Downtown Tampa puts its best stops along the river and the Channel District, so you can see a lot on foot. Start on the Riverwalk and you can reach museums, the aquarium, food halls and the arena without moving your car.
Prices and details come from each venue’s official site, checked in October 2026. Ticket prices change, so confirm before you go.
The best things to do downtown
Tampa Riverwalk
A 2.6-mile waterfront path that runs along the Hillsborough River through downtown. It links parks, museums, restaurants and hotels, with self-guided trails like the Historical Monument Trail and a public art walking tour.
- Address
- Along the east bank of the Hillsborough River, downtown Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Free.
Tip: Walk it at sunset and use the Pirate Water Taxi or streetcar to skip the walk back.
Sources: thetampariverwalk.com, tampasdowntown.com
The Florida Aquarium
A large public aquarium on the Channel District waterfront with marine and freshwater exhibits. It also runs conservation programs focused on Florida coral reefs and sea life.
- Address
- 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed. Prices change by visit date under Plan-Ahead Pricing, so the official site lists no single gate price (checked Oct 4, 2026). Military save 10%, and CityPASS is accepted.
- Hours
- Listed as 9 am to 5 pm on the day checked; confirm for your date.
Tip: Buy online ahead of time, since day-of and peak dates cost more under date-based pricing.
Sources: flaquarium.org, flaquarium.org
Tampa Bay History Center
A riverfront museum on the history of Tampa Bay and Florida's Gulf Coast. It holds about 90,000 artifacts and the Touchton Map Library, plus the Columbia Cafe.
- Address
- 801 Water Street, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed. Adults $18.95, seniors 60+ and college students $16.95, youth 7-17 $14.95, kids 6 and under free (checked Oct 4, 2026).
- Hours
- Open daily, 10 am to 5 pm.
Tip: Pair it with the Aquarium next door, and lunch at the Columbia Cafe on the river.
Sources: tampabayhistorycenter.org
Tampa Museum of Art
The city's main art museum, with ancient Greek and Roman antiquities alongside modern and contemporary work. It sits in Curtis Hixon Park facing the river and the minarets of the University of Tampa.
- Address
- 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed. Adults $25, seniors 65+ $15, K-12 students $5, college students with ID and kids 6 and under free (checked Oct 4, 2026).
- Hours
- Daily 10 am to 5 pm; Thursdays until 8 pm.
Tip: Go Thursday 4 to 8 pm for pay-what-you-wish admission.
Sources: tampamuseum.org
Glazer Children's Museum
A hands-on museum for young kids with 35,000 square feet of interactive play exhibits. It is built for kids to touch, build and play rather than just look.
- Address
- 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed. General admission $27.95, Florida residents $22.95 with ID, babies under 1 free (checked Oct 4, 2026).
- Hours
- School year (after Labor Day to Memorial Day): Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 5 pm. Closed Mondays outside summer.
Tip: Park in the William F. Poe Garage next door, then let the kids burn off energy at the Curtis Hixon splash pads.
Sources: glazermuseum.org
Sparkman Wharf
An open-air waterfront hangout with shipping-container restaurants, a beer garden and a big lawn for live music and game-day watch parties. It replaced the old Channelside Bay Plaza in 2018.
- Address
- 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Free to enter; pay for food and drinks.
- Hours
- Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday 11 am to 11 pm.
Tip: Come on a Lightning game night for watch parties on the lawn, or grab a bite before an arena event a few minutes away.
Sources: sparkmanwharf.com
Armature Works
A restored 73,000-square-foot streetcar warehouse turned food hall, with restaurants, rooftop bars and shops on the river. It anchors the Heights District at the north end of the Riverwalk.
- Address
- 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Free to enter; pay for food and drinks.
Tip: Check the events page for fall weekends: a pumpkin patch runs through October and Fall Fest is set for Oct. 10-11, 2026.
Sources: armatureworks.com
Benchmark International Arena (formerly Amalie Arena)
Downtown's main arena and home of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. It also books big concerts and touring shows; the Amalie Arena name changed to Benchmark International Arena in 2025.
- Address
- 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed per event.
Tip: Check the bag policy on the arena site before you go, and take the free streetcar to avoid event parking.
Sources: benchmarkintlarena.com, benchmarkintl.com
Straz Center for the Performing Arts
A riverfront performing arts complex with five spaces, including Carol Morsani Hall, Ferguson Hall and the Jaeb Theater. It hosts touring Broadway, opera, dance, comedy and concerts.
- Address
- 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed per show.
Tip: Eat at a Riverwalk spot before the show; the Straz sits right on the path near Water Works Park.
Sources: strazcenter.org, strazcenter.org
Tampa Theatre
A 1926 movie palace that still screens films and hosts concerts and events. It is finishing a $24 million restoration of its Duncan Auditorium in time for its 100th birthday.
- Address
- 711 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Ticketed per film or event.
- Hours
- As of Oct 4, 2026, films screen in the smaller John T. Taylor Screening Room while the main auditorium finishes restoration. A public open house is set for Sunday, Oct. 11, and the centennial for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.
Tip: Go to the free open house or a centennial event to see the restored auditorium first.
Sources: tampatheatre.org, stpetecatalyst.com
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
Downtown's main riverfront park, with a terraced great lawn for festivals, two splash pads, a playground and a dog park. It also has a boat dock and water taxi stop.
- Address
- 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Free.
- Hours
- 7 am to 10 pm daily.
Tip: Watch the sunset over the University of Tampa minarets across the river.
