Updated November 3, 2026
Tampa is the big-city half of the Bay. A weekend here usually means the 2.6-mile Riverwalk, a night in Ybor City or Water Street, and a day at Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium or ZooTampa.
Tampa doesn't have its own Gulf beach. The closest sand is across the bay in Pinellas (about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic), so plenty of visitors pair a Tampa night with a beach day.
Jump to: Things to do · Restaurants · Bars & nightlife · Hotels
Things to do in Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Large theme park pairing big roller coasters with African-themed zones and animal habitats.
Adventure Island
Seasonal water park beside Busch Gardens with slides, wave pools, a lazy river and kids' splash zones.
The Florida Aquarium
Waterfront aquarium with coral reef, wetlands and shark exhibits plus an outdoor splash area.
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Nonprofit zoo known for Florida wildlife and manatee rehabilitation, with animal encounters and family rides.
Tampa Riverwalk
Waterfront path of about 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River linking parks, museums, restaurants and hotels.
Glazer Children's Museum
Hands-on play museum in Curtis Hixon Park built for young kids, with role-play and science exhibits.
Tampa Museum of Art
Riverside art museum showing antiquities alongside modern and contemporary works, beside Curtis Hixon Park.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Gilded Age museum inside the minaret-topped 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel on the University of Tampa campus.
Ybor City Museum State Park
State park museum in a historic bakery telling the story of Ybor's cigar industry and immigrant communities.
Tampa Bay History Center
Riverwalk museum covering regional history from native cultures to cigar workers, pirates and Florida film.
MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry)
Science center with interactive exhibits and hands-on STEM experiences aimed at families and school groups.
Sparkman Wharf
Waterfront hangout in the Water Street district with a lawn, eateries, game-day screenings and live events.
Raymond James Stadium
Home of the Buccaneers and USF football, also hosting concerts, Monster Jam and stadium tours.
Benchmark International Arena
Downtown arena, formerly Amalie Arena, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning and major touring concerts.
Tampa Theatre
Nonprofit 1926 movie palace screening films and hosting concerts beneath its atmospheric starry ceiling.
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
Riverfront performing arts complex staging Broadway tours, opera, concerts and comedy across several theaters.
Pirate Water Taxi
Pirate-themed hop-on, hop-off boats shuttling riders between stops along the Riverwalk and Channel District.
Bayshore Boulevard Linear Park
Long bayfront sidewalk beside Hillsborough Bay, popular with walkers, runners and cyclists for its water views.
Restaurants in Tampa
Columbia Restaurant
Florida's oldest restaurant, founded 1905, serving Spanish-Cuban dishes in tiled dining rooms with flamenco shows.
Bern's Steak House
Landmark steakhouse famed for dry-aged beef, a massive wine list and its separate upstairs dessert room.
Haven
Bern's sister restaurant offering a creative small-plates menu, charcuterie and an extensive wine and spirits list.
Ulele
Riverwalk restaurant in a restored waterworks building, drawing on native Florida ingredients and its own brewery.
Armature Works – Heights Public Market
Restored streetcar depot housing a food hall of local vendors, sit-down restaurants and bars on the river.
Rocca
Michelin-starred Italian spot known for handmade pastas and polished modern technique in the Heights.
Rooster & the Till
Michelin Bib Gourmand pick serving inventive seasonal small plates from an open kitchen.
Oxford Exchange
Stylish atrium restaurant combined with a bookshop, coffee bar and tea bar, popular for brunch.
La Segunda Bakery
Century-old bakery producing Cuban bread, with a café serving Cuban sandwiches and café con leche.
Carmine's Restaurant & Bar
Longtime Ybor 7th Avenue spot serving Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and Cuban-Italian comfort food.
Big Ray's Fish Camp
Casual seafood spot recognized by the Michelin Guide, with an outpost by the Riverwalk at the convention center's Sail Plaza.
