Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Sarasota?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Sarasota?

Most people spend two to five days in Sarasota during their visit. The entertaining city offers amazing highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the beaches, the cuisine, and the nightlife scene.

Sarasota is located south of Tampa in Florida. It has many great beaches, the Mote Marine Lab, and a museum dedicated to the Ringling Brothers Circus. While it's often overlooked by visitors to Florida, this makes a fun vacation destination for people of all ages.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Sarasota? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is 3 days enough time in Sarasota?

The popular city of Sarasota has many activities and attractions for visitors. Given only three days, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the famous sights and museums, the beaches, and the cuisine. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is probably needed even though it's not a huge city. Many travelers opt for two to five days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend 3 days in Sarasota

Don't miss the John and Mable Ringling Museum during your trip to Sarasota, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. You'll find plenty of seafood around town, but there are also international restaurants and quirky local joints.

A few tour suggestions include:

Downtown Walking Food Tour in Sarasota ($110)
Sarasota Street Food Tour ($85)

A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Sarasota, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. There are some decent museums in town such as the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, and the Ca' da'Zan. Another highlight is the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. You'll find beach clubs, live entertainment such as drum circles, and plenty of bars around town. There are also evening cruises and late night parties.

The beautiful beaches await you in Sarasota, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There's no shortage of beaches in the area where you can spend a relaxing day playing the water and lounging in the sun. Siesta Key, Sarasota Gay Beach, Crescent Beach, and Coquina Beach are some of the favorites.

A few tour suggestions include:

Sarasota Guided Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour ($59)
Sarasota Mangrove Tunnel Guided Kayak Adventure ($59)
Lido Key Pedal Kayak Tour in Sarasota ($75)

Is 4 days enough time in Sarasota?

Many visitors spend four days in Sarasota, and this is a good amount of time to see the entertaining city's major attractions such as the famous sights and museums, the beaches, and the cuisine. This smaller city can be explored in four days, which would give you enough time to see the major sights. Below, we have a few suggestions of things to do.

Sarasota, Florida

How to spend 4 days in Sarasota

Having 4 days in Sarasota will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Shopping in Sarasota is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Upscale shopping can be found at St. Armand's Circle. There's also Sarasota Square Mall and the Mall at University Town Center. If you want to pick up some local items you can check out Sarasota Farmers Market.

Is 5 days enough time in Sarasota?

Five days is more than enough time to see everything that Sarasota has to offer. After all, it's not such a huge city. Many visitors prefer to spend two to five days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the famous sights and museums, the beaches, the cuisine, and the nightlife scene at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.

How to spend 5 days in Sarasota

With 5 days in Sarasota, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

After you've explored most of Sarasota, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Sarasota, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.