Cheap flights to Tampa
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Quick summary
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Airport
TPA
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Time zone
UTC-5 (UTC-4 during summer time)
Deals already spotted to Tampa
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
An airport about fifteen kilometres from downtown, linked by bus
Tampa International (TPA)
The airport lies about 13 km (8 miles) west and north-west of downtown according to Wikivoyage (EN), on the Tampa side of Old Tampa Bay; Wikipedia (DE) places it in the west of the city. It is organised around a central terminal linked to four airside satellites. HART bus 10 and PSTA bus 300x link the airport with downtown according to Wikivoyage (EN), and taxis, ride-hailing and rental cars complete the picture. From St. Petersburg, allow about 35 km across the bay bridge. Wikivoyage (EN) also lists the smaller St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE) across the bay, about 15 miles away, served by low-cost carriers.
Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (EN, FR, DE, ES); timetables change, so check them before you travel. We give no fares.
Tampa is a port city on the Gulf of Mexico coast, on Tampa Bay in Florida. It had 384,959 residents at the 2020 census (Wikipedia FR, DE), making it the state's third city after Jacksonville and Miami, in a metropolitan area of nearly three million according to sources. It grew rich on phosphate, the port and late-19th-century cigar factories, and troops left from Tampa for Cuba during the Spanish-American War of 1898 according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Landmarks and sights
The Riverwalk, the University of Tampa, Ybor City and the Gulf
Tampa is explored along the Hillsborough River and its promenades, under the minarets of the university and among the old cigar factories of Ybor City. The Gulf beaches are about an hour's drive away. Five places are illustrated; Ybor City, Bayshore Boulevard and the Tampa Theatre are described in text.
Downtown and the Hillsborough River
Downtown is reflected in the Hillsborough River, lined by the Riverwalk, a 2.4-mile promenade linking the Tampa Heights district with downtown and the aquarium in the Channel District according to Wikivoyage (EN). It runs past parks, performance venues and hotels, and sunset lends the towers a golden tint.
Plant Hall and its minarets
Built in the late 19th century as the Tampa Bay Hotel by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, this palace with silver minarets now houses the University of Tampa according to Wikivoyage (EN). Part of the building holds the Henry B. Plant Museum. During the 1898 war the hotel housed officers according to the same source.
Clearwater Beach and its pier
Clearwater, about 45 minutes to an hour by road from Tampa according to Wikivoyage (EN), is known for its fine-sand beach and the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A long wooden pier reaches out into turquoise water as the colours of sunset settle over the sea.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge
This long cable-stayed bridge, lit at night, crosses the mouth of Tampa Bay between St. Petersburg and the south shore. It has become one of the region's symbols, and sunset over the water is much photographed.
The pier at St. Petersburg
Across the bay, St. Petersburg is known for its inverted-pyramid pier, which reaches out over the water, with a promenade, restaurants and open spaces to relax. The neighbouring city is easy to visit in a day from Tampa.
Ybor City, Bayshore Boulevard and the Tampa Theatre, in text
Ybor City, north-east of downtown, was the cigar-factory district founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez Ybor; Spanish, Cuban and Italian workers settled there, and the Cuban sandwich was popularised in the United States there according to Wikivoyage (EN). It is one of only two active National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Bayshore Boulevard follows the bay for several kilometres, with a long sidewalk widely used for walking and cycling. The Tampa Theatre, opened in 1926, is a former movie palace listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978 according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Museums and culture
Bay history, art, an aquarium and cigar heritage
Tampa Bay History Center and Ybor City State Museum
The Tampa Bay History Center, on the Riverwalk, traces the history of the bay over several floors according to Wikivoyage (EN). The Ybor City State Museum, in the old cigar district, is the recommended first stop for new visitors to Ybor according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Tampa Museum of Art and Henry B. Plant Museum
The Tampa Museum of Art stands downtown beside the river according to Wikivoyage (EN). The Henry B. Plant Museum, inside Plant Hall, presents the furniture and decor of the former hotel.
Florida Aquarium
The aquarium, in the Channel District, follows a drop of water from its source to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic according to Wikivoyage (EN), with a touch tank. We do not quote fares, as they change from season to season.
Food and drink
Cuban sandwiches, Spanish tables, seafood and breweries
Cuban and Spanish cooking
Ybor City is the American home of the Cuban sandwich according to Wikivoyage (EN), filled with ham, roast pork, cheese and pickles in crusty bread. A Spanish restaurant open since 1905 is a local landmark, known for its salad and flamenco shows, and modest Cuban cafes serve home cooking.
