Best of Sarasota County
A practical visitor guide to the beaches, museums, restaurants and festivals between Longboat Key and Englewood.
See things to do »Sarasota County at a Glance
Sarasota County sits on the Gulf of Mexico about an hour south of Tampa, and most visitors come for one of two things: the beaches or the arts. It turns out you rarely have to choose. A string of barrier islands, from the south half of Longboat Key down through Lido, Siesta, Casey and Manasota keys, runs along the whole coastline, while the mainland holds a small city with an opera house, a symphony, a state art museum and a busy restaurant scene. Distances are short. You can spend the morning on the sand at Siesta Beach and still make a mid-afternoon visit to the Ca’ d’Zan mansion at The Ringling without rushing.
The city of Sarasota is the county seat and the natural base for a first trip. Downtown runs along Sarasota Bay, with Main Street, the Bayfront Park marina and the Saturday farmers market a few blocks apart. Cross the John Ringling Causeway and you reach St. Armands Circle, a ring of shops and cafes, and then Lido Key, where a public beach faces the Gulf and kayak tours slip through mangrove tunnels on the bay side. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine’s new aquarium and the Sarasota Art Museum are all within a short drive of downtown.
Siesta Key, just south of the city, is the island most people picture when they hear the word Sarasota. Its main beach is known for fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot, and its small village of bars and restaurants is easy to explore on foot or by the free county trolley. Longboat Key, to the north, is quieter, with condominiums, golf and long empty stretches of beach; only its southern half is in Sarasota County, while the northern end belongs to Manatee County.
The southern half of the county has a different feel. Venice was laid out in the 1920s with Mediterranean-style buildings and wide boulevards, and its beaches are famous for fossil shark teeth that wash up with every tide. Nokomis, Osprey and Casey Key surround it with state parks, historic sites and old fishing spots. Farther south, Englewood keeps an old Florida fishing village character along Lemon Bay, and North Port, the county’s largest city by population, has a warm natural spring and the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves.
This guide breaks the county into five areas, each with its own page of places worth your time and bookable tours where they are available. You will also find a dining guide built around restaurants we checked are open, and a calendar of the festivals that come back every year. The busiest season runs from January through April, when the weather is dry and mild; summer brings heat, afternoon storms and lower hotel rates.
Explore Sarasota County by Area
Top-Rated Things to Do in Sarasota County
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Sarasota County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Where to Eat in Sarasota County
Gulf grouper sandwiches, raw oysters on a creek, Cuban food on St. Armands Circle since 1959 and Amish pie in Pinecraft: our dining guide lists 30 restaurants we checked are open, grouped by area and style.
Sarasota County dining guide »
Festivals and Events in Sarasota County
The calendar peaks from January through April with the opera, jazz and film festivals, then picks up again in November with sand sculpting on Siesta Beach and lighted boat parades on the bays. See our list of annual events and the official calendars.
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Get free trip quotes »Sarasota County — FAQ
Which is better for a first visit, Sarasota or Venice?
Stay in or near Sarasota if you want the most choice: Siesta Key, Lido Key, The Ringling and the downtown restaurants are all within about 20 minutes. Venice suits travelers who want a smaller, slower town, quieter beaches and shark tooth hunting, and it is still about 30 to 40 minutes from downtown Sarasota.
When is the best time to visit Sarasota County?
February through April has the most reliable weather and the fullest arts and festival calendar, which also makes it the most expensive time to book. May and November are good compromises. June through September is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and it overlaps the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30.
Do I need a car in Sarasota County?
For most trips, yes. The county Breeze Transit buses connect the main towns, and a free trolley runs on Siesta Key, but beaches, parks and attractions are spread out. Downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle and Siesta Key Village are each walkable once you are there.
What is the nearest airport?
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) sits on the county line just north of downtown Sarasota. Tampa International is about an hour to the north, and Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers is about an hour south of Venice.
Are the beaches open after the 2024 hurricanes?
Most Sarasota County beaches, including Siesta, Lido, Nokomis and Venice, reopened within weeks of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Some parks on Manasota Key took much longer, and beach renourishment work closes short stretches from time to time, so check the county parks site before you go.
Is Sarasota County good for families?
Yes. Calm Gulf water, shelling and shark tooth hunting keep children busy at the beach, and Mote’s aquarium, the circus museum at The Ringling and the canopy walkway at Myakka River State Park work well on hot or rainy days.