City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota
The narrated trolley loop that makes sense of Sarasota in one sitting: the bayfront, downtown, St. Armands Circle and the Ringling story, told from an enclosed, air-conditioned trolley by a local guide.
Florida
Sarasota & Venice
Sarasota is the Gulf Coast city the circus built: John Ringling's Venetian Gothic mansion on the bay, a museum campus with a miniature big top, a downtown of theaters and restaurants, and barrier-island beaches whose quartz sand stays cool underfoot.
This guide covers the city and its southern neighbor Venice, with narrated sightseeing, haunted and murder mystery trolleys, mangrove kayaking, dolphin cruises, shark-tooth beaches and hotels from bayfront luxury to simple Venice motels.
Don't miss
City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota
The narrated trolley loop that makes sense of Sarasota in one sitting: the bayfront, downtown, St. Armands Circle and the Ringling story, told from an enclosed, air-conditioned trolley by a local guide.
Haunted Sarasota Trolley
An evening trolley ride through Sarasota's ghost stories, mysteries and spooky legends, told by a guide who knows which downtown corners, theaters and old buildings have the strangest tales.
Venice City Sightseeing Trolley Tour
A narrated trolley tour of Venice, Florida, the Italianate Gulf Coast town south of Sarasota, with its Northern Italian style architecture, tree-lined Venice Avenue, beach and jetty.
The Ringling and Ca' d'Zan
John and Mable Ringling's bayfront estate: a Venetian Gothic mansion, a museum of European art, a circus museum with a vast miniature big top, a historic theater and rose gardens, all on one sprawling campus.
Things to do in Sarasota & Venice
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Haunted Sarasota Trolley
An evening trolley ride through Sarasota's ghost stories, mysteries and spooky legends, told by a guide who knows which downtown corners, theaters and old buildings have the strangest tales.
Murder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed the Circus Queen?
A themed trolley outing built around a circus-era whodunit, with clues, suspects and Sarasota's show-business history rolling past the windows. Part tour, part parlor game.
Venice City Sightseeing Trolley Tour
A narrated trolley tour of Venice, Florida, the Italianate Gulf Coast town south of Sarasota, with its Northern Italian style architecture, tree-lined Venice Avenue, beach and jetty.
Tinsel Town Trolley
A holiday-season trolley outing through Sarasota's lights and decorations, with seasonal stories on board. A cheerful alternative to snow when December temperatures sit in the seventies.
Circus Secrets of Sarasota
A guided tour of the circus history woven through Sarasota, from the winter quarters that brought performers, animals and showmen to town to the traces they left on the city.
The Ringling and Ca' d'Zan
John and Mable Ringling's bayfront estate: a Venetian Gothic mansion, a museum of European art, a circus museum with a vast miniature big top, a historic theater and rose gardens, all on one sprawling campus.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
A downtown bayfront garden famous for orchids, bromeliads and other air plants, with a tropical conservatory, a historic mansion and a waterside setting a short walk from the city center.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium
A working marine science institution with a public aquarium, where sharks, manatees, sea turtles and Gulf fish are explained by the researchers who study them. A strong choice for families and rainy days.
Siesta Key Beach
Powder-soft quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, calm Gulf water, free public access and a lively village a short walk away. The beach most people mean when they say Sarasota.
St. Armands Circle
A circular shopping and dining district on St. Armands Key, ringed with boutiques, ice cream, patios and sculptures, a few minutes from Lido Beach and Mote Aquarium.
Downtown Sarasota Food Tour
A guided walk through downtown Sarasota's restaurants and shops, mixing tastings with local history and culture. A relaxed way to meet the city's food scene and its neighborhoods.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Downtown Sarasota Bayfront
The city's grand bayfront address: a Mediterranean-style luxury hotel near downtown with a full spa, polished dining and access to a beach club on Lido Key.
Check rates →Lido Beach Resort
Lido Key
A Gulf-front resort on Lido Key, a short drive from St. Armands Circle, with a long private-feeling stretch of sand, pools and an easy, barefoot beach-vacation rhythm.
Check rates →Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach
Lido Key
A smaller, informal beach resort on Lido Key, with pools, a beachfront setting and a relaxed, family-run feel that sits well below the price of the big-name resorts.
Check rates →The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Longboat Key
A large Gulf-front golf and tennis resort on Longboat Key, with beaches, a marina and several restaurants. A full-service escape north of Sarasota.
Check rates →The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
Longboat Key
A luxury Gulf-front resort on Longboat Key with a polished St. Regis service style, spa, pools and dining, aimed at travelers who want high-end beach comfort.
Check rates →The Residences at Siesta Key Beach by Hyatt Vacation Club
Siesta Key
Condo-style residences beside Siesta Key's famous quartz sand, with kitchens, space for families and a walk to the public beach and the village.
Check rates →Embassy Suites by Hilton Sarasota
Sarasota
An all-suite hotel in the Sarasota area with a living area in every room and a free cooked-to-order breakfast typical of the brand. A practical base for families and groups.
Check rates →Homewood Suites by Hilton Sarasota
Sarasota
An extended-stay style hotel with full kitchens and separate living areas, suited to longer Sarasota trips, family vacations and winter stays.
Check rates →Sunshine Inn and Suites Venice
Venice
A budget-friendly motel-style base in Venice, Florida, for visitors who want to be near Venice Beach, Caspersen Beach and the historic downtown without paying resort prices.
Check rates →Motel 6 Venice
Venice
A no-frills economy motel in Venice, Florida, for travelers who want the lowest practical price and plan to spend their days on the beach or exploring town.
Check rates →Sarasota & Venice guides
Sarasota and Venice for First-Timers: How the Coast Fits Together
A practical first-visit guide to Sarasota and Venice, Florida: how downtown, the keys and the southern towns fit together, what to book and how to spend your first days.
Sarasota and Venice Trolley Tours: Sightseeing, Haunted, Mystery and Holiday Rides
A guide to the trolley tours of Sarasota and Venice: the narrated sightseeing loop, the haunted and murder mystery evenings, the Venice route and the holiday lights ride.
Sarasota in Three Days: Circus History, Beaches and Mangroves
A practical three-day Sarasota itinerary mixing the Ringling, trolley tours, Siesta Key Beach, mangrove kayaking and a day trip to Venice or Anna Maria Island.
Where to Stay in Sarasota and Venice: Downtown, the Keys and the South
How to choose a base in Sarasota and Venice, Florida: downtown, Lido Key, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Venice compared, with hotel picks for each.
Sarasota's Best Beaches: Siesta Key, Lido, Venice and Anna Maria Island
A guide to the beaches around Sarasota: Siesta Key's quartz sand, Lido Beach, Venice and Caspersen Beach for shark teeth and Anna Maria Island, with tips for each.
When to Visit Sarasota: Seasons, Weather and Rainy Day Plans
A seasonal guide to Sarasota and Venice: the dry-season peak, hot and stormy summers, hurricane season, red tide, holiday events and rainy-day alternatives.
