Hotel deals
Westshore rates look good next to the airport. A downtown room can still come out ahead once you count the rides to the Riverwalk and Ybor City.
from $40/night1,017 hotels compared
69% below the highest price3314 South Dale Mabry Highway
8.0Very Good2,811 reviews
from
$156/night
compared on 5 sites
69% below the highest price5223 North Orient Road
8.4Very Good592 reviews
from
$288/night
compared on 5 sites
66% below the highest price7627 W Courtney Campbell Cswy
8.5Fabulous523 reviews
from
$381/night
compared on 3 sites
54% below the highest price4860 West Kennedy Boulevard
7.9Good329 reviews
from
$226/night
compared on 5 sites
44% below the highest price1412 East 7th Avenue
8.8Fabulous650 reviews
from
$282/night
compared on 4 sites
43% below the highest price1509 West Swann Avenue
9.4Superb72 reviews
from
$492/night
compared on 5 sites
1,017 hotels compared
Tampa sits on the Hillsborough River and Tampa Bay. Downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City are linked by streetcar. For Hyde Park and Westshore you need a car or rideshare.
Follow the Riverwalk past Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the Tampa Museum of Art and the convention center. Across the river, the former Tampa Bay Hotel now houses the Henry B. Plant Museum. The Channel District has the Florida Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf and the cruise terminals.
Ybor City grew around cigar factories and the Cuban, Spanish and Italian communities that worked in them. Seventh Avenue still has brick storefronts, restaurants and bars. The fare-free TECO Line streetcar runs from downtown through the Channel District to Ybor, so you can stay near one of its stops for evenings without driving.
South of downtown, Hyde Park Village has shops and restaurants near Bayshore Boulevard’s waterfront path. Westshore is closer to Tampa International Airport and has many business and airport hotels. North Tampa is better for Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida, but it is a drive from the Riverwalk.
Tampa has hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon storms. Winter and spring are drier and comfortable for walking. Tampa itself is on the bay, not on a Gulf beach: a beach day in Clearwater or St. Pete Beach means crossing the bay by car. Check hotel parking charges if you plan to drive.
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, the Tampa Museum of Art and the convention center line the river side of downtown. The Riverwalk continues toward Water Street and the Channel District. Pick this area for walks and meetings. If you want a quiet night, check the exact block.
Around here: Tampa Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Convention Center
The Florida Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf and Port Tampa Bay cruise terminals are near the south end of the streetcar line. Water Street hotels are close to the arena and waterfront restaurants. On cruise days, traffic slows even short drives, so leave extra time to reach the terminal.
Around here: The Florida Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf, Port Tampa Bay, Water Street Tampa
Seventh Avenue is the spine of Tampa’s historic cigar district. Restaurants, bars and Centro Ybor cluster around the streetcar stops. Stay here for a late dinner or nightlife, but look away from the busiest blocks if you want to sleep early.
Around here: Seventh Avenue, Centro Ybor, Ybor City Museum State Park, Columbia Restaurant
Hyde Park Village and nearby South Howard Avenue have restaurants and shops south of downtown. Bayshore Boulevard runs along Hillsborough Bay, with a waterfront path. It is a quieter neighborhood base. The streetcar doesn’t reach it, so plan on a car or rideshare for Ybor and the aquarium.
Around here: Hyde Park Village, Bayshore Boulevard, South Howard Avenue
Westshore is close to Tampa International Airport, the business district and the shopping area. Rocky Point has bayfront hotels west of the airport. Stay here for an early flight or Westshore meetings. Downtown and Ybor are a drive or a HART bus ride away.
Around here: Tampa International Airport, Westshore Boulevard, Rocky Point
Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and the University of South Florida are north of the central districts. A nearby hotel cuts the trip to the parks, especially with children. It leaves a longer drive to downtown, the cruise port and the bayfront.
Around here: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island, University of South Florida
November through April brings drier weather and milder days for the Riverwalk and Ybor City. From June through September, highs reach around 90°F and afternoon storms are common. Hurricane season runs June through November. If you travel then, keep your plans flexible.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is west of downtown. HART buses connect the airport and downtown, while the TECO Line streetcar links downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City. I-4 leads toward Orlando and I-275 crosses the bay toward St. Petersburg.
5 mi from downtown
HART Route 30 runs between the airport and downtown. Taxis and rideshares go directly to hotels; check whether your hotel has an airport shuttle before relying on one. The streetcar does not serve the airport.
Start with the total rate and add parking if you drive. Then check the route to your main stop: the streetcar covers downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City, but not Westshore or Busch Gardens.
The drier winter and spring months draw visitors, and arena events, conventions or cruises can fill nearby rooms. If your dates are flexible, compare adjacent nights.
Only if you can make the transfer. Westshore is near the airport, while Port Tampa Bay terminals are in the Channel District across town.
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