Are you planning a visit to St. Petersburg, Florida and wondering what to do while you’re there? Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of the 37 top things to do in St. Petersburg Florida, from soaking up the sun at St. Pete Beach to exploring the world-renowned Dalí Museum.
Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or art enthusiast, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city.
1. Visit The Chihuly Collection
If you are a fan of glass art, then you must visit the Chihuly Collection. I absolutely loved this art exhibition. I had never heard of Dale Chihuly before visiting the Collection. His work is so colorful and it sparkles against the black backgrounds in the gallery.
2. Marvel at The Dali Museum
You can’t visit St Petersburg and not go to The Dali Museum. Firstly, the building itself is extraordinary. Designed by architect Yann Weymouth, its 18-inch thick hurricane-proof walls become a glass dome known as the “engima”.
The museum and its collection have been around for about thirty years. Albert Reynolds Morse and his wife Eleanor became friends with Dali and major collectors of his works. They founded the museum and it is the largest collection of Dali’s works outside of his hometown, Figueres in Spain.
3. Visit the Morean Arts Center
The Morean Arts Center dates back to 1917 when the Art Club of St Petersburg was founded. Today, the center consists of four different venues in St Petersburg. It showcases local artists, runs exhibits throughout the year and offers a wide range of classes.
4. Watch Glass Blowing in Action
The Morean Glass Studio is also part of the Morean Arts Center. Included in every ticket for the Chilhuly Collection is admission to this studio that runs glassblowing demonstrations on the hour. It is fascinating watching the artists move the liquid glass from ovens to twists to cold water and seeing the actual glass blown through long thin pipes. They also have a great shop filled with beautiful blown glass objects.
5. Enjoy more glass art at the Imagine Museum
The Imagine Museum is a newer addition to St. Petersburg’s art scene. The museum features a collection of contemporary glass art from around the world. The museum’s collection includes a range of glass sculptures, installations and immersive glass art experiences.
6. Visit the Florida Holocaust Museum
The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of innocent men, women and children who suffered or died in the Holocaust. The Museum is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. It is one of the largest Holocaust museums in the United States.
7. Enjoy the Museum of Fine Arts
For those who appreciate fine art, the Museum of Fine Arts is a must-see. The collection includes works from around the world, including ancient Greek and Roman art and contemporary pieces. Museum highlights include masterpieces from Monet, O’Keeffe, De Kooning, Wiley, a sculpture garden, and one of Florida’s most respected photography collections.
8. Explore St Pete’s Pier
Covering 26 acres, St Pete’s Pier is one of the newer attractions in St Petersburg. It has restaurants, playgrounds, green space, shopping, art, a fishing deck and even its own beach. USA Today voted The pier the #2 New Attraction in the U.S..
9. Have a Cuban Sandwich
Famed for its Cuban sandwiches, Bodega is located at the Western end of Central Avenue. Have a sandwich or a plate of meat with rice and black beans. I loved my pork sandwich and also enjoyed a delicious fresh juice.
10. Take the Trolley
St Petersburg has several trolley services for getting around. The Central Avenue Trolley runs up and down Central Avenue, of course. The Downtown Looper covers a broader route.
The Jolley Trolley runs between Clearwater Beach and Tarpon Springs. The Suncoast Beach Trolley runs from Clearwater along the beach communities. It also connects to the other trolleys so you can head to downtown St Petersburg.
11. See What’s On at the Floridian
The Floridian Social Club has live entertainment Thursday through Sunday. They host a mix of national and local artists and the venue dates back to 1924.
12. Stroll and shop along Central Avenue
Central Avenue is the heart of downtown St Petersburg. It has loads of shops, restaurants, attractions (many of the attractions in this article are located on Central Avenue) and street art.
13. Head West at The James Museum
The James Museum is dedicated to the history of the American West. The 26,000 square foot gallery houses over 400 pieces of art, from jewelry to sculptures to paintings. The James Museum was founded by Tom and Mary James as a gift to the St. Petersburg community and opened in 2018.
