11 Fun Things To Do In St. Pete Beach, Florida

If you’re looking for the best things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida, we have you covered!  This post lists some of the best things to do in this popular beach town, and nearby. 

Located just 30 minutes from the Tampa airport, St. Pete Beach is known for its incredible powdery white-sand beaches, waterfront restaurants, and laid-back lifestyle. 

There are fun places for couples like John’s Pass with boardwalk shops and water activities, as well as Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, which has plenty of fun for the family. Did you know that it is also one of the best places to see sunsets in Florida.

All of these things and more await you in this fun beach town on the Gulf Coast!

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Things To Do In St. Pete Beach, Florida: Table Of Contents

• Relax At St. Pete County Beach
• Enjoy Waterfront Dining
• Unwind In Treasure Island
• Take A Stroll On The St Pete Pier
• Head To Clearwater Beach
• Pier 60- Clearwater Beach
• Go To Indian Rocks Beach
• Check Out The Nature Parks
• Visit Pass A Grille 
• Explore John’s Pass
• Madeira Beach
• List Of Beaches In And Around St. Pete Beach
• Which Is A Better Beach- Clearwater or St. Pete? 

1. Relax At St Pete County Beach

Relaxing at the beach is one of the top things to do in St. Pete Beach.

Located in the heart of the city, St Pete County Beach is one of the best places to visit while here.

This is the perfect place to relax, swim, or soak up the sun. There’s plenty of parking here and there are fun places to visit nearby including the Drunken Clam, which is just across the street and great for food and drinks.  

You’re also just steps from the Dolphin Beach Resort and less than a half mile away from the popular Bellwether. You can see why it is one of the popular things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida. It is also a great spot for beach vacations on the East coast.

2. Enjoy Waterfront Dining

One of the best things to do at St. Pete Beach is to enjoy some waterfront dining.

When it comes to dining, St. Pete Beach is home to some of the best seafood and waterfront restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Your list of things to do in St. Pete beach is really not complete unless you factor in all the amazing food.

Whether you’re looking for fresh-caught fish or a delicious cocktail, you’ll find something to satisfy your cravings.

And no trip here would be complete without visiting local restaurants such as Crabby Bill’s and The Wharf. 

Here’s a list of some of our favorite restaurants in St. Pete Beach (we’ll be listing a few more in the area throughout the post): 

Crabby Bill’s– located in St. Pete Beach and Indian Rocks Beach.  They have excellent seafood and waterfront views.  Their Coastal Crab Cake and Crab Stuffed Grouper are highly recommended. 

The Wharf– located in Pass A Grille.  Sports bar known for casual fare and live music. 

Spinners Rooftop Grille– upscale restaurant known for intimate dining located at the top of Bellwether Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach.  The restaurant slowly rotates giving you incredible views of the area from the 12th floor. 

Hurricane Seafood Restaurant– located in Pass A Grille right across the street from the beach with rooftop dining and specializes in wild-caught seafood. 

Woody’s Waterfront– located in St. Pete Beach with casual, waterfront dining and drinks.  

Agave Restaurant– authentic Mexican restaurant located in St Pete Beach and a perfect option if you’re looking for something other than seafood or burgers. 

Buoy’s Waterfront Bar & Grill– located in St. Pete Beach.  Amazing waterfront views and is a great place for cocktails.  We recommend the Blue Beacon drink and grouper tacos.  

3. Unwind In Treasure Island

Treasure Island is an excellent place to visit while in St Pete Beach.  This little beach community is an extension of St. Pete Beach to the north with beautiful beaches, delicious restaurants, and plenty of things to do. It definitely factors in the top picks of our list of things to do in St. Pete beach, Florida.

The beaches themselves are stunning, with soft white sand, crystal clear water, and incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico.  Sunset Beach is on the southern end of Treasure Island and St. Pete Municipal Beach is on the northern end. 

Visitors can take advantage of many activities such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding.

After a day on the water, there are numerous restaurants to enjoy, such as Shrimpy’s Waterfront and Caddy’s Treasure Island. 

Shrimpy’s in particular has excellent food and seafood selections.  We recommend their fish dip appetizer and scallop dinner. 

