Overview
Saint Petersburg sits at the base of the Tampa Bay peninsula in Pinellas County, Florida, and enjoys a more subdued social atmosphere than its larger cousin, Tampa. The city has tried to characterize the downtown as an arts and entertainments destination and you will find no shortage of arts and crafts stores, galleries, and museums along with cafes and boutique food shops all within a couple blocks of the Tampa Bay waterfront. With water on three sides of the city, St. Pete is a superb location for fishing, sailing, and wandering beaches.
7 sights · 15 things to do · 18 places to eat · 7 bars & cafés · 13 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Saint Petersburg
Salvador Dali Museum
In 2011 the Dali museum opened in a new building on the downtown waterfront between the Mahaffey Theater & Albert Witted Airport and built to protect the collection from a Category 5 hurricane! From huge canvases to …
Sunken Gardens
A lush oasis of plant life in the heart of Saint Petersburg. The garden offers a maze of paths through dense vegetation, with the lowest point in the garden at least 15 feet below street level. It began as a lake drained…
Florida Holocaust Museum
Founded by Walter and Edie Loebenberg, the museum opened in 1992. It moved to its current site in 1998.
Chihuly Collection presented by Morean Arts Center
A permanent collection of glass art by the world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly.
Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
A Florida State Park located on the north and south sides of the mouth of Tampa Bay. When the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was built on I-275 (US 19) after one part of the old bridge collapsed due to a barge accident, the …
Cathedral Church of St. Peter
Historic Episcopal cathedral built in 1889.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 54°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jul.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PIE St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport, Pinellas Park — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- TPA Tampa International Airport, Tampa — 15 mi away (major hub). Directions
While Saint Petersburg has no railway station on its own, nearby Tampa is served by Amtrak via its Silver Service between Miami and New York City. A thruway bus service is available, arriving at Corner of US 19 and 110 Ave near Pinellas Park Square Shopping Center.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $89–$89 a night (typical $544), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$130, mid-range ~$620, comfortable ~$260.
Options are grouped as Budget, Downtown, Beach side in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Salvador Dali Museum, Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, Pier Dolphin Cruises
- Lunch El Cap's Burgers and Sandwiches
- Afternoon The Sundial, Jannus Live
- Dinner Evos
- Evening The One Night Stand
Day 2
- Morning Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, Eckerd College Public Events, Cathedral Church of St. Peter
- Lunch Mazarro's Italian Market
- Afternoon Gulfport Art Walk, Central Avenue's Monthly Gallery Walk
- Dinner Hurricane Restaurant
- Evening Lucky Star Lounge
Day 3
- Morning Sunken Gardens, First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading
- Lunch Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish
- Afternoon Gulf Beaches, Tampa Bay Rays
- Dinner 9 Bangkok
- Evening Three Birds Tavern
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
In 2020, the city was home to 258,000 people, with 2.1 million in the metropolitan area.
The city publishes the free "Downtown St.Petersburg Guide & Map" booklet, updated each season, that contains maps, trolley routes, and listings for hundreds of museums, events, restaurants, & hotels along with coupons. You can find the guide in dispensers throughout downtown and in many businesses.
History
Saint Petersburg was founded by John C. Williams from Detroit, Michigan, who purchased the land in 1876. The town began with the help of Peter Demens, who was instrumental in bringing a railroad connection there in 1888. Saint Petersburg was named after the Saint Petersburg in Russia, the birthplace of Peter Demens. A local legend says that John C. Williams and Peter Demens flipped a coin to see who would have the honor of naming the city. Peter Demens won and named the city after his birthplace, while John C. Williams named the first hotel after his birthplace, Detroit. The Detroit Hotel still exists downtown, but it was converted into condos in 2002.
Tourist information
Get in
By plane
- Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport PIE in Clearwater is served mostly by budget airlines and used for private aviation. It is a hub for Allegiant Air which operates flights from about two dozen small airports throughout the Midwest & Northeast. Sun Country Airlines from Gulfport-Biloxi.
- Tampa International Airport TPA has a much wider selection of airlines and more frequent arrivals and departures and is 10 mi (16 km) across the bay. TIA can be reached by taking I-275 across the Howard Frankland bridge and taking the first exit, State Road 60/Veterans Expwy, north.
Go Albert Whitted Airport (SPG)
It is used for general aviation and features in the annual Honda Grand Prix during which the runway and taxiways are part of the course.
