Where to stay in St Petersburg, Florida: Best areas & hotel recommendations

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Wondering where to stay in St Petersburg, Florida? You’ve come to the right place!

With 361 days of sunshine per year, St Pete, Florida, is the ideal destination for a spring break or winter vacation in the sunshine state!

There are so many things to do in St Pete and choosing the right place to stay is essential! This is why we tell you everything you need to know about accommodation in St Pete. That way you will discover where to stay in St Petersburg, FL and the places to avoid.

Are you also looking for a hotel in St Petersburg, Florida? Great! You will also find a list of hotels for each area! There are also a lot of Airbnb in St Petersburg, FL.

So, are you ready to discover the best places to stay in St Petersburg, Florida? Let’s get started!

Summary of the best places to stay in St Petersburg, FL

Do you want to jump straight to the nitty-gritty? Here it is! You can find in the table below the best areas to stay in St Pete as well as hotel recommendations. 

AreaWhat for?Best hotel
St Pete BeachNightlife, beach, restaurantsThe Don CeSar
Treasure IslandQuiet beaches. Perfect for familiesTreasure Island Beach Resort
Downtown St PeteNightlife, museums, shops & restaurantsHyatt Place St Pete
St Pete WaterfrontViews, quiet neighbourhood close to everythingThe Vinoy Renaissance
Madeira BeachLively beach vacationShoreline Island Resort
ClearwaterBeach & NightlifeShephard's Beach Resort

Best areas to stay in St Peterburg, Florida (+ Accommodation recommendations)

St Pete Beach

accommodation st pete beach

If you love going to the beach, then St Pete Beach area will be your paradise! Named number 4 beach in the US in 2019, it’s a lovely place to stay, relax, grab cocktails at the tiki bar and work on your tan! 

The area is lively, people are friendly… it really feels like a vacation!

You will find many restaurants and bars in St Pete Beach so if you like going out for a meal, this will be a great place to stay.

It’s also very pleasant in the evening. Not only can you hit the bars but the sunset from St Pete Beach and the beaches around is amazing. If you want a bit of a quiet or romantic evening, grab some food and drinks and go watch the sunset on the beach! 

St Pete Beach is also home to fantastic hotels and holiday resorts. Here are our top picks.

If you are looking for a hotel in St Pete beach, here are some top-rated establishments:

Best hotel in St Pete Beach: The Don Cesar

The Don Cesar is definitely the best hotel in St Pete Beach as well as one of the most famous hotels in Florida.

It’s very well-known for its colours. Yes, it’s a pink hotel! How cool is that?

Obviously, when comes to pretty places, it doesn’t get any better. It’s absolutely stunning and that’s why it became one of the most Instagrammable places in Florida.

In terms of amenities, you’ll find everything you need here including heated pools, direct access to the beach and a spa.

This establishment is perfect for people who want to splurge a little bit and enjoy a unique experience.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Other places to stay in St Pete Beach

If your budget doesn’t allow you to go for the Don Cesar, you may want to opt for one of the following options:

  • Mid-range: St Pete Beach Suites is an excellent hotel located only 2 minutes from the beach. You’ll find an outdoor swimming pool, barbecues and onsite parking. Each room has a private bathroom and some of them even feature a sea view. Click here to see the latest prices.
  • Budget: There is no such thing as budget accommodation in St Pete Beach however, the Bella Sirena Inn is great value for money. The facilities are amazing and include a swimming pool. In terms of prices, it is still one of the cheapest places to stay in this area. Click here to see the prices.

Treasure Island

treasure island st Pete Florida

Ideally located 3 miles from St Pete downtown and on the beautiful gulf of Mexico, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a sunny family vacation!

You will find beautiful sandy beaches with crystal-clear water. It’s also the perfect place to go on a boat trip to watch dolphins. As a matter of fact, you might even be able to see dolphins jumping from your hotel room! They are everywhere!

Treasure Island is a little piece of heaven which is why it’s the best place to stay in St Petersburg for families.

Unlike St Pete Beach, Treasure Island is more relaxed and laid-back. You will find a few bars and restaurants (make sure to get a pizza from Britt’s) but it’s not a party place.

The beaches are quieter and although just as beautiful as the others, less frequented.

You’ll find beautiful vacation rentals here and if you are a large family, that will be ideal.

Best resort on Treasure Island: Treasure Island Beach Resort

Located in the heart of Treasure Island, this beach resort offers luxurious accommodation and is very close to the Boardwalk and John’s Pass Village.

The suites are beautiful and can accommodate a couple as well as a small family.

Amongst the features of this property, you’ll find a beachfront pool, a fitness center and a restaurant.

It’s also important to note that each suite has a kitchen so you can easily cook your meals if you want to.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Best value for money: Sunset Vistas

It can be hard to find an affordable place to stay in St Pete Beach or Treasure Island. Yet, the Sunset Vistas suites tick the budget box!

Not only are they reasonably priced but they are excellent value for money.

