Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Sarasota travel guide

Sarasota Tourism | Sarasota Guide

You're Going to Love Sarasota

With a population of 51 917, Sarasota is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sarasota has to offer.

Article

Where to Eat in Sarasota

Downtown is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Sarasota. These include popular favourites such as Indigenous (239 S Links Ave), Lila (1576 Main St) and Marcel DW (1568 Main St). If you’re looking for affordable options, Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota (411 Saint Armands Circle) and Ocean Prime - Sarasota (501 Quay Commons) are great picks.

When to visit Sarasota

Sarasota in October
Estimated hotel price
C$ 179
1 night at 3-star hotel
Sarasota in October
Estimated hotel price
C$ 179
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Sarasota in July, when the average temperature is 28 °C, and the highest can go up to 33 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 9 °C, with an average temperature of 16 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 246 mm. In contrast, November is usually the driest month of the year in Sarasota, with an average rainfall of 56 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Sarasota

Plane

When flying to Sarasota, you’ll arrive at Sarasota Bradenton Intl (SRQ), which is located 7 km from the city centre The shortest flight to Sarasota from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 3h 08m.

Train

The train station in Sarasota is called Sarasota, and is located 0.1 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Sarasota is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 175 km from Sarasota. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Sarasota 5600 Fruitville Rd, located 7 km from downtown Sarasota. Sarasota Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Sarasota, you’ll arrive at Sarasota Bradenton Intl (SRQ), which is located 7 km from the city centre The shortest flight to Sarasota from Canada departs from Toronto and takes around 3h 08m.

Train

The train station in Sarasota is called Sarasota, and is located 0.1 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Sarasota is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 175 km from Sarasota. You’ll find branches of Rent-A-Wreck and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Orlando.

Bus

The most popular bus station is Sarasota 5600 Fruitville Rd, located 7 km from downtown Sarasota. Sarasota Cattleman Transfer Ctr - 5951 Porter Way is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km from the city centre.

Airports near Sarasota

SRQSarasota Bradenton Intl
TPATampa
RSWFort Myers SW Florida Intl

Airlines serving Sarasota

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,653 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,019 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,614 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,117 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,821 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,059 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,116 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,692 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,444 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,515 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,562 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,337 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (884 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,627 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,421 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,544 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,152 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (918 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Sarasota

From 5-star hotels such as the The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota to great affordable options like the Twin Palms at Siesta, Sarasota offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around C$ 247 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 568 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Magnolia Pointe, BW Signature Collection and Regency Inn & Suites Sarasota. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Sarasota, with prices from C$ 72 to C$ 3,271 per night. Downtown is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Sarasota are about 36% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Sarasota

Most booked hotels in Sarasota

See all
Captiva Beach Resort (open private beach access)
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
C$ 223+
View
Tropical Beach Resorts - Sarasota
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
C$ 227+
View
Turtle Beach Resort
3 stars
Excellent (9.2, Excellent reviews)
C$ 371+
View
Siesta Key Palms Resort
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
C$ 209+
View
Seaspray Resort
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
C$ 426+
View
Lido Beach Resort
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
C$ 506+
View

Renting a car in Sarasota

Renting a car in Sarasota costs C$ 59 per day, on average, or C$ 178 if you want to rent it for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Sarasota is the Hertz branch at 6000 Airport Circle, which is 6 km from the downtown.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 6% more expensive than at Sarasota Bradenton Intl.

Expect to pay C$ 1.18 per litre in Sarasota (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 14.11 and C$ 18.82. The most frequently booked car type in Sarasota is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 31% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Sarasota costs C$ 59 per day, on average, or C$ 178 if you want to rent it for 3 days. Alamo, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Sarasota is the Hertz branch at 6000 Airport Circle, which is 6 km from the downtown.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 6% more expensive than at Sarasota Bradenton Intl.

Expect to pay C$ 1.18 per litre in Sarasota (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 14.11 and C$ 18.82. The most frequently booked car type in Sarasota is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 31% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Sarasota

Intermediate

5 adults, 3 Bags

C$ 41/day

Intermediate

Compact

4 adults, 2 Bags

C$ 41/day

Compact
Find car rentals in Sarasota