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Visiting the Sunshine State soon and looking for the best small towns in Florida? I’m here to help!
Florida may be known for its beaches, theme parks and springs but there is so much more to discover!
The Atlantic Coast is heavily urbanised and you’ll mainly find cities there, but the rest of Florida is full of charming small towns that will genuinely blow your mind.
I’ve picked the most beautiful and most characterful ones for you. All of them have a population under 15,000, which means a proper escape from the crowds.
Let’s get into it!
1. Tavernier
Located in the Florida Keys, between Key Largo and Islamorada, Tavernier is one of the most underrated stops in the Keys.
Most people drive straight through it on the way to Key West, which is their loss.
It’s a genuinely lovely little town with some brilliant things to do.
If you’re into water activities, the kayaking here is seriously special. You’ll paddle through the mangroves and along the coast, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot manatees.
The guided kayaking tour in Tavernier is one of my all-time favourites in Florida. It’s an incredible way to see the ecosystem up close with someone who actually cares about it. Click here to see the latest prices.
When you’re done on the water, head to Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory for a slice.
Key lime pie is the most famous dessert in Florida, and you’re in the right place to try a good one.
Harry Harris Park is also worth a stop if you want a quiet, sheltered beach for a swim.
It’s a local favourite and usually pretty peaceful.
WHERE TO STAY IN TAVERNIER: If you want to make the best of your trip, opt for beachfront rental in the Florida Keys. If you’d rather staying in a resort, book a room at the Atlantic Bay Resort. There are swimming pools and the setting is so pretty!
2. Matlacha
Matlacha (pronounced Mat-la-shay) is one of the most colourful and unusual towns in Florida.
This little fishing village is surrounded by beautiful barrier islands, and it has this wonderfully boho, slightly eccentric energy that you wouldn’t expect from a fishing town.
It feels like Old Florida, just with a lot more colour.
The kayaking and stand-up paddling here are excellent. You can stay close to town or push out into the mangroves, both are gorgeous.
If you love art and colour, make sure to visit Leoma Lovegrove Gallery and Gardens. It’s run by a local artist and it’s an extraordinary place, think Wynwood but quieter and more personal.
Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve is also worth exploring if you want to get out on the water in a slightly more wild setting.
WHERE TO STAY IN MATLACHA: The Matlacha Cove Inn is the perfect place to stay in Matlacha. It’s colourful, beautiful and very good value for money.
3. Crystal River
Located a couple of hours north of Tampa, Crystal River is one of those places that has something genuinely extraordinary going for it: it’s the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with wild manatees.
Between January and March, hundreds of manatees migrate from the Gulf of Mexico and make the area’s springs their winter home.
If you’re coming for them, always call the visitor centre ahead of time to check how many are there. The temperature can affect when they arrive and leave, and the team counts them daily so they’ll know.
The Three Sisters Springs are the main event, and they’re stunning with or without manatees.
You can walk the easy 30-minute boardwalk trail, which gives you beautiful views of the turquoise water.
If you want to get in, you’ll need to arrive by boat or kayak. The clear kayak tour is particularly magical since you can see what’s happening beneath you as you paddle. See prices here.
While you’re in the area, Homosassa Springs and Weeki Wachee are both close by and well worth a day trip.
WHERE TO STAY IN CRYSTAL RIVER: Retreat at Crystal Manatee is a super cute hotel that also offers breakfast. It has excellent reviews and is good value for money.
4. Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is one of the most uniquely situated small towns in Florida.
It’s technically within Miami, tucked between Crandon Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on a barrier island.
It’s the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience proper small-town Florida while still being a short drive from the city.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is the big draw. It’s one of the most underrated state parks in the state and it’s brilliant for snorkelling, swimming, kayaking and paddling. Entry is $8 per vehicle.
While you’re there, visit the Cape Florida Lighthouse. Built in 1825, it’s the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County and has survived nearly 200 years of hurricanes.
Virginia Key is also brilliant for cycling. Hire a bike and ride the trails. The views are incredible.
And if you want to combine it with a proper Miami day, Little Havana, Wynwood, South Beach and the Art Deco District are all within easy reach.
WHERE TO STAY IN KEY BISCAYNE: This little town is home to one of the best hotels in Florida, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne.
5. Stuart
Stuart sits on Florida’s Treasure Coast on the east coast, and it’s one of the rare small towns in this otherwise heavily developed stretch of coastline.
It’s known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, and fishing is genuinely a huge part of life here, thanks to its incredible position near the Gulf Stream and the St. Lucie Inlet.
But you don’t have to be a fisher to love Stuart.
Roaming around the historic downtown is a great way to spend a morning. The streets are charming, the people are friendly and there are some lovely independent shops and restaurants.
If you’re into history and culture, the Stuart Heritage Museum and Road to Victory Military Museum are both worth a look.
