What to Do in Tampa: the Best Tourist Attractions in Downtown Tampa and Ybor City

With its approximately 400 thousand inhabitants, Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida after Jacksonville and Miami, but above all, it is one of the best places in the Sunshine State to live and visit for a vacation. Forbes magazine in 2008 ranked it as the fifth-best American city for outdoor living, while Money Magazine in 2015 rated it as the best among large cities to live in the southeastern US. Its proximity to other interesting places to visit and beautiful beaches makes it a perfect stop on a trip to explore Florida.

It was 1575 when the name Tampa, already used by the natives to define this area, was written by a European: Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda. A survivor of a shipwreck, the Spaniard was a prisoner of the Calusa tribe for 17 years and his memoirs are among the most significant writings about Native American life in that historical period.

However, the area had already been explored by Pánfilo de Narvaez, another Spaniard who landed here in 1528, and a year later by Hernando de Soto, who traveled here with the intention of saving the only survivor of the previous expedition. The first outpost did not last long and it was not until the nineteenth century that the United States, which had acquired the region from Spain, founded a village that gradually grew to become the current Tampa.

How to get there to and move around the city

Tampa has its own airport, but you could also land at Miami Airport. The options you will have to choose from to get to Tampa will be or public transportation or by car. In the latter case, the drive between Miami and Tampa takes about 4 hours, but it can be divided into stages to see other interesting locations. Driving from the northeast, you can see Fort Lauderdale and perhaps stretch to Orlando; driving from the southwest, you can stop in Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, and other small towns on the Gulf Coast.

If you want to move around by public transport, or arrive in Tampa by train or bus and then rent a car, there are two excellent connections. The direct train from Miami to Tampa takes about 5 and a half hours and the bus that leaves directly from Miami airport and takes between 7 and 9 hours, depending on the line. In the case of the bus, we recommend taking the one that leaves in the evening and arrives in the morning, spending the night on board.

You can check on this website if there is any connection to suit your needs.

If Tampa is the first or last stop of our itinerary,  using one of these solutions is a good idea a car isn’t necessary to get around Tampa. The public transportation system TBARTA (Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority) offers several lines serving the area. Moreover, the TECO streetcar line connects the main neighborhoods – such as Downtown, Channel District, and Ybor City – and water cabs are an excellent solution for traveling along the coast and on the Hillsborough River.

When to go to Tampa: climate and events

Compared to other parts of the USA, Florida is a state that deserves to be visited perhaps more for its naturalistic attractions, which vary greatly from beaches to swamps, than for its cities. This is why the weather factor is to be taken into consideration more than for other regions of the American continent.

If you take a look at our article on Florida weather, you will certainly have clearer ideas to ensure that you visit in the ideal period. There are very few hurricanes in Tampa compared to other parts of the state, but at the same time summer storms abound, so much so that it is called the lightning capital of America.

In addition to the climatic criteria, there is a number of events to consider that take place in the city during the year and that can give additional value to your trip. Here are a few ideas.

• 4th Friday Tampa. Let’s start with an initiative that takes place every month, exactly on the fourth Friday. On this day, to celebrate local culture and art, you’ll get discounts or free admission to museums and can attend specially organized activities throughout the city.
• Tampa Black Heritage Festival. During the month of January, the city comes alive for about ten days with this event that celebrates African-American culture with various initiatives ranging from cultural meetings to craft markets.
• Gasparilla Pirate Festival. This is a very different kind of event that usually takes place in January or February and that for over a century (it was in 1904 when the first edition was organized) turns Tampa into the city of pirates, with music, parades and various activities. Gasparilla was the nickname of José Gaspar, a naval officer who became a pirate in southeast Florida.
• Bay Area Renaissance Festival. For several weekends between February and April, this Renaissance-themed fair is held, with markets, games, music and entertainment.
• Mayor’s River O’Connor Fest. This is instead an event related to Ireland, which takes place in March in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, on the banks of the Hillsborough River. The most curious thing is that the river is dyed green (don’t worry, it’s a plant-based coloring!).
• India Festival. Another occasion to celebrate a different culture is the one organized in collaboration with the large Indian community of Tampa. It is usually held in October or November.
• Conga Caliente. Also in November, another culture is celebrated, the Spanish-American one. Here, too, you’ll be immersed in live music, traditional food, cigars and themed recreational activities.
• Tampa Greek Festival. Mediterranean cuisine, the dances and music of the Greek islands, as well as some characteristic aspects of the Greek Orthodox religion: these are the protagonists of the festival dedicated to Greece.

Sporting events

Many people also know Tampa because of its well-known American Football team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who had their glory years in 2002 and 2021 when they managed to win the Super Bowl.

