Discover Circus City USA’s secret places and charming stories on this unforgettable tour! It is a tour of the circus history in Sarasota and provides a wonderful historical perspective of the impact the circus has had in our area. Stop by circus landmarks with your engaging tour guide, Bob Collins (former marketing executive for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), who tells stories about the colorful cast of circus characters, showmen, and performers who called Sarasota home. Meander through historic neighborhoods such as Indian Beach, Payne Park, and Downtown’s Main Street to learn about the rich history of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, which moved its Winter Quarters to Sarasota in 1927. Explore several remaining sites intimately involved in Sarasota’s circus history including John Ringling’s private rail car “Jomar,” the Little People’s Houses and many more circus “secrets” hidden in plain sight! This 90-minute tour is a fun-filled adventure in Circus City USA!
Learn about the Circus Side of Sarasota with tour guide Bob Collins, by visiting key city landmarks and hearing stories of the colorful cast of circus characters, showmen, and performers who called Sarasota home.
Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores is a leafy bayside area home to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which showcases the global collection of the former circus magnate, as well as circus memorabilia. Adjacent Ca’ d’Zan is the couple’s opulent Venetian-style estate, built in the 1920s.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Circus Secrets of Sarasota lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 2 stops.
Prices start at $86 per person for this Sarasota experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
The meeting point is Off Fruitville, behind the Breakfast House. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Guests must be 10+; no children under 10 allowed except on our family tours designed for children. Every guest must have a paid ticket in order to board.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Booking on line was easy…checking in either Susan felt like a concierge experience. Tour guide Bob not only knew his stuff, but his photos and stories brought the circus to life!
Glad you enjoyed the whole experience!
Fun and interesting, Pat is an entertaining and informative guide, this tour exceeded my expectations!
Our guide, Bob, was very knowledgeable about the history of the Ringling family and the Circus. We saw many interesting sites connected to the Circus and he explained how the Ringlings helped to develop Sarasota in the early 1900's
The tour was very interesting and a lot of insight into the history of the Sarasota circus The tour guide was very interactive with the tourists and shared his experiences being involved in the Circus.
Discover Sarasota Tours offers several great options for exploring beautiful Sarasota and its history, including the importance of the circus to the city's development. For all of the company's tour options, the guides are engaging and knowledgeable, the drivers are skilled, and all of the staff are friendly and helpful. I'm looking forward to trying the Amish experience next.
I've lived in Sarasota 25 years, never though I'd take a tour of Sarasota but am happy I did. Bob is an entertaining, informative speaker having worked for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus. The driver John was very pleasant, check-in was cordial, all making for a delightful afternoon.
Thank you! Our tours are intended for locals and visitors and we find everyone always learns new things and has fun!
What a fascinating tour. Bob is so knowledgeable and has such a clear and good-humored delivery. Even though I live in Sarasota, those circus secrets were a surprise. A really nice way to spend time, and Michael gave is a good ride.
What a great tour with guide Bob Collins. The area was the home of the Ringling Brothers Circus, and their is so much history locally that was tied to the circus operations and the people who were involved. Bob has a wealth of knowledge that he shares and he made the tour fun and very interesting!
Thank you. Please consider taking our new circus tour of venice. Bob leads this tour on Tuesdays at 1.
Always the highlight of our Winters here Do yourself a huge favor and get in this tour Sarasota still embraces so many of the circus families to this day so the excitement never ends
Thank you for being a snowbird. We appreciate you!
Fantastic! We are locals and though we knew some of the information, we both learned a lot! Bob's presentation style was smooth and mellow yet he talked the tire time so lots and lots of great info.
Great to hear! You may enjoy Bob’s new Venice Secreys Toir that starts in Jan on Tuesdays at 1pm!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circus Secrets of Sarasota | 1h 30min | 4.9 (79) | $86 | |
 Murder Mystery Trolley: Who Killed The Circus Queen? | 1h 30min | 4.8 (101) | $92 | View |
 Sarasota Guided Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour | 2 hours | 5.0 (2,777) | $59 | View |
 Sarasota Mangrove Tunnel Guided Kayak Adventure | 2 hours | 4.9 (1,320) | $65 | View |
 Mangrove Tunnel & Manatee Kayak Eco-Tour | 2 hours | 4.9 (1,145) | $59 | View |
 Siesta Key Electric Bike Sunset Tour | 2 hours | 4.9 (1,107) | $71 | View |
 City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota | 1h 30min | 4.8 (1,017) | $86 | View |