The guide
Three miles of sugar-white sand, world-famous sunsets and the Gulf at your feet. Here is how to make the most of it.
Where the Gulf meets the day
Clearwater Beach is a barrier island on Florida’s west coast, famous for calm, warm water and some of the softest sand in the country. Mornings are for the beach, evenings for the Pier 60 sunset festival: buskers, crafts and the sky doing its thing.
A few of our favourites
From the marina to the best key-lime pie on the island: the shortlist we give every guest.
Easy to reach, easier to explore
Fly into Tampa International, 25 minutes away, then park once and walk. The Jolley Trolley runs the length of the beach, the marina and Pier 60 are a short stroll, and downtown Dunedin is a quick hop north for a slower afternoon.
- 25 minutes from Tampa (TPA)
- Park once, walk everywhere
- Trolley along the whole beach
Little things that make the trip
Every evening the pier turns into a craft market with buskers and the best seat for the sky. Arrive an hour before dusk.
Mornings are calm and the sand is coolest. By mid-afternoon the day-trippers arrive, so that is the moment for the rooftop pool.
Skip the strip for the marina side: fresh grouper, key-lime pie and a dock to watch the boats come in.
The cruises off the marina spot them often. Early or late trips are quieter and the light is better for photos.
