Perfect Day in Downtown St. Pete – Day Trip Itinerary

 

About This Trip

Downtown St. Pete (DTSP, as the locals call it) is an amazing place with tons of things to do, dining, shopping, breweries, and great waterfront views. This itinerary will take you to some of the best things to do in St. Pete, from beautiful tropical gardens, to an ocean-front rooftop tiki bar, to an iconic art museum. End your day enjoying the local dining and sampling the craft brews that St. Pete is known for. You will drive between each stop on the route, but walking will be part of some of the stops to enjoy the full experience.

Details:

  • Duration: Full Day
  • Number of Stops: 5
  • Driving Distance: <5 miles
  • Walking Distance: ~2 miles
  • Cost: $$ ($15-$50 per person)

What to Bring

  • sun protection
  • water

Stop 1: Coffee at The Blend

drive time: n/a | cost: varies | recommend duration: 30 mins | parking available

If you want to start your day with tasty coffee, a pastry or breakfast sandwich, The Blend is the perfect stop! They have a ton of unique drinks and even coffee flights. “The Blend” Cold Brew, made with coconut and caramel flavors, is my go-to order. This is one of my absolute favorite coffee shops in DTSP.


Stop 2: Sunken Gardens

drive time: 3 minutes | cost: $15 per adult | recommended duration: 1.5 hrs | parking available

This magical tropical garden is one of my favorite places in St. Pete. See a ton of flowers and plants, waterfalls, and even flamingos! It’s hard to believe this gorgeous garden is right in the heart of St. Pete.

Read our full guide to the Sunken Gardens


Stop 3: St. Pete Pier

drive time: 10 minutes | cost: free | recommended duration: 2 hrs | paid parking (nearby parking garages are way cheaper!)

The new-ish St. Pete Pier opened in 2020. The 1/2 mile pier extends out into Old Tampa Bay, making for beautiful water views, fishing, and great chances to see wildlife such as dolphins, pelicans, and more. With dining and a rooftop tiki bar, a splash pad and playground for the kids, and plenty of places to relax, the pier is one of our favorite things to do in downtown St. Pete.

Additional Activity: If you’d like to spend a little more time on the water, you can also take a dolphin or sunset cruise with Pier Dolphin Cruises.

Know Before You Go – Florida Lives Guide to the St. Pete Pier

tip: grab lunch or a snack at one of the several restaurants & bars on the pier. head to the rooftop bar, pier teaki for amazing views!

Stop 4: Dali Museum

drive time: 5 minutes | cost: $29 per adult | recommended duration: 1.5 hrs | parking available

Escape the heat of the afternoon at one of the most notable museums in St. Pete, the Dali Museum. This is the largest collection of Salvador Dali paintings outside of Europe.

If you’re not into Dali, there are several other museums around the area you can visit instead. The Museum of Fine Arts, The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, and The Chihuly Collection are other great options.

Make it budget-friendly: skip the museums and instead check out some of the beautiful waterfront parks around the pier including Vinoy Park (and the Vinoy Resort), Straub Park, North Shore Park, and (my personal favorite) Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum.


Stop 5: Dinner & Drinks in Downtown St. Pete

drive time: 5-10 minutes | cost: varies | recommended duration: 1+ hr | street parking or garage nearby

For the last stop of the day, head to the Central Ave area and check out all the amazing restaurants, bars, breweries, murals, and shops in DTSP. There are so many amazing places, you really can’t go wrong. I personally love Datz for dinner, then Oak & Stone for a pour-your-own beer wall filled with local brews. Some of our other favorites are: Red Mesa Mercado, Green Bench Brewing, Buya Ramen, No Vacancy Bar, Bavaro’s Pizza, St. Pete Brewing, Sushi Inc, and 3 Daughters Brewing.

Guide to Our Must Try Restaurants in St. Pete

tip: park the car and walk in between restaurants, shops, bars, and breweries

More Photos From A Perfect Day in Downtown St. Pete


View all our Florida Lives Itineraries

Perfect Florida road trips, planned for you

The information in this post was accurate at the time of publishing to the best of the author’s knowledge. If you are planning to visit any of the sites mentioned in this post, we recommend checking the most up-to-date information on their respective websites, including hours of operation.

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