Things to do in Tampa

Get close to many of Florida’s aquatic and terrestrial animals and ecosystems, as well as others from around the world at the Florida Aquarium, including sea turtles and coral. Your ticket allows you to access all of the exhibits, which feature diverse creatures and habitats.  The Florida Aquarium works to protect and restore our planet on many conservation fronts, including research and rescue efforts that help restore Florida’s sea turtle and coral populations and to ensure that sharks continue to swim the seas.  Get up close and personal with unique moon jellies at the touch pool experience in the Moon Bay exhibit and learn about this hypnotically graceful ocean creature with surprising survival skills. On the Wetlands Trail, see species such as alligators, river otters, and even the invasive Burmese python. There is also a large aviary that allows birds to explore in a safe environment. Journey through a mangrove forest to see it teeming with local fish. Witness feedings of the intriguing pink spoonbill or other animals and learn more about the wildlife during scheduled presentations at the ranger station. Embark on the Journey to Madagascar, a unique exhibit featuring ring-tailed lemurs, chameleons, hissing cockroaches, and marine life found in the Indian Ocean. In the Bays to Beaches exhibit, see spiny lobsters and the strange Toadfish as well as Batfish who walk on the bottom of the seafloor. Take the opportunity to touch the gentle aquatic creatures at Stingray Beach, or bizarre creatures that have no backbone such as anemones and sea stars. In the coral tunnel, discover the intriguing sea dragons and sea horses. The Florida Aquarium journey culminates at the 500,000-gallon habitat that features sharks, rays, sea turtles, reef fish, and moray eels. Learn about the aquarium’s conservation efforts at the Waves of Wonder gallery. The highlight of this section is the Heart of the Sea where you will see bonnethead sharks, loggerhead turtle, tarpon, southern stingrays, spotted eagle rays, plus a variety of reef fish. At The Splash Pad, bring swimsuits for the kids who are invited to play in the outdoor plaza at the rain-forest-themed water feature with dump buckets and waterworks, plus net climbs, slides, and more.

Explore Florida’s favorite coasters and thrill rides in Tampa Bay. Book a 1-day admission ticket or add multi-park options to also enjoy admission to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Adventure Island Tampa Bay. Whether you’re a coaster enthusiast or want rides that are fun for the whole family, explore Florida’s best coasters, right here in Tampa Bay. Take on a thrilling triple-launch coaster, a family spin coaster that’s a new ride every time, epic coaster legends, and more. Meet more than 300 species of animals here at Tampa’s largest zoo. From the exotic to the endangered, the ones you love to the ones you’ve never even heard of, meet more than 300 species of animals. If you’re planning a Tampa, Florida vacation, be sure not to miss the largest zoo in Tampa, Florida – in fact, one of the largest zoos in all of North America. Enjoy live shows from world-class performers – along with a few rescued rising stars. Your admission is your ticket to world-class entertainment, with live shows for all ages. Enjoy the breathtaking performances on ice during Turn It Up!, the nostalgic sounds of Rock a Doo Wop, plus the kid-friendly fun of Let's Play Together at Sesame Street® Safari of Fun.

Immerse yourself in wonder at SeaWorld Orlando, where the aquatic world comes to life like no place else. With the combo ticket options available, you can also enjoy the thrills of Aquatica Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island. SeaWorld Connect with the ocean at SeaWorld, watching killer whales leap at the One Ocean show, racing like a ray on Manta the ride, entering the all-new thrilling, chilling adventure of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin and sharing an epic voyage with sea turtles at TurtleTrek. Experience the power and grace of killer whales in the awe-inspiring Shamu show One Ocean. Orcas jump skyward, dancing fountains dot the water, and a Splash Zone seat gives you submerged views of killer whales flapping their fins and drenching you with water. For fast thrills, the Manta flying roller coaster tilts you parallel to the ground and sends you headfirst on a twisting, plunging trip that starts with an inverted nosedive. At Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, you’ll glide past ethereal, icy sights on a trackless ride to a no-glass penguin exhibit, which gets you closer to the charming birds and lets you experience their ideal, frosty conditions. Aquatica Orlando From high-speed water slides and exhilarating wave pools, to tranquil beaches and the remarkable animal habitats that are the hallmark of SeaWorld, Aquatica Orlando, SeaWorld's Waterpark, delights all ages and interests. This one-of-a-kind park is home to some of the world's most thrilling water rides, featuring 38 slides, rivers and lagoons and 84,000 square feet of sparkling white, sandy beaches. Busch Gardens Tampa Take your family to Busch Gardens Tampa, a place where fun comes naturally. Everyone can enjoy the unparalleled mix of animal encounters, captivating shows, and thrilling rides. Race like a cheetah aboard Cheetah Hunt, or dive face down at 60 mph on Falcon's Fury, America's tallest freestanding drop tower. Adventure Island Treat your family to a tropical oasis, where the fun never sets. Enjoy thrilling rides, chilling slides and splashes to delight everyone. Swirl down the wild tubes of Caribbean Corkscrew, swoosh the 210-foot GulfScream descent or race to the finish on Riptide. Little ones will find adventure too at Fabian’s Funport, with fountains, splash zones and water slides perfect for pint-sized summer fun.

