In this post, I will help you to find where to stay in St Petersburg for tourist, for families, couples. I’ll also give you the list of the best areas to stay in St. Petersburg (include map and video) and the best hotels in St Petersburg for all budgets.
Founded in 1888, St. Petersburg, Florida is located in Tampa Bay, on the Gulf Of Mexico. With a great blend of both sprawling beaches and a vibrant city, it offers visitors an incredibly diverse destination.
However, unlike similar locations such as LA or Miami, most people know very little about Florida’s Sunshine City, which makes it challenging to know where best to stay, especially for first-time visitors.
Where to stay in St. Petersburg, FL?
The best areas to stay in St. Petersburg FL are St Pete Beach, Downtown St Pete, St. Petersburg Waterfront, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, and Clearwater. These are safe and popular neighborhoods for tourists, offering a wide variety of attractions and amenities.
St. Pete Beach is the best area to stay in St. Petersburg on the beach with plenty of water sports, beachfront dining, and beachfront resorts. Downtown Saint Petersburg is the best place to stay in St. Petersburg for culture, nightlife, and city attractions.
North Redington Beach and Madeira Beach are the best places for those who prefer a quieter, more refined beach experience.The latter of those two options also gives you the chance to visit a unique location in the form of John’s Pass, with tons of shops and bars in a secluded location.
Treasure Island is a great base for families and travelers seeking for a quiet beach holiday. It is home to Sunset Beach, one of the best beaches in the Clearwater and Saint Petersburg region.
St. Pete is served by two airports, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Tampa International Airport. You can get around the city by renting a car, and using public transportation such as PSTA buses, taxis, Suncoast Beach Trolley, and Looper Trolley.
| 💖 Best Area for first-timers: | St Pete Beach |
| 💎 Best luxury hotel: | The Don CeSar |
| 🏨 Best mid-range hotel: | The Saint Hotel |
| 💰 Best budget hotel: | St. Pete Beach Suites |
Map of areas and neighborhoods in St. Petersburg, FL:
7 Best areas to stay in St. Petersburg for tourists are:
1. St Pete Beach
Originally known as St. Petersburg Beach, the area features the longest stretch of undeveloped public beaches on the northern shore of the mouth of Tampa Bay. St Pete Beach is where you can find award-winning beaches and the historically grand Don CeSar resort.
It is an incredibly popular seaside resort with tourists, as in addition to the long stretches of sprawling sand, shallow, clear water, it is famed for its water sports, such as kiteboarding, parasailing, stand-up paddleboarding, and windsurfing.
The Sunset Beach nearby is packed with locals and tourists where you can find beachfront bars, colorful houses, with good photo opportunities.
Perhaps the most famous stretch of the beach is taken up by the legendary Don CeSar resort. Opened in 1928, it features on both the Historic Hotels Of America and National Trust For Historic Preservation registers. Known as the “Pink Lady”, it is built in a combination of the Mediterranean and Moorish architectural styles, designed to resemble a pink castle.
With almost 300 rooms, 40 suites, and 3 on-site restaurants, severa bars, it is a fabulous beachfront destination, which allows you to walk the same halls where historical figures like Franklin D Roosevelt, Lou Gehrig, and Al Capone once stayed.
You then have numerous beach bars, restaurants, and shops in the surrounding area, especially on the two main streets of Corey Avenue and historic 8th Avenue, to ensure you always have plenty of shopping and dining options available during your stay.
RumFish Grill is a great place to have dinner and enjoy watching a 33,500-gallon aquarium. You can also have a chance to snorkel in the tank and Swim with the Fish.
The area isn’t just a beachfront destination though, as it is also the location of the Pass-A-Grille Historic District. Formerly a separate town until the forming of the city, it is designated a National Historic District due to the numerous traditional buildings and homesteads located in the area.
You will find Merry Pier, where you can take party boats and catch a shuttle to Shell Key Preserve in the mouth of Tampa Bay for camping, kayaking and jet skiing.
A great way to add some sightseeing to a beach vacation, there is even the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum to help provide information on the town if the architecture on its own isn’t enough.
St Pete Beach also has several green spaces, waterfront parks to relax such as Horan Park, Egan Park, Ron McKenney Park, and Upham Beach Park which is great place for sunset and for children with its gentle waves.
You will also be close to the Spanish-American War-era fort, Fort De Soto Park, the largest park in Pinellas County, and the spectacular Sunshine Skyway Bridge which is the entrance to Tampa Bay.
Best Places to stay in St Pete Beach:
luxury ($$$): The Don CeSar, 4-star family-friendly hotel that has a beachfront location. it has an on-site Spa Oceana, Maritana Grille, Sea Porch restaurants, and Uncle Andy’s Ice Cream Parlor. You can choose to stay in a room with views of the Gulf of Mexico.
mid range ($$): The Saint Hotel, 4-star hotel, located in St Pete Beach, featuring an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar.
budget ($): St. Pete Beach Suites, 3-star children-friendly hotel, located only a 2 minutes’ walk from the beach, featuring a year-round outdoor pool, free parking, and barbecue facilities. There is a flat-screen cable TV and a private bathroom in each guest room.