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Despite the climate that is not really suitable for a sport usually typical of cold areas, Tampa also hosts the home games of an important ice hockey team: Tampa Bay Lightning, winners of three Stanley Cups: in 2004, 2020 and 2021. They play their games at Amalie Arena.

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What to see in Tampa

Tampa is a city full of things to see and do, both in and around the city center. Some neighborhoods are of particular interest and deserve a more in-depth visit, but the whole city is pleasant to wander around freely.

The Downtown

The Downtown district is the heart of the city and it is where the skyscrapers dominate. The blue of the Hillsborough River and the green of the palm trees shading the main streets are reflected onto the skyscrapers’ large windows. The tallest of the buildings in the center is the AmSouth Building, which houses a bank and several offices.

One of the areas not to be missed in downtown is the Riverwalk, which as you can easily guess runs along the bank of the Hillsborough River. Thanks to a pedestrian path along the river, here you can walk moving between five different city parks. One of the characteristics of the walkway is that it is adorned with various works of art that make the walk even more enjoyable.

Channel District

Between Downtown and the Ybor Channel, we find the Channel District, a quiet and pleasant neighborhood, full of bars and restaurants, stores and clubs of various kinds. It is here that we find the Florida Aquarium, which we will explore in more detail in a moment, but also the S.S. American Victory.

Today transformed into a museum, the military ship from the Second World War is anchored on the waters of the canal. Inside you can visit the crew cabins and engine room, but also see period photographs and weapons on display. Twice a year there are also themed tours with historical re-enactments.

Ybor City

The large and lively neighborhood to the northeast of the historic center is Ybor City: an area of almost 1.1 square miles named after Vicente Martinez Ybor, a cigar manufacturer – who along with other entrepreneurs – gave life to the neighborhood. Mostly immigrants of Latin American descent, employed in the cigar industry lived here.

For a long time, from 1880 to the 1930s, hundreds of thousands of cigars were produced in Tampa factories. Then production gradually decreased, also due to the mechanization of this type of industry, and in the 1970s many areas of the neighborhood were abandoned.

At the end of the century, a part of this area was transformed drastically, with the opening of stores, restaurants, and nightclubs, while several buildings that were in a state of ruin were converted into residences and offices. Things changed so much in the early 2000s that in 2008 7th Street – the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare – was named one of the ten greatest streets in America.

Historic Ybor City Tour

Ybor City tour with tastings

Tampa Museums

The large West Florida city has a variety of museums ranging from history to sports to art and photography. Here are a few suggestions of museums to see in Tampa.

• Tampa Museum of Art (120 W. Gasparilla Plaza). Overlooking the Hillsborough River, the city’s main art museum is also a striking building when lit up with LED lights in the evening. Inside, the permanent collection is mainly dedicated to Greek and Roman art, but each year there are temporary exhibitions dedicated to different periods. All information is on the official website.
• Tampa Bay History Center (801 Old Water St.). A cultural center dedicated to the history and traditions of the native populations, but also to the Spanish conquerors and to the most important characters who have made the history of this land. Among the most curious things to see, there is a reproduction of a cigar store of the ’20s.
• Ybor City Museum State Park (1818 9th Ave.). One of the best ways to understand the history of Ybor City, and in general the golden age of cigars in Tampa, is to visit this museum. It is a historic house where immigrants who worked in the cigar industry lived, where the story of Vicente Martinez Ybor and the development of the city due to this very economic activity is told.
• Henry B. Plant Museum (401 W. Kennedy Blvd.). Another museum related to the city’s history is located in the former Tampa Bay Hotel. With the permanent exhibition and the alternation of temporary exhibitions, it aims to narrate the life of Tampa in the nineteenth century, starting from the figure of Henry B. Plant, a transportation magnate thanks to whose railroad Tampa was connected to other major cities in Florida.
• Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (400 Ashley Dr.). If you are passionate about photography, visit this museum on the Riverwalk, where temporary exhibitions alternate throughout the year with high-level photographic works. The hotel’s original late 19th-century decor is also interesting. Musical, theatrical, and cultural events are also held here.
• MOSI – Museum of Science and Industry (4801 E. Fowler Ave.). This educational museum offers interactive activities devoted to science, industry, and technology, as well as the largest IMAX screen in the southeastern U.S. Especially recommended for those traveling with children.
• Baseball Museum at Lopez House (2003 N. 19th St.). Are you a sports fan? This is a temple to baseball, created in the home of Al Lopez, the first Tampa player to make it to the big leagues.

MOSI tickets

Nature attractions

Florida is a very green state and you can see that even from the parks in its cities. Tampa is no exception and there are both beautiful gardens to stroll through during your stay in the city, as well as nature areas in the surrounding area that you can visit.

