Sunset on Siesta Key Beach Sarasota Florida. 3 Pelican are flying overhead as the orange glow from the setting sun hits the water.
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17 Exciting Things to Do in Sarasota Florida: Activities & Attractions

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Heading to Florida and looking for ideas of fun things to do in Sarasota during your visit?

Sarasota activities appeal to every interest and age group! You can stretch out on soft sandy beaches, kayak through mangroves at sunset, go Gulf fishing, see unique museum exhibits, and spot alligators in state parks, to name just a few. The list goes on below – don’t worry about ever being bored.

Annual temperatures in Sarasota rarely dip below the 70s! Our beaches are the obvious draw but there are so many more reasons to visit our town. 

Sarasota has been our home base for around 10 years and we love the climate, family-friendly attitude, and lively artsy & foodie culture. 

17 Exciting Things To Do In Sarasota, Florida

Originally Sarasota was known as Zara Zota, meaning “a place of dancing”. This description seems very fitting as our town embraces a year-round relaxed beach culture. 

One of the best things to do in Sarasota is to enjoy relaxing on Siesta Key beach at sunset. People are enjoying the orange glow of the sun sinking.
Beautiful bays & beaches

To help you plan an unforgettable visit, we created this blog post with 17 incredible activities and attractions in Sarasota for all interests, ages, and budgets. 

These are the things we, and visiting family and friends love doing too! This is a true local guide to Sarasota.

If you’re coming here with kids, read our popular Siesta Key Affordable Fun Activities post for more great ideas.

1. Relax at Siesta Key Beach

Free Parking! Open Daily 6am to midnight. Overflow Parking $10-20 (Midnight Pass Road).
Covered BBQ areas for rent. Concessions. Bathrooms On-Site.

At 8 miles long, Siesta Key Beach deserves the accolade of being crowned the #1 Beach in the USA several times. In 2020, it was also ranked 11th best beach in the world and once you visit, you will know why! 

The Gulf of Mexico’s waters are viewed as particularly safe for younger children here with a gently sloping sandy bottom.

Siesta Key Beach sand is 99% quartz which gives it a unique white and soft look. It’s always cool to the touch – a bonus for bare feet!

Relax, work on your tan, stretch your legs with a water’s edge stroll, and splash around in the gentle waves with friends. 

Come for an outdoor Yoga class, or join in a beach volleyball game. Maybe practice tennis or paddle ball game on courts adjacent to the main car park.

Other local beaches to explore include Lido and Bradenton. If you fancy exploring these beaches further, please read our Coastal Drive to Anna Maria Island post.

🎒 TPOP Tip:

To get free parking at SK beach, arrive by 11am on weekends and during peak season (Nov to Mar)! The 900 spots fill up fast!

2. Spot Alligators in Myakka State Park Boat Tour

Hours: 8am until sunset. Parking Fee: $6.
Boat Tour Daily: 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm. Adults (13+) $22 +tax; Kids (3-12) – $12 + tax. Duration: 1 hour.

What’s such fun about Sarasota is that only a short drive from the beach, you’re in a totally different landscape. Myakka River State Park is the place to come for hiking, bird watching, biking (bring your own), and perhaps the biggest draw – searching for alligators!!

Visitors are boarding a Boat Tour in Myakka State Park. The vessels are air boats with a roof for shade.

These prehistoric residents get a bad rap and media headlines suggest they’re everywhere, but to be honest Sarasota County alligators prefer to keep themselves to themselves, mainly submerged and out of sight.

Things to Do in Sarasota at Myakka include lake airboat tours – a great way to spot alligators. Combine this with a short hike around the park or try the canopy walk (above the tree line) and you have a fun and affordable day out!

3. Go Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

Going Fishing is a huge part of local West Florida life. Did you know the Gulf of Mexico is the 9th largest water mass in the world?!!  With warm waters, it’s home to some of the richest fishing stocks on the planet too!

Here are 3 fun Fishing activities, all of which we’ve done and highly recommend:

🎣 Fish Off A Public Dock or Bridge Area

If you’re staying in accommodation near the water, pick up a cheap rod, bait, and a licence, and cast away.  

