Tampa FL is a land of incredible diversity, with something to offer everyone who visits. There are many great places to visit in this city, but if you are looking for the ultimate Tampa FL experience, then you need to head to one of the places below. Whichever part of Tampa FL you choose to visit, you’re sure to have an amazing time.
The Best Place to Visit in Tampa FL
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- Address: 10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (75516)
- Phone: +1 813-884-4386
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
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Top 15 Tourist Attractions in Tampa FL
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
- Address: 1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (20660)
- Phone: +1 813-935-8552
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
Such a fun place, my kids love it every-time we go. You buy a ticket once and it’s good for as many times back in the year that you want to come. It’s the perfect size park for kids to be able to do everything and see everything there without being too much. A nice fun day trip. There’s also two splash pads for when it gets hot, which is perfect ! Easy to navigate and the staff is always helpful when you need assistance. They have several rides. Some for little kids and some for bigger, as well as face painting & jungle gyms for the kids to play on as well. My family loves it.By K D (6 months ago)Absolutely loved it here. Great experience and was well worth the money. You can spend many hours here. We spent about 3 hours here. Tons of different animals here and you can tell the zookeepers love their jobs and the animals. They have many backstage experiences as well for an additional cost. Tons of different shows to go see as well in the different regions of the world. Tons of food and beverage spots around the park so if you are in need of something they have it. Parking is free and overall we had a great time here!By Nick G (4 months ago)We had a blast at this place. My boys were mesmerized by the the range of animals. Mommy, Daddy, and Auntie enjoyed the numerous beverages carts around the zoo. I give this place 5 stars but many of the animals were inside due to the chilly weather. Not the Zoo’s fault but we didn’t see the whole park. It’s still deserves 5 stars based off what we saw.By Mike Paolini (9 months ago)This Zoo has some of the best natural habitats for their animals that we’ve seen. The staff is also great. The safari is worth the wait as well. We spent most of the day here and still didn’t make all of the exhibits. The manatees are great to see up close. The water ride was such a blast for the kids that they went twice! We can’t wait to come back again soon.By R S (8 months ago)It’s a little pricey, but worth it. The zoo has a very good layout with great views of the animals. Plus it has more kids activities and kid friendly rides than any other zoo I’ve ever been to. The safari ride is long enough to be enjoyable, but short enough that it doesn’t drag on. The water ride is obviously fun when it’s hot. There’s a kids splash area but the primates and manatees are definitely the highlight, in my opinion.By michael sheppard (7 months ago)
The Florida Aquarium
- Address: 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (17344)
- Phone: +1 813-273-4000
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Reviews:
The Tampa Aquarium has really upped their game, having been many years since we last visited.
Great galleries covering just about every kind of fish and living creature in and around the Gulf.
Never have seen so many people there at once, plenty of room and did not feel crowded. Bathrooms were clean, as was the entire building.
Parking can be a bit difficult, best to park in the ramp across the street and walk a few 100 feet.
We had a wonderful time and will visit again soon.
By Jason Olson (5 months ago)Awesome experience at the aquarium! Great for young children. I would recommend that you purchase the annual pass if your a local. After paying for parking and tickets it’s only 20 dollars more to become an annual member. With the annual membership you get free parking. You have to purchase your membership before you come and register your car so you can take advantage of the free parking. Facility is very well maintained with a splash zone for kids and lots of hands on exhibits.By Justin Platt (5 months ago)This is one of the best aquariums I’ve ever seen! We had a phenomenal experience seeing and interacting with the different animals.
The birds were in a bigger room so we could get pretty close to them. It was very interesting seeing them eating and how they move around.
There are three expositions where you can touch the animals: the stingray, the jellyfish and the starfish.
