Over the past 20 years, I’ve probably traveled to Tampa more than a dozen times to visit my sister. But here’s the funny part: I’ve never actually vacationed there. Our girl trip get-togethers always ended up at nearby Gulf Coast beaches.
So I set out to answer one question: What would a girlfriend weekend in Tampa look like with no beach time?
The answer surprised me. If you think Florida fun begins and ends with sand, this weekend itinerary might change your mind.
Is This Tampa Girlfriend Weekend Right for You?
This itinerary is ideal if you:
- Love food-focused travel and Michelin-recognized restaurants
- Enjoy walkable neighborhoods, history and waterfront views
- Prefer cocktails, spas and boutique hotels over theme parks
- Are planning a two- or three-day girlfriend trip
Skip it if your group wants a beach vacation. This itinerary is for friends who’d rather eat, stroll, sip and explore than spend the day in the sand.
Editor’s note: The writer was partially hosted.
Weekend Itinerary for the Perfect Girls’ Trip
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
Friday Evening in Downtown Tampa
Pirate Happy Hour: Channel your inner wench with a 90-minute narrated tour aboard the Pirate Water Taxi. It’s a great introduction to Tampa’s history with plenty of fun facts and dad jokes. Hail the boat at Stop 1 (Florida Aquarium), enjoy drinks on board and ride to Stop 16 (Armature Works).
Dinner at Armature Works: In the early 1900s, Tampa’s streetcars were dispatched from this riverfront depot, which has since been transformed into a food hall and entertainment center. If your group mood is casual, gather at picnic tables with a variety of entrees including sushi, pizza, BBQ and empanadas.
Or make a reservation at one of the sit-down restaurants. Oak & Ola is a solid choice with a seasonal menu of EuroAmerican classics served in an airy dining room with a window wall open to the river when the weather’s nice.
Lawn and Lights: After dinner, you can bring to-go drinks out to the Armature Works lawn and lounge under twinkle lights in Adirondack chairs overlooking the Hillsborough River. Or head to M. Bird, the rooftop club for DJs and dancing.
Saturday Morning: Hyde Park and Tampa Riverwalk
Because Nothing Happens Before Caffeine: Get started with coffee and a toasted bagel at Sesame. They offer several house-crafted spreads; the scallion was crisply zingy without being overwhelmingly oniony. Prefer sweet to savory? The Cookie Monster spread features Oreo-infused cream cheese.
Maker Moment: Hyde Park Village, an upscale outdoor retail complex in a historic residential neighborhood, has multiple “make your own” experiences to fit your group vibe.
- Bag collectors: Personalize a make-up bag or tote with patches and custom embroidery at Stoney Clover Lane.
- Wannabe cowgirls: At Coastal Cowgirl Collective, decorate your choice of hat with sassy patches, chains, charms, feathers and florals.
- Homebodies: Pour your own at The Candle Pour, which features over 100 different fragrance oils.
- Swifties: Design your own friendship bracelets at The Bead Bar inside the Little Words Project.
Art and River Views: Tour the Tampa Museum of Art. There’s something for everyone in this boutique museum, including the best views of the University of Tampa’s unique silver minarets. Exhibit spaces include ancient Greek and Etruscan artifacts, a winged Chevy and two paintings by contemporary American painter Mark Bradford, who who was commissioned to create a monumental artwork for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago.
Saturday Afternoon: Ybor City and Spa Time
Legendary Flavors: According to local legend, Ulele, the Tocobaga chief’s daughter, stopped the execution of a Spanish explorer, 80 years before the more familiar Pocahontas met John Smith. She’s the inspiration for outdoor sculptures and native flavors featured at this riverfront restaurant located next to Water Works Park. The char-broiled oysters and Gulf grouper were standouts during my meal.
Explore Ybor: Take the free TECO historic streetcar from downtown to Ybor City to discover how Tampa grew from a swamp with 700 inhabitants to a booming metro area with over 3,000,000 residents. Watch the 7-minute film in the Visitor Center on 7th Avenue to learn about Vicente Martinez-Ybor, a Spaniard exiled from Cuba who relocated his cigar manufacturing company from Key West in 1885. During its heyday in the early ’20s, “Cigar City” had over 200 factories and an immigrant workforce of Spaniards, Cubans, Italians, Romanians and Germans produced hundreds of millions of cigars annually.