By train
While Saint Petersburg has no railway station on its own, nearby Tampa is served by Amtrak via its Silver Service between Miami and New York City. A thruway bus service is available, arriving at Corner of US 19 and 110 Ave near Pinellas Park Square Shopping Center.
By car
The primary route in and out of the city is Interstate 275. I-275 runs north to Tampa and connects with Interstate 4 (Orlando, East Coast) and Interstate 75. I-275 runs south over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Bradenton and connects with Interstate 75 heading south to Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and South Florida.
By bus
By ferry
Get around
By bus
By trolley
There are trolley-styled buses on two separate lines:
Go Central Avenue Trolley (CAT)
The PSTA-run CAT (sometimes called central avenue shuttle) runs along Central Avenue and also connects to the Pier, Williams Park, and St.Pete Beach. The fare is free between The Pier and Baywalk, 50¢ between Baywalk & Grand Central Station, and $2 west of Grand Central Station. Seniors (65+), disabled, & Medicare cardholders travel for half price (25¢ or $1) and children 5 and under are free. When the trolley is traveling west, you pay when you exit. When the trolley is traveling east, you pay when you board. GO Cards are accepted on this line.
The two lines connect at (no free transfers): Baywalk & The Pier. Connections with PSTA bus routes are available at Grand Central Station & Williams Park. The city also runs a free "Baseball Shuttle" between downtown parking garages and Tropicana Field for certain games where large crowds are expected.
By car
There are over 25,000 available public parking spaces in St. Petersburg. Metered parking spaces along streets in downtown and at parking lots along the bay. There are also several public parking garages in downtown. As of Feb 2021, the rates along the Pier are $1/hr. You can pay via coin or the Parkmobile app.
Car rental places around here are all on the search engines like Priceline. Turo is another popular option for peer-to-peer renting. Rental Cars are available from:
Go Dollar Rent A Car
Go Enterprise Rent A Car
Go Avis Rent A Car
Go Hertz Rent A Car
By taxi
By bicycle
The Pinellas Trail starts in downtown and runs the entire length of Pinellas County.
See
See Salvador Dali Museum
In 2011 the Dali museum opened in a new building on the downtown waterfront between the Mahaffey Theater & Albert Witted Airport and built to protect the collection from a Category 5 hurricane! From huge canvases to portraits of the Spanish artist, this museum hosts the largest collection of Dali artwork in the United States. Admission, as of 2011, is: $21 adults; $19 seniors 65+; $15 students 18+ (with acceptable student ID); $15 youth (13-17); $7 children (6-12); and free for children 5 and under. On Thursdays, admission is just $10 from 5PM to closing.
See Sunken Gardens
A lush oasis of plant life in the heart of Saint Petersburg. The garden offers a maze of paths through dense vegetation, with the lowest point in the garden at least 15 feet below street level. It began as a lake drained by a plumber who charged nickels to enter, but became a roadside attraction for many years until falling into disrepair. In 1999 the city of Saint Petersburg bought the property and began restorations. The Great Explorations Children's Museum now inhabits a building on the property as well.
See Skyway Fishing Pier State Park
A Florida State Park located on the north and south sides of the mouth of Tampa Bay. When the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was built on I-275 (US 19) after one part of the old bridge collapsed due to a barge accident, the approaches to the old bridge were turned into the longest fishing pier in the world. The bridge is lighted at night, and the park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The only activity is fishing. Common catches include snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, red snapper, and pompano. Snacks, drinks, bait, and fishing supplies can be purchased at the park. No pets allowed on the fishing piers.
See First Methodist Church of St. Petersburg
Do
Do Gulf Beaches
Beautiful sandy beaches from Fort DeSoto Beach to St. Pete Beach to Clearwater. All beaches are 10-15 minutes west of the city of St. Pete.
Sports
Do Tampa Bay Rays
A Major League Baseball team in the American League East. They play at Tropicana Field west of downtown.
Do Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Takes place on a course running through downtown. The start/finish line and main grandstand are located on the main runway at Albert Whitted Airport. A portion of the course is named in memory of Dan Wheldon, an IndyCar driver and St. Petersburg resident who won the race in 2005.
Buy
Art
Shop Bernies & Son Jewelers
Jeweler with 33 years of selling St. Petersburg estate, as well as unique one-of-a-kind handmade custom jewelry. Quality repairs & personalized service.