14. Enjoy the street art
As you wander St Petersburg you will inevitably stumble across street art. The city is famous for its more than 600 murals. The city offers street art tours or take your own self guided route. And if you’re visiting in October don’t miss the annual street art festival Shine.
15. Go Shopping in Passe-A-Grille
My favourite area in St Petersburg was the charming Passe-A-Grille. The heart of Passe-A-Grille is the super cute 8th street. Head to Dody for great beach and apres beach gear. A Little Room for Art is a super cute small gallery featuring local artists. Don’t miss visiting the Evander Preston Gallery on 8th Street. Evander Preston was an artist famed for his jewelry, brewing, food, and art collection.
16. Stretch on the beach
I’ve done yoga in my places in my travels but this was my first time vinyasa-ing on the beach and I loved it. Adding the sound of the water and the ocean breeze to my practice took it to another level. I did a sunrise beach yoga class in Passe-A-Grille with Ocean Fitness. If you have jet lag and are most likely to be up early (which I was) I highly recommend booking the sunrise class.
17. Sip a Pina Colada at Palm Pavillion
Palm Pavillion opened on Clearwater Beach in 1926 and has been serving up outstanding Pina Coladas and Grouper Sandwiches ever since. It has the best possible location on the edge of Clearwater Beach, try to get a table on the covered outdoor terrace.
The mood at Palm Pavillion is super relaxed and the food is fantastic – I enjoyed both deep fried grouper cheeks and the grouper sandwich (I like to be thorough). And there is live music at Palm Pavillion every day, rain or shine.
18. Take a Sunset Walk along St Pete’s beach
One of the nicest things about the beaches of St Petersburg is that they keep on going so you can walk for as long as you are comfortable. For me, the best time to walk along the beach is sunrise (when I am usually asleep :-)) and sunset. Kick off your walk about one hour before the sun is due to set and enjoy watching the light change as the sun drops.
19. Have a glass of wine at the Pink Palace
There is no missing the Don Cesar Hotel. It is perhaps St Petersburg’s most iconic landmark. The Pink Palace of Hotel Don Cesar is famous for its stunning architecture, beautiful beachfront location, and world-class amenities.
They also have a great bar with loads of outdoor seating. It is a great spot to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a sunset walk along St Pete’s beach.
20. Go Shopping and meet the Pelicans at John’s Pass Village
There is a lot going on at John’s Pass Village. More than 100 shops, restaurants and bars, every type of water sport you can imagine, boat hire and pelicans. This is the place to go if you are looking for Florida souvenirs. I also bought a pair of hot pink shorts at John’s Pass, which I have worn frequently.
21. Kiss a Crocodile at John’s Pass Village
Yes a real life crocodile can meet your lips at the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center at John’s Pass. You’ll see all kinds of crocs and amphibians. And if you’re up for it, pay a bit extra and a small croc with a mouth taped shut will pretend to kiss you for the camera. I was up for doing this until I got there and saw it. I then chickened out. If you are braver than me do send a photo!
22. Get Up Close and Personal with Flamingoes at the Sunken Gardens
One of the best things I did in St Petersburg was visit the Sunken Gardens. These gardens began life as a sinkhole. In 1903, a local plumber purchased the land to drain the link and turn it into a glorious tropical garden.
Today the Sunken Gardens are home to over 50,000 tropical plants and flowers, including orchids, bromeliads, and bougainvillea. For me, seeing the flamingoes was the highlight. There were loads of flamingoes and it was possible to get quite close to them for photos (be aware they are rather smelly). This was the closest I have ever been to a flamingo and I was delighted!
23. Be Immersed at Fairgrounds St Pete
Fairgrounds St. Pete offers an engaging indoor art space where visitors can shape their own experiences. This ever-evolving museum showcases diverse artworks, allowing patrons to immerse themselves in the storyline. As St Petersburg’s premiere venue for a blend of immersive art and technology, it celebrates Florida’s quirky and captivating essence.
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This article first appeared on The Boutique Adventurer
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.