In the urban area, one of the green areas to be taken into consideration is the Perry Harvey Sr. Park, embellished also by numerous sculptures, starting from the statue of Harvey (hence the name of the park), a character who made a determined contribution to the life of the African-American community in Tampa. The large and whimsical Gateway Sculptures stand out: a sculptural complex depicting musicians, dancers, and a jukebox, by artist James Simons.

Moving slightly away from the center we find another interesting place, more from a spiritual point of view than naturalistic, but still placed in a green context. It is the Buddhist temple Wat Mongkolratanaram Thai Temple, more simply known as Wat Tampa. The temple can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday; usually there is a Thai market next to it on Sunday.

Of a completely different nature is the Big Cat Rescue, a park dedicated to the care of big cats, which are also rehabilitated following abandonment or mistreatment. There you can meet lynxes, jaguars, leopards, and tigers. Outside the city, we can venture into Hillsborough River State Park. Over eleven miles of trails crisscross this vast natural area, where you can walk and bike, as well as canoe or kayak on the river. Several species inhabit this woodland and it’s not hard to spot some wildlife. With a guided tour you can also access one of the relics of the war with the Seminole natives: Fort Foster.

Theme Parks

Although it is not at the level of Orlando, Tampa too has a series of theme parks, related to nature or where you can have fun. The first one to visit is definitely the Florida Aquarium. Besides seeing endless species of fish and marine animals, it is also possible to come into direct contact with some species for a more direct experience. The 4D cinema makes the visit even more engaging.

Florida Aquarium tickets on Viator

Florida Aquarium tickets on GetYourGuide

Animals are also on the agenda, but this time mostly terrestrial, at Lowry Park Zoo. In this zoo, which is home to numerous species from around the world, there is also the possibility of taking a ride on the little train which gives an explanation of the animals you encounter while on board. Alongside the experience with the animals, the park’s roller coaster gives some adrenaline to the visit.

Lowry Park Zoo tickets on Viator

Lowry Park Zoo tickets on GetYourGuide

However, if you’re looking for rides and roller coasters, the area’s top amusement park is Busch Gardens, where roller coasters and similar attractions abound. However, there is also no shortage of animals, to integrate the two types of parks here as well.

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Busch Gardens tickets on Getyourguide

Pools and slides are instead the protagonists at the Adventure Island water park, where you can spend a day of fun and refreshment from the torrid days of Florida.

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Adventure Island tickets on GetYourGuide

Tampa Bay City Pass

If you’re planning to spend a few days in Tampa and want to save a bit on admission to various attractions, you may want to consider purchasing a tourist pass. In fact, with the Tampa Bay City Pass you will save 51% on the following attractions:

• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Entrance
• Florida Aquarium Admission
• Lowry Park Zoo admission
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium
• Choice between: The Tropics Boat Tours OR Museum of Science and Industry

The pass can be purchased by clicking on the link below.

Tampa Bay City Pass

Where to eat in Tampa

Tampa is not only one of the biggest cities in Florida, but it is also multicultural and for this reason it offers a great variety of food. Our first suggestion is a restaurant where you can taste typical Florida dishes, some of which are also linked to the traditions of the natives: the Ulele (1810 N. Highland Ave.). We are facing the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean is not so far away: so the first suggestion is the Bahama Breeze Island Grille (3045 N. Rocky Point Dr. E.), where you will eat with a beautiful view of the bay and pleasant live music.

If you are looking for good meat dishes, one of the best choices to play it safe is the Outback Steakhouse (3403 Henderson Blvd.). Part of a chain, but of excellent quality. More refined instead, is the Columbia (2117 E. 7th Ave.-Ybor City), a Mediterranean style restaurant with an atmosphere reminiscent of Spain and some of the dishes related to Spanish cuisine. This is also a chain, but the one in Tampa is the first restaurant to be opened.

Where to stay in Tampa

Alternatives on where to sleep abound and you are sure to find accommodation that suits your needs and price range. However, we have taken the liberty of giving you some ideas for overnight stays in Tampa.

• Tampa Marriott Waterside (700 S. Florida Ave.). Close to the Riverwalk, this good-value hotel has all the amenities, including a rooftop pool and fitness center. If you’re aiming for a four-star downtown, this is the right choice.
• Hilton Garden Inn (1700 E. 9th Avenue in Ybor City). This one is also downtown and has every amenity. In addition to the pool, you’ll also have access to a sauna.
• South Tampa Hotels & Suites (3314 South Dale Mabry). To save a little money, you can rate this two-star with good value.
• Erehwon Retreat Charming 1923 Cottage (5801 North Suwanee Avenue Rear Cottage). Want to stay in the city, but having the feel of being in the middle of the woods? This cute wooden cottage might be for you.
• Casa de Playa (2506 North Rocky Point Drive). A beachfront condo with a pool, BBQ and a great view every evening as the sun sets over the private beach? Here you go, what are you waiting for to book?

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