ZooTampa brings together animals and visitors to create unforgettable, natural connections. Home to more than 1300 animals, the park is famous for having one of the most beautiful, tropical zoological settings in the world. Get closer to wildlife than ever before by touching a giant tortoise, feeding a giraffe, getting nose-to-horn with an Indian rhino, hand-to-fin with slippery stingrays, and more. Families can also splash in water play areas, feel the adrenaline on rides and watch educational shows. At the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Hospital, the zoo’s vets and animal-care staff treat sick, injured, and orphaned manatees, and return them to the wild after rehabilitation. The zoo cares for the most diverse group of wildlife in Florida, and has won numerous awards for animal preservation.

Receive double the fun with full access to both the ZooTampa at Lowry Park and the Florida Aquarium in a single Price Ticket. Enjoy all-day access to the ZooTampa at Lowry Park which includes the family-friendly Water Play Areas, Carousel Circle, and Tiger Family Roller Coaster as well as their 5 Wildlife continent habitats: (Florida Wildlife, Asian Gardens, Wallaroo Station, Primate World, and Safari Africa). Then, head out to the Florida Aquarium to experience one of the top Aquariums in the United States with thousands of amazing sea creatures, terrestrial animals and plants. Explore all the Aquarium exhibits and daily scheduled activities, the outdoor plaza which includes The Splash Pad, Fins Bar, and the Four Ducks 4-D theater.

Ride thrilling coasters and see amazing animals, inspiring art, fascinating science, and more with the Tampa Bay CityPASS ticket which includes admission to: 1. Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay Florida’s Coaster Capital, is the ultimate family adventure, providing unrivaled excitement for guests of every age with a unique blend of world-class thrill rides, live shows, games, restaurants and one of the nation’s largest zoos. 2. The Florida Aquarium See why The Florida Aquarium is one of the top aquariums in the country, with thousands of sea creatures, including sharks, alligators, otters, sea turtles, and more! Encounter ring-tailed lemurs, touch a moon jelly and explore the hidden creatures living in our oceans.  3. ZooTampa at Lowry Park Experience unforgettable natural connections and excitement at ZooTampa! Feel the rush of a macaw soaring overhead, ask questions at the many animal mingles, and feel the splash of wild water adventure at Roaring Springs presented by Pinch A Penny!  4. Clearwater Marine Aquarium See Winter the dolphin, star, and inspiration of the popular Dolphin Tale movies. Immerse yourself in the world of marine life rescue at this unique facility—not your typical aquarium. Explore the working animal hospital. See rescued dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and otters. Be inspired by fun, educational presentations about the important ongoing work of rescue, rehabilitation, and release. 5. Museum of Science and Industry OR The Tropics Boat Tours Dolphin or Sunset Cruise 5.1 Museum of Science and Industry Tampa’s premier science center, where curious minds can explore space science, weather, robotics, engineering, physics, paleontology, the human body, and more. Get “STEAM-ed” at MOSI, where Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math collide. 5.2 The Tropics Boat Tours Dolphin or Sunset Cruise Experience Clearwater Beach, its magnificent waterways, and its resident Bottlenose Dolphins onboard Clearwater Beach's Best Outdoor Activity of the year! Enjoy guaranteed dolphin sightings on a Dolphin Exploration tour, along with a live narration from the crew and other wildlife viewing opportunities. Or, witness a breathtaking Florida sunset on a Sunset Celebration Cruise.

