FREE THINGS TO DO IN TAMPA

  • 1. Tampa Riverwalk – This riverwalk is a scenic 2.6-mile-long path along the Hillsborough River where you can discover some of downtown Tampa’s must-sees. Enjoy a leisurely stroll and you’ll pass by the Tampa Museum of Art, the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park—perfect for a picnic overlooking the Tampa skyline—and finally the Tampa Bay History Center. You can also bike or take a scooter down the riverwalk. If you need a rest, there’s no shortage of rest stops along the way to watch the water taxis sail by. You might even be inspired to take a boat tour on the river yourself! There are also plenty of restaurants and bars for food and drinks with a view.
  • 2. Ybor City – Ybor City, once the cigar capital of the world, is a vibrant neighborhood in Tampa that boasts an exciting nightlife and delicious food. You can explore the historic district on a walking tour to learn more about the architecture and immigrant history, or indulge in a food tour that takes you to Latin and soul food restaurants. As the sun sets, the area transforms into a lively entertainment district where you can do a pub crawl, dance the night away, or catch some live music. To get there, you can hop on a free streetcar from downtown. There’s also a weekly local flea market.
  • 3. Bayshore Boulevard – Bayshore Boulevard is a waterfront road on Hillsborough Bay in South Tampa, Florida. Located south of downtown Tampa, its sidewalk, at 4.5 miles long, is 10 feet wide and is the second longest continuous sidewalk in the United States, after Seawall Boulevard in Galveston,
  • 4. International Plaza and Bay Street – International Plaza and Bay Street, an enclosed, two-story regional shopping center with an adjacent outdoor lifestyle center, is located on the southeast edge of the Tampa International Airport. It features 200 specialty stores and 15 restaurants, plus Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillard’s and Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza.
  • 5. Hyde Park Village – Tampa’s charming outdoor shopping center offers more than 70 specialty shops and restaurants, plus seven AMC movie theaters and special events such as live outdoor concerts.
  • 6. Wat Mongkolrata Temple – Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Buddhist Thai temple on the bank of the Palm River in Tampa, Florida. It was founded in 1981 as well as dedicated and registered as a temple on 19 May 1981. Besides a temple, it acts as an education and support centre. The temple’s grounds host a Sunday food market with Thai cuisine. 
  • 7. Hyde Park – A historic part of town filled with interesting homes from the early 20th century.
  • 8. Sparkman Wharf – Modern waterfront area featuring hip restaurants & shops, a beer garden & street-food stands.
  • 9. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park – The new 8-acre Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park features a unique urban design, sustainable construction, and operational features including reclaimed water for irrigation and LED lighting. Park amenities include the Great Lawn with flexible perimeter seating to accommodate a wide range of programming and performances, a dog run, a kiosk with restrooms, and a pavilion building with restrooms, park offices and space for a future vendor. There are also two interactive fountains: the Louver fountain and the Mist fountain.
  • 10. Cypress Point Park – Oceanfront park with a boardwalk, hiking trails, dunes, picnic shelters & a canoe dock.

BEST NON-FREE THINGS TO DO IN TAMPA

  • 1. Guided Tampa Sightseeing Tour in a Deluxe Street Legal Golf Cart – Tampa is a city of many cultures, communities, and cuisines. Cruise around in a street-legal golf cart and discover local secrets, history, and culture from a local guide. Ride around multiple parts of the city where you’ll pass by the city’s most expensive neighborhoods, historic Ybor City, restaurants, shops, and much more. All you have to do is sit back and relax as you enjoy the best of Tampa.
  • 2. Historic Ybor City Food Walking Tour – This historic Ybor City food tour gives you a perfect introduction to the Tampa area by taking you to eateries to sample up to six food and drink tastings. A guide leads the way on foot telling you all about Ybor city history as you try food to see which restaurants you might want to go back to later during your stay in the city.
  • 3. Tampa History Cruise – Explore one of Florida’s most picturesque harbors on this Tampa history cruise that transports travelers back in time across stunning blue waters. See the real-life pirate ship known as Gabriella up close and take in views of million-dollar homes, popular museums, and the famous ‘Plant Hotel’ as you listen to expert commentary about the city’s rich past.
  • 4. Tiki Boat – Downtown Tampa – The Only Authentic Floating Tiki Bar – Tampa is known for its party scene, but the city bars can be overcrowded and even uncomfortable at times. Take your private party to the water with this 90 minute – Tiki Boat Cruise in Tampa – BYOB. You’ll bring your own snacks and drinks and get to sip as you cruise down Hillsborough River on a unique, floating tiki bar. Pass skyscrapers and downtown Tampa as you party with your own group.
  • 5. 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa – See dolphins and other marine wildlife on a guided, 90-minute cruise along the bustling waters of Tampa Bay. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure time, then discover Tampa Bay’s fascinating ecosystem. Look for an abundance of wildlife that lives there — bottlenose dolphins, fish, birds, manatees, sea turtles and more — and learn how they thrive in one of the nation’s most diverse seaports, Port Tampa Bay.
  • 6. Tampa Bay CityPASS – Experience Tampa’s must-see tourist attractions — and enjoy considerable savings — on this exciting Tampa Bay CityPASS. Visit Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, the Florida Aquarium, and ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Then choose admission to 2 more attractions of your choice: Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Tropics Boat Tours Dolphin or Sunset Cruise, Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), or Glazer Children’s Museum. This Tampa Bay CityPASS is valid for nine consecutive days from the first date of use. Transportation to and from attractions is not included.
  • 7. Luxury Private Boat Charter – If you like the idea of a tour but don’t want to spend the day with strangers, this private boat charter with crew is ideal. You’ll be picked up from a convenient location in downtown Tampa and after that, the itinerary is up to you. Choose from a list of popular highlights and spend either a half day (1-2 stops) or a full day (2-4 stops) cruising the area.
  • 8. Guided Tampa Sightseeing Tour in New Street Legal Golf Cart – See all of Tampa’s iconic neighborhoods and learn about the city’s history in one of the most fun ways around – by a street legal golf cart. You will Tour each Tampa neighborhood, visit the university’s campus and admire the beautiful Riverwalk, and take plenty of stops for photos at landmarks along the way. Cover plenty of ground in your golf cart while breathing in the warm Florida air. This tour is owned and operated by a University of Tampa graduate.
  • 9. Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour – Many celebrity homes in Tampa can only be reached by boat. This Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour takes you out on Tampa Bay to the canals near Davis Islands without having to rent a boat. Catch sight of famous folks’ homes, including baseball players, football players, and actors and actresses. Most tours also run into dolphins in the water as they cruise.
  • 10. The Official Downtown Tampa Ghost Tour – A walking tour of the oldest and most haunted buildings in Downtown Tampa, FL. Stories of murder and tragedy. Organized Crime history. Sites on the National Haunted Registry.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS NEAR THE CRUISE PORT

BARS NEAR THE CRUISE PORT