The Tampa Bay area offers so much more than stunning beach sunsets. We’re recognized as a top arts destination undergoing a creative renaissance. With so much to experience, you won’t be able to see it all in one trip!
Explore the museums and performing arts venues nestled along Tampa’s picturesque Riverwalk; visit the Dali Museum, home to the largest collection of Salvador Dalí’s works in the U.S.; then check out the stunning John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. Wherever you go, keep your camera handy: Tampa Bay’s investment in the arts is proudly displayed through its murals and public art scene.
The Dali Museum boasts 2,000 pieces of the iconic artist’s work and features stunning art from visiting exhibits. The museum building itself is strikingly avant-garde, with a helical staircase and an undulating glass façade that resembles giant bubbles. Be sure to visit the garden and snap a pic on the bench shaped like a melting clock.
Walk down the Central Arts District (between the 300 and 700 blocks of Central Ave. in St. Pete) and you’ll be amazed at the street art. Murals range from a giant, open-mouthed red shark to “space rainbows” to a T. Rex on a fishing trip. You can join an official walking mural tour or seek out the huge works of art on your own.
Overlooking the bay, the Mahaffey Theater features European box-style seating and stages top-notch performances from around the world. In the mood for Broadway? Comedy? Rock? The Mahaffey has it all, with plenty of style.
Catch a film at the Tampa Theatre, a 1926 movie palace that has a literally star-studded ceiling and a possibly haunted orchestra pit. A traditional pipe organ — originally intended to accompany silent films — serenades audiences before screenings. Whether the projector is playing a modern feature or a timeless classic, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
Whether you’re in the mood for a rock concert or a Broadway show, you’ll find world-class entertainment at the Straz. The performing arts center is conveniently located on the Riverwalk, a 2.6-mile-long pedestrian trail that connects restaurants, bars, expansive parks and museums (including the Tampa Museum of Art, which is also worth a visit).
You’ll easily spot the Tampa Museum of Art from the Riverwalk — it’s an impressive, contemporary building with futuristic vibes. Inside, the exhibits feature many types of art, ranging from ancient treasures to new media.
Situated on the Ringling Estate, the Ringling Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of art, including European paintings, a Center for Asian Art, a contemporary gallery, a Japanese Tea House, bronze casts of classical sculptures and special exhibits. Visit Ca’ d’Zan, an opulent mansion built by the Ringling Circus owners, and the interactive Circus Museum.
Considered a “living art exhibit,” these waterfront botanical gardens offer exotic orchids, koi fishponds, a banyan grove, a tropical conservatory, a children’s rain forest garden with a 12-foot waterfall and much more. Stop by the Museum of Botany and the Arts to peruse nature-inspired exhibits by artists such as Marc Chagall and Andy Warhol.
St. Petersburg has a massive art and culture scene. From the Dali Museum to the random mural you may find walking around downtown, there is so much art and culture in the downtown environment the options are endless.
—Hunter
One of my favorite spots for arts and culture in the area is the Tampa Museum of Art. It has a great mix of contemporary and classic art, and the building itself is stunning, especially at night when it lights up.
—Deekshita
Movie lovers can’t miss the Sarasota Film Festival, held in April. Considered one of the world’s largest regional festivals, it programs 200+ unique screenings, ranging from documentaries to features, kids’ movies to short films.
One of the best outdoor fine art festivals in the U.S., the Gasparilla Festival draws 30,000 + art lovers each year. Held on the Riverwalk in March, the festival is free and features food, music, performances and of course, world-class art.
Did you love those Central Avenue murals? Come back in October for SHINE, a festival featuring mural artists from St. Pete and around the world. The festival has left a permanent mark on the city: it’s created around 170 murals since 2015.
Check out this open-air art fair in Hyde Park, a historic Tampa neighborhood offering upscale shopping, dining and nightlife. Exhibits range from life-size sculptures to paintings to ceramics.
This free Florida Orchestra concert takes place in Vinoy Park, where you can spread out a picnic blanket and gaze at the shimmering, blue water of the bay while you listen to live classical music. The event usually happens in October.
