The best things to do in Tampa

In search of sand

While Tampa has a bay, it doesn’t actually have its own beach. What it does have is even better though – proximity to numerous fantastic ones, among the best in the south-west of Florida. From here you can take your pick and find the one that suits you.

Perhaps it’s Clearwater Beach, a barrier island with white-gold sand, swimmable water and plentiful attractions that’s top of the list. Or maybe the inclusive and friendly Sunset Beach, on Treasure Island, with its bohemian vibe.

Honeymoon Island State Park is less developed, full of unspoiled, quiet stretches, while St. Pete Beach combines a lovely beach with a quaint town, ideal for a day trip. If you’re craving isolation, get yourself over to Caladesi Island – you’ll need to get a ferry to access it, but this spit of white sand has plenty of quiet corners.

Down by the river

The redevelopment of Tampa’s Riverwalk has given the downtown area a shot in the arm and has, in many ways, put Tampa up a league or two as a holiday destination. If you’re up early, the area is dominated by joggers getting their daily exercise in before the day starts. At night, it transforms into a place to promenade, lined with lively bars and cafes. The rest of the day, it’s simply a great place to relax, soak up the sunshine.

It stretches for over 3km, and is home to splash parks, playgrounds and the fantastic Florida Aquarium. Get a true sense of Florida’s wetlands as the children meet lemurs, tortoises and sting rays. There’s a range of bookable experiences to make your visit even more memorable.

Take to the river itself on a water bike or stay on dry land and explore the Tampa Bay History Center or the Glazer Children’s Museum. There are plenty of places to eat and grab a cool drink here. Look out for Ulele, based in a handsome 1903 building that used to house the water works. Go for the crab cakes or the extremely Floridian alligator hush puppies.

Theme park thrills

One of Tampa’s main draws are the thrilling theme parks - without the crowds of Orlando. Busch Gardens is its most famous, a sprawling park that does a fantastic job of offering not just cutting-edge rides for thrill-seekers, but also a superb safari experience.

It’s home to thousands of animals, with local reptiles living next door to vast elephants, hippos, lions and tigers. They’re dotted around the park, but you can opt for a ‘Serengeti Safari’ to see as many of them as possible while arranging to feed some of the gentler animals. There are plenty of family shows with Sesame Street characters, Christmas events and ice dancing performances throughout the year.

There are gentle rides for the little ones, and extreme speed rides only for the bravest of thrill seekers. Floorless coaster Sheikra is a firm favourite, Kumba delivers three seconds of weightlessness and 360 degree spirals, and Monti is famed for its numerous inversions. Ride the river rapids or flumes to cool down from the sun. This being Florida, you’ll emerge dripping head to toe from a water ride only to dry off in mere minutes.

If water parks are more your thing, Adventure Island is the perfect way to spend a day splashing around. Again, it balances thrills with relaxation time. Vanish Point has an electrifying 70-foot drop and the Rip Tide challenges you to race your family and friends. If you’re in the mood for a lazier day, there are manmade beaches to chill out on, a lazy river, wave pool and shallow pool areas for toddlers.

Tampa’s old soul

While the Riverwalk area has a certain buzz at night, it can’t really compete with Ybor City, Tampa’s most atmospheric and historic area. A US National Historic Landmark, Ybor was an area known for manufacturing cigars, and there are preserved cigar workers’ houses here, plus a museum that brings to life this fascinating history.

The well-preserved streets are served by yellow trams, while the area retains all the influence of the European, Cuban and Hispanic people that settled and worked here. Take a stroll down 7^th Avenue, packed with notable places to eat and drink. Columbia Restaurant is one of the most celebrated – with twin claims of being the world’s largest Spanish restaurant, and the oldest restaurant in all of Florida.

Local Columbians get the bread for their sandwiches from the legendary La Segunda Central Bakery, open here since 1915. Head to its café to get a taste of their baking straight from the oven. Their Cuban sandwich can’t be bettered.

There’s more to the area than just phenomenal food – the city’s most unique stores are here, there are parks and galleries, and you’ll also be joined on the streets by chickens. The area has a wild chicken population that roam freely – as they have for over 100 years.

Drive from ride to ride or take day trips to beaches and traditional towns with a rental car from Tampa.