Florida’s beaches don’t need much introduction: they are part of the image we conjure up when we think of the dream vacation, the one that serves to disconnect from everyone and everything, a journey – with no seasons – at a time of new territories: on Instagram we often envy some of our lucky friends taking a selfie on a beach in Miami…
To understand something about the best times to visit Florida, we have compiled a quick guide on the best time to visit Florida.
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But what should you expect when touring Florida, devoted to relaxing and roasting on the beach? Endless and tempting beaches of fine white sand, that feels almost silky for how gently it skims our feet; crystal clear waters rich in fish, where you can dive in and lose your normal conception of space and time; secret nature reserves, all to be discovered, where you can get a bit of intimacy, and feel in some way protagonists of this natural spectacle and imagine yourself as a Robinson Crusoe (with many more comforts and amenities); natural contexts of unparalleled beauty, tropical paradises to discover and experience, removing them from their condition of places seen only on glossy picture postcards…
In this article I decided to attempt the impossible, namely to list a dozen of the best beaches in Florida. That’s right, I’ve put my hands up, saying it’s mission impossible…. after all, the Florida peninsula covers a distance of more than 1200 miles of coastline including mainland beaches, islands, islets and peninsulas: we leave it to you to imagine how difficult it can be to make a selection! I tried, and here it is, below, complete with a map.
East and South Florida Beaches: from Miami to Key West
As you’ll see from this list, most of Florida’s best beaches face the Gulf of Mexico (on the western side of the peninsula), but that doesn’t mean Florida’s east coast isn’t worth exploring. The key landmark – needless to say – is Miami, which deserves a section to itself due to its fame and the beauty of its beaches. We have done just that in our article on the beaches of Miami, to which I refer you for ideas and more circumscribed information. Other beaches of East Florida to visit are, in order from north to south:
Daytona Beach: a must for those who love sea and motors!
As much as the people of Daytona Beach say that theirs is the most famous beach in the world, there are much more beautiful ones in Florida. So, why point it out? Daytona Beach is famous above all for the historic NASCAR circuit, but the empire of the engines has extended well beyond the boundaries of the car racetrack, reaching the beach. You’ve got it right: in some very specific points (watch out for the signs!) you can enter the beach with your car and drive from end to end without the bathers saying anything.
Of course, the sand is floury-white, the sea is clear, but the atmosphere is chaotic due to the crowds of bathers, the cars and the surrounding urban context. Prices are above average (even the entrance of the car on the beach has a cost, of course)! In other words: go there if you like the idea of cutting through the Florida sand with your car, otherwise move on!
All available accommodations in Daytona Beach
Melbourne: a relaxing stop after Orlando…
After Daytona Beach, I could have pointed out Vero Beach and Cocoa Beach, two other miles of beaches that alternate on the long stretch of coastline north of Miami; the choice falls instead on Melbourne Beach, which is a little ‘less touristy and lively. A nice place by the sea to relax in Melbourne is 113 Paradise Blvd: Paradise Beach & Park, a beach framed by palm trees and no big buildings. Melbourne Beach is also a very strategic stop to take a break after or before visiting the parks of Orlando or Cape Canaveral.
All available accommodations in Melbourne
Fort Lauderdale: bathing in the sea of the Venice of America
Fort Lauderdale Beach may resemble one of the beaches of nearby Miami, but has the advantage of being a little less crowded and touristy: reach the beautiful beach (with ample parking) at 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard, near the marina: the “Venice of America” will reward you with its elegant, lively and fashionable atmosphere. Another well-known and popular stretch of beach is Hollywood Beach (Ocean Drive) to the south of downtown Ford Lauderdale: a crystal clear sea and waterfront that is enjoyable for a stroll. If you’re headed to the area, don’t overlook our tips on what to do in Fort Lauderdale.
All available accommodations in Fort Lauderdale
The Florida Keys beaches
South of Miami, on the last stretch of the east coast, we find a priceless treasure, a must-see during a tour of Florida: the Florida Keys archipelago crossed by the Overseas Highway, a dream road that leads up to the remote and fascinating Key West, the southernmost city in continental United States. The Miami – Key West road trip is a classic, and along the way there are some wonderful beaches worth visiting, which we have already spoken about in our article on the Florida Keys.
1) Sombrero Beach: an idyllic beach in a corner of the so-called Middle Keys, also with green spaces and picnic tables for families. It is located in Marathon, which is a strategic place to stop also for the next beach, Bahia Honda, which is only 15 minutes away;
All available accommodations in Marathon
2) Bahia Honda State Park is the symbolic beach of the Florida Keys, with crystal clear waters of indefinable shades and white sandy strips framed by palm trees, which we have spoken more about here. It is located off the Overseas Highway near Big Pine Key (36850 Overseas Hwy). If you don’t want to stay overnight in Marathon, you can look for accommodations in Big Pine or directly in Key West.