A popular spot is Hart’s Landing (under the Ringling Bridge) which is within the Ernest ‘Doc’ and Eloise Werlin Park. This park is Doc’s tribute to his wife who died of breast cancer. Pick up bait and snacks here. In addition, they have clean bathroom facilities. 

🎒 TPOP Tip:

Sarasota Bait shops and outfitters know local ‘fishing’ spots and will share tips on which areas are ‘hot’!!

⛴️ Head Out On The ‘Flying Fish’ from Marina Jacks

This half-day trip is a lot of fun especially with family groups and kids as there’s plenty of space on board. No need to bring any equipment, just a hat and sunscreen!  Toilets, and snacks are available onboard.

A blue and white fishing boat called 'Flying Fish' that leaves daily from Sarasota Marina. Fishing is one of the most loved Sarasota activities for visitors.

You will sail out from Sarasota’s Marina Jacks for just over an hour (about 8-12 miles). You then have around an hour for fishing before relaxing on the sun deck on your return. During this time, the crew helps with baiting lines and takes your fish for storage.

On return to the Marina, they can clean and gut your fish (50c/fish). Usually, pelicans surround the area looking for fish scraps – get your camera ready!

🚤 Charter a Professional Captain: Fishing & Sandbar Trips

Wow! Captain Michael Russo gets fish on the hook!  With a positive attitude, deep local knowledge, and excellent gear, book a trip with No Mercy Charters for an experience you won’t forget!

Whether you fancy inshore fishing or going after Goliath Groupers, this Siesta Key based fishing expert will take care of you and your guests! 

If you prefer to hang out on a Sarasota Bay Sandbar, and party a little, he also runs fun charter trips here for up to 6 people!

Captain Michael Russo and two clients show large fish catch from a charter trip in Sarasota.

Got kids? No problem, Michael will tailor the trip to suit the ages on board. His 24’ boat is filled with the latest navigation technology for your safety and has a 9ft tower perfect for tracking fish in the water from on high.

4. Don’t miss Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

If you love botanical gardens and plants, you must visit Marie Selby, consistently rated as one of the top things to do in Sarasota. 

With 10 acres of gorgeous gardens and a Smithsonian Affiliate Museum, this is the only botanical garden on our planet dedicated to epiphytic (air plants) like orchids & bromeliads.

A steel pagoda decorated with flowers stands in Marie Selby Gardens surrounded by flowers and tropical plants. A visit to these gardens is one of the most popular things to do in Sarasota during a vacation.

Marie, the founder, loved gardening and the town of Sarasota! Over the years, she created a tropical oasis on the city’s bayside.  In 1973, she donated ‘her garden’ to the city to protect it for future generations and it has ‘blossomed’ big time ever since.

There are two botanical gardens: 10 acres in Sarasota and 30 acres, 10 miles south at historic Spanish Point, Osprey, part of Sarasota County. This was added in 2020.

🎒 TPOP Tip:

Take a FREE volunteer-led tour around the gardens. It’s a fantastic way to learn about the plants and gain tips from the experts!

5. Kayak Sarasota’s Mangrove Tunnels & Bays Tour

Two kayaks on the water, one is green and the other red. They are in Sarasota Bay enjoying paddling calm waters.

The best way to navigate around these often hidden waterways is on a Mangroves Tunnels Guided Tour.  This one takes you from Ted Sperling Nature Park, into Sarasota Bay and through mangrove tunnels.

Kayaking was one of the first water adventures on our first visit to Sarasota.  Since then, we have paddled our way around these wonderful waterways spotting dolphins, manatees, pelicans, ospreys, and much more.

🎒 TPOP Tip:

Morning temperatures are a little cooler and water is often calmer.

6. Things To Do in Sarasota: Walking Food Tour

Foodies, you will love Sarasota’s fast-growing selection of quality places to eat and drink.  Why not check some of them out on an Evening Downtown Food Tour?

A wall mural with palm trees and a woman shopping brings art to Main Street Sarasota. A restaurant with outdoor seating is adjacent and in front bicycle parking area.

