Last checked: September 2026. Hours, parking rates and admission come from each venue’s or agency’s own site. Prices and hours change, so confirm before you go.
If you are searching for things to do in St Pete, FL, you have probably seen the same list everywhere: the Pier, the Dalí, the beaches. All of that is worth doing. What the lists rarely tell you is how to fit it together, what costs money, where to park and how far each stop is from where you are staying. We host families across Pinellas County, including a home in northwest St. Petersburg, so this is the local’s version we give house guests: what to do, in what order, and what to skip if you only have a few days.
St Pete attractions at a glance
| Stop | What it is | Hours and cost we verified | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Pete Pier | Waterfront pier district with a splash pad, restaurants and views | Opens 30 minutes before sunrise, closes 11:00 PM; no charge to enter; parking is paid | Everyone, sunset walks |
| The Dalí Museum | Large collection of Salvador Dalí’s work, One Dali Blvd | Daily 10 AM to 6 PM, Thursdays until 8 PM; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; on-site parking $10, card only | Art fans, rainy days |
| Sunken Gardens | Historic botanical garden, 1825 4th St N | Mon to Sat 10 AM to 4:30 PM, Sun noon to 4:30 PM; adults $18, seniors 62+ $15, children 2 to 12 $8; nearly 200 free parking spaces shared with neighbors | Families, a slow morning |
| The James Museum | Western and Native American art, 150 Central Ave | Daily 10 AM to 5 PM, Tuesdays until 8 PM; adults $23; Tuesdays discounted | Rainy days |
| Chihuly Collection | Glass art plus a live glass demonstration, 720 Central Ave | Mon to Sat 10 AM to 5 PM, Sun noon to 5 PM | Short, easy visit |
| Museum of Fine Arts | Art museum on Beach Drive NE | Tue to Sun 10 AM to 5 PM, closed Mondays | Downtown wander |
| Weedon Island Preserve | 3,000 acre nature preserve with boardwalks, a fishing pier and paddling | Free admission; trail and paddling details on the county site | Kayaking, birding |
| Fort De Soto Park | Beaches, kayak trail, dog beach, camping | 7 AM to sunset daily; $6 parking fee | A full beach day |
Sources: stpetepier.org FAQ, thedali.org, sunkengardens.org, thejamesmuseum.org, moreanartscenter.org, mfastpete.org, pinellas.gov and weedonislandpreserve.org. We do not list some ticket prices because they vary by date and ticket type.
Downtown St. Pete: Pier, museums and Central Avenue
The St. Pete Pier
There is no charge to enter the Pier District, and it is pet friendly on a leash of up to six feet, though dogs are not allowed on the splash pad or Spa Beach. Weekday lots run about $2 an hour for the first four hours, weekend lots about $2.50, and on-street meters $2.50 an hour. The Downtown Looper trolley is free and stops right at the Pier District entrance, and a free tram runs from 9 AM to 11 PM inside the district.
What we tell guests: go late afternoon, walk out for sunset, and eat afterward. If you have small kids, the splash pad is the reason to come earlier.
Museums, when you need shade or rain cover
The Dalí is the headline, with extended hours on Thursdays, and it recommends buying tickets in advance. If you would rather see two smaller places, the Chihuly Collection and the James Museum are both on Central Avenue, and the James Museum is discounted on Tuesdays. The Museum of Fine Arts sits on Beach Drive NE. If you only have time for one, choose the one that matches the group: art lovers to the Dalí, kids to Sunken Gardens or the Pier.
The Saturday Morning Market
The Saturday Morning Market returns to its main-season downtown home on October 3, 2026 and runs Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM from October through May, according to the market’s site. It lists more than 140 vendors, welcomes well-behaved dogs and points visitors to the free Looper and SunRunner, plus garages. Confirm the exact location and parking rates on the market’s page before you go, because they have moved seasonally.
Outdoors: gardens, preserves and the water
Sunken Gardens
A historic botanical garden that visitors typically spend 1.5 to 2 hours exploring. Its historic paths are ADA accessible and span three fourths of a mile, and there is shade from mature trees. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Weedon Island Preserve
The county lists more than 4.7 miles of boardwalks and trails, a fishing pier, paddling launches and rentals, and an educational center. When we checked, one of its two self-guided paddling trails (the north trail) was listed as closed, so check before you plan a paddle. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. It is the easiest nature morning if you want to paddle a calm route or bird.
Fort De Soto Park
The county lists over seven miles of waterfront, including almost three miles of white sand beach, a 2.25 mile recreational canoe trail, a designated dog beach and a 236 site camping area. Parking is $6, and the park is open 7 AM to sunset. It is far from the city, so plan it as its own day.
Beaches near St. Pete
Gulf beaches such as Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach are west of the city. Parking varies by beach. Madeira Beach has a multi-story garage that the tourism board describes as rarely full, and ParkMobile works at several beaches. The regional visitor guide notes Gulf water ranges from about 64 F in winter to 87 F in August. See our beaches guide for more, and our best beaches in Clearwater post if you want to compare.