Shop Florida CraftArt
The gallery offers fine craft for collectors of traditional materials & innovative designs in clay, wood, fiber, glass & jewelry. This statewide organization features exhibitions of regional, national & emerging artists.
Shop Shapiro's Gallery of Contemporary Arts
Shapiro's is a gallery on Beach Drive and features jewelry, clay, glass, wood, metal and Judaica. Mobiles, kaleidoscopes and outdoor art for the patio and garden.
Books
Shop Haslam's Bookstore
Florida's largest bookstore with over 300,000 books. A large selection in nearly every category and many old and/or collectible sets. Their prices are high for used books and many of the new books are previous (5 years old or more) editions in new condition (i.e. 8- to 10-year-old travel guides in new condition sold for their retail price). Nonetheless, with the huge selection, you should be able to make many interesting finds.
Gifts
Markets
Eat
Budget
Eat El Cap's Burgers and Sandwiches
A local legacy. Cap's is wallpapered with awards for Best Burger from every conceivable publication. Excellent sandwiches, family friendly, popular with local sports fans.
Eat Evos
A chain that offers healthier alternatives to most fast-food joints, Evos offers healthy burgers, wraps, shakes and "air fries" in a fun, friendly environment. Everything is either hormone free or organic and there are plenty of choices for vegetarians and vegans.
Eat Mazarro's Italian Market
Extensive deli, delicious meats and sandwiches, prepared meals, soups, salads - all very reasonably priced. Coffee/espresso bar, extensive wine cellar with selections from all over the world. Nice craft brewed and imported beer selection too. Eat in or take out. Just off of I-275 on 22nd Ave N.
Mid-range
Splurge
To be classified
Eat Hurricane Restaurant
Seafood restaurant & bar overlooking beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Located at the southern end of Passegrille. Can be very busy around sunset. Get there early if you want to dine before they convert the restaurant to a nightclub.
Eat Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish
Bring in your fresh catch and have them smoke it for you, or have a bite of theirs, with a side of their famous German Potato Salad.
Eat 9 Bangkok
are just a few of the Thai restaurants found in the downtown section of Central Avenue.
Eat Habana Cafe
Gulfport. Excellent Cuban food in a restored old St. Petersburg home. The lechon and the butterfly shrimp are can't-miss menu items.
Eat Coco Wood Grill
Highly acclaimed, considered one of the best seafood restaurants in the area.
Eat Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant
The most authentic Chinese food available in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. This restaurant serves up authentic Cantonese style food - with a special emphasis on freshness and authenticity.
Eat The Oyster Bar
Fresh seafood, steaks, chicken and pasta dishes cooked to perfection.
Eat Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant
Original Spanish recipes from Northern Spain. The most unique dining experience in the area! Over 100 hot & cold tapas available with an incredible wine list. Live music Tu-Su.
Eat Fresco's Waterfront Bistro
Seafood, pasta & chops. Saturday and Sunday brunch. Happy hour every day. Award-winning wine list.
Eat Parkshore Grill
Superb contemporary cuisine on Downtown St. Pete's waterfront. Sidewalk dining overlooks the beautiful Vinoy Yacht Basin. Savor fresh seafood, salads, paninis & burgers for lunch or enjoy dinner of lobster, filets, king crab or sumptuous chef-prepared meals.
Eat Red Mesa
Ceviche, Cerveza, Sangria. 5 minutes north of downtown, "the" place for regional Mexican & Southwest cuisine. Fresh steaks and seafood served in a casual upscale atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily. Sunday brunch. Beer & wine.
Eat Brick and Mortar
Classic French cuisine, affordable to all. Prix Fixe menu just $19 nightly, 5-6:30PM. Full bar, drink checks 1/2 price & $5 appetizers during happy hour, 5-7PM.
Eat 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House
Fresh seafood daily, Raw Bar, indoor/outdoor seating, lunch & dinner; Sunday brunch. 24 beers on tap, 48 wines by the glass, full liquor bar. Banquet/meeting rooms & private dining rooms available. Sports on 12 flat screens.
Eat Sweet Divas Chocolates
Offering fine chocolates, cupcakes, muffins, ice cream, coffees, teas, wines, champagnes, flowers, and gifts. Bistro type seating overlooking Beach Drive and the waterfront.
Eat Island Grille and Raw Bar
Provides fresh seafood and the best raw bar in St. Petersburg, additionally one of the only restaurants in the area with a swimming pool.
Drink
There are many small bars on the beaches to the west side of the peninsula and scattered throughout the area.