Seafood and the Gulf
The Gulf of Mexico is close and fishing is part of the local economy according to Wikipedia (FR). Grilled fish, shrimp and fresh seafood are eaten on the waterfront in Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, facing the water.
Districts and drinks
Ybor City concentrates bars and nightlife; downtown and the Riverwalk have breweries and terraces. The Gasparilla festival, a pirate-themed carnival, normally takes place on the last two Saturdays of January according to Wikivoyage (EN), when the city is very lively.
Getting around
A historic streetcar, buses, a car and crossings of the bay
Downtown and Ybor City
A historic streetcar links downtown, the waterfront and Ybor City according to Wikivoyage (EN), running replica 1923-style cars. It is as much an attraction as a means of transport. Downtown can also be covered on foot along the Riverwalk.
Buses and longer trips
HART buses serve the city and PSTA buses link St. Petersburg and Clearwater according to Wikivoyage (EN). The network is less dense than in large north-eastern cities: a car is handy for beaches, theme parks and the suburbs.
Car and excursions
Clearwater is 45 minutes to an hour by road according to Wikivoyage (EN). Further afield, Tarpon Springs, an authentic Greek town, and Sarasota, with the Ringling museum, are possible excursions according to the same source.
Budget and precautions
An average price level for Florida, with winter costing more
Price level
Tampa is in the middle of the range for major Florida cities. Lodging costs more in the high season, from winter to spring, when the population swells with the arrival of retirees from the north according to Wikivoyage (EN). The currency is the US dollar (USD). We do not publish figures, because sources are old or disagree.
Flights and alerts
SniperAir tracks flight prices to TPA and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. Consider comparing St. Pete-Clearwater (PIE), served by low-cost airlines according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Heat and hurricanes
Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November according to Wikipedia (EN); Tampa is threatened by tropical systems almost every year, but no major hurricane has made landfall directly there since 1921. Summers are hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms. Foreign visitors should check US entry requirements for their nationality.
When to go
Mild dry winters, hot stormy summers and a hurricane season
Winter (December to February)
Mild and dry, with rare frosty nights according to Wikipedia (DE): this is the high season, when retirees from the north flock in according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Spring (March to May)
Days are warm without excess, ideal for beaches and walks; the Gasparilla festival takes place in late January, before the heat arrives.
Summer (June to August)
Hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms; maximum temperatures reach about 32 C according to Wikipedia (DE). Beaches are busy, but it is best to avoid the hottest hours.
Autumn (September to November)
Hurricane season runs to 30 November; prices may drop, but a September-October trip requires flexibility. The late season is pleasant from November.
Tampa has a humid subtropical climate, type Cfa, according to Wikipedia (EN, DE), with hot, humid summers, frequent thunderstorms and mild, dry winters. Average highs range between 21 and 32 C and lows between 11 and 24 C according to Wikipedia (DE). For the beach and walking, aim for November to April; summer is hot and stormy.
By length of stay
What to do in Tampa by length of stay
The essentials
Walk the Riverwalk, visit Plant Hall and spend the evening in Ybor City with a Cuban sandwich.
Culture and discoveries
Add the aquarium, a downtown museum and a day at Clearwater Beach or in St. Petersburg, with its pier.
Going further
Extend to Tarpon Springs, Sarasota or the more distant beaches, and plan on a rental car for these trips.
In pictures
Tampa in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Tampa
How do I get from Tampa airport to downtown?
TPA is about 13 km west of downtown. HART bus 10 and PSTA bus 300x link it with downtown according to Wikivoyage (EN); taxis and ride-hailing are also available. Check timetables before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Tampa?
From November to April, when the climate is mild and dry. Summer is hot, humid and stormy, and hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
What is there to see in Ybor City?
The old cigar factories, brick streets, the Ybor City State Museum and the Cuban and Spanish restaurants. It is the American home of the Cuban sandwich according to Wikivoyage (EN).
Where are the nearest beaches to Tampa?
Clearwater Beach, 45 minutes to an hour by road according to Wikivoyage (EN), and the beaches around St. Petersburg, on the Gulf of Mexico. A rental car is the simplest solution.
Do I need a car in Tampa?
Downtown, the Riverwalk and Ybor City can be covered on foot and by historic streetcar. For beaches, suburban parks and excursions, a car is more practical.
How long should I stay in Tampa?
Two days cover downtown, the Riverwalk and Ybor City; add two days for the Gulf beaches and St. Petersburg, or a week if you combine Sarasota and Tarpon Springs.
How much does a flight to Tampa usually cost?
The price depends mostly on your departure city, the season and how early you book. The opportunities section above shows real examples of fares SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Tampa drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Tampa as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching fare is detected.
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