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2. Downtown St Pete
Downtown St Petersburg is the historic and central business districts of the city. Located around 10-miles from some of the most popular beaches in the region, St. Petersburg consistently ranks as having one of the best downtown areas in the southern US.
Tons of attractions fill the city that will delight and entertain tourists. The Mahaffey Theater, Morean Arts Center and dozens of other art galleries are available for art lovers to enjoy. Then the Coliseum, Palladium Theatre, and Jannus Live provide great options for when you want to catch a show.
History lovers are in for a real treat as well. Not only do you have a collection of 374 historic buildings and objects, like Haslam’s Bookstore, many of which are located on the National Register Of Historic Places.
But you also have institutes dedicated to teaching you about history as well, such as the St. Petersburg Museum Of History (oldest museum in Pinellas County), Florida Holocaust Museum, Florida International Museum, James Museum Of Western & Wildlife Art, Museum Of Fine Arts, Imagine Museum: Contemporary glass art, and the Salvador Dali Museum.
The Salvador Dali Museum is the world-renowned museum, home to an extensive collection of art by the Spanish surrealist painter, Salvador Dalí. While Chihuly Collection on Central Avenue has unique sculptures made by glass artist Dale Chihuly and glass-blowing works.
The downtown also boasts some art events such as Second Saturday ArtWalk, St. Pete Pride Festival in June in Grand Central District, and SHINE St. Pete Mural Festival in October.
Perhaps the two most visited attractions in St. Petersburg though, are those that focus much more directly on having fun. For starters, you have Tropicana Field, home to the Tampa Bay Rays of the MLB. This makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to catch a game in the evening after a day at the beach.
Then you have the St. Petersburg Pier, a landmark pleasure pier stretching out into Tampa Bay. With 5 restaurants, a playground, an environmental education center, numerous works of art, and a sculpture, as well as stunning views out over the bay.
Families will enjoy the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center and shop for local products at The Marketplace. It is a great place for families and solo travelers alike to spend a relaxing break, day, or night.
As an added note, it is also the location of the University Of South Florida St Petersburg, making it ideal for anyone considering studying here or simply visiting a student.
If you like shopping, check out the Indie Flea Market and St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market, for fresh local produce, fashion, art, food, handmade crafts, and jewelry.
The downtown also has plenty of green spaces and nature’s places to relax such as Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, Weedon Island Preserve, North Shore Park, Vinoy Park, Straub Park, and Weedon Island Preserve.
If you are looking for some nightlife, head to Central Ave with many bars and clubs such as Dog Bar, Green Bench Brewing, 3 Daughters Brewing, Enigma, and The Canopy Rooftop Lounge on Beach Drive.
You combine all of this with the ample bars, nightclubs, breweries, shops, hotels, and restaurants in the area and it becomes one of the most diverse places to stay in the region.
St Petersburg is very pedestrianized but you can get around St. Petersburg easily with Coast Bike Share, Pete’s new e-scooters, Downtown Looper Trolley, the Central Avenue Trolley, and many more routes by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA).
Downtown has a wide range of accommodation options that suits all budgets, from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels.
Best places to stay in St. Petersburg Downtown:
luxury ($$$): Prestige Collection, Hotel Boutique, 5-star family-friendly hotel, located in a prime location in the centre of St Petersburg, a short drive by car from The Dali’ Museum, Tropicana Field and John’s Pass. Also close to Spa Beach, Chihuly Collection and The Pier.
mid-range ($$): The Birchwood, great 4-star historical hotel, located in St. Petersburg city centre, within walking distance from The Chihuly Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Saint Petersburg Museum of History.
budget ($): Hyatt Place St. Petersburg/Downtown, great 3-star hotel, one of the best places to stay in in the middle of St Petersburg on a budget. It is a short walk from Chihuly Collection, The Dali’ Museum.
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3. St. Petersburg Waterfront
The Waterfront district of St. Petersburg is a historic area, located right next to Downtown t. Petersburg. It is the part of the city that provides perhaps the best combination of both waterfront and city life.
You will have easy access to all the entertainment options, attractions, and conveniences that are located there. Meanwhile, the area itself is also filled with museums and beautiful things to see, as well as a fabulous little park for when you want to relax.
Vinoy Park and North Straub Park offer green spaces along the waterfront where you can relax, have a picnic, or take a leisurely stroll.
Stay in St. Petersburg Waterfront if you want easy access to both the downtown area and waterfront location; you want to stay in a historic district.
