Things to do in St Petersburg
The unmissables
Most booked
Clear Kayak Paddling: Shell Key Preserve & Tampa Bay★ 4.97 (6,619) · 2h
Top rated
3-Hour Sunset Cruise St. Pete: Skyway Bridge Light Show★ 4.94 (2,347) · 3h
Best value
Shell Key Island Snorkeling Tour: Dolphins & Wildlife, Max 6★ 4.87 (1,645) · 2h
Recommended (7)
Kayaking at Shell Key with LED lights: Sunset to night glow★ 4.97 (722) · 1h 30mUS$ 84View ›
St. Petersburg: Jungle Prada History Walk & Tocobaga Mound★ 4.97 (634) · 2hUS$ 18View ›
Madeira Beach: Dolphin Watching Eco Cruise & John's Pass★ 4.87 (573) · 1h 30mUS$ 35View ›
St. Petersburg: Downtown Golf Cart Tour & Local Art Stops★ 4.94 (535) · 1h 30m–2hUS$ 49View ›
Kayaking Shell Key Preserve: Mangrove tunnels and sandbar★ 4.97 (520) · 3hUS$ 74View ›
Shell Key Shelling Cruise from John's Pass: Dolphins and seabirds★ 4.85 (501) · 3hUS$ 45View ›
St Petersburg Sunset Cruise: Dolphins & Gulf Views, Small Groups★ 4.90 (483) · 2hUS$ 79View ›Top rated (10)
Private Boat Charter St. Pete: Dolphins, Watersports & SnorkelingA private boat charter in St. Petersburg puts you on the water with a captain, snorkeling equipment and watersports gear for dolphin watching, wakeboarding, tubing, snorkeling or island hopping. You choose the activity and the length of your trip—two, three, four or six hours—and the captain runs the boat while you focus on what you came to do. Service animals are welcome, and infants can ride along.Is it for me?Your captain handles navigation and boat management while you focus on dolphins, snorkeling, watersports or whatever brought you out on the water.
St Petersburg: Private Island Cruise & Dolphin WatchingYou board a private boat with Captain Tyler and spend 2 to 5 hours exploring Tampa Bay's islands and waterways. The core trip includes Coffee Pot Bayou's bird sanctuary and dolphin-spotting along the neighborhoods; longer upgrades add Shell Key's beaches, Bunces Pass's Gulf-edge sandbar, or Egmont Key's historic ruins and gopher tortoises. Tubing and snorkeling gear are included, and you can bring your own food and drinks. The boat has a full bathroom and swim ladder, and you choose whether to cruise, tube, or anchor and float.Is it for me?Book this if you want to explore Tampa Bay's islands and sandbars without arranging your own boat or worrying about navigation—Captain Tyler handles the route and knows where to find dolphins and birds, which is what makes the whole day feel less like sightseeing and more like being shown around.
Saint Petersburg: Eco Segway Tour & Sunken Gardens EntryYou’ll glide along Tampa Bay’s seawall on a Segway, catch glimpses of dolphins or manatees if luck’s on your side, then explore four lush acres inside Sunken Gardens with flamingos and koi ponds all around. Your local guide keeps things relaxed and shares stories as you go. It’s an easygoing way to feel close to Saint Petersburg’s nature without breaking a sweat.
Shell Key Preserve: Kayak Tour with Mangrove Tunnels & Island StopYou’ll paddle calm waters with a local guide through Shell Key Preserve, slip beneath mangrove tunnels if tides allow, watch for dolphins or manatees, then wander Shell Key Island at your own pace. Expect laughter, salt air on your skin, and small moments that linger long after you’ve rinsed off the sand.
Madeira Beach Parasailing: 10-Minute Flight & Water ViewsYou'll parasail for 10–12 minutes over Madeira Beach with a USCG-licensed captain, lifted hundreds of feet by a winch boat and lowered with a soft water landing. The outing takes 30 minutes to an hour total. Safety gear is included, and you can fly solo, in tandem, or as a group of three. Optional photo packages capture the flight.Is it for me?Book this if you want to parasail over the Gulf without worrying about equipment age or captain experience — the 26-year track record and 200,000+ completed flights mean you're not the test case.