Tampa and Miami engage in a friendly “Who’s got the better Cuban sandwich?” debate. The Tampa Cuban adds Genoa salami to represent the city’s Italian immigrants. Try it for yourself at Flor Fina, the restaurant inside Ybor’s boutique Hotel Haya.
Chill Out: Swim or spa. Depending on the weather and season, you can soak up the sun by the pool or relax with an indulgent spa treatment. I had both options at the Epicurean Hotel. Summer storms discouraged me from spending time at the pool, so I opted for a relaxing Swedish massage at Spa Evangeline.
Saturday Night: Dinner Cruise and Sparkman Wharf
Floating Food: Dinner cruise aboard Craft Tampa. The European-style longship departs from a Channelside Drive dock and features a 3-course fine dining experience with plenty of golden hour photo time on deck.
After Dark: Drinks at Sparkman Wharf. This lively entertainment center, adjacent to the Craft dock, is constructed of brightly painted shipping containers surrounding the Lighthaus Beer Garden. Check the Sparkman Wharf calendar for events like trivia nights and live music.
Sunday: Bayshore Boulevard and Brunch
By the Beautiful Bay: Soak up the sun and log your steps with a walk along the Bayshore Boulevard Greenway. There are fitness stations if you want to round out your workout with some reps.
Check-out time.
Brunch: Recap the weekend at one of America’s most Instagrammable restaurants, according to Food Network. Tables surround a fountain in the sunlit, plant-filled atrium at Oxford Exchange. A highlight of the menu I can’t wait to try when I’m back in town is the shareable brunch tower featuring mini frittatas, crispy fried chicken, bacon, sausage, cinnamon roll, French toast and smoked salmon. Add bubbles to toast out your weekend.
Where to Stay
With dozens of downtown hotels to choose from, Tampa fits every friend trip budget. There are clusters of chain properties near the cruise port and convention center, putting you steps from Water Street’s shops and restaurants.
Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection
If you want to be close to downtown, but in a more residential neighborhood, look at options in and around historic Hyde Park. It’s how I chose the Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection. A $21 million expansion project completed in 2024 added 51 rooms to the luxury boutique hotel, including eight one-bedroom suites in two fully restored historic apartment buildings.
The Epicurean ticks all the boxes when it comes to friend group trips:
- Outdoor pool with plenty of loungers and umbrellas
- EDGE rooftop bar
- Onsite Spa Evangeline
- Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, a destination restaurant with weekend brunch and daily happy hour
And you can’t beat its location on South Howard Avenue. SoHo is home to Tampa’s legendary Bern’s Steak House and a growing list of new bars and restaurants. Steps from the hotel is the Bayshore Boulevard Greenway, perfect for waterfront walking and gawking at multi-million dollar homes and towering luxury condos.
Getting To and Around Tampa
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is one of my favorites. It’s small and easy to navigate but has plenty of daily flight options from most major carriers. Thoughtful improvements are added regularly, like the curbside express pickup levels that let you bypass the main terminal area to exit in a jiff if you don’t need to claim a bag.
If you’re renting a car at the airport, take a short tram ride to the rental center. Having a car is convenient for getting around but isn’t necessary if you’re spending your time in downtown Tampa.
Rideshare is readily available and fun transport options, like the pirate water taxi and free streetcar, offer “only in Tampa” experiences you’ll want to include on your trip.
FAQs
No. During snowbird/spring break season, expect about a 45-minute to hour drive to get to popular St. Pete Beach. In summer, you can be toes in sand in a half hour or less.
Tampa is a year-round destination but summer is exceptionally warm and humid. I prefer visiting during the fall and spring shoulder seasons.
I rented a car on my last trip, but rideshare is readily available. Fun options for touring downtown include the electric streetcar and pirate water taxi.
Sunscreen and sunglasses, especially during summer. Tampa’s casual but if you’ve booked some of the city’s Michelin-recommended restaurants, you’ll want to dress up. And rain is almost always a possibility. Bring an umbrella, raincoat or poncho.
Absolutely. If you’re spending most of your time in downtown, it’s very residential, so there are people out and about from sun up to sun down. Observe normal city safety precautions when heading home later at night.
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