Sarasota is the cultured beach town of Florida’s Gulf coast: a small, prosperous city on Sarasota Bay with a big arts scene and some of the finest beaches in the United States just across the water. Circus magnate John Ringling left it a palatial Venetian Gothic mansion, a world-class art museum and a circus museum, now together known as The Ringling. Downtown has theaters, a bayfront park and a renowned botanical garden, while the barrier islands of Lido Key and Siesta Key offer sand so fine and white it squeaks underfoot. Inland, alligators bask in the wild river and prairie of Myakka River State Park. Winters are mild, dry and busy; summers are hot, stormy and quieter.
Right now in Sarasota
- Wed25–28°C77–82°F20 mm rain
- Thu24–28°C74–82°F28 mm rain
- Fri23–29°C73–84°F3 mm rain
- Mon 12 Oct Columbus Day
Top tours in Sarasota
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Sarasota at a glance
- Best for: beaches, art and museums, theater and music, gardens, shopping at St. Armands Circle, and wildlife at Myakka.
- How long: 3 days for The Ringling, the gardens and Siesta Key; 4–5 days to add Lido Key, Myakka and a slower beach pace.
- Best time: November to May, when it is dry and warm (highs of 72–88 °F / 22–31 °C). June to September is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, and it is hurricane season.
- Getting there: fly to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), just north of the city, or Tampa International Airport (TPA), about 60 miles (97 km) north over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
- Getting around: a car is easiest; Breeze Transit buses run in the city, and the free Siesta Key trolley loops the island.
- Before you go: entry rules, money, driving and general safety are on our United States travel guide.
Sarasota’s areas and who each one suits
Sarasota is spread along the bay, with the barrier islands to the west. Most visitors base themselves either downtown or on one of the keys.
Downtown and the Bayfront
A compact center of restaurants, galleries and boutiques around Main Street, with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Bayfront’s parks and marina. Good for culture lovers and people who want restaurants on foot, with the beaches 15–20 minutes away by car.
St. Armands Circle and Lido Key
Across the Ringling Causeway, St. Armands Circle is a ring of upscale shops, cafés and restaurants around a garden roundabout. Just beyond it, Lido Key has a calm public beach, resort hotels and the wilder South Lido Park. Close to downtown and great for a mix of beach and town.
Siesta Key
South-west of the city, Siesta Key is the most famous beach island, with Siesta Beach’s wide, dazzling white quartz sand, the casual bars and restaurants of Siesta Key Village, and the quieter Crescent Beach and Turtle Beach further south. Best for a classic beach holiday; can be busy and traffic-heavy in high season.
Longboat Key
North of Lido, a long, quiet island of upmarket resorts, golf and condominiums. Good for peaceful beach stays and families who do not need nightlife.
Top things to see in Sarasota
Prices and hours below were checked on the official sites in October 2026, unless we say otherwise; check again before you go.
The Ringling
The winter estate of circus owner John Ringling and his wife Mable, on Sarasota Bay just north of downtown, is the state art museum of Florida. It includes the Museum of Art, with a famous collection of Baroque paintings including huge works by Rubens, around a courtyard of statues; Ca’ d’Zan, the couple’s lavish Venetian Gothic mansion on the water; the Circus Museum, with a vast miniature model of a circus; the historic Asolo Theater; and bayfront gardens. As of October 2026 it opens daily 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays, closing on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. General admission costs $30 for adults and $27 for seniors 65 and over, $5 for ages 6–17, and children under 6 go free; on Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. adults pay $15. A ticket including the first floor of Ca’ d’Zan costs $45 for adults. On Mondays the Museum of Art, the Bayfront Gardens and the Glass Pavilion are free. Tickets are limited by capacity, so book ahead in high season.
