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Tampa Bay’s most walkable neighborhoods

Here’s a few ideas for stretching your legs and getting round on the original mode of transportation.

Hyde Park Village in the sunshine. There is someone walking along the sidewalk in the background, while tables and chairs line the square. Trees are overhead and shops line the buildings in the background.

Let’s get those steps in, TBAY. | Photo by TBAYtoday

The Tampa Bay area typically ranks poorly for walkability. Smart Growth America ranked our area No. 30 out of 35 among the country’s largest metros, with WalkScore also ranking Tampa + St. Pete outside the top 50 cities. Haters.

We’re here to list a few parts of TBAY where you can ditch the car, stroll about, and enjoy life on two feet, instead of four wheels.

Downtown Tampa

Among the high rises, the hub of the Cigar City boasts several areas where bars, restaurants, and venues are all accessible by foot. The Tampa Riverwalk alone passes by Water Street Tampa, Amalie Arena, and ends at Armature Works.

Downtown St. Pete

On the other side of the Bay, the Burg’s waterfront scene is always abuzz on the weekends. Park and then stroll along the Pier, before taking a jaunt up Central Avenue to catch the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the city.

Ybor City

Built before cars became readily available, the oldest part of TBAY is a walkable cultural hub. Grab a Cuban sandwich, keep your eyes on the cobblestones, and hit up the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.

A sunrise over Bayshore Boulevard. The sun is just creeping across the distant horizon and we are looking west over Tampa Bay. Flat land is visible in the distance before the sun, which is reddish orange beneath a blue sky.

Bayshore Boulevard is one of the best places to walk in TBAY.

Photo by TBAYtoday

Gulfport

Though impacted by Hurricane Helene, Gulfport is still one of TBAY’s best slices of Old Florida. You can find coffee shops, legendary Italian eats at Pia’s Trattoria, lunch bites, a library, and Boca Ciega Bay views all along the main downtown strip.

Dunedin

Come hungry (and thirsty) for seafood aplenty and endless breweries. It’s hard to know where to start, but we recommend the “Welcome to Dogedin” mural and Pinellas Trail.

Safety Harbor

The quaint seaside city boasts artsy small businesses, cute cafes, family-run stores, and offers a slice of laid-back charm among its glorious trees. That includes its famed oak.

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