The best things to do in Tarpon Springs are walking the historic Sponge Docks on Dodecanese Boulevard, taking a sponge diving boat tour on the Anclote River, eating a long Greek lunch, and visiting St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral and the antique shops of downtown Tarpon Avenue. Finish with sunset at Fred Howard Park’s causeway beach, 10 minutes away, and you have a full day trip from anywhere in Tampa Bay.
Tarpon Springs is a small city in north Pinellas County with one of the largest Greek American communities in the United States, built by sponge divers who came from the Greek islands in the early 1900s. Its waterfront still has working sponge boats, Greek bakeries and family tavernas, which makes it unlike anywhere else in Florida. This guide covers what to see, where to eat and how to plan the day. For more on the region, see the Tampa Bay travel guide and the Tarpon Springs area page.
Tarpon Springs at a glance
- Where: North Pinellas County on the Anclote River, about 45 minutes from downtown Tampa, 15 to 20 minutes from Dunedin and 50 minutes to an hour from St. Petersburg.
- Two main areas: The Sponge Docks along Dodecanese Boulevard on the river, and the historic downtown along Tarpon Avenue and Pinellas Avenue, about a mile apart.
- Known for: Natural sponges, Greek food and pastries, the January 6 Epiphany celebration and boat tours.
- Time needed: A full day, or a half day if you focus on the Sponge Docks.
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings for the fewest crowds; January 6 for Epiphany if you do not mind big crowds.
What are the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks?
The Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks are the historic working waterfront along Dodecanese Boulevard, where Greek divers have landed natural sponges harvested from the Gulf since the early 1900s. Today the docks mix working sponge boats with sponge and soap shops, Greek restaurants and bakeries, tour boats and gift stores along a few walkable blocks of the river.
Start at the west end of Dodecanese Boulevard and walk east along the water. Highlights include:
- The Sponge Exchange: A courtyard complex at 735 Dodecanese Boulevard, built where sponges were once auctioned, now filled with small shops and cafes, including Tarpon Sponge Company and Mama’s Greek Cuisine.
- Spongeorama Sponge Factory: A long-running sponge shop and small museum at 510 Dodecanese Boulevard with exhibits and a film on the history of sponge diving.
- Sponge and soap shops: Look for natural sponges sold by type (wool, yellow, grass) and handmade olive oil soaps at shops such as Grecian Soap Factory.
- Greek specialty foods: Tarpon Springs Olive Oil Company and Axia Gifts & Gourmet carry olive oils, honey, spices and imported goods.
Most of the street is free to walk. Park in one of the paid lots on or just off Dodecanese Boulevard, and arrive before 11am on weekends, when the lots and sidewalks fill quickly.
Can you see a sponge diver in Tarpon Springs?
Yes. The St. Nicholas Boat Line, family owned since 1924, runs short narrated sponge diving cruises from 693 Dodecanese Boulevard, across from the Sponge Exchange. On select trips, a diver in the traditional canvas suit and brass helmet, more than 170 pounds of gear, climbs down into the Anclote River and comes back up with a live sponge. Fares are $21 for adults, $20 for seniors and military, $9 for ages 6 to 15, and free for children under 6 with a paying adult. Buy tickets at the booth on the dock and check the St. Nicholas Boat Line site for departure times.
Other boat operators along Dodecanese Boulevard run dolphin-watching cruises, fishing trips and shelling outings to Anclote Key, a barrier island preserve about three miles offshore that can only be reached by boat.
Where are the best Greek restaurants in Tarpon Springs?
The best Greek restaurants in Tarpon Springs are on and around Dodecanese Boulevard, where family tavernas serve grilled fish, lamb, gyros, spanakopita and saganaki, and bakeries turn out baklava and other pastries. Plan a long lunch rather than a quick bite.
Hellas Restaurant & Bakery
Hellas Restaurant & Bakery at 785 Dodecanese Boulevard has been run by the same family since 1970. The restaurant serves gyros, Greek salads, lamb chops and local seafood, and the bakery case is the reason many visitors stop. The restaurant opens at 11am daily and the bakery at 9am, with both staying open late on Friday and Saturday. Pick up a box of pastries for the drive home.
More Greek restaurants to try
- Mykonos (628 Dodecanese Boulevard), a long-standing taverna on the docks.
- Dimitri’s on the Water (690 Dodecanese Boulevard), Greek food with river views.
- Mama’s Greek Cuisine (735 Dodecanese Boulevard, inside the Sponge Exchange), a casual family spot.
- Parthenon Restaurant & Bakery (751 Dodecanese Boulevard), a restaurant and pastry shop.
- Costas Restaurant (521 Athens Street), a block off the waterfront.
- Mr. Souvlaki and Katerina’s Taverna & Grill on North Pinellas Avenue, between the docks and downtown.
For sweets and bread, try National Bakery on Athens Street and Taste of Greece on Dodecanese Boulevard. If you want seafood without the Greek menu, Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill and Pelican Point Seafood sit near the east end of the docks.
What else is there to do in Tarpon Springs?
Beyond the Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs has a historic downtown, a Byzantine-style cathedral, several small museums and a waterfront park with one of the best sunset beaches in north Pinellas County.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 36 North Pinellas Avenue is the spiritual center of the city’s Greek community, a Neo-Byzantine church with icons, marble and stained glass. Visitors are generally welcome outside of services; dress modestly and be quiet inside.
