Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs is a city in Pinellas County, Florida. It is known for its implication in the sponge diving industry and its strong Greek presence. In fact, it has the highest percentage of Greeks of any city in America.

Get in

By plane

Tampa International Airport (TPA ^IATA) is not too far from Tarpon Springs.

By car

Follow US-19 north, which connects Tarpon Springs from St. Pete, following Florida's Gulf Coast. Tarpon Ave has a junction with US-19, while to reach the Sponge Exchange you will want to follow Spruce St/Live Oak St from their junction with US-19 and merge right onto Hibiscus St, which crosses Pinellas Ave to become Dodecanese Blvd and leads to the shoreline of the river and docks.

Get around

There is limited public transportation in the city. Having a car is your best bet here. There are also taxis available.

See

Various bayous border the city and are perfect places for a stroll or, if possible, a leisurely boat ride. On Epiphany day, a Greek-Orthodox Holiday, the holiday is commemorated with the traditional diving for the cross, where young men dive in the Spring Bayou, on Spring Street, to recover a sunken cross.

• 1 Sponge Docks, Dodecanese Ave. This area is the centre of all sponging and fishing activity in the city. Right by the water, the street features many shops, restaurants and attractions. Although a bit tacky, there is a dishevelled charm to it. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Tarpon Ave. A charming old street featuring historic buildings and a few shops. (updated Jul 2021)

Do

The Tampa Bay area is best known for its authentically rolled Cuban cigars in Ybor City, so why not light up un auténtico cigarro cubano from the cigar stands on Dodecanese Blvd? One local cigar stand called "Dreams of Cuba" offers panatelas puros as well as a nice hot cup of Cuban coffee as you stroll the streets, shopping.

• 1 Anclote Key Preserve State Park (three miles off Tarpon Springs and accessible only by boat). A historic site. Amenities include primitive camping on the northern portion of the island as well as picnic pavilions and grills. Wildlife includes the American Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle and Piping Plover. The park is unique in that a lighthouse, built in 1887, is on the southern end of the key. Three Rooker Island, south of Anclote and part of the preserve, remains an important Gulf coast beach-nesting bird sanctuary. The park has such amenities as beaches, birding, primitive camping, boating, fishing, hiking, picknicking areas and wildlife viewing.  

Buy

At the Sponge Docks, there is a small shopping mall on Dodecanese Blvd. called the Sponge Exchange, with multiple stores to explore the sponges, knick-knacks and other souvenirs.

• 1 The Sponge Exchange, 735 Dodecanese Blvd, ☏ +1 727 934-8758. The Sponge Exchange is a small outdoor shopping mall with about 40 businesses to enjoy; some are restaurants, but most are shoppes, some are sponge-related. From the white and blue Greek-style walls to the fountain and live Greek music found within, this place will give you an idea of a modern Tarpon Springs shopping village. 

Eat

Sponge diving is an important local activity

The cuisine of Tarpon Springs mostly revolves around the Greek culture, so it's not uncommon to see gyros, souvlaki, and other Greek foods.

• 1 Captain Jack's, 21 Oscar Hill Rd, ☏ +1 727 944-3346. Su–Th 11AM-10PM; F Sa 11AM-midnight. Captain Jack's is considered by many as the hotspot restaurant of Tarpon Springs. This restaurant, grill and tiki bar has an amazing waterfront view, especially the outside tables. Mid-range. 
• 2 Hella's Restaurant, 785 Dodecanese Blvd, ☏ +1 727 943-2400. Greek cuisine. 
• Mama's Greek Cuisine, 735 Dodecanese Blvd #40 (Sponge Exchange), ☏ +1 727 944-2888. Daily 11AM-10PM. For 20 years, they fed the sponge divers and their families authentic Greek food and it's now a popular local spot. Budget option. (updated Mar 2015)

Drink

• 1 Tarpon Springs Castle Winery, 320 E Tarpon Avenue, ☏ +1 727-644-2061. 

Sleep

Mid-range

• 1 The 1910 Inn, 32 W Tarpon Ave, ☏ +1 727 424-4091, the1910inn@aol.com. $150-200 per night. (updated Jul 2021)
• 2 Hampton Inn & Suites, 39284 US-19 N, ☏ +1 727 945-7755. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Jul 2021)

Stay safe

Tarpon Springs is a relatively safe city. The area around the docks, Pinellas Avenue and Tarpon Avenue are all easily walkable.

Go next

• Palm Harbor and Clearwater are to the south.

Routes through Tarpon Springs

Atlanta ← New Port Richey ←

N  S

→ Palm Harbor → Saint Petersburg