They had a nice eating dinner with and inside and an outside area. As well as a kids splash area outside.By Steven Díaz Zalduondo (6 months ago)Overall experience was good. Our grandson really enjoyed it. Us not as much. Decent walk from parking garage to entrance. Walk may not be much for people without limitations or disability or not older. We didn’t get to see the penguins. 1 spot we had to carry the stroller down steps. Wish there was a better mapping area for stroller access. Matter of fact the only map we saw was the one by the escalators. Was pleased that it didn’t smell like alot of aquariums and it was clean and very well kept. The jellyfish were beautiful and the touch area was great for kids young and old. Hopefully this will help people decide to go or not go for a visit. I would visit!By Mark Swimm (2 months ago)It is a fun place to bring the kids, there is a splash pad. To see the whole aquarium it takes between 2 or 3 hrs, if you also pay for the boat experience it is 2 more hours. You can have lunch there and they also sell ice cream. Outside there is like a bar area where you can get beers and other beverage, just by the splash pad (in case your kid is playing while you are relaxing a little bit)By Alejandra Munoz Frommert (2 months ago)
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
- Address: 600 N Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (8681)
- Phone: +1 813-274-8615
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
We loved the downtown experience and paths. There is so much to do and see, I would recommend taking an entire day to explore and check everything out. The fountain was really neat to see at night time and all the places we walked felt very safe and well maintained. Friendly for all ages and handicap accessible throughout. The city is very beautiful when it’s all lit up at night! Many people were biking, roller skating, on scooters, and everyone was polite as they went by. There are many different places to park but they all have meters or if you choose a lot paying there. Highly recommend visiting.By ArtsyPhotos LLC Professional Photography (10 months ago)This is a beautiful riverside park that comes alive in the evening with spectacular lighted trees and interactive water features. This park walkway is nice and wide and has several places to sit and take in the scenery on the land and in the water. There are public restrooms as well as some restaurants along the way if you want a snack or drink.By Kim Wilson (8 months ago)This park is lovely and always has fun things going on. It’s a great spot for photoshoots as it offers unique backgrounds and lighting in certain spots (light reflecting off of walls and specific windows that can add edge light to give a studio lighting effect just by finding the right spot).By Skyler June (6 months ago)The Tampa Bay Seafood and Music Festival is April 23-24 at park. I believe entry fee is $10 Saturday and $5 Sunday. Music is very good a few vendors (20 or so) jewelry, signs, hot sauce, bonsai etc. A myriad of seafood vendors with high prices. My daughter found the Greek vendor who at least loaded up her plate for the $25 fee. You must by tickets to pay for food. Why? And they charge a fee of $2 to use credit card. If you go to the bar use tickets, they add tax if you use CC.By J Droid Dennis (7 months ago)They had Bark in the Park. Everyone brought their dogs for a fun day. Several vendors for dogs and food for us. The park is in the middle of town with a beautiful view of the river.By Joe Eafrati (9 months ago)
Tampa Riverwalk
- Address: Riverwalk, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (4596)
- Phone: +1 813-221-1539
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: Open 24 hoursTuesday: Open 24 hoursWednesday: Open 24 hoursThursday: Open 24 hoursFriday: Open 24 hoursSaturday: Open 24 hoursSunday: Open 24 hours
- Reviews:
Very clean and safe looking place to walk/jog/run. Seen a lot of people out there. Everyone was very friendly. The view is amazing. You also have access to a water taxi if you wanted to go that route. Definitely a must see if you’re in Downtown Tampa.By Jake W (3 months ago)I drove three hours away to get here and enjoy my anniversary with my other half. I was recommended to walk this riverwalk or ride scooters around the area, from a coworker. You have to pay to ride the scooters you see around, including the bikes but it’s all worth it. I enjoyed the few hours I was there for. A lot of people sitting in the benches and walking around, said “good morning” or were simply really friendly and the dogs were my favorite. There was a lot of good vibes, good sights to see, and I lost a lot of calories walking it. There’s opportunities for you along the way to stop and wait on boat taxis is what they call them. You can rent a surf board, a kayak, and more. It’s a romantic stop you have to experience before you can understand how great it is in downtown Tampa. 10/10 beautiful and a great getaway. You can find coffee shops and fancy steak or Portuguese restaurants within 5-10 miles.By Destiny Parker (10 months ago)It was very clean and very beautiful. The memorials of the veterans as you enter the Riverwalk are well kept and so is the entire stretch down the river. I understand there are some things that staff cannot always take care of, like litter in the riverway, etc, but they do a good job making it look good.By Derik Roy (a month ago)This place s amazing and so beautiful. It has so much to offer from water taxi rides, the children’s museum, and many tasty restaurants. I felt so at peace and all of the people were very friendly. Perfect place for date night, family time or even alone time. I highly recommend making this a stop on your list.By Patrice Leonard (6 months ago)this beautiful stretch of sidewalk along the water in Downtown Tampa is one of the best parts of the city! along the pathway, there are parks to play at, bars to go to, and water taxis to take. it’s a great place for a walk, jog, or run too! there are also lots of great things to check out nearby, including the Tampa Museum of Art.By Manal Ammagui (8 months ago)