The area also offers plenty of things to do such as sailing charters, parasailing, jet skiing, and even dolphin watching.

No matter what brings you to St Pete Beach, make sure to take some time to explore Treasure Island. 

4. Take A Stroll On The St Pete Pier

Whether you’re looking for food, fishing, or entertainment for the entire family, the St. Pete Pier is a fantastic choice. 

Located in downtown St. Petersburg, the newly revamped St. Pete Pier opened in 2020 and is over 3,000 feet long! 

It sits on 26 acres of land and is filled with restaurants, a kids’ splash pad, a beach area, a discovery center, and lots more. 

Grab some food at Doc Ford’s or a drink at Pier Tiki, a fun rooftop bar at the end of the pier, where you can see all of the best views of the water and downtown St. Petersburg. If you are looking for things to do in St. Pete Beach that involve a view, then this is the place to be.

Other things to do in downtown St. Petersburg next to the pier include walking/biking through the parks, as well as visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Salvador Dali Museum. 

There are several nice restaurants and shops in downtown St. Petersburg.  Stillwaters Tavern and Parkshore Grill are just a couple of restaurants that are right across from the pier area. 

And If you’re looking for a date night activity in Downtown St. Petersburg, you can take in a movie at AMC Movie Theatre. 

5. Head To Clearwater Beach

Clearwater beach is one of the top locations to visit when you are in St. Pete Beach.

One of the top-rated beaches in the United States, Clearwater Beach is just a 40-minute drive to the north of St. Pete Beach.  

Clearwater Beach attracts a lot of visitors but the beach is nice and wide to give groups plenty of room to lay out or play in the sand. 

This stretch of beach is lined up with resorts so if you’re staying in the area, you won’t have to walk far to the water. This is why it is one of the top things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

After a day at the beach, be sure to check out the restaurants on the beach such as Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill or Palm Pavillion. 

Jimmy Hula’s is a good restaurant just a block from the beach where you can enjoy some casual food or try one of their specialty Rum Buckets. 

6. Pier 60 – Clearwater Beach

Pier 60 is such an epic place to visit!

While in Clearwater Beach, you’ll want to visit Pier 60, the fishing pier!  Here, you can walk the pier and scope out fish and other marine life in the water or you can try your luck at fishing for a small fee. 

There are also large inflatable water slides and kids’ activities on the beach next to the pier, that the little ones in the family will love.  

If you’re in need of beach supplies or want to go shopping, you’re within a couple of blocks of Ron Jon Surf shop and Pelican Walk Plaza.

Just a mile away from the pier is the Clearwater Aquarium where you can see marine life exhibits with sea turtles and dolphins. 

For more on how to spend your day in Clearwater Beach, check out these fun boat tours and activities! If you are a water baby, then this is definitely going to be one of your favorite things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

7. Go To Indian Rocks Beach

For a more relaxed and quiet beach experience than Clearwater Beach, then Indian Rocks Beach is a fine choice. 

Indian Rocks Beach sits between Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach and has about 3 miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico.

There are plenty of nice restaurants in Indian Rocks Beach including PJ’s Oyster Bar, JD’s Restaurant & Lounge, and The Original Crabby Bill’s Restaurant.  

8. Check Out The Nature Parks

St. Pete Beach and the nearby area have lots of wonderful opportunities to explore the great outdoors. This is why adventure enthusiasts always consider it one of the top things to do in St. Pete beach, Florida.

If you’re interested in more than the beaches while in Indian Rocks Beach, head to Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve for hiking and scenic views of the abundant mangroves. 

North of Clearwater Beach are Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park which are great spots for nature walks, wildlife sightings, and of course its amazing waters. 

Shell Key Preserve and Fort De Soto Park are just south of St. Pete Beach and offer beaches, camping, hiking, and lots of wildlife.

9. Visit Pass A Grille 

If you are looking for a good view of St. Pete Beach, consider visiting Pass A Grille.

At the southern end of St. Pete Beach, Pass A Grille is a quaint, quiet beach community.  Pass A Grille is without a doubt one of the best beaches in the area with white sands, calm waters, and views of central St Pete Beach off in the distance.  