If you’re visiting with kids or just enjoy a good water park, the Sailfish Splash Waterpark is a fun half-day out.
WHERE TO STAY IN STUART: The Pirate’s Cove Resort and Marina is a super cute resort with colourful decor and swimming pools.
6. Everglades City
Everglades City is the smallest town on this list, with a population of around 400 people.
But don’t let the size fool you. This tiny fishing village sits right in the heart of Everglades National Park, and it’s one of the most authentic and fascinating places you can visit in Florida.
A lot of visitors skip the Everglades altogether. That’s a mistake.
From here, you can easily drive over to Chokoloskee Island for some kayaking, fishing and walking.
On the way, stop at Ochopee, home to the smallest post office in the United States. It’s brilliantly random and worth a photo.
The ranger-led activities run out of the visitor centres are some of the best in the state. Whether it’s a guided walk, cycling tour or kayaking trip, they’ll give you a real understanding of just how extraordinary this ecosystem is.
For the most exhilarating way to see it all, drive 45 minutes down to Shark Valley and jump on an airboat ride. It’s loud, fast and absolutely brilliant. You’ll see alligators up close and get deep into the mangroves in a way you simply can’t on foot.
Click here to see the latest prices.
WHERE TO STAY IN EVERGLADES CITY: Everglades City Motel is an all-time favourite. It’s good value for money, well located and the rooms are very nice.
7. Pass-a-Grille
Pass-a-Grille is a small beach town sitting between St Pete and Fort De Soto, and it’s one of those places that people who know Florida properly absolutely love.
It has loads of brilliant local restaurants, independent shops and beautiful beaches, but it feels a world away from the busy tourist strips.
The sunsets from Pass-a-Grille Beach are extraordinary. Go in the evening, find a spot on the sand and watch it happen. It’s one of the best in Florida.
Fort De Soto is right next door and is well worth a day trip. It’s a gorgeous state park with trails, beaches and history.
And if you want a proper city day, downtown St Pete is very close. The street art scene, museums and restaurants are great.
WHERE TO STAY IN PASS-A-GRILLE: The Don Cesar is the ultimate place to stay in St Pete Beach.
8. Tarpon Springs
Located just north of St Petersburg and Clearwater, Tarpon Springs is one of the most underrated destinations in the whole Tampa Bay area.
It’s famous for its Greek heritage, and that heritage is very much alive.
The Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard are the historic heart of the Greek community, established in the early 1900s when Greek sponge divers settled here and built what became one of the largest Greek-American communities in the US.
The historic district is beautiful. Wander around at your own pace, pop into galleries and shops, and stop for a proper Greek meal. The food here is genuinely excellent.
Some of the buildings along the waterfront date back to the late 1800s and the whole town has a really distinct, old-world feel that you won’t find elsewhere in Florida.
If you’re visiting in winter, a clear kayak tour of the area is a brilliant thing to do and you might even spot manatees. See the prices.
Tarpon Springs is also a wonderful honeymoon or bachelorette destination if you want something off the beaten path.
WHERE TO STAY IN TARPON SPRINGS: Hampton Inn & Suites Tarpon Springs is a great hotel with outdoor pool and breakfast included.
9. Brooksville
Brooksville is a small historic town near Tampa with beautiful Victorian-era architecture and a very laid-back energy.
If you’re driving from St Pete up towards Crystal River, you’ll pass right by it. It’s worth stopping for an hour or so.
The Hernando Heritage Museum is a lovely little museum for history lovers, and Tom Varn Park and Hernando Park are both nice spots for a stroll.
The Frank Saxon House is a beautifully preserved historic home if you want a glimpse of what life looked like in this part of Florida a century ago.
Brooksville also makes a good base for exploring Weeki Wachee Springs and Homosassa, both of which are close by.
WHERE TO STAY IN BROOKSVILLE: Fairfield Inn & Suites Brooksville Suncoast Parkway is a beautiful hotel. Breakfast is included.
10. Apalachicola
Apalachicola is the kind of place people stumble across and then tell everyone they know about.
This small fishing town of around 2,400 people sits on the Gulf of Mexico in North Florida, and it’s genuinely one of the most charming places in the state.
Sometimes called the “mini St Augustine,” it has a beautiful collection of 1800s architecture, an incredible seafood scene and a real sense of history.
Walk around the historic downtown and keep your eyes open for the Trinity Episcopal Church, which is one of the prettiest buildings in the area.
The museums here are also excellent. The Raney House and Gorrie House are both remarkably preserved examples of 1800s Southern architecture and give you a real feel for what life was like here 200 years ago.
And the seafood. Apalachicola Bay is famous for its oysters, some of the finest in the United States. If there’s one meal to have here, let oysters be the reason.
WHERE TO STAY IN APALACHICOLA: The Gibson Inn is an absolutely stunning inn in Apalachicola. It has this unique historic vibe and the service is excellent.
