Travelling to St. Petersburg
Why St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, which holds the Guinness World Record for the most continuous days of sunshine, is rightly dubbed "The Sunshine City." The city offers guests a blend of classic beach vacation and metropolitan flavour. The white, sandy beaches provide views of stunning sunsets, and the 137 parks encourage visitors to participate in activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking. A thriving creative renaissance also provides a diverse cultural experience, whether through the world-renowned Dal Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts.
The city hosts over 1,000 events yearly, ranging from the St. Anthony's Triathlon to Florida's largest Pride celebration. With so much to offer, the sun-kissed city is a popular destination for guests of all ages: families will enjoy the calm outdoors and abounding animals, while the younger set will enjoy the vibrant nightlife.
Best Months
The greatest time to visit St. Petersburg is from March to May, when the weather is pleasant and various outdoor activities bring the city to life. From June to November, accommodation rates are more inexpensive, but hurricanes are constantly threatening, and the weather is frequently scorching. During the winter months, the temperature drops dramatically.
Saving Money
Purchase a GO Card. If you intend to travel around the city by bus, consider purchasing a reloadable GO Card. These can be bought with precise change on the bus. The regular fare is $2.25. Fares can also be paid with precise change.
Choose the best beach. Sunshine City has many beaches, but practically none have free parking. Municipal properties, such as Treasure Island, can provide the best value. If you want to avoid bringing your car, the Suncoast Beach Trolley is a cheap transport between the area's beaches and connects to downtown.
Participate in free events. Every year, the city hosts over 1,000 events. Check the St. Petersburg Calendar to see which ones are free while you're in town.
What To Eat
Sunshine Community is a community on Florida's Gulf Coast. Thus, seafood is a requirement. For superb seafood delicacies like fresh oysters, coconut shrimp, tuna tartare, and crispy calamari, visit 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House and The Maritana Grille (at The Don Cesar). If you prefer to avoid fish, there are many other options in the city. Alfresco dining is available on Beach Drive and Central Avenue. If you're looking for a change of scenery, the Saturday Morning Market is a great place to get fresh produce, and food trucks all over the city serve delicious street food.
Getting Around
Driving is the greatest way to travel to St. Petersburg. Except for downtown lots during athletic events, the roads are easy to traverse, and parking is inexpensive. Many sites in the downtown area are within walking distance of one another, so if you're staying in the city, going around on foot is another convenient way to experience St. Petersburg. You can also explore by public transit; buses and trolleys run throughout the city, and the fares are reasonable.
Fly into St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), about 12 miles north of downtown, or the larger Tampa International Airport (TPA), about 20 miles northeast of downtown. Although buses run between the airport and the city, the travel time can be more than treble that of a car. So, the most convenient method to get to St. Petersburg (from either airport) is to hire a car or take a cab.
Car
Because parking is cheap and simple, driving is the most convenient way to get around. Downtown has plenty of street parking, and public parking around beaches is often less than $20 for most of the day. The roads are very simple to manoeuvre because they are grid-based, and two major highways, Interstate 75 and Interstate 275, link to other areas. Rush hour traffic can be congested, especially on and near highways. You can rent a car from various car rental companies, including Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis, at the airport or downtown.
Taxi
BATS Taxi has served the entire city of St. Petersburg and its beaches for over 40 years. The company provides a flat rate to the airport and other major locations. United Taxi is another alternative.
On Foot
Downtown is easily accessible by foot. Within a half-mile radius are attractions such as The Mahaffey Theatre, Dal Museum, and Saturday Morning Market.
Trolley
When walking is not an option, the Central Avenue Trolley and Downtown Looper Trolley are the finest ways to travel downtown. They will visit the Museum of Fine Arts, BayWalk, and the Florida Holocaust Museum. The Central Avenue Trolley is $2.25 for each ride, whereas the Downtown Looper Trolley is free. Other trolleys operated by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority include the Suncoast Beach Trolley, which runs every 30 minutes to beaches from Clearwater to St. Pete Beach and connects to downtown.
Bus
PSTA buses are available throughout the city and cost $2.25 each way. Though the buses travel farther than the trolleys, renting a car is more handy if you travel outside of downtown.
