The former home of the Ringling Brothers Circus, Sarasota, is south of Tampa on Florida's Gulf Coast. This popular vacation destination has a great arts-and-culture scene, superb shopping, and some of the best beaches in America. Where to stay in this sun-soaked city will depend on your tastes and interests, but welcoming hotels across the city are located in great neighborhoods for history, waterfront yoga workouts, and award-winning restaurants. Come for the sun and powdery sand and stay to participate in a wine festival, explore the secrets of the sea, or take a relaxing cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Where to stay
in Sarasota
Where to Stay for Beaches and Parks
Sun, sea, and sand are the reasons many travelers come for a Sarasota vacation, but not all the city's beaches and parks are the same. Find accommodations in Siesta Key for family fun on Siesta Key Beach, once named the best beach in America for its powder-white sand, year-round concession stand, and good recreational facilities. Wildlife lovers should consider a stay in Lido Key, where the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium monitors loggerhead sea turtles. Amenities at North Lido Beach Park in this area include swimming, fishing, and strolling on a nature trail. Another popular choice with good hotels is Venice, south of the city center, where visitors can watch boats pass through a popular channel on the way to the Gulf Coast.
![Siesta Key Public Beach showing a sandy beach](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/65000/65414-Siesta-Key.jpg)
Siesta Key
Siesta Key is known for its stunning beaches, and you can see some sights in the area like Siesta Key Beach and Crescent Beach.
Recommended hotels in Siesta Key
Venice
Travelers to Venice praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to make a stop by Venice Beach and Venice Theater.
![Venice Fishing Pier featuring general coastal views and a beach as well as a couple](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/496000/496605-venice-fishing-pier.jpg)
Recommended hotels in Venice
Best Places to Stay for Culture
Known as Florida's Cultural Coast, Sarasota has dozens of museums, art galleries, and performing arts venues. Stay in hotels in Central Sarasota and take a trolley tour to see some of the city's most interesting buildings, including the Center for Architecture Sarasota. To learn about space and nature, book accommodations in Bradenton for the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Florida's largest natural and cultural history museum, with a huge manatee aquarium and the all-digital Bishop Planetarium. Hotels in Venice are good places to stay for the Venice Institute for Performing Arts and the Venice Art Center, which offers workshops for kids.
![Causeway Park featuring general coastal views](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/496000/496008-central-sarasota.jpg)
Central Sarasota
Gardens, art galleries, and theaters are some highlights of Central Sarasota. Make a stop by Sarasota Opera House or Marina Jack while you're exploring.
Recommended hotels in Central Sarasota
Bradenton
Bradenton is known for its pristine beaches, and you can make a stop by The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and LECOM Park while in the area.
![South Florida Museum featuring signage](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/65000/65448-Sarasota-And-Vicinity.jpg)
Recommended hotels in Bradenton
Great Places to Stay for Shopping
Wherever you stay in Sarasota, shopping is a pleasure. Enjoy large malls selling world-class fashion, up-and-coming districts for food and vintage items, and unique finds of handcrafted items at quaint stores. Stay in accommodations north of Fruitville Road in Sarasota for the flourishing Rosemary District, where chic hotels stand alongside consignment stores and charming cafés for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mixon Fruit Farms, close to lodgings in Bradenton, has been named Florida's number-one grove destination and features a gift store for souvenirs of honey, wine, and jewelry. Alternatively, a hotel in Ellenton is the place to stay for the endless bargains at Ellenton Premium Outlets just off the interstate highway.
![South Florida Museum featuring signage](https://a.travel-assets.com/findyours-php/viewfinder/images/res70/65000/65448-Sarasota-And-Vicinity.jpg)
Bradenton
Bradenton is known for its pristine beaches, and you can make a stop by The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature and LECOM Park while in the area.
Recommended hotels in Bradenton
Ellenton
Travelers come to Ellenton for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Ellenton Premium Outlets and Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex while you're in town.
![Ellenton](https://mediaim.expedia.com/destination/1/654b696d0309dceb1e48cfc612672669.jpg)
More Hotel Options in Sarasota
- Hotels with Air Conditioning (719)
- Hotels with Free Wifi (582)
- Hotels with a Pool (496)
- Hotels with an Outdoor Pool (467)
- Beach Hotels (382)
- Non-Smoking Hotels (371)
- Hotels with Free Parking (370)
- Hotels & Resorts for Couples (278)
- Family Hotels (278)
- Hotels with Laundry Facilities (257)
- Hotels with Restaurants (202)
- Pet-friendly Hotels (176)
- Hotels with Balconies (175)
- Romantic Hotels (155)
- Golf Hotels (151)
- Historic Hotels (139)
- Hotels with Bars (100)
- Business Hotels (95)
- Hotels with Hot Tubs (92)
- Hotels with a Gym (91)