Cheap flights to Tampa from £193

City overview

Part of Florida’s west coast, Tampa Bay has some of the best beaches in the world. Those taking a cheap flight to Tampa during the off season can enjoy the ocean breezes by combining trips to the beaches, the lakes and the Hillsborough River, or spend their entire tripin and on the water; snorkelling, diving, sailing, fresh or saltwater fishing, kayaking, or just napping on the beach.

It’s not surprising that Tampa Bay also surrounds one of Florida’s largest estuaries and has an abundance of water fowl.Some of the magnificent birds that are seen every day in Tampa are threatened species. The area is also a wildlife haven and has several nature parks and refuges.The well-known Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is home to one of Florida’s largest sanctuaries for West Indian Manatees. And, of course, Busch Gardens in Tampa is home to more than35 endangered species and is well-known for its breeding programmes. The gardens are a whimsical mix of theme park and zoo. They host different events during the year like special night-time openings for Halloween and big shows for New Year’s Eve. The smaller Lowry Park Zoo is also nearby, but if you’re sticking to the beaches on your trip, you might just spot a manatee or dolphin on the coast instead.

At night, head to the historic multicultural district of Ybor City. It is a National Historic Landmark District with cobblestone streets and old cigar factories that dates back to 1886. The area has been fully restored to the age when the cigar industry ruled this Latin Quarter. The old factories no longer make cigars; they now house shops, clubs, art galleries and restaurants, but there are still demonstrations showing the art of hand-rolling cigars. You can also enjoy Spanish flamenco dancing at night.

Tampa climate

In the months of June to September temperatures range between the mid-20s to mid-30s, and it can be very humid and rainy. On average, the warmest month is July when temperatures sometimes reach the upper 30s. The hurricane season runs from June to November and should be kept in mind when booking a flight to Tampa. December to May is the most pleasant time of year with average temperatures between 15 and 26 degrees, and much less rain. January is the coolest month, when the temperature ranges between 10 to low 20s.

Getting around Tampa

There are many ways to get around Tampa and Ybor City. You can walk, but the city has a network of buses, trolleys and historic electric streetcars to get you around. To get to the airport, Ybor City, Busch Gardens or the Museum of Science and Industry, hop on one of the HART line buses. If you’re travelling at the end or beginning of winter months, you’ll notice extra traffic on the weekends. Many northerners come to Florida to escape the snow, and north-south routes can quickly become clogged.

Getting from the airport

The main airport in Tampa is Tampa International Airport (TPA) located around 6 miles (9.6 km) from the city. There are several bus services operating between the airport and the city. Car rental and taxis are also available.

What is good to know if travelling to Tampa?

• Catch a live performance or a first-run or classic film at the Tampa Theatre. This is a vintage theatre, opened in 1926 and decorated with a star-spangled ceiling, mythological statues, and a very large Wurlitzer.
• Florida was producing wine before California was discovered. Eden Vineyards and Winery, the southernmost federally licensed winery and vineyards in the US, is just over an hour’s drive south of Tampa Bay. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards is Florida’s largest winery and also about an hour’s drive south of Tampa.
• For up-to-date listings of what’s going on while you’re in town, the free Weekly Planet has listings as does the Thursday Tampa Tribune.
• Tampa is the largest city on Florida’s west coast and boasts the attractions, entertainment, culture, and fine arts of a large city. The Tampa Museum of Art has exhibits of old masters, 20th-century American art, sculpture, and works by emerging Florida artists. The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is the largest performing arts centre in the southeastern US with five separate theatres and a performing arts conservatory. The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) deals with health, environment, and outer space through hands-on activities and shows. The Channelside entertainment complex is the centre of the waterfront with shops, art galleries, dining options, a 3D IMAX Theater, nightclubs, and sporting events.

Tampa airport overview

Tampa International is a relatively small airport located in Hillsborough County, Florida, just 11km (7 miles) from Tampa’s city centre. It’s a friendly and attractively designed airport with a great selection of amenities.

The airport has a unique design featuring one landside terminal where all the ticketing, check-ins, customs and security checks take place and then four airside satellite buildings that are connected to the main terminal via automated people movers. The landside building has a great range of food and drink options and each of the satellite terminals has a couple of shopping and eating options as well. There is also duty free, but only in the satellite terminals that handle international flights.

Tampa International Airport is a hub for Gulfstream International Airways. However, Southwest Airlines offers the most flights to Tampa International. There are also a number of non-stop services to various destinations across the United States as well as the UK, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

With its innovative design and friendly service, Tampa is a great airport to use when flying to Florida. From the air the airport almost resembles a wheel with four spokes, and on the ground it’s an easy airport to navigate.