Downtown Tarpon Avenue
Historic downtown, along Tarpon Avenue and Pinellas Avenue, is a few blocks of brick storefronts with antique stores, used bookshops, cafes and bars. Browse Antiques Forever, Tarapani’s Department Store and The Court of Two Sisters on East Tarpon Avenue, and Back in the Day Books for used titles. The Replay Amusement Museum at 119 East Tarpon Avenue is a hands-on collection of vintage pinball and arcade machines, good for a rainy afternoon. For drinks, Unrefined Brewing and Tarpon Springs Castle Winery are both on East Tarpon Avenue, and Tarpon Springs Distillery is on North Pinellas Avenue.
The paved Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail runs right through downtown, so cyclists can ride in from Dunedin or Palm Harbor and stop at Toula’s Trailside Cafe on Safford Avenue.
Museums
- Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art: An art museum on the St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs campus at 600 East Klosterman Road, a modern and contemporary art museum with 20th- and 21st-century work and Florida artists. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm.
- Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum: At 100 Beekman Lane near Craig Park, covering the city’s sponge industry, Greek heritage and early history.
- Safford House Museum: The restored 1883 Safford House at 23 Parkin Court on Spring Bayou, one of the city’s oldest homes.
Spring Bayou and Craig Park
Spring Bayou is the small, tree-lined bayou west of downtown, surrounded by Victorian homes and Craig Park. It is the setting for the Epiphany cross dive, and in cool weather it is a good place to look for manatees.
Fred Howard Park
Fred Howard Park is a 155-acre Pinellas County park at the west end of the city, with picnic areas under live oaks and a one-mile causeway out to a small beach island on the Gulf. It is open from 7am to sunset daily (closed the day after Thanksgiving and December 25), and beach parking is $6 a day. Arrive at least an hour before sunset on weekends to get a spot. See the Pinellas County park page for updates.
When is Epiphany in Tarpon Springs?
Epiphany in Tarpon Springs is held every year on January 6, and the next celebration is Wednesday, January 6, 2027. After a morning service at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a procession walks to Spring Bayou, where the archbishop throws a blessed white cross into the water and teenage boys from the community dive to retrieve it. The diver who surfaces with the cross is said to be blessed for the year. A Greek festival with food and dancing follows. It is one of the largest Epiphany celebrations in the country and draws thousands of visitors, so arrive early, expect road closures and plan to walk.
How do you plan a Tarpon Springs day trip?
A good Tarpon Springs day trip starts mid-morning at the Sponge Docks and ends at sunset at Fred Howard Park. A simple plan:
- 10am: Park on Dodecanese Boulevard and walk the Sponge Docks and the Sponge Exchange.
- 11am: Take the St. Nicholas Boat Line sponge diving cruise.
- 12:30pm: Long Greek lunch at Hellas or another taverna on the docks.
- 2:30pm: Drive or walk a mile south to see St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spring Bayou and the antique shops on Tarpon Avenue.
- 4:30pm: Coffee or a beer downtown, then pick up pastries for later.
- Sunset: Fred Howard Park causeway beach.
Tarpon Springs pairs well with Dunedin, 15 to 20 minutes south, for a two-town day. Start with Dunedin’s Honeymoon Island in the morning and end on the Sponge Docks for dinner, or browse the Dunedin area page for places to eat and stay there. If you are basing in St. Pete, the St. Petersburg guide has ideas for the rest of the trip, and Tampa vs. St. Petersburg helps you choose a base. Find more north Pinellas businesses on the Tampa Bay area page.
Where should you stay in Tarpon Springs?
Most visitors day-trip, but small inns and bed-and-breakfasts make an overnight easy, especially for Epiphany. Options from the local listings include The Livery Guesthouse on North Ring Avenue, The 1910 Inn on West Tarpon Avenue, The Blue Bayou Inn on East Tarpon Avenue and Ashley’s Victorian Haven Bed and Breakfast on North Grosse Avenue, all within walking distance of downtown. Book months ahead for early January.
FAQ
Is Tarpon Springs worth visiting?
Yes. Tarpon Springs is the best place in Florida for Greek food and culture, and its Sponge Docks are a working piece of maritime history you cannot see anywhere else in the state. It makes an easy day trip from Tampa, St. Petersburg or Clearwater.
How far is Tarpon Springs from Tampa?
Tarpon Springs is about 30 miles northwest of downtown Tampa, roughly a 45-minute drive depending on traffic. From Clearwater Beach it is about 30 to 40 minutes north, and from Dunedin about 15 to 20 minutes.
Is there a beach in Tarpon Springs?
Yes. Fred Howard Park has a small Gulf beach at the end of a one-mile causeway, known for calm water and sunsets. Parking is $6 a day, and the park is open from 7am to sunset.
What should I buy at the Sponge Docks?
Natural sea sponges are the classic souvenir, along with handmade olive oil soap, Greek olive oil, honey and pastries from the bakeries. Ask shopkeepers to explain the different sponge types; softer wool sponges are prized for bathing, while firmer grass and yellow sponges are used for cleaning and crafts.
How much is the sponge diving boat tour?
The St. Nicholas Boat Line sponge diving cruise costs $21 for adults, $20 for seniors 65 and older and military, and $9 for ages 6 to 15. Children under 6 ride free with a paying adult or senior. The cruise lasts about 40 minutes to an hour.