Museum of Science & Industry
- Address: 4801 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33617, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 3.9 (3931)
Glazer Children’s Museum
- Address: 110 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (3604)
Water Works Park
- Address: 1701 N Highland Ave, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (3435)
Sparkman Wharf
- Address: 615 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (2584)
Tampa Theatre
- Address: 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (2178)
Tampa Bay History Center
- Address: 801 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (1448)
American Victory Ship & Museum
- Address: 705 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1271)
Tampa Museum of Art
- Address: 120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.2 (1057)
Ybor City Museum State Park
- Address: 1818 E 9th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (906)
Henry B. Plant Museum
- Address: 401 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (813)
USF Botanical Gardens
- Address: 12210 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (802)
Tampa FL is a world-famous tourist destination, and it’s no wonder why. Here is our list of the top 15 best place to visit in Tampa FL – based on expert opinions and customer reviews. Did your favorite spot make the cut? Let us know in the comments above!
We went to Busch Gardens for a day when it got a bit chilly for beach fun. It was Monday, December, 3rd, the last day of Christmas break and it wasn’t very crowded. Quick queue passes and all day dining made our day really easy and stress free. These triple the cost of your ticket but are well worth it, if don’t want to spend all the time in lines and have several teenagers in the family who eat a lot like we do. All day dining includes an entrée, a side or desert and a fountain drink in any of 5 main restaurants every hour. It doesn’t include any snacks or other food vendors. Mind: you still have to wait in lines to get food in restaurants, so we didn’t even go to a BBQ place that smelled so good, the line was probably more than an hour long there and we didn’t want to waste time. We also went on Serengeti safari tour and loved it: got to feed the giraffes and see all the animals up close. The rides are awesome, me and our youngest kid 9y.o. did some family friendly rides, which were too much for me anyways (I just can’t do any roller coasters). My husband with older kids had a blast on all the crazy rides. Everyone loved our day in Busch Gardens, we’ll definitely be back.
This is my first time at this location. I was very surprised to find that not only does the park have rides and attractions but it also has a grief focus on wild animals. There is an Animal Care Center that you can enter and at times there will be a veterinarian taking care of an animal. There are exam rooms that have clear glass in front of them so that you can observe what the doctor does with the animals. The park seems to be well-designed for families. I would recommend this place if you want thrill rides animals and family fun!
Fun stop. The day we went there was lots of cars in the parking lot but not as many people. So that worked out really well for the rides and the lines for the rides. It was a hot day so the animals were hiding on the Safari for the most part but there were enough to enjoy. Roller coasters are amazing and the people they were really friendly. I definitely recommend going there with your children.
Went on a Tuesday mid July. Park was fairly busy but literally everything was shut down. It rained for a bit but other than that it was just cloudy but they kept the rides and games closed anyways. I was there for 4 hours and got to ride 1 ride and play 1 game, the rest of the time was us walking around the park trying to find something to do. The animal exhibits were cool though, animals were very active. Don’t get the all day dining. It only works for certain restaurants and their food is sub par at best since it seems it’s not very organized in terms of making it and getting it out. I got chicken tenders and fries and it made me almost puke (I hate saying this because I know it’s an amusement park, but this was just bad). The one ride I rode was fun though, it was the new iron coaster and was a lot of fun. Line went by at a decent pace and the ride itself was fun. Staff were friendly and helpful whenever we needed it. Honestly, just save your money and go to universal or somewhere else. $300 to waste that I can’t get a refund on!
I love Busch gardens. I used to go to the one in Virginia. I felt it was much better in the terms of maintenance. May be the Tampa bay park isn’t that well maintained probably due to they just opening to public after Covid. I had gone to this park in the late summer of last year.
This location also has a small zoo. The roller coasters are pretty good, the park has something for everyone. They also have shows.
Would definitely come back here.