Downtown
Drink The One Night Stand
Plenty of bull riding and beer drinking games.
Drink Sauvignon Wine Locker & American Trattoria
Wine bar with a good selection, open evenings, also serves light eats.
Elsewhere
Drink Lucky Star Lounge
Small neighborhood gay bar.
Drink Noble Crust of St. Petersburg (formerly Hideaway Bar)
Italian restaurant with happy hour and bar/patio.
Drink Three Birds Tavern
Bar and restaurant.
Sleep
Several beach front and cityside hotels, from chain to locally owned & operated. The Spring Break period of March-April is typically the peak time for rates and crowds. The St. Pete area gets its share of Spring Breakers but many seem to flock to other parts of the state.
Other beachfront communities have their own motel/hotel areas as well. St. Pete Beach, Sand Key, Clearwater, Madeira Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, John's Pass, and several other communities are in Pinellas County and located along the beach. There is also the city of Pinellas Park.
Budget
Travellers might find deals at many hotel/motel locations along 34th Street in St. Pete. This is U.S. 19. These are inland hotels but are just a short drive to the beaches or the city.
Stay Bay Palms Resort
St. Pete Beach. directions: From I-275 take exit 17 (Pinellas Bayway) WEST to St. Pete Beach, then RIGHT on Gulf Boulevard, 3/4 mile to Property will be on the right. Bay Palms Waterfront Resort is a boutique resort (Gay and Pet Friendly), with only 15 rooms. This property is directly on Boca Ciega Bay and has one of the largest privately owned fishing piers in St Petersburg which is 1500sq feet. You can enjoy great fishing, watch for Manatees and Dolphins, or dock your boat.
Stay The Exchange Hotel
This 1926 historical hotel is in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. Within walking distance to all local attractions including the Salvador Dali Museum, The Pier, Tropicana Field, etc. Put on your walking shoes, step outside our front door, and enjoy all that downtown St. Pete has to offer.
Stay Don CeSar Hotel
This majestic pink colossus radiates gold as the sun sets over the Gulf. Once used as a R&R hospital during World War II, this high-scale resort offers boutiques, an ice-cream shop, and beautiful beach access along Gulf Blvd. in St. Pete Beach.
Downtown
These hotel locations are in downtown St. Petersburg and despite not being within walking distance from beaches, they are walking distance to many museums, restaurants and shops.
Beach side
These resort/hotel locations offer travellers lodging directly on St. Pete Beach. Walk right out of the hotel onto the white sandy beach; room views of the Gulf of Mexico and plenty of nearby entertainment.
Stay Alden Beach Resort
St. Pete Beach. The St Pete Alden Beach Resort overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and is only 30 minutes from St Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa International Airport. Special features include 900 sq. feet of meeting space, two heated pools, two whirlpool spas, two lighted tennis courts, a children's playground, basketball court, an arcade room, and direct beach access.
Stay The Ponce De Leon Hotel
This stylish Mediterranean boutique hotel's decor captures the epitome of sleek style with the comfort of home for business and leisure travelers alike. For those looking for travel to the warm weather that Florida has to offer year round; The Ponce De Leon welcomes you with air conditioned rooms featuring flat screen cable TV, wireless internet, microwaves, refrigerators, mini-bars, in room coffee and on-premises laundry.
Stay safe
Statistically, Saint Petersburg is a safe community. Like any city, there are parts to avoid, but the majority of St. Pete is a modern city full of nice people and hospitable places. Cities that are tourist attractions are also attractions to those that prey on tourists.
Go next
The port of Tampa is the launchpoint of Caribbean and other cruises. The port is now limited to smaller (relatively speaking) cruise ships since many of the largest vessels on the Caribbean cannot navigate under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (approximately 17 stories high) to enter the bay.
St. Petersburg is about 90 minutes west from Orlando and the various theme parks near Orlando like Disney World and Universal Studios. Three hours northeast from St. Petersburg is Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral.
Nearby
St. Pete Beach
City / town · 42 listings · 7 mi away
Pinellas Park
City / town · 2 listings · 7 mi away
Madeira Beach
City / town · 4 listings · 10 mi away
Seminole
City / town · 1 listings · 10 mi away
Largo
City / town · 7 listings · 13 mi away
Ruskin
City / town · 3 listings · 13 mi away
Tampa
City / town · 111 listings · 16 mi away
Safety Harbor
City / town · 14 listings · 16 mi away
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