Ideally located on the Gulf Boulevard, these beachfront suites are ideal for families or group of friends. Each suite can sleep up to 6 guests and is fully equipped.

You will also have access to a swimming pool and can easily walk to the beach.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Downtown St Pete, for the nightlife and culture

street in downtown st Pete florida

Downtown St Pete is a very lively place. If you like to go out, this is the place for you! You will find many bars, nightclubs and restaurants. 

Park and Rec DTSP, on 4th St S, is a fun place to go for a drink. They have a giant beer pong and plenty of other games. It’s always good fun!

For food, Bodega on central is a must-try! They sell some of the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida!

Downtown St Pete is also a great place to go shopping. There are many cute shops everywhere!

Finally, if you love art and culture, downtown St Pete will be your happy place! There are many museums and galleries including the famous Dali Museum.

Downtown St Pete is perfect for people who want to explore. You’ll have loads to do there and can easily reach the beaches by car. St Pete Beach for instance is only 20 minutes drive.

Best hotel in Downtown St Pete: Hyatt Place St Petersburg

Located on 2nd Street North, Hyatt Place is an excellent place to stay in downtown St Pete. You will only be a couple of minutes walk from Central Avenue and the Chihuly Collection.

You can also easily reach the Dali Museum on foot (about 10 minutes).

This is a luxury 3-star hotel with modern guest rooms, an outdoor pool and a fitness centre.

It’s a great place for people who want to enjoy the lively life downtown while still having access to the pool. It’s also worth noting that it is a dog-friendly hotel in St Petersburg, FL.

Click here to see the latest prices.

St Pete Waterfront, the best of both worlds

If you want to be able to enjoy both being by the water and downtown at the same time then St Pete waterfront is the place for you!

Located only 5 mins walk from central avenue, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the waterfront, some nice walks on the promenade and other activities. 

If you like playing tennis, you will find several free courts in the park.

Best hotel on the waterfront: The Vinoy Renaissance

This is another iconic hotel in St Petersburg. The Vinoy Renaissance is ideally located on the waterfront, near the Vinoy Park.

It is a 4-star hotel and the amenities are incredible. Spa, heated pools, cafes, fitness… it truly has it all!

It’s also a very beautiful historic building and you will enjoy walking around and discovering it. A bit like the Don CeSar, the facade is pink which makes it even prettier!

As a Vinoy Renaissance guest, you’ll also have access to a golf course.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Madeira Beach

Madeira Beach is located just next to Treasure Island. It’s also a very good place to stay in St Pete if you are looking for a relaxing and fun vacation. Madeira Beach is mainly known for its sea-themed John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. You will find many restaurants, bars and a 2.5 miles long beach!

Best hotel in Madeira Beach for families: Courtyard by Marriott

It would be impossible to talk about the best places to stay in St Petersburg, FL without mentioning at least one Mariott hotel. Here it is!

Courtyard by Mariott is ideally located next to the bridge that goes to Madeira Beach. You won’t be on the Gulf exactly but it is still waterfront.

It’s ideal for people looking for luxury accommodation. This 3-star hotel has a swimming pool, restaurant, hot tubs and terraces.

You will also get a à la carte breakfast.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Best hotel in Maderia Beach for adults: Shoreline Island Resort

If you are looking for beachfront accommodation near St Petersburg, this one will be perfect for you!

With direct access to the beach, Shoreline Island Resort is an excellent choice for couples and groups of friends who want to enjoy a relaxing and fun vacation by the beach.

They have various studios and suites for 2, 3 and 4 people. Some of them also have a sea view.

Unlike the previous hotel, this one is adult-only which means that if you don’t have kids, you won’t be bothered by them. If you do have kids, it won’t be for you.

Click here to see the latest prices.

Clearwater Beach

hotels clearwater beach

Although it’s not exactly located in St Petersburg, it would be a shame not to mention Clearwater Beach as one of the best places to stay near St Pete! Clearwater Beach has been voted the best beach in North America for the past 3 years! It is for sure the perfect destination for a spring break or relaxing vacation on the beach!

Best hotel in Clearwater Beach: Shephard’s Beach Resort

Ideally located on Gulfview Boulevard, the Shephard’s Beach Resort is one of the most famous resorts in Tampa Bay.

Not only will you be close to Clearwater Beach and Pier 60 but you can also enjoy spending time at one of the small beaches by the hotel.

You will have access to all the amenities including an outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre.

The restaurant and bar are also open to the public and they organise live events on sundays.

It’s a very fun place and you will love it!

Click here to see the latest prices.

Map of the hotels and vacation rentals in Clearwater Beach

Places to avoid in St Pete, FL

These are all amazing places to stay at. If you are looking for somewhere cheaper, you can check out accommodation North of downtown. Here are a few places you will want to avoid though: Pinellas Park and South of Downtown St Pete.

They aren’t necessarily the safest places in St Pete and have very few attractions. So if you can, better to avoid these places.

I hope this post was helpful for you to understand where you should stay and book your accommodation in St Pete, Florida!

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