Clearwater · USA
Things to Do in Clearwater Beach: Tours, Tickets & Boat Trips
The best things to do in Clearwater Beach, ranked by real traveller reviews: cruise with wild dolphins on the Little Toot, watch the sunset festival at Pier 60, ferry to Caladesi Island’s empty sands, parasail over the Gulf, meet the rescued dolphins at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, sail on the schooner at sunset and hop to Dunedin’s breweries and Tarpon Springs’ sponge docks. Compare tours, tickets and boat trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
134 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Clearwater
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Clearwater
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Clearwater by interest
Whatever brings you to Clearwater — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
What to see
Top attractions in Clearwater
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Dolphins
Wild in the Gulf.
15 toursView tours
Gulf Sunsets
Golden cruises.
15 toursView tours
Beach Boats
Gulf tours.
15 toursView tours
Caladesi Island
Pristine sands.
10 toursView tours
Marine Aquarium
Rescued sea life.
10 toursView tours
Parasailing
Soar the coast.
10 toursView tours
Clearwater Beach
White sands.
15 toursView tours
Tampa
City day trip.
10 toursView tours
Gulf awayDolphin Cruise
Wild dolphins.
from $43View trips
Gulf awaySunset Cruise
Golden sky.
from $33View trips
Coast awayBeach Boats
Gulf tours.
from $28View trips
Ferry awayCaladesi Island
Pristine sands.
from $25View trips
Beach awayParasailing
Soar the coast.
from $40View trips
City awayMarine Aquarium
Rescued sea life.
from $81View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Clearwater visitor asks before booking.
Winter (Nov–Apr)
Warm, dry and sunny — peak beach season.
Spring (Mar–May)
Warm and lively with spring breakers.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Hot and humid, with afternoon storms.
Autumn (Oct)
Warm sea and thinning crowds.
For dolphins
Year-round, with calm seas best.
Best overall
November to April for sun and calm water.
One day
A dolphin cruise, aquarium and beach.
Two days
Add a sunset cruise and parasailing.
Three days
Add Caladesi Island and a Tampa trip.
For wildlife
A dolphin cruise and the aquarium.
For beaches
Clearwater Beach and Caladesi Island.
For romance
A Gulf sunset cruise.
On foot
Clearwater Beach is compact and walkable.
Jolley Trolley
The trolley links the beach and downtown.
By boat
Ferries and cruises reach islands and dolphins.
By car
A car helps for Tampa and beyond.
Where to stay
Stay on Clearwater Beach for the sand.
US dollars
The US uses the dollar; cards widely accepted.
Dolphins
Choose a guaranteed-sighting cruise.
Sunset
Book a sunset sail for the best views.
Caladesi
Take the ferry from Honeymoon Island.
Aquarium
Buy tickets ahead in peak season.
Parasailing
Go on a calm, clear day for the best flight.
Combos
Some tours pair a cruise with the aquarium.
Dolphin cruises
Cruises fill up — book ahead.
Sunset cruises
Evening sails fill up — reserve early.
Aquarium
Tickets fill up on weekends — book ahead.
Parasailing
Flights fill up — reserve early.
Caladesi trips
Ferries fill up — book ahead.
Winter season
November to April is busiest — book ahead.
Dolphin cruise
Around $43–70 for a dolphin cruise.
Sunset cruise
About $33–60 for a sunset cruise.
Beach boat tour
Roughly $28–60 for a beach boat tour.
Parasailing
Around $40–90 for a parasailing flight.
Marine aquarium
About $81–110 for an aquarium tour.
How to save
Join group tours to save over private ones.
When to visit
Clearwater through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Nov–Feb
- Best for
- Sun & calm sea.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Warm & lively.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- Warm sea.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Storms.
Autumn (Oct)
Oct
- Best for
- Quieter days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Warm.
People also ask
Clearwater travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Clearwater Beach?
Ranked by traveller reviews: 1) the Little Toot dolphin adventure, 2) the Encounters with Dolphins tour, 3) the tropical buffet or sunset cruise, 4) the Sea Screamer speedboat, 5) parasailing over the Gulf, 6) the floating tiki-bar cruise, 7) the schooner Clearwater sunset sail, 8) Sunsets at Pier 60, 9) the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and 10) a day on Caladesi Island via the Honeymoon Island ferry.
How many days do you need in Clearwater Beach?
Plan three to four days, or a week with day trips. Day one: the beach and Pier 60 sunset. Day two: a dolphin cruise, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and dinner at Frenchy’s. Day three: Honeymoon Island and the ferry to Caladesi. Day four: Dunedin’s breweries or Tarpon Springs’ sponge docks, and a schooner or tiki sunset sail. With more time add St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto and the Sunken Gardens.
What to do in Clearwater Beach for free?
Clearwater Beach and Sand Key Park (paid parking only), the Sunsets at Pier 60 festival every evening from two hours before sunset, the Beach Walk, watching the fishing boats and pelicans at the marina, the Dunedin Causeway beaches, cycling the Pinellas Trail, browsing Tarpon Springs’ sponge docks and Dunedin’s Main Street, and the Coachman Park waterfront in downtown Clearwater. The Jolley Trolley along the beach costs a couple of dollars.
What are the best day trips from Clearwater Beach?
Caladesi Island State Park by ferry from Honeymoon Island (20 minutes), Dunedin’s Scottish-flavoured Main Street and breweries (15 minutes), Tarpon Springs’ Greek sponge docks (25 minutes), St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum and Pier (35 minutes), Fort De Soto’s beaches (50 minutes), Tampa’s Busch Gardens, Florida Aquarium and Ybor City (40 minutes), Weeki Wachee’s mermaids (one hour) and the manatees of Crystal River (90 minutes).
What to do in Clearwater Beach at night?
Start at Pier 60’s sunset festival, or on a sunset cruise, schooner sail or tiki boat, then Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, Shephard’s Tiki Beach Bar for live bands, Jimmy’s Crow’s Nest rooftop, Palm Pavilion and Crabby’s on the beach. Downtown Clearwater has Ruth Eckerd Hall concerts and the Capitol Theatre; Dunedin’s Main Street and breweries are 15 minutes away.
What is there to do in Clearwater Beach in winter?
Winter is peak season, with highs in the low 70s°F, the driest skies of the year and every dolphin and sunset boat running. Spring training brings the Phillies to BayCare Ballpark from late February, manatees gather in the warm springs an hour north, and December has the lighted boat parade and Pier 60’s holiday events. The Gulf is cool for swimming (60s°F) but perfect for shelling walks.
What are the best things to do in Clearwater Beach with kids?
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s rescued dolphins and turtles, a dolphin cruise on the Little Toot, Captain Memo’s pirate cruise, the Pier 60 playground and sunset festival, the calm shallow water and lifeguards on the main beach, the Caladesi ferry, Celebration Station’s go-karts, Splash Harbour water park in Indian Rocks and the Jolley Trolley ride. Older kids love the Sea Screamer and parasailing.
When is the best time to visit Clearwater Beach?
March to May and October to November — warm, dry and less crowded than the winter peak, with the Gulf warm enough to swim from April. Summer is hot with daily afternoon storms; hurricane season peaks in September. December to February is busy and pleasant but cool for swimming.
Is Caladesi Island worth it?
Yes — Caladesi is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on the Gulf, reached by a 20-minute ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park, with three miles of white sand, mangrove kayak trails and almost nobody on it. Take the first ferry of the morning, bring water and shade, and combine it with Honeymoon Island’s beaches and osprey trail on the way back.
134 Clearwater experiencesfrom $25 · free cancellation
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