Last updated August 16, 2026

The Best Tours & Places to Visit in Florida

Florida draws more visitors than almost any other state in the country, anchored by the theme parks of Orlando, the Art Deco glamour of Miami Beach, and a coastline that stretches across two very different bodies of water. From the roller coasters of Orlando to the nightlife of Miami, the coral reefs of Key West, and the alligator-filled wetlands of the Everglades, Florida packs an unusual amount of variety into a single state. Whether you are searching for the best tours in Florida, tickets to top Florida attractions, the best places to visit in Florida, or simply the most memorable things to do in Florida, this guide covers everything worth knowing before you go.

Top Attractions, Tours and Tickets in Florida

Orlando's Theme Parks

Orlando holds the largest concentration of theme parks anywhere in the world, led by Walt Disney World's four parks and two water parks and Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and the newer Epic Universe. Multi-day, park-to-park tickets are almost always worth the extra cost for visitors planning to split time between Universal's parks, since many of the most popular attractions, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, span more than one park. Universal Orlando Resort tickets including Epic Universe cover the full current lineup of parks, and SeaWorld and Discovery Cove round out Orlando's other major theme park options for travelers who want a break from the two biggest names.

Miami and South Beach

South Beach's Art Deco Historic District holds the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world, with pastel-colored hotels along Ocean Drive that have made the neighborhood one of the most photographed stretches of coastline in the country. Little Havana's Calle Ocho offers a completely different side of the city, built around Cuban coffee windows, cigar shops, and the domino games played daily at Maximo Gomez Park. Guided South Beach tours cover the Art Deco district's architecture and history in more depth than a self-guided walk, and Biscayne Bay boat tours add a look at the waterfront mansions along Millionaire's Row.

The Florida Keys and Key West

The Florida Keys stretch across more than 100 miles of bridges and small islands, connected by the Overseas Highway, ending at Key West, the southernmost point in the continental United States. Duval Street's bars and shops, the daily sunset celebration at Mallory Square, and the pastel Conch-style architecture of Old Town give Key West a distinct, laid-back identity unlike anywhere else in Florida. The Old Town Trolley hop-on hop-off tour covers Key West's compact downtown across 13 stops, and snorkeling trips to the surrounding coral reef, part of the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, are one of the most popular add-ons for visitors staying more than a day.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of subtropical wetland, the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the country and home to alligators, manatees, and the endangered Florida panther. Airboat tours, which skim across the shallow sawgrass marsh at speed, remain the signature way to experience the park and are widely offered as day trips from Miami. Airboat and alligator tours with round-trip transfer from Miami are the most convenient option for visitors without a car, and most tours pair the airboat ride with a wildlife show featuring hands-on alligator encounters.

St. Augustine and Historic Florida

St. Augustine has been continuously occupied since its founding by Spanish explorers in 1565, making it the oldest European-founded city in the continental United States, predating Jamestown by more than four decades. The Castillo de San Marcos, a 17th-century Spanish masonry fort overlooking Matanzas Bay, anchors a compact historic downtown of cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, and the Bridge of Lions. Guided historic walking tours cover more than 450 years of history packed into a downtown small enough to explore almost entirely on foot, and the city's reputation for ghost tours and haunted history adds an after-dark alternative for evening visitors.

Kennedy Space Center and the Space Coast

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, roughly an hour from Orlando on Florida's Space Coast, remains NASA's primary launch facility and one of the most significant sites in the history of American spaceflight. The Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit displays the actual retired orbiter at a dramatic angle alongside artifacts from its 33 missions, and the Rocket Garden holds full-scale rockets from the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. Visitor Complex admission tickets include access to the Atlantis exhibit, the Rocket Garden, and both IMAX theaters, and visitors timing a trip around an active launch, which happens with increasing frequency, can often watch from designated viewing areas on-site.

Tampa Bay and the Gulf Coast

Tampa Bay pairs a growing, walkable downtown with Busch Gardens, one of the country's most respected zoo and theme park hybrids, and Ybor City, a National Historic Landmark District built around the Cuban and Spanish immigrant cigar workers who settled there in the late 1800s. Just across the bay, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach hold some of the most consistently top-ranked beaches in the country, with fine white sand and calm, warm Gulf water. Further south, Sarasota adds a strong arts scene anchored by the Ringling Museum of Art, and Naples rounds out the Gulf Coast with upscale resorts and access to the Ten Thousand Islands.

Major Cities and Places to Visit in Florida

• Orlando Tours & Tickets - Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and the largest concentration of theme parks in the world
• Miami Tours & Tickets - South Beach, Art Deco architecture, Cuban food in Little Havana, and a major cruise port
• Key West Tours & Tickets - The southernmost point in the continental United States, Duval Street, and sunset celebrations at Mallory Square
• Tampa Tours & Tickets - Busch Gardens, a growing downtown riverwalk, and Ybor City's Cuban cigar-making history
• St. Augustine Tours & Tickets - The oldest continuously occupied European-founded city in the country, dating to 1565
• Fort Lauderdale Tours & Tickets - A canal-laced beach city sometimes called the Venice of America, with a major yachting industry
• Naples Tours & Tickets - Upscale Gulf Coast beaches, golf resorts, and the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands
• Sarasota Tours & Tickets - Powder-white Gulf beaches, the Ringling Museum of Art, and a strong arts and culture scene
• Clearwater Beach Tours & Tickets - Consistently ranked among the best beaches in the country, with calm, warm Gulf waters
• Daytona Beach Tours & Tickets - The Daytona International Speedway, driveable beaches, and NASCAR's spiritual home

Universities, Colleges and Sports Teams in Florida

• University of Florida - The state's largest and most prominent public research university, based in Gainesville.
• Florida Gators (sports team) - NCAA Division I program with one of the most successful multi-sport athletics traditions in the country.
• University of Miami in Miami - A major private research university with a well-known marine science program tied to its coastal location.
• Miami Hurricanes (sports team) in Miami - NCAA Division I program with a storied football tradition dating to its dominant teams of the 1980s and 1990s.

Florida Demographics and Population

According to the 2024 American Community Survey, Florida has a population of approximately 22,416,077 people across 65,758 square miles, ranking it 3rd among U.S. states by population. The median household income is $77,735, and the largest racial and ethnic groups are Asian (2.9%), White (50.4%), Hispanic (27.4%), American Indian and Alaska Native (0.8%), and Black or African American (14.6%). The median age is 42.7 years. Approximately 12.1% of residents live below the poverty line, compared to the national rate of 12.2%. Florida's economy is anchored by tourism, particularly the Orlando theme park corridor, agriculture including citrus, a large real estate and construction sector, and international trade and finance centered on the Port of Miami.

When to Visit Florida

Winter (December through February) is the best time to visit Florida. The best time to visit Florida for most of the state. Temperatures are mild and humidity drops, making it peak season in Orlando, Miami, and the Keys, though North Florida can see the occasional cold snap. Spring (March through May): A busy shoulder season driven by spring break crowds in March, with pleasant weather statewide before summer humidity sets in. Fall (September through November): The tail end of Atlantic hurricane season brings a real risk of tropical storms through November, but crowds and prices drop noticeably once storm season winds down. Summer (June through August): Hot, humid, and the peak of hurricane season, though it is also peak season for Central Florida's theme parks thanks to school vacation schedules.

Frequently Asked Questions About Touring Florida

Official Florida Resources

The following official government websites provide additional planning resources, park information, and historical records for travelers visiting Florida.