The good thing about being in Pass A Grille is that you don’t even need a vehicle while here. 

The area is small enough that you can bike or walk; many visitors here just rent golf carts to make their way around the little city. Pass A Grille is only a couple of blocks wide. 

This place is perfect for a nice family vacation and if you’re looking for a place to bring your pet, you can head to Dog Beach at the southern tip of Pass A Grille. If you are traveling with a pet then this is definitely one of the things to do in St. Pete beach that you should bookmark!

You can also head over to Merry Pier for fishing gear and a fish market. There are also fishing docks nearby.  

For those looking to get on the water, they have sunset cruises, party boats, fishing charters, or rentals available. They also have a shuttle to and from Shell Key. You can see why this rates as some of the best things to do in St. Pete beach especially if you love water activities.

10. Explore John’s Pass

If you’re wondering if St. Pete Beach has a boardwalk, there’s a fun one to visit at John’s Pass!

Just a few minutes’ drive from St. Pete Beach in Madeira Beach, John’s Pass is a must-visit when in the area!  John’s Pass is a bustling area with souvenir shops, clothing stores, bars, and restaurants along a boardwalk. 

One of the highlights of John’s Pass is the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center, where you can see alligators, turtles, and other reptiles. They have other species here, too. There are more than 250 animals here!

The Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center is a fun place to visit but serves as a place for education and conservation of these species, as well. 

John’s Pass also offers plenty of water activities including boat cruises, jet ski rentals, parasailing, and more.  

Recommended restaurants at John’s Pass include Bamboo Beach Bar and Caddy’s AKA The Hut, where you can either dine inside or right on the dock. 

If you are looking for one spot on the things to do in St. Pete beach list that is great for the whole family then make sure to highlight John’s Pass because it has something for everyone.

11. Madeira Beach

Madeira Beach is a fun destination just north of St. Pete Beach with awesome beaches and things to do for travelers of all kinds. The activities at Madeira beach are frequently listed as the top things to do in St. Pete beach, Florida.

From swimming in the warm waters and soaking up some sun to fishing from the pier or parasailing above the waves, Madeira Beach is the place to be. 

For those looking for an adrenaline rush, jet skiing or kayaking is an ideal option. There are several marinas in the area for boaters.

Madeira Beach is known for its vibrant nightlife and music scene, with places like the Lucky Lizard, Daiquiri Shak, and Saltwater Hippie.  

Visitors can explore the nearby John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, which offers plenty of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. 

List Of Beaches In And Around St. Pete Beach

Visiting the beaches in and around the area is one of the most recommended things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida. This is because the sand is a lovely powdery white and all the beaches are just plain beautiful. Here are some of the best beaches in and around St. Pete Beach.

In St. Pete Beach

• St. Pete County Beach
• Sunset Beach
• St. Pete Municipal Beach
• Pass A Grille Beach
• Upham Beach Park
• Shell Key Preserve
• Fort De Soto Park
• Egmont Key State Park

Near St. Pete Beach 

• Madeira Beach
• Clearwater Beach
• Sand Key Park- Clearwater Beach 
• Spa Beach- Downtown St. Petersburg (at the pier)
• Reddington Shores Beach Access
• Indian Rocks Beach
• Caladesi Island State Park- Dunedin
• Honeymoon Island State Park- Dunedin

Which Is A Better Beach- Clearwater or St. Pete? 

The beaches of Clearwater and St. Pete are both among the highest-rated in the country! 

It’s a matter of opinion and depends on what you’re looking for but Clearwater Beach is more popular and tends to get a little more crowded while St. Pete Beach is typically a bit quieter.  

We tend to prefer the beaches of St. Pete since there are several to choose from and each is unique, but no matter which of these beaches you ultimately choose, you can’t go wrong.

As you can see, there are lots of fun things to do in St. Pete Beach!  From the stunning beaches to waterfront restaurants, and nature preserves, there are plenty of options for the whole family.  Come on down and see everything that this city has to offer. 

While there are loads of things to do in St. Pete Beach, Florida, make sure to set some time aside to visit Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira Beach, and downtown St. Petersburg, which are all just a short drive away!