From a ‘wild woman food tour’, to ‘ghost food tours’, there are a huge variety of experiences to choose from.

We recommend this super popular 3-4 hour downtown Walking Food Tour. Enjoy food at several stops while hearing fun insights and local stories as you walk around town!

7. Party At a Sarasota Festival!

Sarasota activities are endless all year round. Here’s what’s coming up soon and into 2025 to check out:

  • Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting (November) An annual Siesta Key Beach event in December brings world-class sand artists to the beach. With music, food trucks, and local crafts, it’s a fun visit.
A sand sculpture on Siesta Key Beach Sarasota depicting figures from Viking era.  There are retail tents on the beach behind - all part of the annual Crystal Classic event.

  • Chalk Festival (November), the 3D effects of chalk on pavements are entrancing and if you’re in town, worth a visit. Numerous events are going on over the festival from interactive illusion rooms to experiencing how technology is influencing art.

If you are a Baltimore Orioles fan or just love baseball, grab a ticket to enjoy a game at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium. The Spring Training Schedule runs from late February through to April every year.

8. Cruise Sarasota Bay At Sunset

LeBarge Cruises have been running their ever-popular fun sunset trips for years!  Book directly online as tickets can sell out fast in peak season.

Things to Do in Sarasota always involves a sunset. This is a daily cruise at sunset. The photo shows people watching the sunset from a open top deck.

You can’t bring drinks or food, but they have cocktails and a small selection of food available to purchase. A local musician will entertain you with Jimmy Buffet Florida classics as you sail around. 

It’s quite possible to spot our resident dolphins in the bay!

9. Discover Circus History & More At The Ringling

Sarasota used to be a circus town and the acclaimed Ringling Museum captures the magic of this bygone era in America. Circuses toured across the country in summer and then came down to Sarasota and wintered their animals here.

One of the most historic things to do in Sarasota is visit the Ringling Museum. People are admiring the Venetian style home and patio.
The Ringling

John Ringling, a successful circus owner came to Sarasota when it was just a small fishing village. His philosophy was that every great town should have a museum. So he and his wife Mabel invested in this vision and their legacy continues to thrive a century later.

Don’t miss their magnificent Venetian-inspired winter home completed in 1926 (called Ca’d’Zan) with a lavish tiled patio flowing out to Sarasota Bay.  

Spend several hours here exploring the house, gardens, art gallery, and circus museum with its 42,000 individual pieces – it’s fascinating.

🎒 TPOP Tip:

Bring A Picnic (it’s allowed!) and enjoy lunch in the gardens with wonderful waterfront views.

10. Go See a Theatre Show or Classic Movie

During the ‘peak’ season (Nov-Apr), Sarasota puts on quite a show of the arts with musicals, comedies, operas, and a film festival.

Asolo Rep Theatre is housed within the Sarasota Campus of the Florida State University (FSU) and performs plays and musicals in partnership with the Ringling Museum of Art.  They have a lively 2024-2025 season underway. Check Schedule & Book Tickets.

If one of your favourite things to do is in Sarasota is to explore historic areas, come to Burns Court for its art, cinema and galleries.
Burns Court District

If you love a vintage vibe, don’t miss the historic Burns Court Movie Cinema in central Sarasota. It’s run as a nonprofit organization, showing films every Fri/Sat/Sun from 1 pm-8 pm. You’re right downtown so it’s easy to walk to after a dinner on Main.

If you’re an artist or art lover, head to Towels Court to admire a cooperative showcasing beautiful pieces, paintings, and more. The historic buildings are worth a visit on their own. Open Wed to Sat 11 am to 4 pm. Closed Sun-Tues. 

We also have Ballet, Opera, Jazz Club performances and circus performances happening in Sarasota.

11. Create A Glass Fusing Art Piece In 2 Hours

Occasionally it rains in Sarasota and that’s when having some indoor options up your sleeve pays off. Maybe you’re a creative type and looking for a change from the beach for a few hours.

