What To Do On A Rainy Day in Tampa Bay

Looking for something to do on a rainy day in Tampa Bay? Contrary to popular belief, the Sunshine State isn’t always sunny. There are actually a lot of rainy days in Florida especially in the summertime during the busy vacation season. Make the most of your day in Tampa with these fun indoor activities the whole family can enjoy.

Florida Aquarium

The aquarium is probably one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking about rainy day activities. The Florida Aquarium is one of my favorites because of the diversity of exhibits. You’ll see everything from lemurs to penguins, and of course lots of fish and aquatic animals! It’s small enough to fit into a rainy Florida afternoon and located pretty centrally in Tampa’s Channelside District.

Cost: Ranges from $25 – $30 per adult depending on the day; $22 – $25 per child depending on the day (purchase discounted tickets in advance on their website)

Location: 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602

Hours: 9:30am – 5pm daily

Tampa Bay History Center

Located just a few blocks away in The Channelside District is the Tampa Bay History Center. Learn about Tampa Bay’s rich history through the eyes of Native Americans, pioneers, pirates, Cuban immigrants and more. There is a ton of things to see and do here and they have a lot of interactive elements for kids. Plus you can pop into the Columbia Cafe for a delicious Cuban-inspired meal.

Cost: $14.95 per adult, $10.95 per child (purchase discounted tickets on their website)

Location: 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602

Hours: 10am – 5pm daily

Tampa Museum of Art

Right on the Tampa Riverwalk, the Tampa Museum of Art is one of our favorite museums in the Tampa Bay area. Art lovers could spend an entire day wandering this museum. It showcases a variety of exhibits from ancient greek sculpture to photography to modern art. The museum is a perfect way to escape bad weather.

Cost: $15 per adult, $5 for students

Location: 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, Fl 33602

Hours: 10am – 5pm daily; Thursdays until 8pm

Armature Works

One of Tampa’s trendy food halls, Heights Public Market at Armature Works is a great place to hang out with friends and grab a bite to eat. The concept of a food hall means that there are multiple different counter service restaurants and each person can pick and choose which cuisine they like. You’ll find everything from empanadas, coffee, cocktails, barbecue and our personal favorite, sushi burritos. The majority of eateries in Armature Works are inside and there’s plenty of indoor seating. And you can’t beat those views of the Tampa skyline.

Cost: Free admission and parking, food prices vary

Location: 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602

Hours: 7am – 10pm weekdays; 8am – 11pm weekends

More Must Try Restaurants in Tampa

Cigar City Brewing Brewery Tour

If you like craft beer, spending a rainy day exploring one of Tampa’s iconic breweries is a perfect activity. At Cigar City Brewing enjoy exclusive beers on tap, a full service kitchen, and brewery tours. Take the 40-minute guided tour and learn about Tampa history, the equipment and ingredients used to brew CCB’s ales and lagers, and enjoy samples.

Photo from cigarcitybrewing.com

Cost: $8 per person for tour

Location: 3924 W Spruce St, Tampa, FL 33607

Hours: Tours offered Wednesday – Sunday at 12pm, 1:30pm, 4pm, 5:30pm; Taproom open 12pm-10pm weekdays, and 12pm-11pm Friday and Saturday

GameTime Arcade

Who doesn’t love an arcade suited for all ages? GameTime is located in Ybor City and is a great activity for a rainy day. With over 100 interactive arcade games, mini bowling, billiards, sports TVs, a full service bar and full restaurant, you could easily spend an afternoon here.

Photos from gametimeplayers.com

Cost: Varies by type of gameplay purchased. Cheapest option is $15 for one hour of gameplay.

Location: 1600 E. 8th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605

Hours: 12pm-10pm Sunday-Wednesday, 12pm- 12am Thursday- Saturday

Tampa Theatre

The Tampa Theatre is a historic and beloved landmark in downtown Tampa. Built in 1926, the theatre is one of America’s most elaborate movie palaces which hosts over 600 events per year. You can catch everything from new release films to seasonal classics, concerts and plays, at the Tampa Theatre. Check the website for listings.

Photos from tampatheatre.org

Cost: Varies by event

Location: 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

Hours: Varies by event, check website for times

Tampa Bay Rays Game

Head across the bridge to St. Petersburg, home of the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. Tropicana Field makes a great escape during bad weather because it’s completely indoors. Spend a rainy summer afternoon enjoying America’s Pastime and some tasty food and drink.

Cost: Varies by game and seat choice

Location: 1 Tropicana Dr, St. Petersburg, FL 33705

Hours: Varies by game, check website for game information

Dali Museum

One of the most beloved museums in Central Florida, The Dali Museum houses the largest collection of Salvador Dali’s works outside of Europe. Art and architecture lovers will be in awe over the floor-to-ceiling paintings and the beautiful building that houses them.

Photo from thedali.org

Cost: $25 per adult, $18 for students aged 13-17, $10 for children aged 6-12

Location: One Dalí Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Hours: Wednesday- Sunday 11am-6pm, Thursdays and Fridays until 8pm

4 thoughts on “What To Do On A Rainy Day in Tampa Bay”

    1. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site! Daily Florida life is definitely something cool to write about!

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