Sources: tampa.gov
Water Street Tampa
A new walkable waterfront neighborhood with hotels, restaurants, shops, offices and car-free streets. Public art and regular events fill its plazas.
- Address
- Water Street district, between the Channel District and downtown, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Free to walk; pay for food, drinks and shopping.
Tip: Check the events calendar for night markets and weekend live music; a Night Market is set for Oct. 7, 2026, 6 to 9 pm.
Sources: waterstreettampa.com
Pirate Water Taxi
A hop-on, hop-off boat that runs a loop of 14 stops on the river and channel. Captains share local history and stories along the way.
- Address
- Stops along the Riverwalk and waterfront; see piratewatertaxi.com for the stop map
- Cost
- Ticketed. All-Day Pass sold through the operator's online booking; current prices are not listed on the homepage (checked Oct 4, 2026).
- Hours
- Monday to Thursday 11:30 am to 6:30 pm; Friday to Sunday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm.
Tip: Buy the all-day pass and use it as transport between the Aquarium, Riverwalk parks and Harbour Island.
Sources: piratewatertaxi.com
Henry B. Plant Museum
A museum inside the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, now the University of Tampa's main building with silver minarets. Rooms show the hotel's Gilded Age furnishings and Henry Plant's railroad story.
- Address
- 401 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33606
- Cost
- Ticketed. The official site does not list individual admission prices online (checked Oct 4, 2026); docent-led group tours of 10 or more are $14 adults and $12 seniors.
- Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday noon to 5 pm; closed Mondays.
Tip: Walk over the Kennedy Boulevard bridge from Curtis Hixon Park, then stroll Plant Park on the grounds.
Sources: plantmuseum.com, plantmuseum.com
Channel District (Channelside)
The waterfront district east of downtown that holds the Aquarium, the arena, Sparkman Wharf and the cruise port. The old Channelside Bay Plaza mall became Sparkman Wharf in 2018.
- Address
- Along Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
- Cost
- Free to walk.
Tip: Ride the streetcar along Channelside Drive to hop between the Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf and the arena.
Sources: sparkmanwharf.com, wtsp.com, tecolinestreetcar.org
Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park
A riverfront park on the west bank with kayak launches, a boat dock, a splash pad, sports courts and a festival lawn. The Bob Buckhorn River Center hosts events with glass walls facing the skyline.
- Address
- 1001 N Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33607
- Cost
- Free.
- Hours
- 7 am to 10 pm daily.
Tip: Launch a kayak here or catch the best straight-on view of the downtown skyline.
Sources: tampa.gov
Ybor City and Ybor City Museum State Park
Tampa's historic cigar district, with brick streets, Cuban and Spanish history, restaurants and nightlife. The state park museum tells the story of the cigar workers and their casitas.
- Address
- 1818 E. Ninth Ave., Tampa, FL 33605
- Cost
- Museum is $4 per person; kids 5 and under free (checked Oct 4, 2026). Strolling the district is free.
- Hours
- Museum open Wednesday to Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.
Tip: Take the free TECO Line Streetcar from downtown; it ends near Centennial Park in Ybor.
Sources: floridastateparks.org, floridastateparks.org, tecolinestreetcar.org
Getting around downtown
You don’t need a car once you are downtown. These are the options, with current fares from each operator.
TECO Line Streetcar
Fare free. Runs between Hattricks Station (Franklin and Whiting streets, downtown) and Centennial Park Station in Ybor City, with 11 stations including the Channel District. Service every 15 minutes, about 25 minutes end to end. Hours: Monday to Thursday 7 am to 11 pm; Friday 7 am to 2 am; Saturday 9 am to 2 am; Sunday 8:30 am to 11 pm.
Sources: tecolinestreetcar.org
Pirate Water Taxi
Hop-on, hop-off boat with 14 stops on the Riverwalk, Channel District, Harbour Island and Davis Islands. All-Day Pass sold online. Monday to Thursday 11:30 am to 6:30 pm; Friday to Sunday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm.
Sources: piratewatertaxi.com
DASH (replaced the Downtowner)
On-demand electric rides between 20+ virtual hubs downtown, booked in the DASH app. $2 per person. Monday to Saturday 7 am to 11 pm; Sunday noon to 9 pm. Wheelchair-accessible rides via partner at 813-540-3333.
Sources: tampasdowntown.com
Walking and biking
The 2.6-mile Riverwalk links most downtown sights on foot. Spin scooters, bike routes and the Selmon Greenway also serve downtown.
Sources: tampasdowntown.com
Parking
Downtown has more than 32,000 parking spaces in garages and lots, with hourly, daily and event rates on the Tampa Downtown Partnership map.
Sources: tampasdowntown.com
Common questions
Is the TECO streetcar still free?
Yes. As of October 2026 the TECO Line Streetcar site states all rides are fare free. It runs every 15 minutes between downtown and Ybor City.
What is Amalie Arena called now?
It is now Benchmark International Arena, at 401 Channelside Drive. The Lightning still play there, and the arena hosts concerts year-round.
How long is the Tampa Riverwalk, and does it cost anything?
The Riverwalk runs 2.6 miles along the Hillsborough River and is free. It connects Armature Works, the Straz Center, Curtis Hixon Park, the museums and the Channel District.
What free things can I do downtown?
Walk the Riverwalk, visit Curtis Hixon and Julian B. Lane parks, and browse Sparkman Wharf, Water Street and Armature Works. The Tampa Museum of Art is pay-what-you-wish on Thursdays from 4 to 8 pm.