Siesta Beach
Siesta Beach, the main public beach on Siesta Key, is famous for its very fine, bright white quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, and for its wide, gently sloping shore and calm water. The Sarasota County park has a large free car park, open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; the beach itself, including the dry sand, is open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and there is no overnight parking in county beach lots. The car park fills by mid-morning on winter and spring weekends; arrive early or come by trolley.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
A bayfront garden downtown known for its orchids and bromeliads and its conservatory of tropical plants, with views over the water and a children’s rainforest garden. As of October 2026 it opens daily 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., and admission to the downtown campus costs $28 for adults and $12 for ages 5–17, free for children 4 and under. Selby’s second campus, Historic Spanish Point in Osprey to the south, has prehistoric shell middens, pioneer buildings and gardens by the bay, for $20 for adults and $12 for ages 5–17.
Myakka River State Park
About 15 miles (24 km) east of the city, one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks protects the Myakka River, lakes, marshes and dry prairie, with alligators, wading birds and deer easy to see from the scenic drive. Its canopy walkway hangs about 25 feet (8 m) up in the treetops, with a tower about 74 feet (23 m) high. According to search summaries of the Florida State Parks page, which we could not open, entry costs about $6 per vehicle and the park opens from 8:00 a.m. to sunset; check before you go. Airboat and tram tours run from the park’s concession.
More to see
- Lido Key Beach and South Lido Park: a calm town beach and a quieter park with kayak trails through mangroves.
- Sarasota Bayfront and marina: waterfront walks, sunset views and boat tours.
- Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: a research aquarium on City Island, by Lido Key.
- Sarasota Jungle Gardens: an old-style tropical garden with flamingos and birds.
Parks and gardens
- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Nature
- Lido Key
Museums
- Cà d'Zan
- John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Beaches
- Siesta Beach
Protected areas
- Myakka River State Park
Other things to do in Sarasota
Arts, theater and music
For a small city, Sarasota has an outstanding arts scene: the Asolo Repertory Theatre, the Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Orchestra, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (a lilac seashell-shaped hall on the bay) and many galleries. The main season runs from autumn to spring.
Beach days, safely
Sarasota’s beaches are usually calm, but conditions change. Florida uses uniform beach warning flags: green for low hazard, yellow for moderate surf or currents, red for high hazard, double red when the water is closed to the public, and purple for dangerous marine life such as jellyfish; no flag does not mean safe water. Swim near a lifeguard stand where there is one, shuffle your feet in shallow water against stingrays, and leave the beach when you hear thunder.
Red tide
Sarasota is on the part of Florida’s coast most often hit by red tide, a bloom of the algae Karenia brevis that can kill fish and cause coughing and eye irritation on the beach. It comes and goes and can change from beach to beach and day to day. Before your trip, check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) red tide status, NOAA’s Gulf Coast harmful algal bloom forecast (with a respiratory irritation forecast for each beach) and the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches advisories.
Kayaking and boating
Paddle the mangrove tunnels of South Lido Park and Siesta Key, look for manatees and dolphins in the bay, or take a sunset sail from the Bayfront. Fishing charters and boat tours leave from the downtown marina and Siesta Key.
Day trips and onward travel
Venice and Anna Maria Island
Venice, about 20 miles (32 km) south, is a relaxed town known for the fossil shark teeth that wash up on its beaches. North of Sarasota, Anna Maria Island is a low-rise, old-Florida beach island with a historic pier.
St. Petersburg, Tampa and Naples
St. Petersburg, with the Dalí Museum, is about 40 miles (64 km) north over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge; Tampa about 60 miles (97 km). South, Naples is about 115 miles (185 km) down Interstate 75. All three have their own pages on TravelerCenter.
Nearby destinations
- St. Petersburg50 km
- Tampa68 km
- Clearwater75 km
- Naples151 km
- Orlando174 km
- Daytona Beach256 km
- Fort Lauderdale273 km
- Miami291 km
Getting there and getting around
By air
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) sits on the northern edge of the city, about 4 miles (6 km) from downtown, with flights from many US cities, especially in winter. Taxis, rideshare and car rental are at the terminal. Tampa International Airport (TPA), about 60 miles (97 km) north, has more airlines and international flights; allow about an hour or more by car. Brightline’s high-speed trains do not serve Florida’s Gulf coast; the nearest station is at Orlando International Airport.