Immerse yourself in a breathtaking Floridian sunset on a cruise in St. Petersburg. Enjoy picturesque views of the city skyline as you sail around the Tampa Bay area and drift under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Listen to the sounds of the sea and watch dolphins jumping over the waves. Make your way down to St. Petersburg Pier to meet your friendly crew and group for the day. Climb aboard your ship with any snacks and drinks you'd like for the trip and settle down as you start your adventure. Discover the skyline of Tampa and St. Petersburg from a new perspective as you cruise in the bay area. Relax and watch a Floridian sunset from the deck as the sky turns from clear blue to orange and crimson red. Pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to see what it looks like in the day and when it's illuminated at night. Head back towards the pier and keep an eye out for playful dolphins swimming up to the boat to say hello.

LEGOLAND® Florida is just a 45-minute drive from Orlando’s theme parks and downtown Tampa. Families with kids from 2 to 12 years and LEGO® fans of any age are invited to spend an enjoyable 1 or 2 days exploring the park’s more than 50 rides, attractions, and shows. Many themed attractions await your visit to the park’s 50-acre site. Kids can join in to help fight fires at the LEGO® City Rescue Academy. The whole family will be amazed at the cities built in miniature from millions of LEGO® blocks in Miniland USA. A walk through this attraction will make you feel like a giant! Take a journey back in time on the Conquer the Dragon coaster, where you’ll find castles complete with knights and princesses. At the Ford Driving School, the kids will drive LEGO®-themed cars along “city streets” and be able to earn a driver’s license specially created by the school. The new LEGOLAND® Water Park is a “park within a park” and provides splish-splashin’ fun for the whole family. Main attractions include the Build-A-Raft River, where you can build your own LEGO® raft and float down the 1,000-foot lazy river, and the Joker Soaker water playground, providing hours of fun water play. Other attractions include the LEGO® Wave Pool, five fast waterslides, and the DUPLO® Splash Safari, a toddler haven with perfectly sized slides and a zero-depth wading pool. Why not extend the fun with a 1,2, or 3-day combination ticket that allows entrance to LEGOLAND®, LEGOLAND® Water Park and the Peppa Pig Theme Park? Choose from a variety of ticket combination offers and receive the admission ticket that best suites your needs.

Visit Clearwater Marine Aquarium to learn about all of the rescued and resident animals. Catch some of the daily presentations and make sure to watch the daily programs in the theatre. Boat tours, animal care experiences and behind-the-scenes tours will add at least another hour to your day.  Clearwater Marine Aquarium is an indoor/outdoor facility with air-conditioned areas inside and open air outside. Enjoy the views of Clearwater Bay from the harbor view deck and stranding deck. Discover a variety of animals including dolphins, pelicans, sea turtles, otters, sharks, and other animals.  The majority of residents cannot be released due to a variety of reasons, so you can visit them in their permanent habitats and learn their stories. See a number of animals currently undergoing rehabilitation in the working animal hospital. The presentations and talks throughout the day aim to educate you in a fun way about the work going on to take care of the marine life and the environment. 

Discover the sights of Tampa in a fun and eco-friendly way aboard an electric golf cart. See some of the city's most iconic locations as you visit different neighborhoods and really get a feel for the city. Explore the city of Tampa in a golf cart, an easy and fun way to get around. Simply book your spot, show up at the activity provider's downtown location, and enjoy a day exploring the beautiful city. Visit a wide variety of Tampa's different neighborhoods and areas including Downtown, Tampa Heights, Bayshore Blvd, Hyde Park, Channelside, and Ybor City. During the tour, pass by the following locations: • Tampa Mural • Tampa's Mural Row • Armature Works • Tampa Straz Center • Waterworks Park • Curtis Hixon Park • University of Tampa • Hyde Park Village • Tampa Riverwalk • Hillsborough River • Tom Brady’s old house • Gasparilla Pirate Ship • Tampa Convention Center • Championship Tampa Bay Lightning Arena • Water Street • Sparkman’s Wharf • Tampa Trolley