A beginner glass fusing class at Sarasota’s School of Glass is fun and it’s a little more challenging than I imagined 🙂

Glass pieces in green and blue are laid out on a cardboard template ahead of fusing them. Glass fusing Classes are on offer in Sarasota.
The First Steps of Glass Fusing

Pick a design and an instructor will lead you and 5-6 other students through the basics. Cut and arrange glass pieces to make a bowl, tray, or other decorative item. Book A Class. It’s a lot of fun!

12. Sunset Horse Rides At The Beach

If your dream Sarasota activity is riding a horse on a sandy beach at sunset, you’re going to love the aquatic horse adventures offered by Florida Beach Horses!

The wonderful horses at Sunset are ‘retired’ and happily enjoy their daily excursions which are always weather (& sun) dependent.

A unique thing to do in Sarasota is to ride a horse on the beach and in the shallow warm waters. A woman is enjoying riding her horse in the water.

You can even ‘swim’ with your horse if you’re confident in water. They provide life vests for non-swimmers.

There are a range of rides and experiences available, and timings change based on the time of year you are visiting Sarasota. 

13. Visit A Sarasota Farmers Market

On Saturdays, coming downtown is one of the fun things to do in Sarasota. The central area transforms into a hub of activity as local farmers bring their fresh produce to the Farmers’ Market. Browse the many stands, and grab a coffee, smoothie, freshly made empanadas, and other artisan treats.

On most visitors things to do in Sarasota is coming to Saturday Market. Various tent covered stalls line the downtown and people are browsing.

Buy seasonal fruits and veg from dedicated farm stalls from October to March, and also pick up flowers, fresh herbs, and more! 

A few miles away, Phillippi Creek Farmhouse Market is another gourmet delight serving up deliciousness from glazed peach donuts to local honey products.  Yum!

14. Things to Do in Sarasota: Enjoy A Round Of Golf

A Scot named John Gillespie oversaw the design and construction of Sarasota’s First Golf Course – the 2nd only in the whole of the USA – the Links Course, Sarasota.

Today this is where you will find Main Street, but don’t despair, Sarasota has over 30 golf courses – check them out on Golf Pass.

15. Tour Siesta Key Rum Factory

When we first moved here, Siesta Key Rum was a tiny operation, but boy has that changed! Our local rum distillers have gone from strength to strength but kept their local roots.

A fun Sarasota activity is to go rum tasting. This festive display is made of old rum bottles and behind the display are barrels of aging rums.
Siesta Key Rum Factory

Now a multi-award winning distillery both nationally and internationally, SK Rum has a large tasting area and informative fun tour. Check out the Infinity Room and learn about the original Sarasota Tiki Bar that is now housed within SK Rum!

Our personal favourite is the Siesta Key Coconut Rum with the spiced variety a close second!

🎒 TPOP Tip:

Double check our link above with directions to SK Rum as they are in Sarasota, not on Siesta Key Island 🙂

16. Enjoy A Sundowner At A Rooftop Bar

We love our sunsets. One of the best things to do in Sarasota is to watch the setting sun from a rooftop bar.  Here are 3 of our favourites:

A group enjoying a cocktail at Perspectives Rooftop Bar in Sarasota.

🎒 TPOP Tip:

As we recover from the 2024 hurricanes, we want you to know most of our fantastic businesses are open and operating as normal!

Although not a rooftop bar, SKOB at Siesta Key Village never disappoints us for happy hour with their famous oysters!

Menu and drinks boards at SKOB restaurant in Siesta Key Village. For decades people agree this is one of the best things to do in Sarasota to relax during happy hour.

There’s a varied menu and their happy hour cocktails change daily. Watch out for their ‘village idiot bucket option’ though 🙂

17. Sarasota Bay Mote Marine Expedition

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is one of the top marine research facilities in the nation and a year-round Sarasota activity. They also rehabilitate injured marine life and you can visit both sites with your entrance ticket.

Mote also offers fascinating bay tours where a marine biologist explains our local ecosystem. They also introduce you to some of the species that call Sarasota Bay home. 