Breeze Transit and the Siesta Key trolley
Sarasota County’s buses run under the Breeze Transit name. The Siesta Key trolley (route 77, the Siesta Islander) is free for everyone and runs daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; according to the county’s tourism office, since 25 April 2026 it stays on Siesta Key, running between Siesta Key Village and Turtle Beach, so it no longer runs to downtown Sarasota. Check the Breeze site for current routes and fares to Lido Key and St. Armands.
Driving and tolls
A car is the easiest way to explore, but bridge traffic to the keys can be slow in season; leave early for the beaches. The main toll on the way from Tampa Bay is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge: according to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, $1.16 per car with SunPass and $1.75 otherwise, and it has been cashless since April 2026. Florida’s toll roads take no cash: TOLL-BY-PLATE invoices add a $2.50 administrative fee and are not available in rental cars, which run their own toll programs, so check your rental agreement or add the rental’s plate to your own SunPass account.
When to go and how long to stay
Sarasota has a humid subtropical climate: warm all year, dry in winter and spring, wet in summer. The table uses NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the Sarasota Bradenton airport weather station: average daily highs and lows, and days with at least 0.10 in (2.5 mm) of rain.
| Season | Average high / low | Rainy days per month | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 72–75 °F (22–24 °C) / 52–55 °F (11–13 °C) | 3–4 | Mild and sunny, cool nights; the busiest season | Arts season, museums, Myakka wildlife |
| Spring (Mar–May) | 78–88 °F (26–31 °C) / 58–68 °F (14–20 °C) | 3–4 | Warm, sunny and dry | Beach days, gardens, boating |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 90–92 °F (32–33 °C) / 74–75 °F (23–24 °C) | 9–12 | Hot and humid, warm sea, afternoon storms | Early swims, lower hotel prices |
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | 90 °F falling to 80 °F (32 to 27 °C) / 74 °F falling to 60 °F (23 to 16 °C) | 8 in September, 2 in November | Stormy early, then dry and pleasant | Quiet beaches, warm sea in October |
The airport averages about 49.0 in (1,246 mm) of rain a year, on about 66 days, with August the wettest month at 9.1 in (231 mm). Most summer rain comes in short, heavy afternoon storms.
Hurricane season: according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC), the Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. The keys are low-lying barrier islands and are evacuated first when a storm threatens. Follow forecasts from the NHC and the National Weather Service, check your evacuation zone with Sarasota County emergency management, leave when ordered, and consider travel insurance.
Events worth planning around
- Autumn to spring: the main season for theater, opera, orchestra and the Van Wezel’s touring shows.
- Thursday evenings: late, discounted entry at The Ringling.
- Mondays: free entry to The Ringling’s Museum of Art and gardens.
- May to October: sea turtle nesting season on the beaches; keep away from marked nests.
How long to stay: 3, 4 and 5 days
3 days: day one, The Ringling (on a Monday for the free art museum, or a Thursday evening); day two, Siesta Beach and Siesta Key Village; day three, Selby Gardens, then St. Armands Circle and sunset on Lido Key.
4 days: add Myakka River State Park. 5 days: add Historic Spanish Point and Venice, or a day in St. Petersburg.
Weather month by month
Where to stay in Sarasota and hotel taxes
- Downtown: hotels near restaurants, theaters and the Bayfront.
- Lido Key and St. Armands: beach resorts close to town.
- Siesta Key: beach hotels, condominiums and rentals; the classic holiday base.
- Longboat Key: quiet, upmarket resorts.