Best Places to stay in St. Petersburg Waterfront:
budget ($): Hampton Inn & Suites St. Petersburg/Downtown, 3-star hotel, located only 2-minute walk from the waterfront and the Museum of Fine Arts, featuring an outdoor pool and a fitness center, as well as spacious, air-conditioned rooms with cable TV.
mid-range ($$): The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 4-star historic hotel, located along the Tampa Bay coast, offering an on-site spa and heated pools. It is short walking distance from The Chihuly Collection glass sculpture museum and Museum of Fine Arts.
4. Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach is actually a separate city, located immediately to the west of St. Petersburg. Often referred to as “mad beach” by locals, it’s a primarily residential area that is particularly popular with retirees.
Madeira Beach is famous for the sea-themed 1,100-foot John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk with many shops, restaurants, cafes along the coast way. Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, it was created by a hurricane in 1948 and discovered by pirate John Levique, hence the name.
John’s Pass hosts the Seafood Festival in October that attracts roughly 130,000 guests with the celebration of food, music, and arts and crafts.
Another attraction is the “Chicken Church”, a Church by the Sea built around the end of the second world war that resembles a chicken. While that being the main feature may not seem a selling point to many people, it is exactly why it is popular with others.
That’s because it is a very quiet, local kind of town. Visitors can enjoy relaxing on quiet stretches of sand, away from the hustle and bustle that accompanies the more popular tourist beaches.
Other places of interest are Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, Archibald Beach Park (The Hammocks), Hubbard’s Marina, Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center, and Remember Our Children Park.
The Remember Our Children (R.O.C. Park) has a pier that hosts the King of the Beach Fishing Tournament and Spring Break Rotary Carnival;
It is also a great place to eat and drink in bars and restaurants offering a distinctive local style and cuisine. There are also plenty of small stores offering local goods as well.
Some of the restaurants and bars to look at are Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company, Friendly Fisherman Restaurant, The Florida Winery, Mad Beach Fish House for seafood, and Caddy’s Madeira Beach.
One of the most popular tourist districts in the entire area, you will find more than 100 merchants located within the village.
Numerous shops, bars, and restaurants allow you to browse and dine in a unique destination, while activities such as dolphin watching, shelling tours, boat rentals, parasailing, jet-skiing, and tours with the local fishing fleet ensure you will always have plenty of unique and exciting experiences to keep you entertained.
Best Places to Stay in Madeira Beach:
budget ($): Shoreline Island Resort – Exclusively Adult, 3-star adult-only resort, one of the best places to stay in St. Petersburg for couples and adults, located right on the Gulf of Mexico in Madeira Beach. Featuring a private beach area, it is a short drive by car from John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk, Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, and Redington Long Pier.
budget ($): Barefoot Beach Club, popular 3-star hotel that has a private beach, short drive fromHost Dolphin Tours, featuring a heated outdoor pool with views of the Gulf of Mexico.
budget ($): Cambria Hotel St Petersburg-Madeira Beach Marina, great 3-star family-friendly hotel, in St Pete Beach, short stroll from Madeira Beach, featuring a private parking, a garden and a shared lounge.
5. Treasure Island
Located just off the coast of Madeira Beach, Treasure Island is situated on a barrier island in the Gulf Of Mexico. It connects with the mainland via Treasure Island Causeway Bridge.
The island earned its name in 1915 after some of the first property owners pretended to find chests of gold buried in the sand, in order to draw more potential buyers to the area.
As successful as it was deceitful, it helped the region to flourish. While construction remained steady for the next few decades, it exploded after the end of the second world war.
Bars, restaurants, and hotels began to spring up, creating a secluded getaway that was particularly popular with the rich and famous, such as legendary baseball star Babe Ruth, who had a home on the island.
Two large chunks of the island were broken off by a storm and formed smaller separate islands in the surrounding waters, that have become popular attractions for tourists to the island to swim or sail to. However, in the years that have followed, numerous artificial extensions have been made to the island, not only bringing it back to its former size but expanding it even further.
This has expanded both the area on which businesses can be built, as well as creating more places for tourists to relax and explore, with navigable waterways ensuring that all areas can be easily reached.
This allows Treasure Island to maintain its reputation as an exclusive destination, with plenty of dining options for you to enjoy while relaxing in the sun, sand, and surf.
Best places to stay in Treasure Island:
mid-range ($$): Provident Oceana Beachfront Suites, 4-star beachfront accommodation, in Treasure Island and Sunset Beach, featuring private parking, a sun terrace, a business centre and a bicycle rental service.
mid-range ($$): Bilmar Beach Resort, 4-star a Florida Gulf Coast resort located in beautiful Treasure Island. It has been the favorite of families for years, featuring two heated pools and a beach side fitness trail.
budget ($): FUSION Resort Two Bedroom Suites, great 3-star hotel, with free bikes, private parking, a shared lounge, a terrace. It also has a hot tub, evening entertainment and an ATM.
