Tampa Riverwalk beside the Hillsborough River, with downtown towers and the Cass Street Bridge
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Free cancellation hotels in Tampa

Cruise sailings, flights and summer storms all move Tampa plans. Book with free cancellation and note the date it ends for your room.

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About Tampa

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.

State
Florida
Time zone
Eastern (ET)
Main airport
Tampa International (TPA)
Local streetcar
TECO Line, downtown to Ybor City
Waterfront walk
Tampa Riverwalk
Cruise port
Port Tampa Bay
Rainy season
June to September
TECO Line streetcar beside Centro Ybor in Tampa’s Ybor City
Streetcar in Ybor City
Exterior of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa’s Channel District
Florida Aquarium in the Channel District
Henry B. Plant Museum and its minarets across the Hillsborough River
Henry B. Plant Museum across the river
Bayshore Boulevard waterfront path looking north toward Tampa
Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa
Entrance path to the Jungala area of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Tampa skyline seen across Hillsborough Bay from Ballast Point Park
Tampa skyline from Ballast Point Park
Photo credits

Where to stay in Tampa

  • Downtown and Riverwalk

    • First visits
    • Riverwalk
    • Museums
    • Conventions

    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

  • Channel District and Water Street

    • Cruises
    • Aquarium visits
    • Arena events
    • Waterfront dining

    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

  • Ybor City

    • Nightlife
    • Cigar history
    • Restaurants
    • Streetcar access

    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 and South Tampa

    • Dining
    • Waterfront walks
    • Quieter stays
    • Long visits

    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 and airport

    • Early flights
    • Business trips
    • Airport access
    • Parking

    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

  • North Tampa and Busch Gardens

    • Theme parks
    • Families
    • University visits

    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

Best time to visit Tampa

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.

Average high and low (°F)Days with rainDrier months
  1. Jan: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F, 7.1 days with rain. Cooler, drier days
  2. Feb: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F, 6.6 days with rain. Dry season
  3. Mar: average high 78 °F, low 59 °F, 5.9 days with rain. Warm spring
  4. Apr: average high 83 °F, low 65 °F, 5.7 days with rain. Warm, relatively dry
  5. May: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F, 6.2 days with rain. Heat builds
  6. Jun: average high 91 °F, low 75 °F, 13.3 days with rain. Rainy season begins
  7. Jul: average high 91 °F, low 77 °F, 16.6 days with rain. Afternoon storms
  8. Aug: average high 91 °F, low 77 °F, 16.2 days with rain. Wettest month
  9. Sep: average high 90 °F, low 75 °F, 12.8 days with rain. Warm, humid
  10. Oct: average high 86 °F, low 69 °F, 7.2 days with rain. Rain eases
  11. Nov: average high 79 °F, low 61 °F, 4.6 days with rain. Drier days
  12. Dec: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F, 6 days with rain. Mild winter
Source: Wikipedia: Tampa, Florida (Tampa International Airport 1991–2020 normals)

Getting to Tampa

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.

TPATampa International Airport

5 mi from downtown

To Downtown
Direct by HART Route 30 or taxi. Allow extra time in traffic
To Ybor City
Bus or taxi to downtown, then TECO Line streetcar

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.

Other ways to arrive

Car
I-4 links Tampa with Orlando, while I-275 crosses Tampa Bay. A car helps for Gulf beaches, Busch Gardens and hotels beyond the streetcar corridor.
Train
Amtrak serves Tampa Union Station northeast of downtown. Check arrival times and the transfer to your hotel.
Cruise
Port Tampa Bay terminals are in the Channel District near Sparkman Wharf and streetcar stops.
Streetcar
The fare-free TECO Line runs between downtown, the Channel District and Ybor City. It does not reach the airport or the Gulf beaches.

Questions about Tampa

What should I check before booking with free cancellation in Tampa?

Read the cancellation deadline and the rate’s exact terms before paying. Free cancellation can end before check-in, and different rooms at the same hotel may have different rules.

Which area keeps a cruise plan flexible?

The Channel District is closest to Port Tampa Bay terminals. If you are flying in, compare that with a Westshore airport hotel and its transfer to the port.

Does hurricane season affect Tampa travel?

Yes. Hurricane season runs June through November. If you travel then, watch official forecasts and keep a rate you can still cancel.

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