Best Things To Do In Tampa Before Or After Your Cruise

What city is famous for cigars, Cuban sandwiches, manatee sightings and one of the world’s longest continuous sidewalks? That’s right: Tampa, Florida. Home to Florida’s largest port, Tampa is rich in culture and history and has plenty of activities for travelers to dive into before or after a cruise. 

Adding a day before or after your cruise gives you a chance to ground your vacation. If you’re just starting your journey, you have the peace of mind to know you’re arriving in your departure city early and can take your time to learn firsthand about the area. 

If you’re adding a day or two onto your trip after your cruise, you get to wind down from your big adventure with time to transition at your pace. 

Either way, you’ll want to make this quest a part of your holiday to see some of the special things Tampa has to offer.

Keep reading for a list of the best things to do in Tampa before or after your cruise.

Best Things To Do In Tampa

Tampa is a charming, diverse city with an array of things to get into. Whether you crave outdoor explorations or you prefer to dig into the historical thumbprint that makes a city outstanding, Tampa has some alluring points of interest.

With so many cruises going to Tampa and many ways to uncover the city, here’s a one-day itinerary to whet your appetite.

● Tampa Riverwalk: This scenic 2.6-mile path has restaurants, attractions and waterfront places where you can relax and enjoy the city.

● Tampa Bay History Center: Learn more about local history with highlights on the importance of cigars and pirates to the area, along with a range of interactive exhibits.

● Busch Gardens: From dizzying rollercoasters and live music to scenic architecture and stunning gardens, Busch Gardens is a multi-faceted draw.

These things to do around Tampa give you a great overview of Tampa attractions within a 13-mile radius. You’re spoiled for choice if you’re looking specifically for things to do near the Tampa cruise port.

When hunger strikes, head to Florida's oldest restaurant, the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. It’s also the world's largest Spanish restaurant, taking up a whole city block and with the capacity to seat 1,700 people.

Florida is consistently a popular destination for visitors who enjoy a sunny coast with a variety of ways to immerse themselves. Explore all of the exciting destinations and activities when you book a cruise from Florida.

1. Best Tampa Theme Parks And Zoos

See the best theme parks and zoos Tampa has to offer while packing your itinerary with family-friendly entertainment. 

Finding engaging activities for the whole family can be a challenge. A cruise can be the sweet spot for a thrilling family getaway with intriguing destinations, fine dining and lots of onboard activities. Plan your perfect family vacation cruise today.

Busch Gardens

ZooTampa At Lowry Park

ZooTampa is a multi-award-winning zoo known for its conservation work that focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation and release of animals. Much of its work centers on local Florida species. 

Engross yourself in exhibits and go behind the scenes for tours or experiences, like the giraffe meet and feed, or take a photo with a koala. There’s also a petting zoo, and you can bug out with the insect exhibit.

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium celebrates local marine life while displaying a mix of habitats and touch tanks where you experience sea stars and moon jellies and can feed cownose stingrays. See a 500,000-gallon panoramic coral reef tank and an aviary with free-flying birds and unique species like the leafy sea dragon and the alligator pipefish. 

The aquarium has also made an important scientific breakthrough when they were the first to successfully spawn pillar coral and reproduce grooved brain coral reefs. 

2. Best Tampa Outdoors And Scenic Spots

Tampa Riverwalk

Ditch the car for a more intimate encounter with downtown Tampa. Walk or bike along the Tampa Riverwalk, or you can also get in the Hillsborough River and drift next to the 2.6-mile path. 

Voted the second-best riverwalk in America in 2025, the Tampa Riverwalk is an easy way to access many popular spots, such as the Florida Aquarium and the Tampa Bay History Center. Find excellent dining options, cultural points and a lively atmosphere along the route.

Take note of public art along the path, such as sculptures like Barbara Neijna's "America, America" or The Urban Conga’s "Why Sit When You Can Play?" interactive marimba benches.

Ballast Point Park

Lettuce Lake Park

Lettuce Lake Park gets its name from the wellspring of swamp lettuce plants.

Stroll along the 3,500-foot boardwalk through wetlands, floodplains and cypress dome habitats. Then ascend to the top of the 30-foot observation deck, where you’ll get views of the natural park scenery, local wildlife and the Hillsborough River that spills over into and through the park. 

Take a walk and exercise along the 1.25-mile trail or other unpaved trails and bring a picnic to savor afterwards. You can also rent a canoe or kayak and glide along the park's waterways.

3. Best Tampa Culture And History Sites

Tampa Bay History Center

The Tampa Bay History Center offers a 12,000-year overview of Florida history, from Seminole and Miccosukee clothing and tool artifacts to a holographic pirate exhibit.

Peruse over 500 years of visual history in the Touchton Map Library, which has thousands of maps depicting North American political and environmental boundaries.

Henry B. Plant Museum

Pause to indulge in a time travel visit to the Gilded Age that took place in the late 19th century at the Henry B. Plant Museum. The Gilded Age was marked by industrialism, wealth disparity and political corruption.

The Henry B. Plant Museum flaunts the decadence that was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel, built by entrepreneur Henry Plant. Get a sense of how society functioned and learn more about how Plant impacted Florida by expanding its railway to provide more connections and increase tourism.

The museum is a national landmark and is the only complete hotel still standing out of the eight hotels Plant built.

TECO Line Streetcar System

Tampa’s first streetcar lines started operating in 1892 and came to a halt in 1946 due to increased car and bus usage. 

The streetcar was back in service by 2002 thanks to successful rallying, and now it’s transporting locals and tourists to their destinations. Riding the streetcar has been free since 2018.

It runs every 15 minutes and only takes 25 minutes from the first stop to the last. It also has extended weekend hours to accommodate those having a night out on the town. 

Plan Your Incredible Trip To Tampa