It’s quite hands-on with activities such as dipping nets into the water to help see what’s living in here. Kids and pre-teens tell us it’s great fun and secretly most adults love this laid-back cruise too.

Note: At the time of publication, Mote is recovering from 2024 hurricane impacts so their normal departure site is not open. They currently depart from Marina Jacks in Sarasota! 

🎒 TPOP Tip:

Book ahead online. They only accept bookings 2 weeks in advance.

Where To Stay In Sarasota

If your budget stretches to it, staying downtown is the best bet as you’re going to be within walking distance of many of the best things to do in Sarasota and nighttime entertainment.

But if you prefer a quieter location with perhaps more space, then you may choose to stay a little further from downtown. Accommodation here is typically cheaper so a good option for families.

Although it’s popular to stay right on the beach when visiting Sarasota, it’s the most expensive option and you have to deal with traffic coming on and off the islands each day as you tour around.

📍Best Budget Option: Amentiti Bay Hotel: Book Here. This hotel may be a little out of downtown but it offers clean family rooms, a pool, continental breakfast, and a sun terrace with umbrellas and chairs.  

📍Best Boutique Option: Carlisle Inn: Book Here. With spacious, large rooms, guests like its quiet vibe. Outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness, and spa facilities on site.

📍Luxury Option: Art Ovation Hotel: Book Here. Located in downtown Sarasota, with beautiful decor, and an easy walk to the marina and Main Street restaurants. Their rooftop bar cocktails are perfect at sunset and hang around for live DJs playing most nights. Dog friendly!

Visiting Sarasota FAQs

If you’re thinking about coming to Sarasota, you likely have a few questions about the town, so we have compiled this list of common things people ask before visiting.

Read on for information on getting around Sarasota, cultural highlights and tips to enjoy your stay.  We hope that these help you plan your vacation time here.

What is Sarasota best known for? [H3]

We feel Sarasota today is best known for world-class beaches, great museums, contemporary art, and an emerging food scene.

It’s a city with a growing population and is not at all a stereotypical Florida ‘retirement’ town.

Also, Sarasota is best known for having been the winter home of travelling circus companies, leading to the acclaimed Ringling Museum and hands-on circus schools and performances across town.

Is Sarasota a walkable city?

Yes! The whole bay front area of Sarasota is walkable and a popular location for festivals and community events throughout the year. 

In summer, our weather is extremely warm (& humid) so in July and August, walking around is not that comfortable. In winter though, we have the perfect climate for enjoying the outdoors. The Legacy Trail is an example of a great network of walking and cycling routes.

Away from the bay, Main Street, Pineapple, Rosemary District, and the original Burns Court area are unique areas of town to discover on foot.  

You will need transport to travel out of downtown to activities and attractions in Sarasota like the beaches, Ringling Museum, etc.  Check Sarasota trolley services to Siesta Key which avoid parking issues at the beach! 

How safe is Sarasota?

Sarasota town and Sarasota County (think Siesta Key) are both relatively safe to visit with a 79/100 rating from SafeTravel Guide Organisation in 2024.

Bayfront Park, Sarasota has a fountain with 4 dolphin statues mid air. Strolling in this park is a fantastic way to enjoy an evening in Sarasota.

Overall, travel related risks are low and transportation (Uber, Taxis) are considered reliable and safe. Don’t leave valuables unattended on the beach as there are police reports of this type of petty theft every year.

Solo women travelers will find Sarasota welcoming and as in any unfamiliar city, common sense is the main advice from authorities. If you are travelling around Florida our article on Exploring Florida Small Towns may be helpful.

Avoid walking in unlit areas alone late at night and sharing personal information when meeting people you don’t know well.

Wrap Up – Things To Do In Sarasota

Sarasota is a wonderful destination to visit, whether for a romantic getaway, friend reunion, or family vacation. As well as our unique coastline and stunning beaches, you can discover fascinating history, arts, and great bars and restaurants.

If you plan to visit Sarasota soon, have fun discovering all the activities we have featured and making your sunny memories! 🌞 

We hope our ideas are exciting and helpful – visit Florida’s Suncoast once and we feel sure you’ll be back!

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