Advice on where to stay in Key West
3) Once in Key West, try the thrill of taking a dip in the ocean on one of the city beaches: one to try is on S Roosevelt Blv and is called Smathers Beach, but also the small Fort Zachary Taylor Historic Park Beach is a great experience. Keep in mind, however, that the beaches of Key West are not the best of the archipelago: stopping here is if anything an opportunity to be able to say that you have bathed in the southernmost city in the United States.
Florida West Coast Beaches
The west coast offers some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, especially if you have the patience to go in search of the wildest and unspoiled locations. Again, you’re spoiled for choice, so I’ve focused on locations like Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sarasota, and Tampa, which are prime spots for visiting some memorable beaches. Here are my favorites:
Naples and Estero Island: escape from the swamps of the Everglades!
You’re probably planning a visit to the Everglades, and you’re right to explore this wonderful ecosystem; but when you’re tired of alligators, anchovies, iguanas, mangroves and tropical plants, you’ll definitely want to return to civilization, feasting your eyes a bit on the crystal clear sea and white sand of the beaches that face the Gulf of Mexico. Mind you, you might as well settle for the first town you come across, Naples, which offers a beach (Naples Beach in fact) that is boundless and suitable for the most absolute relaxation.
All accommodations available in Naples
My advice, however, is to go straight along the beautiful scenic road (Estero Blvd) that connects the various islands of the archipelago, in the direction of Estero Island, where Fort Myers Beach is located: with its fine white sand and its fabulous sea, this beach offers moving sunsets. We must add, however, that during the day, rest can be disturbed by the excessive number of bathers, and that in some places the view is ruined by the large buildings in the resorts.
All available accommodations in Estero
Sanibel Island and Captiva Island: beaches strewn with shells and turtle eggs
A few miles from Fort Myers we come to the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, famous for their beaches dotted with shells, and for the romantic and wild atmosphere: Sanibel is accessible via a toll bridge, along which you will immediately get a taste of the spectacle that awaits you. After a swim, head to the famous Sanibel Lighthouse for a sunset photo. Captiva Island is connected to Sanibel by a short bridge over the sea (it is called Blind Pass) and offers even more uncontaminated nature and beaches; there are no equipped areas here, but you can see turtles that come to lay their eggs, or even dolphins.
Just in front of Captiva Island, there is the fascinating and wild island of Cayo Costa State Park, with white beaches full of shells and clear and sparkling sea. Unlike the previous ones, this island is really exclusive: it can be reached only by boat from various points, including Captiva Island.
All available accommodations in the area
The beaches of Sarasota: the islands of Siesta and Lido
Sarasota is a lively seaside town with museums and botanical gardens to visit, but the main reasons of interest that can justify a stop here are obviously the beaches of the islands that are located immediately in front of the city coast: Siesta Key and Lido Key.
Buildings and hotels aside, you will enjoy the sea panorama of Siesta Key, which offers travelers crystal clear waters in front of Crescent Beach and Siesta Beach, famous for the whiteness of their sand due to the high concentration of quartz. Lido Key (Benjamin Franklin Drive) in turn offers a white beach as soft as talcum powder, perhaps a little less touristy than Siesta Beach: the area has free parking on its palm-lined promenade.
The beaches of Tampa: Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island
A few miles from Tampa, in Clearwater, there is one of the most famous beaches of Florida: Clearwater Beach. It is a long beach that is particularly well cared for and equipped, and which according to many can rival some of the beaches in Miami. The natural characteristics are always the same: a postcard-perfect sea, with unrepeatable colors and nuances; a seabed suitable for diving, rich in aquatic fauna; a white beach that is soft to the touch. After relaxing under a parasol, take a walk along the promenade: it is very enjoyable, with stores, bars, restaurants, service agencies and sports activities for boat trips, snorkeling, etc.
If you don’t like the touristic context of Clearwater Beach, you can always reach the beautiful Caladesi Island, a seductive and exclusive paradise of beaches that are little frequented by tourists, since it is necessary to take a ferry to reach them: if you decide to visit, you will find yourself in a wild and uncontaminated world, where you can see dolphins more easily than human beings!
All available accommodations in Clearwater
North Florida beaches: a truly unspoiled beach
The northern region of Florida, called the Panhandle, is the least touristy, and it’s really hard to make it part of your itinerary, unless you plan to continue your tour in Louisiana or the other states of the American Deep South. Here’s a beach I recommend heading to in case you want to take a day to relax during your trip:
St. George Island State Park
It only costs around $5 or so to enter this beautiful nature reserve in northern Florida. The water will not be as crystal clear as in Tampa, Sarasota or Key West, but on the other hand the beach is really uncontaminated and “authentic”. In such a non-tourist context you will be at ease (just like the birds and animals that inhabit the dunes), and you can walk along the beach leaving the lighthouse behind. All you will see is the sea and, on the seafront, a few shabby little villas with a view – buildings that are totally different from the high-rise buildings of the tourist regions.
So there you have it, my recommendations for the top beaches in Florida: I hope I have enticed you to go. If you come back with any other suggestion to give us, do not hesitate to write it below in the comments!