Rooms are scarce and pricey from January to April; book early. Sarasota is in Sarasota County, where, according to the Florida Department of Revenue, sales tax totals 7% (6% state plus a 1% county surtax), charged on restaurant meals and most purchases; US prices are shown before tax. According to the Sarasota County Tax Collector, stays of six months or less also carry a 6% tourist development tax, so a hotel bill carries about 13% in tax. Beach resorts may add a mandatory resort fee and charge for parking; under the US Federal Trade Commission’s fee rule in force since May 2025, mandatory fees must be included in the advertised total price, while taxes may be shown separately.
Practical tips for Sarasota
- Go to Siesta Beach early: the free car park fills fast in season; the free trolley helps once you are on the island.
- Plan The Ringling: Mondays are free for the art museum and gardens; Thursday evenings are cheaper.
- Check red tide: look at FWC and NOAA’s forecast the day before a beach day.
- Book winter early: hotels and restaurants are busiest from January to April.
- Wildlife: never feed or approach alligators at Myakka; keep pets on a lead and away from the water.
- Emergencies: call 911.
What to pack for Sarasota
Bring swimwear, a sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor, reef-friendly sunscreen, plus a light long-sleeved shirt for sun and insects. Insect repellent is essential at Myakka and in the mangroves, especially at dawn and dusk. Pack comfortable walking shoes for The Ringling’s large grounds, a light rain jacket or umbrella for summer storms, and a sweater for cool winter evenings and air-conditioned theaters. Binoculars make the birdlife at Myakka even better.
Sarasota travel FAQ
How much is The Ringling?
As of October 2026, general admission costs $30 for adults, $27 for seniors 65 and over and $5 for ages 6–17; children under 6 go free. Adults pay $15 on Thursday evenings from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Is The Ringling free on Mondays?
Partly. On Mondays the Museum of Art, the Bayfront Gardens and the Glass Pavilion are free; Ca’ d’Zan and the Circus Museum need a ticket.
Is parking free at Siesta Beach?
Yes. Sarasota County’s main Siesta Beach car park is free, open 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with no overnight parking. It fills early in high season.
Is the Siesta Key trolley free?
Yes. Route 77, the Siesta Islander, is free and runs daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Since April 2026 it stays on Siesta Key, between Siesta Key Village and Turtle Beach.
Which airport is best for Sarasota?
Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ), on the edge of the city, is the most convenient. Tampa International (TPA), about 60 miles (97 km) north, has more flights and international routes.
How much is Selby Gardens?
As of October 2026, the downtown garden costs $28 for adults and $12 for ages 5–17; children 4 and under go free. It opens daily 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Is there red tide in Sarasota?
Sometimes. Red tide blooms come and go on this coast. Check FWC’s red tide status and NOAA’s beach-by-beach forecast before you go.
What is the hotel tax in Sarasota?
In Sarasota County, 7% sales tax plus a 6% tourist development tax: about 13% on top of the room rate, plus any resort fee.
When is hurricane season in Sarasota?
From 1 June to 30 November, with the peak from mid-August to mid-October, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.
How far is Sarasota from Tampa?
About 60 miles (97 km), roughly an hour by car via Interstate 75, or over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from St. Petersburg.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. The Ringling prices and hours: The Ringling; Selby Gardens: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens; Siesta Beach parking and hours: Sarasota County; Siesta Key trolley: Visit Sarasota County, flagged for checking; Myakka River State Park fees: search summaries of Florida State Parks pages, flagged for checking; tolls: Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise; sales tax: Florida Department of Revenue; tourist development tax: Sarasota County Tax Collector; beach flags: Florida’s uniform beach warning flag program as published by Volusia County; red tide: NOAA and FWC; resort fees: the US Federal Trade Commission; hurricane season: NOAA’s National Hurricane Center; climate: NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. Distances and drive times are approximate. Prices, hours and timetables change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our United States travel guide.
Also: NOAA NCEI normals 1991–2020, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (climate)
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Air quality: OpenAQ · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODBL) · Wikidata (CC0)