When you think of Florida and art together, your first thought probably goes to Miami. And that’s no surprise. Between Wynwood’s iconic living art walls to Art Basel, the multi-day art fest that celebrates the city’s artistic pulse every winter, it’s often viewed as the one and only place to go when you’re craving an art fix in Florida. However, Miami isn’t the only place you can go for inspiring museums, manicured gardens and famous residents. Just 3.5 hours north of sun city sits is another must-visit if you’re craving culture—St. Petersburg, or St. Pete as the locals call it.
As local expert Marcea Cazel puts it, “St. Pete an arts mecca.” And one quick visit will instantly solidify why. At the center of it all is The Dalí Museum, home to the largest collection of Salvador Dalí’s work outside Spain, but the city’s artistic flair goes far beyond just one institution: there’s the Chihuly Collection and live glassblowing at the Morean, the glass-focused Imagine Museum, the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, whose stunning waterfront location is equally part of the appeal. Beyond museums, there’s also a burgeoning food scene (where meals make the art), hand painted murals, instillations and more that have made this city such an acclaimed cultural icon.
The art scene starts with Dalí, but it does not end there
The Dali Museum deserves all of the accolades, as it holds one of the most important collections of Salvador Dalí’s work outside Spain, in a building dramatic enough to hold its own against the art inside. But there’s more to St. Pete’s art than just Dali. The Museum of Fine Arts gives you almost 5,000 years of work in one sweep, from Monet and O’Keeffe to Kehinde Wiley, and the Chihuly Collection boasts live glass demonstration at the Morean Glass Studio, which turns a leisurely museum stop into something truly interactive. And then there is the city itself. The passionate people behind the SHINE mural festival have also helped by turning the downtown and surrounding arts districts into an open-air gallery, with nearly 170 painted murals since 2015.
Related: Rare Surrealist Sculptures Head to the Dalí Museum for a Final U.S. Appearance
Why Now May Be the Best Time to Visit
St. Pete has had the museums for years, but now is the time to go. Destiny Snyder, a Tampa Bay-based travel blogger, moved to St. Pete in 2017 and has seen the city change so much since then. “There’s always something happening here—whether it’s a local market, an art walk, a foodie pop-up, or some cool new mural that just appeared overnight,” she says. The Vinoy, freshly renovated in 2023 and now in its second century, still anchors the waterfront with old-Florida glamour. The Moxy has brought fresh energy to Central Avenue, Sparrow gives downtown another rooftop perch, and Elliott Aster, led by chef Lee Wolen, has turned The Vinoy’s original dining hall into a food experience worth the splurge. Add St. Pete-Clearwater’s inclusion in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide expansion, and the timing starts to look particularly good for travelers who plan trips around where they want to eat as much as what they want to see.
Art isn’t just for the grown-ups here either 
St. Pete’s Art Alliance
(St. Pete’s Art Alliance)
For families, one of St. Pete’s biggest strengths is that the art here feels approachable and interactive for artists old and young. FloridaRAMA is the clearest example, offering a playful, explorable immersive art space built with more than 75 artists and layered with a scavenger-hunt-style narrative. At The Dalí, recurring family programming includes the Little Surrealist Tour and Sensory-Friendly Sundays for kids who prefer a lower stimulating tour. The Museum of Fine Arts has built out its own strong family program too, from Sensory Saturdays to Museum Minis and free hands-on Studio Saturdays. Beyond the museums too, St. Pete’s nearly 361 days of sunshine beckons families outside, and a bike ride around the city will give kids the chance to see the many murals, the blend of old and new architecture and beautiful landscaping up close on their own time.
Where to eat and stay
SkyBeach Resort
(SkyBeach Resort)
Start with SkyBeach Resort if you want a stay that feels a little more tucked away than downtown, with a manicured private beach and wide-open bay views. Originally opened in 1954, the historic property has taken on new life after an extensive renovation, and right now the biggest draw is LUMA, its new Mediterranean restaurant, which opened in January 2026 and adds a stronger food angle to the hotel’s laid-back waterfront setting. For something right downtown with a little more glitz and glamour, look to The Vinoy for the classic St. Pete stay that’s pink, polished and walkable to Beach Drive, the pier and several of the city’s best museums. The Birchwood is a good pick if you want something smaller in the middle of downtown, while Moxy St. Petersburg Downtown makes sense if you want to be close to Central Avenue with a livelier, more social energy.
Perry’s Porch
(Perry’s Porch)
With St. Pete-Clearwater now part of the MICHELIN Guide’s 2025 Florida expansion, dining feels like a bigger part of the story here than ever. At Juno & The Peacock, start with the hamachi crudo or seafood tower, then add Monica’s Cornbread or the Maryland crab cake for a lunch that feels a little indulgent in the best way. At Perry’s Porch, right on the pier, go for the charred octopus, tuna crudo or sweet corn and crab arancini and stay for the bay view. And for dinner, Elliott Aster is the splurge, with wood-fired steaks, standout pastas like squid ink lumache and the a beautifully decorated dining room that feels right out of the 1920’s.
Related: These 5 ‘Analog’ Florida Towns Are Trending for Spring Break 2026
This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.