City Spotlight:

Your Guide to St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg sunset

Know Before You Go: About St. Petersburg

The spirit of Florida’s west-central coast comes alive in St. Petersburg and we're here to help you navigate your way through your trip.

With a revamped downtown area that’s home to endless craft breweries and a renowned museum devoted entirely to Salvador Dali, the former retiree community of St. Petersburg is boasting a younger liveliness that’s giving the Florida town a completely new feel. The main draw is Central Avenue; take yourself on a brewery tour by meandering down this gorgeous street until you hit the Tampa Bay waterfront. Then walk a few blocks south to the Dali Museum.

Sunshine Days

Clear skies and desirable year-round temperatures are what make St. Petersburg stand out when it comes to climate. The city claims an average of 74 degrees and 361 days of sunshine per year. It also holds a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days of sunshine, a streak that began in 1967 and lasted until 1969. While temperatures have dipped to the freezing mark in winter on occasion, it's a rare occurrence.

Beaches and the Arts

St. Pete's biggest attractions are its beaches and arts scene. The former is no surprise, the city has been long known as a coastal destination located on a peninsula with Tampa Bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. It's the world-class museums that surprise most first-timers. Two don't-miss spots are the Dali Museum, featuring over 96 oil paintings and other works, and the Museum of Fine Arts on downtown's scenic waterfront.

Major Industries

The medical and financial industries are St. Petersburg's largest employers. The city is the corporate headquarters of such renowned financial institutions, such as Raymond James Financial and Franklin Templeton. Notable medical institutions include All Children's Hospital and the Tampa Bay Research Institute, as well as many biotech firms. But the industry you'll be most interested in is hospitality and tourism, which, unsurprisingly for this warm coastal destination, also ranks as one of the top employers in the Tampa Bay region.

Getting There

Two international airports serve St. Petersburg: St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). The Tampa airport is larger than St. Pete's, and it's served by more major airlines with more daily flights. Chances are you'll be flying in from TPA and making the quick drive across the bay to St. Pete. As far as public transportation goes, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) operates a bus system throughout the county, as well as the Suncoast Beach Trolley that’ll shuttle you to and from the beach communities that line the coast of the peninsula.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in St. Petersburg.

Things to Do in St. Petersburg

Craft breweries, amazing restaurants and a picturesque coastline. Don't miss some of our favorite must-see attractions on your next trip.