Tampa flights and travel guide

Tampa combines beautiful beaches with thrills-and-spills theme parks and endless golf courses, little wonder that millions of visitors take cheap flights to Tampa each year. 

A natural playground, the city has lots to offer by way of recreation. Apart from beach bathing, visitors will discover that the lakes and Hillsborough River offer opportunities for diving, sailing, snorkelling, fresh or saltwater fishing and kayaking. 

One of Florida's largest estuaries surrounds Tampa. Some of the wild fowl that congregate here every day are threatened species. The area is also a wildlife haven and has nature parks and refuges including the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, set up for the protection of the West Indian Manatee. Busch Gardens is home to more than 35 endangered species and is renowned for its breeding programmes. 

Ybor City in downtown Tampa is a buzzy shopping, dining and nightlife venue. The city was established in 1886 as a centre for cigar factories, today the area is preserved as Ybor City State Museum where visitors can savour the flavour of old Tampa. 

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Tampa climate

The climate is sub-tropical with high levels of humidity. The weather is fantastic year-round. Temperatures range between 18 and 35 degrees Celsius (64-95 degrees Fahrenheit) year round. Winter temperatures very rarely drop below freezing.

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When to fly to Tampa

Peak Season:
January to April is high season when most visitors arrive on cheap flights to Tampa. Several festivals take place during these months including Gasparilla Pirate Fest (January), Florida State Fair (February), Florida Strawberry Festival (late February/early March) and Apollo Beach Manatee Arts Festival (March). 

Shoulder Season:
May, October and November are shoulder months. 

Off Season:
June to September and December are low season when visitors can save on flights and accommodations.

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Getting downtown Tampa

The airport is seven miles west of downtown Tampa.  Arriving passengers are steps away from on-site rental cars, limousines, off-site car rental shuttles, buses, and taxis. HARTline (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority) public transportation provides direct service from the airport to the downtown Marion Transit Center and Tampa Union Station (Amtrak rail). The Limo/SuperShuttle operates van services between the airport and hotels throughout the Tampa Bay area.

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Getting around Tampa

There are many ways to get around downtown Tampa and Ybor City. You can walk, but the rest of the city has a network of buses, trolleys and historic electric streetcars to get you around. To get to the airport, Ybor City, Busch Gardens or the Museum of Science and Industry, hop on one of the HART line buses. If you’re travelling at the end or beginning of winter months, you’ll notice extra traffic on the weekends. Many northerners come to Florida to escape the snow, and north-south routes can quickly become clogged.

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Tampa insider information

• If you are taking cheap flights to Tampa between November 1 and April 15, make sure you visit the manatees at the Tampa Electric Company. Located in the warm water discharge canal of the Big Bend Power Station, the Manatee Viewing Center has a tidal walkway with plants, birds, butterfly gardens, an educational building and, when the temperature of Tampa Bay dips below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), the fascinating manatees. 
• Seeing a movie at the restored, classic Tampa Theatre, is a must. The theatre dates from 1926 and is an opulent space with a star-studded ceiling, a richly tiled lobby floor and a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. 
• The Museum of Science and Industry, beside Busch Gardens, has lots of interactive attractions and exhibits. There are giant games of pinball, miniature hot air balloons, and you can watch the latest IMAX movies on the giant screen. 
• Eden Vineyards and Winery is the southernmost vineyards and winery in the U.S. It's near Fort Myers, little more than an hour’s drive south. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards is Florida’s largest winery, about a 90-minute drive of Tampa. 
• The neighbourhood of Ybor City was founded by cigar manufacturers in the 1880s and populated by Spanish, Cuban and Italian immigrants. For half a century, millions of cigars were produced by the workers there. Ybor City today is a National Historic Landmark District and a great way to get there is by TECO Streetcar. Once you get there, you can pick up a walking tour brochure at The Centro Ybor Museum and Visitor Information Center.

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Tampa airports

Tampa International Airport (TPA) (website: www.tampaairport.com) The airport is located 6km west of downtown Tampa.

Other airports within a drive of Tampa include:

Orlando International Airport (MCO) (website: www.orlandoairports.net) 124km from Tampa.

Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) (website: www.orlandosanfordairport.com) 150km from Tampa.

Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers (RSW) (website: www.flylcpa.com) is 170km from Tampa.

Sarasota Bradenton Airport (SRQ) (website: www.srq-airport.com) is 61km from Tampa.

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