St Petersburg Axe Throwing: 90-Minute Guided Session & CompetitionYou'll receive a safety briefing and hands-on coaching from certified instructors, then throw single and double-handed axes at your own pace while competing in a friendly match against your group. The session runs 90 minutes in a lodge-style venue where all areas are wheelchair accessible and no prior experience is required. Book directly for your preferred time slot.Is it for me?Book this if you want to try something genuinely different without needing any prior skill — the instructors handle the learning curve, and the fixed 90-minute format means you're done and satisfied without overthinking it.
St. Pete Dolphin Watching and Shelling Cruise: 3-Hour TourA three-hour St. Pete dolphin-watching and shelling cruise combines two 45-minute passes along the intercoastal waterways with up to an hour and a half ashore at Shell Island to swim and hunt for shells. The boat departs from one of four St. Pete-area locations and carries a live English-speaking guide, onboard bar and restroom, and plenty of shade for anyone who prefers to stay aboard and watch the waterfront homes and historic Gulfport pass by. Infants sit on an adult's lap; service animals are welcome.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to split your time between water and beach—the two dolphin-watching passes give you a real chance to see them, and the island stop lets you actually get in the water and hunt shells instead of just watching from the boat. The fixed three-hour window means you're back by early afternoon and can do something else the same day.
St Pete: Dolphin Watching Cruise & Shell Key Sunset StopYou’ll board a spacious catamaran in St Pete for dolphin watching along Shell Key Preserve, guided by locals who know every story behind those waters. Wander barefoot on Shell Key at sunset, hunt for shells or just listen to waves. Return beneath Pinellas Bayway Bridge’s arches as dusk settles in—maybe not every photo will be perfect, but you’ll remember how it felt.
St. Pete Sandbar Party Boat: 21+ Day Cruise & Floating BarYou board a 50-foot catamaran in St. Petersburg, cruise 30 to 45 minutes through the Intercoastal to Eleanor Island's sandbar, and spend the day floating with a drink and hundreds of other boats. The crew provides floats and runs the bar; you bring sunscreen and decide whether to buy drinks individually or grab an all-you-can-drink pass. A restroom is on board. The return trip follows the same route back to the dock.Is it for me?Book this if you want the sandbar party scene without owning a boat and without figuring out the logistics—the crew handles the navigation and the bar, so you just show up and float. It's built for groups and day drinkers who want the local weekend vibe at full volume.
St Petersburg: E-Bike Tour Murals, Dali Museum & Waterfront SightsYou’ll ride an e-bike along St Petersburg’s waterfront with a local guide, spotting dolphins and manatees (if you’re lucky), pausing for murals and palm gardens, and catching glowing views of the Dalí Museum after hours. Feel the city’s energy as you pass historic parks and watch planes lift off by the bay — it’s more vivid than you’d expect.
Lowest price (10)
Dolphin Racer Adventure Cruise in St. Pete BeachA dolphin watching cruise departing from St. Pete Beach with live captain narration, lasting 90 to 120 minutes on the scenic waterways surrounding the Gulf beaches. The operator guarantees dolphin surfing — dolphins jumping and playing in the wake behind the boat — or your next trip is free. All ages welcome, and you board and disembark at the same location in the St. Pete Beach area.Is it for me?Book this cruise if you want to see dolphins jump and play without spending the day arranging a boat or guessing whether they'll show — the guarantee and the narration handle both.
Dolphin Watching Cruise John's Pass: The Big Blue BoatA narrated dolphin watching cruise departing from Hubbard's Marina in John's Pass aboard the Big Blue Boat, the largest and most stable vessel in the Tampa Bay area. The 90-minute tour covers calm, protected back bay waters where dolphins, manatees, seabirds and nesting islands are common sights. Restrooms and an onboard snack bar are available throughout; all tours are fully narrated by a live English-speaking guide and the vessel is U.S. Coast Guard certified.Is it for me?Book this cruise if you want the largest, most stable boat in the Tampa Bay area—the size and weight keep the ride smooth in the back bay, which is what lets you focus on dolphins and manatees instead of the motion of the water.
