Hotels in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg Hotels

St. Petersburg, locally known as St. Pete, is a large and laid-back bayside city in Florida’s Pinelass County. Nick-named ‘The Sunshine City’ thanks to - you guessed it - its abundance of year-round sunshine, St. Petersburg is an urban tropical paradise. The streets are lined with swaying palms, the deep-blue bay waters glisten, and the public green space is plentiful. St Pete also boasts a buzzing arts scene, from fine art museums to local contemporary galleries, and refined waterfront dining and nightlife.

Things to see

Why not start your balmy St. Petersburg morning by immersing yourself in the city’s arts scene. Begin at the Salvador Dali Museum in Downtown. This avant-garde building - made of stone and reflective-glass - houses the largest collection of Dali’s works outside of Europe, from vibrant oil paintings to surreal photographs. After, head to the Morean Arts Center, which displays a cross-section of international, national, and local artworks. Don’t miss out on seeing the Chihuly Collection, a permanent exhibition of huge, brightly-colored blown-glass sculptures - you can even take a glass-blowing lesson yourself. Nature-lovers might want to spend their afternoon at the Sunken Gardens, an eden-like 4-acre stretch of exotic greenery, speckled by flittering birds and delicate butterflies. Alternatively, take a short drive to Fort De Soto Park, learn about the Fort’s riveting military history, and recline on the soft white beachfront.

Hotels in St. Petersburg

There are plenty of mid-range hotels in St. Petersburg that provide stellar 3-star accommodation and supreme comfort at reasonable prices. You can unwind after a long day of sightseeing at the in-house restaurants and bar lounges, or take a refreshing dip in the indoor pools. If you’re looking for an inexpensive place to stay, St. Petersburg also offers cheap 2-star accommodation, from old-fashioned B&B-type hotels to no-fuss budget inns. Here, you’ll enjoy free WiFi, spacious air-conditioned rooms, and outdoor pools.

Where to stay

To immerse yourself in the heart of St. Petersburg’s culture, stay Downtown. Here, you’ll be surrounded by the city’s top museums and art galleries. Downtown stretches to the waterfront, where you’ll find plenty of fresh seafood restaurants and sweeping sandy beaches - not to mention the Mahaffey Theatre, St. Pete’s favorite place to catch a live show. For a complete beachfront resort vibe, full of bars, restaurants, and shopping hotspots, stay east of St. Petersburg, in the small but electrifying city of St. Pete Beach. For a charming, small-town vibe with an artistic heart and surrounding natural beauty, stay in the off-beat city of Gulfport.

How to get to St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is easily reached by air. Tampa International Airport is just 20 miles from the city, and serves dozens of direct domestic and international flights year-round. Fly in from US cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas, or from European destinations like London and Zurich. If you hire your own car at the airport, take the I-275 south to St. Petersburg. Once in the city, you’ll find that the public bus system and the old-fashioned trolley cars are both extensive and very inexpensive. Getting around by car is also a good option, as the city provides a lot of parking.