like ceviche, Korean fried chicken sandwiches, and a mean cheeseburger (on brioche with homemade pickles).

Best Bars

Pluma

Classic cocktails from Mexico, Peru, and Brazil draw enthusiasts of aperitifs and nightcaps to Pluma, an elegant and newly opened spot along Beach Drive. The Dip Baby Dip cocktail (with scotch, mole negro, chocolate, ancho, and amaro) comes with its own scratch-made take on the Tootsie roll.

Pier Teaki

Sometimes you just want something over-the-top and fruity to celebrate being in a Sunshine State of mind. Head to the St. Pete Pier and Pier Teaki’s rooftop for expansive views overlooking the bay and downtown St. Pete, best toasted with a mai tai, goombay smash, or rum runner (preferably in a souvenir cup).

Enigma

Friday night drag shows, DJs, and a killer sound and lighting system draw crowds that like to dance to this LGBTQ+-friendly bar in the Edge District.

The Mandarin Hide

Tasty craft cocktails and retro speakeasy vibes keep this beloved bar — that’s been a staple along Central Avenue since 2010 — perpetually popping.

Green Bench Brewing Company

Breweries have popped up all over St. Pete in recent years. But you’ll never go wrong with grabbing a cold one in the Edge District at Green Bench Brewing Company, one of the town’s original breweries that’s known for a solid selection of IPAs and sours. There’s a large outdoor patio that’s dog- and family-friendly, too.

Best Time to Visit

Florida’s year-round balmy temperatures make St. Pete an always-on destination for business and pleasure. The winter and spring months — from November through early May — bring the most pleasant temperatures. Keep in mind that Florida’s hurricane season runs from June through the end of November. The city hosts big events year-round, including June’s Pride festival (St. Pete Pride, the largest in all of Florida) and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in March.

How to Get There

Most travelers fly into Tampa International Airport, about 20 miles northeast of downtown St. Pete. You can also check flights arriving at the less-trafficked St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (13 miles north) and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (35 miles south).

How to Get Around

If you plan to spend some time on the sand at some of the area’s beaches or visit nearby downtown Tampa, you might want to rent a car. But St. Pete has reliable public transportation, too, including the Downtown Looper bus and Central Avenue Trolley (no charge to ride) to get around town. You can hop on the high-speed Cross Bay Ferry to reach downtown Tampa from St. Pete (it takes about 50 minutes to make the journey across Tampa Bay). St. Pete also has a bike share program you can access through the Lime app.