Drive times from our homes
| Home | St. Pete Pier | Central Ave restaurants | Weedon Island | Fort De Soto | John’s Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hibiscus House | 23 | 18 | 19 | 33 | 23 |
| Tortuga Hideaway | 25 | 20 | 27 | 35 | 24 |
| On the Creek | 27 | 22 | 27 | 38 | 28 |
| The Salty Parrot | 29 | 22 | 29 | 36 | 10 |
| Indian Shores Family Oasis | 31 | 25 | 27 | 37 | 11 |
| Goodtimes Waterfront | 36 | 31 | 37 | 47 | 24 |
| Casa Blue Horizon | 40 | 35 | 40 | 49 | 24 |
Typical drive minutes listed on each home’s page; traffic on the bridges and on event weekends can add time.
Sample plans
A downtown day (about 6 hours)
- Park downtown once, ride the free Looper to the Pier District.
- Late morning: one museum, either the Dalí or a smaller stop on Central Avenue.
- Lunch on Central Avenue.
- Afternoon: stroll the waterfront, and end at the Pier for sunset.
A water day with kids
- Start at the Pier splash pad or Fort De Soto in the morning.
- Pack a picnic, sunscreen and water.
- Head home for a pool afternoon; kids sleep well after this one.
A rainy day
Choose the Dalí, the James Museum or the Chihuly Collection, then head to a game room. Our Seminole home has an indoor slide and game room for exactly this situation.
Events that shape your trip
The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg runs March 5 to 7, 2027, and IndyCar says tickets go on sale in the fall. The Tampa Bay Blues Festival is April 9 to 11, 2027 at Vinoy Park, with a kick off party on April 8. Book early if your dates overlap, and see our Tampa Bay events calendar for more. If you visit in December, our guide to Christmas lights in St Pete and Clearwater covers the waterfront.
St Pete with kids
Good bets are the Pier splash pad, Sunken Gardens, Weedon Island’s boardwalks and a beach morning. Our St. Petersburg vacation rentals and nearby homes give you a place to rest between outings. The Salty Parrot in northwest St. Petersburg is about 22 minutes from Central Avenue restaurants, 6 minutes from Archibald Beach Park and 10 minutes from John’s Pass, and it sleeps 10. For families with toddlers, Indian Shores Family Oasis is set up for little kids, with one full bath and one half bath, so decide whether that works for your group.
Where to stay for St. Pete
If you want St. Pete without the city price tag, Hibiscus House in Pinellas Park sleeps 6, has a private pool that is not heated and is about 23 minutes from the Pier. If you want a beach base, The Salty Parrot is close to Madeira Beach. For dining and evenings, see our dining guide and shopping and nightlife page.
Common mistakes we see
- Paying for parking twice. Park downtown once and use the free Looper trolley between the Pier, the museums and Central Avenue, instead of moving the car each time.
- Treating Fort De Soto as a quick stop. The county lists over seven miles of waterfront and a park open 7 AM to sunset. Give it a full morning or afternoon, and check the drive time from your home in the table above.
- Forgetting holiday closures. The Dalí, the James Museum and the Chihuly Collection all close on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Sunken Gardens also closes on Christmas Eve. Museums also vary by day, so the Museum of Fine Arts is closed Mondays.
- Booking a Grand Prix weekend by accident. The March 5 to 7, 2027 street circuit runs through the downtown waterfront, including Pioneer Park and the area around the Dalí, so expect closures and heavy traffic that weekend.
- Missing the discount day. The James Museum lists discounted Tuesday admission, and the Dalí stays open until 8 PM on Thursdays.
What we tell guests staying in the northwest corner
If you stay at our northwest St. Petersburg home, you are closer to the Gulf beaches than to downtown: about 6 minutes to Archibald Beach Park in Madeira Beach and 10 minutes to John’s Pass, per our site data. Downtown is a 22 to 29 minute drive, so we suggest pairing a beach morning with a late afternoon downtown outing rather than doing both in a rush. For a beach day at Madeira Beach, the visitor guide says its six story garage is rarely full, and the ParkMobile app works at several beaches. Alcohol rules vary by beach; the tourism board lists Madeira Beach and Treasure Island as allowing alcohol without glass and Fort De Soto as prohibiting it, so check before packing a cooler.
Groceries are easy from there: guests tell us a Publix and Walmart are about three minutes from the house. That matters if you plan to cook after a long day out.
Quick answers
There is no charge to enter the Pier District. Parking is paid, and some events may be ticketed.
Two full days covers downtown and one outdoor day. A third day lets you add Fort De Soto or a museum.
If you want a long beach day with a kayak trail and a dog beach, yes. Parking is $6 and the park is open 7 AM to sunset.
Yes. The Pier splash pad, Sunken Gardens and Weedon Island’s boardwalks all work well with children.
Our homes are near beaches, not on them. Check the drive times above and each listing.
Keep planning
Ready to plan? Pick your dates, see the total price with taxes before you pay, and remember there is no service fee when you book direct. Call or text us at +1 727-295-2319.