Located just off Florida’s Atlantic coast and known for its beaches and shopping, West Palm Beach is a luxurious travel destination along the Intracoastal Waterway and one of the best places to visit in South Florida. Many people travel here to experience the arts and culture scene, indulge their inner foodies at the fabulous restaurants, and to enjoy pleasant weather for a winter escape.
To help you narrow down your itinerary options, here are some of the top things to do in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Take a Sunset Cruise
What Is It? Sunset cruises depart from West Palm Beach and sail onboard catamarans and other sea vessels. The scenic cruises allow visitors to see the skyline and surrounding waterways from a new perspective.
Why Do It? Cruises around West Palm Beach feel luxurious and will really help you embrace the coastal lifestyle. It’s a beautiful area to be in around sunset, and you may even see dolphins, manatees, and seabirds during your trip.
Good to Know: Many sunset cruises have cash bars onboard, so you can enjoy a cocktail and some snacks. If you’d rather set sail during the daytime hours, options are available for that too.
Shop at "The Square"
What Is It? Formerly known as Rosemary Square and now just called The Square, this West Palm Beach attraction is an indoor/outdoor mall with palm trees and Mission Revival architecture. It is in the same neighborhood as the Hilton West Palm Beach, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, RH: The Gallery, and Palm Beach Convention Center.
Why Do It? The Square is an urban oasis with a little bit of everything for everyone. People come here for neighborhood dining, shopping, art installations, and local events.
Good to Know: Check out the arts and entertainment page of the venue’s website to see what’s going on during your trip. Pop-up galleries and large-scale art installations are common here.
Sample the Local Cuisine
What Is It? West Palm Beach is a prime foodie destination worth exploring to sample the local restaurants. There are food tours that you can join to have a guided experience and get the most out of indulging your foodie side.
Why Do It? Food tours are fun because they focus on award-winning and locally-owned restaurants that you might miss while just trying to explore the city on your own. While on a food tour, you can also learn about the history and culture of the city.
Good to Know: West Palm Beach is known for its key lime pie, so make sure to sample some of this local specialty during a food tour. Cuban pastries, French bistro fare, and Colombian coffee are other specialties that you may enjoy during your day out.
Take the Kids to the Palm Beach Zoo
What Is It? One of the best zoos in Florida to visit, the Palm Beach Zoo is fun to take the kids to during a trip.
Why Do It? The zoo has a wide variety of animals, including koalas, jaguars, otters, tigers, and macaws. The zoo also participates in conservation projects around the world.
Good to Know: The zoo is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with the last admission of the day at 4:15 pm. The cost of adult admission to the zoo is $27.75, and the cost for kids between ages three and 12 is $21.75.
Learn at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium
What Is It? This science center is an excellent place for families to visit during a trip to town. It has been around since the late 1950s and offers interactive exhibits, events, and community camps.
Why Do It? There are lots of fun lessons to be learned at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium. For example, you can check out planetarium shows, dinosaur exhibits, and high-tech displays about the human brain and play a game on the 18-hole mini-golf course.
Good to Know: This museum is open on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm and on weekends from 10 am to 6 pm.
Watch a Match at the National Polo Center
What Is It? Formerly known as the International Polo Club Palm Beach, the National Polo Center is located close to West Palm Beach in nearby Wellington, Florida. It is one of the largest polo clubs in the world and has several polo fields.
Why Do It? Polo is a unique sport and a beloved tradition in the West Palm Beach area. It’s fun to buy tickets to watch a polo match in this atmosphere with hardcore fans and curious tourists.
Good to Know: You can enjoy brunch at the National Polo Center, and there’s a Pavilion Café here, too, offering salads and sandwiches. Viewing options for the match include field-side tailgates, general admission to the stadium, and VIP box seats.
Go Parasailing
What Is It? For the ultimate water adventure in Florida, go parasailing in West Palm Beach. It’s a prime location for it because of the weather and the views of the ocean and surrounding islands. Parasailers may see marine animals down below while they soar above after being pulled up by a boat on the water.
Why Do It? Parasailing is a relaxing and fun way to see the waterways from a new perspective and do something out of the ordinary. Parasailing excursions involve cruising around on the water and flying one, two, or three people at a time.
Good to Know: Adventure Watersports/Parasailing Palm Beach is a provider of parasailing experiences and is based in neighboring Riviera Beach. Photos and videos are available of your adventure via media packages for sale.
Visit the Norton Museum of Art
What Is It? One of the best things to do in The Palm Beaches, this art museum has over 8,200 works and focuses on European, American, and Chinese art. It also has contemporary art and photography collections.
Why Do It? Even if you have visited the museum in the past, there are special exhibitions that may be new to you. There’s also a restaurant onsite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the garden.
Good to Know: Check out the Art After Dark experiences on Friday nights at the museum. For general admission, the museum is open on Fridays from 10 am to 10 pm, Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm, and every other day from 10 am to 5 pm. General admission costs $18 for adults.
Walk Along Antique Row
What Is It? Antique Row is a district full of charm in West Palm Beach with over 40 antique shops. Here you’ll find 17th- to 20th-century antiques from various periods throughout history.
Why Do It? This is one of the premier shopping districts and a unique place to visit in town. Interior designers often shop here to find interesting pieces for their work and collections.
Good to Know: In addition to antique shops, there are also art galleries, specialty shops, and restaurants along Antique Row. The area is located on South Dixie Highway between Belvedere Road and Southern Boulevard.
Wander the Mounts Botanical Gardens
What Is It? West Palm Beach has its own botanical gardens and they’re some of the best gardens Florida has to offer. Spanning 20 acres and with 25 display gardens with over 7,000 species of plants, they’re filled with tropical and subtropical plants from Florida and elsewhere around the world.
Why Do It? The Mounts Botanical Garden offers a relaxing and beautiful opportunity to spend a day in West Palm Beach. Experience the wonders of nature by yourself or with loved ones here.
Good to Know: The botanical gardens are open from 9 am to 3 pm on Tuesdays through Sundays between June and October and even later (until 4 pm) between November and May. The adult admission fee is $15, and the child admission fee for kids ages 6 to 17 is $7.
Kayak the Intracoastal Waterway
What Is It? West Palm Beach is located along the Intracoastal Waterway, which is a picturesque place to go kayaking in Florida. You can kayak by yourself if you have your own gear or hire a local guide company to take you out on the water hassle-free.
Why Do It? This beautiful natural area along the Florida coast offers opportunities to see wildlife and the beautiful homes and architecture by the shoreline.
Good to Know: If you are not an experienced kayaker or bringing your own boat to town, there are kayak and paddleboard rentals in the area. Some guided tours have options to get out of your kayak and go snorkeling, while other tours take place at sunrise or sunset.
Learn About the Historic Neighborhoods
What Is It? Rather than just hitting the tourist highlights, you can learn more about West Palm Beach by spending time in the various neighborhoods. There are neighborhood-focused tours that focus on food, architecture, history, and other topics in one of Florida’s most visitor-friendly cities.
Why Do It? You can experience the city a bit more like a local resident by spending time in neighborhood parks and checking out local businesses that fly under the radar of many tourists.
Good to Know: Some of the top neighborhoods in the city include Prospect Park, the Southend, El Cid, Flamingo Park, and Grandview Heights.
