Tampa from Orlando: skip the theme park, walk the Riverwalk

Getting there

Tampa is west of Orlando on Interstate 4. The drive usually takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on where you start and the time of day. I-4 is one of the busiest highways in the state, and crashes cause long delays. Leave after 9 a.m. to miss the morning commute, and come back after 7 p.m. if you can.

Once in Tampa, park once downtown or in Ybor City and walk, use the streetcar, or take short rides between neighborhoods. The streetcar links downtown, the Channel District near the aquarium and Ybor City. It has been fare-free in recent years, but check before you ride. Downtown garages are plentiful and usually cheaper than parking near the parks in Orlando.

There's no fast train between Orlando and Tampa yet, so driving is the practical option. Long-distance buses run between the cities, but they're slow and leave you without a car once you arrive.

What makes Tampa worth it

Tampa is a real working city on a bay, with a walkable waterfront, a long history and a strong food scene. It's a good contrast to Orlando's tourist corridor. The main highlights are close together:

• Tampa Riverwalk: a waterfront path of about two and a half miles along the Hillsborough River, linking parks, museums and restaurants.
• Ybor City: the historic district built by cigar makers, with brick streets, wrought-iron balconies, and old social clubs and cafés.
• Food halls: Armature Works, in a restored industrial building on the river, and Sparkman Wharf near the channel.
• Florida Aquarium: near the port, a solid choice with kids.
• Bayshore Boulevard: a very long waterfront sidewalk, great for a walk or run.

A day in Tampa

1. Park near the north end of the Riverwalk and start with coffee and a stroll south along the river.
2. Stop at Armature Works for lunch. There are counters for almost every taste.
3. Spend the afternoon at the aquarium or a museum along the river, or walk to Sparkman Wharf.
4. Take the streetcar or a short ride to Ybor City for late afternoon and dinner.
5. Drive home after dark when traffic has eased.

Ybor City

Ybor City grew in the late 1800s around cigar factories, built by immigrants from Cuba, Spain and Italy. You can still see the factory buildings, social clubs and old storefronts along Seventh Avenue, the main street. Some shops still roll cigars by hand. A long-running Spanish restaurant here, open since the early 1900s, is famous for its tiled dining rooms and its Cuban sandwiches and salads.

The neighborhood gets loud late on weekend nights with bars and clubs. For a relaxed visit, go late afternoon or early evening. A small state museum in a former bakery tells the neighborhood's story, and restored cigar workers' cottages sit beside it. Ybor is also known for its free-roaming chickens, a protected local quirk you'll see on the sidewalks. Street parking and small lots are easy before dark.

Busch Gardens, sports and other additions

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a large theme park with roller coasters and animals, about 20–30 minutes north of downtown. It's a full-day trip on its own, so don't try to combine it with the city. If coasters are the goal, give it a separate day and leave Orlando early.

In spring, the Yankees play spring training games in Tampa, usually in late February and March; see spring training near Orlando. If you love food halls, compare them with Orlando's own in our Orlando food halls guide. For a manatee trip the next day, Crystal River is about 90 minutes north of Tampa.

Mistakes to avoid

• Leaving Orlando at 7:30 a.m. You'll sit in commuter traffic.
• Trying Busch Gardens and the city in one day. Pick one.
• Underestimating heat on the Riverwalk. Shade is patchy; bring water.
• Driving between every stop. Park once and walk or ride the streetcar.
• Visiting Ybor only at midnight. The history and food shine in daylight and early evening.