6. North Redington Beach
North Redington Beach is primarily residential area. Founded in 1935 by Charles Reddington, it was originally intended to rival the Don Cesar resort in St. Pete Beach. But , due to a number of factors, including the outbreak of World War II, the area never peaked in the way it was expected to.
Attractions nearby are Tiki Gardens – Indian Shores Beach Access, Splash Harbour Water Park, George C. McGough Nature Park, and Florida Botanical Gardens.
North Redington Beach is also close to Clearwater Beach, one of the most popular beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast, where you can find the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a 1,080-foot fishing Pier 60, Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise, Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail, Sand Key Park, and Caladesi Island State Park.
Instead, many permanent residents moved to the area, creating a vibrant beach community that grew to be considered one of the gems of the area. While a portion of the city was outlined specifically to attract tourists, it did so in a more subtle way.
Stylish bars and hotels were constructed in the area, ensuring North Reddington Beach could make the most of the tourist industry, without losing its individual charm.
Now, when visitors arrive in North Reddington Beach, they will find an area that is best described as an amalgamation of two places we have previously looked at, Madeira Beach and St Pete Beach.
Its residential atmosphere provides a quieter, more relaxing vacation like you’d find in Madeira Beach, while its high-end hotels, range of restaurants, and mile-long beach give you a choice of amenities and attractions similar to those in St. Pete Beach, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Best places to stay in North Redington Beach:
- budget ($): Island House Resort Hotel, 2-star hotel, located just off of Redington Beach.
- budget ($): Hotel SOL, 2-star beachfront hotel, located adjacent to Redington Long Pier.
- budget ($): Carousel Motel -Redington Shores, great motel, set in Redington Shores, within 1.7 km of Indian Shores Beach and 1.7 km of North Redington Beach.
7. Clearwater
Located just west of Tampa, Clearwater has beautiful beaches, vibrant art, family fun, and a superb food and drink scene.
The downtown area offers great shopping, dining, and live entertainment opportunities. The Cleveland Street District has views of Clearwater Harbor and Marina and hosts various concerts, festivals, and exhibits.
The beautiful family-friendly Clearwater beach has white sand, crystal clear, and shallow water. Here you will find the palm-lined Beach Walk Promenade, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the famous Pier 60.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium is the ideal place to spend a fun day with the kids where you can find animal interaction programs, stingray feedings, and dolphin photo opportunities.
Pier 60 is a great place to celebrate the sunset and take dolphin tours and boat cruises.
There are also plenty of water sports like jet-skiing, parasailing, or paddleboarding, seafood restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Sand Key Park and Beach is another sandy beach with facilities like beach cabanas, bathhouses, a dog park, a playground, and lifeguards.
You can also visit the untouched pristine beaches in Caladesi Island by taking a ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park.
There are numerous green spaces including Caladesi Island State Park with white sand beaches and charming sunset views; the 51 acres of Moccasin Lake Nature Park is ideal for hikers and bird-watchers; the 44 acres Cliff Stephens Park for hiking, cycling, boating, and fishing.
BayCare Ballpark for baseball lovers, the waterfront Coachman Park hosts concerts, art exhibits, and festivals year-round.
You can easily be getting around Clearwater, so don’t worry if you travel without a car. There is public transportations form of buses, trolleys, cabs, and ferries.
There are plenty of accommodations in Clearwater, you can find budget hotels, family-friendly hotels, and beachfront hotels that suit all types of tourists.
Best places to stay in Clearwater:
- mid-range ($$): Sandpearl Resort Private Beach
- mid-range ($$): Edge Hotel Clearwater Beach
- mid-range ($$): Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Where is the best area to in St. Petersburg, Florida?
The best area to stay in St. Petersburg on the beach is St Pete Beach. It is an popular seaside resort with long stretches of sand, shallow, clear water, it is famed for its water sports, such as kiteboarding, parasailing, stand-up paddleboarding, and windsurfing.
Where is the best place to stay on the beach in St Petersburg Florida?
There are tons of beachfront hotels on St Pete Beach. The best place to stay in St Petersburg Florida on the beach are The Villas at St Pete Beach (luxury), The Saint Hotel (mid-range), Plaza Beach Hotel – Beachfront Resort (budget).
Check out my virtual tour about the best places to stay in St. Peterburg:
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In conclusion, St Pete Beach, Downtown, St. Petersburg Waterfront, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, Clearwater are some of the best places to stay in St. Petersburg for tourists. They offer a wide variety of accommodation options for all budget travelers.
Overall, St Pete Beach and Downtown are the best areas in St. Petersburg for first-timers. These areas are popular areas with a wide range of accommodations and tourist amenities. If you stay here, you will be located close to many restaurants, bars, and shops.