11. Palm Beach
Yes, you’ve heard of Palm Beach. But here’s the thing: the actual town of Palm Beach, sitting on its barrier island, has a population of fewer than 10,000 people.
And it’s extraordinary.
The beaches are some of the best on the east coast. Crystal blue water, soft white sand and a relaxed elegance that’s hard to find elsewhere in South Florida.
Worth Avenue is the town’s famous main street, often called the Rodeo Drive of the East. It stretches from Lake Worth to the Atlantic and is lined with high-end boutiques, jewellery stores and galleries.
The hidden passageways that run between the buildings, called vias, are genuinely beautiful. Little open-air courtyards with boutique shops, cafes and bougainvillea. It’s worth getting a bit lost in them.
The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum is also a must-see. Housed in Flagler’s stunning 1902 Gilded Age mansion, it tells the story of the man who essentially built modern Florida and is one of the finest house museums in the country.
And then there’s The Breakers. This magnificent Italian Renaissance hotel has been welcoming guests since 1896 and is as much a piece of Florida history as any museum. You don’t have to be a guest to wander the grounds, eat at one of the ten on-site restaurants or get a spa treatment.
WHERE TO STAY: The Breakers Palm Beach is one of the most iconic and beautiful hotels in America. If you’re going to splash out anywhere in Florida, this is the place.
12. Micanopy
Micanopy is nicknamed the “Town that Time Forgot,” and walking around it, you’ll understand exactly why.
Located just 12 miles south of Gainesville, this tiny town of around 650 people has barely changed in over a century. The weathered wooden buildings, the quiet streets, the antique shops… it has a quality that’s genuinely hard to describe.
It’s one of those places that feels like a film set, except it’s completely real.
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park just outside of town is breathtaking. With more than 23,000 acres to explore, you can hike, bike, camp and spot the local wildlife including bison and wild horses from the park’s observation towers.
The Micanopy Historical Museum is a charming little museum with artefacts going back to the early 1800s, including a 1906 wedding dress that’s become one of the town’s most talked-about exhibits.
The historic cemetery is also worth a quiet stroll. The graves span nearly 200 years, with some dating back to 1826, making it one of the oldest in Florida.
13. Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is one of those places that stays with you.
This beautiful barrier island on the Gulf Coast has 7 miles of stunning white sand beach and turquoise blue water, and it manages to stay genuinely relaxed and local despite being one of the most beautiful places in Florida.
To get there from Tampa, head south on I-75 then west on US-41 and FL-64 towards the Gulf. It’s about an hour’s drive.
The beaches here are the main event, and they deliver. Soft white sand, calm Gulf water, endless stretches to walk along.
Getting out on the water is also brilliant. There are plenty of companies that can get you onto the Gulf for fishing, dolphin watching or kayaking, and the island has a lovely relaxed pace that makes you want to slow everything down.
One of the more unusual things you can do here is horseback riding on the beach. More than one local company offers it, and riding along the sand with the waves coming in is a genuinely spectacular experience.
14. Seaside
Seaside might be the most unusual town on this list.
Built from scratch in the early 1980s as a planned community on the Florida Panhandle, it was designed to be the perfect walkable, connected small town.
Then in 1998, Peter Weir chose it as the filming location for The Truman Show. And when you visit, you’ll immediately understand why. The pastel-coloured houses, the white picket fences, the picture-perfect town square… it really does feel like a film set.
The actual Truman House at 31 Natchez Street is still there and still draws visitors who want to stand outside it and feel slightly surreal about the whole thing.
Beyond the film connection, Seaside is just a beautiful place to spend a day or two. Cycling around town is the best way to explore it. The beach pavilions are gorgeous, the shops are excellent and the food scene is really strong.
This is the Florida Panhandle, so the beaches have that dazzling emerald-green water that the region is famous for.
15. Celebration, FL
If you’re visiting the theme parks and want to stay somewhere with a bit more character than the usual hotel strips around Orlando and Kissimmee, Celebration is worth knowing about.
It was founded by the Walt Disney Company in 1996 and the influence is obvious. The downtown is incredibly pretty, all carefully designed architecture and manicured streets, and it has a certain theme-park perfection to it.
But it works. People actually live here, there are brilliant restaurants, and the whole place has a genuine community feel that’s different from what you’d expect.
Roaming around downtown on foot is a lovely thing to do. It only takes an hour or so to cover the main streets and you’ll find some excellent places to eat and drink along the way.
If you fancy something outdoors, there’s a brilliant treetop zipline adventure just nearby. Prices here.
And you’re genuinely close to Disney World, Universal Studios and all the other parks, so the location is perfect.
WHERE TO STAY IN CELEBRATION, FL: Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is a beautiful resort in Celebration. It has several outdoor pools, palm trees and is only 1 mile from Disney World.
Map of the Best Small Towns in Florida
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