Lilac
Michelin-starred Mediterranean dining room by chef John Fraser inside the Tampa EDITION hotel.
Boulon Brasserie and Bakery
French-style brasserie and bakery on Water Street with classic bistro plates and live music nights.
Predalina
Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and lounge on Water Street open late on weekends and serving weekend brunch.
Anchor and Brine
Seafood restaurant with a raw bar and outdoor waterfront terrace inside Tampa Marriott Water Street.
Bars & nightlife in Tampa
The RITZ Ybor
Concert and event venue in a 1917 former theater on Ybor's 7th Avenue, hosting touring acts and DJ nights.
Skipper's Smokehouse
Open-air roadhouse since 1980 mixing live music, an oyster bar and Floribbean food like grouper Reubens.
M.Bird
Art Deco-style rooftop lounge above Armature Works pouring tropical cocktails with downtown skyline views.
Bar AW
Central bar in the Heights Public Market with 20-plus craft taps and cocktails to take out to the lawn.
Stones Throw
Open-air riverfront pavilion at Armature Works for oysters, cocktails, sunset happy hours and Tuesday live music.
Champagne Porch
Armature Works bar focused on champagne cocktails and bottles of bubbly.
The Champagne Bar at Oxford Exchange
Daytime pink-and-red bar inside Oxford Exchange's shop pouring champagne, rosé and themed cocktails.
Punch Room at The Tampa EDITION
Intimate hotel cocktail lounge known for shareable punch bowls; smart casual dress expected.
Pool Bar at The Tampa EDITION
Rooftop poolside bar with panoramic views, craft cocktails and casual bites from late morning on.
Beacon at JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Rooftop lounge on the JW Marriott's upper floor, regularly cited among Tampa's best spots for skyline views.
Pool Bar & Grill at Tampa Marriott Water Street
Weekend rooftop pool bar overlooking the bay, serving drinks and sandwiches Friday through Sunday afternoons.
Hotels in Tampa
The Tampa EDITION
Luxury design hotel in Water Street home to Michelin-starred Lilac, a rooftop pool and several bars.
JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
Upscale high-rise hotel on Water Street with a rooftop pool and the Beacon sky lounge.
Tampa Marriott Water Street
Large bayfront hotel next to the convention center and Riverwalk, with a rooftop pool and seafood restaurant.
Hilton Tampa Downtown
Full-service downtown high-rise within walking distance of the Riverwalk, museums and the Straz Center.
Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
Independent hotel listed by Friends of the Riverwalk, giving easy walking access to the riverfront path.
Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
Riverside hotel listed by Friends of the Riverwalk, set directly on the Hillsborough River downtown.
Hyatt Place Tampa Downtown
Midrange downtown hotel with spacious rooms and breakfast options, handy for Riverwalk and arena events.
Hyatt House Tampa Downtown
Extended-stay style downtown hotel with kitchen-equipped suites suited to families and longer visits.
Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection
Boutique Autograph Collection hotel in Tampa's SoHo district, next door to Bern's Steak House.
Hotel Haya
Boutique hotel in the historic Ybor City neighborhood.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
AAA Four-Diamond-rated hotel with a casino, restaurants and a pool area with private cabanas.
The Westin Tampa Waterside
Downtown hotel on Harbour Island with water views, a pool and on-site dining, a short walk from the Riverwalk.
Le Meridien Tampa, The Courthouse
Boutique hotel housed in a historic courthouse in downtown Tampa's arts and entertainment district.
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Full-service waterfront resort on 35 acres near Tampa International Airport with two pools and two restaurants.
Good to know
- The Pirate Water Taxi links Riverwalk stops so you can skip parking between Armature Works, downtown and the Channel District.
- Game days and big concerts at Raymond James Stadium and Benchmark International Arena fill hotels and slow traffic. Check the event calendar when you book.
- Ybor City is busiest late on Friday and Saturday nights. Go earlier in the evening if you want a quieter dinner on 7th Avenue.