Shell Key Ferry: Uninhabited Island & Wildlife from Ft. DeSotoYou’ll board at Fort De Soto and take a quick ferry across bright water to Shell Key—a wild barrier island where you can spot dolphins or manatees on the way, hunt for shells along quiet beaches, or even camp overnight if you’re feeling adventurous. Bring your own snacks, maybe too many like I did, and let yourself slow down for a while.
St. Pete: Party Bike Bar Crawl & Murals with Trolley PubYou’ll pedal through downtown St. Pete on a party bike with other travelers, stopping at lively bars and colorful murals while your guide shares stories and keeps things light. Expect music you can control, BYOB vibes (with a cooler onboard), and maybe even some friendly dogs at one of the breweries. It’s social without pressure—just enough adventure for an afternoon you’ll remember.
St. Pete Beach: Dolphin Cruise & Boca Ciega Bay Boat TourYou’ll cruise from laid-back Gulfport through Boca Ciega Bay with a local captain, watching for dolphins as you pass Isla del Sol’s waterfront homes and the famous pink Don CeSar hotel. Expect warm breezes, close-up wildlife moments, and genuine Florida energy — plus space to relax or just watch kids get excited about every single splash.
Kayaking Shell Key Preserve: Mangrove tunnels and wildlifeGuided kayaking tour of Shell Key Preserve near Tampa Bay, paddling through mangrove islands, seagrass flats and pristine beaches while looking for dolphins and manatees. The tour runs about three hours with a live English-speaking guide, double kayaks, all equipment provided, and a 30-minute beach stop at Shell Key itself. No paddling experience is required; the guide covers a waterproof overview before launch and discusses the preserve's ecosystem and history along the way.Is it for me?Book the clear kayak option if you want to see the seagrass and shallow bottom while you paddle; choose the standard sit-on-top if you prioritize stability and comfort on the water. Either way, the shallow depth and mangrove environment mean you're exploring a protected ecosystem rather than open bay, so wildlife sightings and the tunnels (when tides allow) are what set this preserve apart from deeper-water kayaking elsewhere in Tampa Bay.
Egmont Key Ferry from Fort De Soto: Dolphins & Island ShellingYou board at Fort De Soto Bay Pier for a 45-to-60-minute ferry ride where dolphins and sea turtles often appear. Once on Egmont Key, you get three hours to swim, shell, explore Fort Dade, or watch for gopher tortoises. The ferry includes onboard restroom access and runs daily spring through summer, nearly daily the rest of the year.Is it for me?Pick this if you want a half-day island trip without arranging your own boat or managing timing—the ferry schedule and three-hour island window handle both, and the dolphin sightings on the ride there are what make the journey itself worth the ticket.
Madeira Beach: Pirate Cruise at John's Pass for FamiliesYou’ll step aboard a real pirate ship at John’s Pass in Madeira Beach, join lively games led by costumed crew, take in Gulf views with your family, and maybe spot dolphins along the way. Expect playful moments for kids—and adults who don’t mind being silly—with water included and plenty of time to soak up local color.
Shell Key: Mangrove Kayak Tour & Wildlife with Capt YakYou’ll glide through Shell Key’s winding mangrove tunnels with Capt. Yak guiding you—spotting dolphins, stingrays, and seabirds as you go. Feel the salt air and hear stories about this unique ecosystem from someone who knows it inside out. All gear is included, so you can focus on paddling (or just drifting) and soaking up those peaceful moments.
St Pete Beach: Private Shell Island Dolphin & Snorkeling TourYou’ll board a spacious shaded boat at St Pete Beach for a private dolphin & shelling adventure to Shell Key Preserve. Watch wild dolphins play nearby, wander soft sands searching for shells, and try snorkeling with included gear if weather allows. It’s all easygoing — just salty breezes, laughter, and time to soak up Florida’s coast at your own pace.
