Downtown Tampa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Downtown Tampa
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View of downtown to north, from the Embassy Terrace Hotel, at sunrise
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 Downtown Tampa
Location in Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| City | Tampa |
| Population
(2024)
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| • Total | 16,044 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
33602, 33606
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Downtown Tampa is the main city center of Tampa, Florida. It is a busy area in the Tampa Bay Area and a major place for businesses. Many important companies have offices here. These include Bank of America, PNC Financial Services, and Truist Financial. The Tampa Convention Center is also located downtown.
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Exploring Downtown Tampa
Downtown Tampa is surrounded by water and other parts of the city. The Hillsborough River is to the west. The Channelside area is to the east. Interstate 275 is to the north. Davis Islands and Harbour Island are to the south. The total area of downtown is about 521 acres. Long ago, a place called Fort Brooke was located at the southern end of downtown. You can ride the TECO Streetcar to get around downtown and visit other nearby areas.
Fun Things to Do: Arts and Culture
Downtown Tampa has many cool places to visit. You can learn new things and have fun at museums and performance centers.
Discovering Sea Life at the Florida Aquarium
The Florida Aquarium is a huge place to see sea animals. It covers 250,000 square feet. It has over 20,000 aquatic plants and animals. These come from Florida and all over the world. The aquarium is in the Channel District. It is close to the SS American Victory ship and where cruise ships dock.
Visiting Downtown Tampa's Museums
Downtown Tampa is home to several interesting museums. Each one offers a unique experience.
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) is a special place for photos. It is inside a cool building next to Rivergate Tower. This museum is part of the Waterfront Arts District. It is near the Tampa Museum of Art and Glazer Children's Museum. All these museums are along the Tampa Riverwalk.
Glazer Children's Museum
The Glazer Children's Museum is perfect for kids. It is in the middle of downtown. It is right next to the Tampa Museum of Art and Curtis Hixon Park. This museum is also part of the Waterfront Arts District. It has 170 hands-on exhibits. These exhibits help kids learn through play.
Henry B. Plant Museum
The Henry B. Plant Museum is on the University of Tampa campus. It shows what life was like during the 1890s. This was when Tampa was growing fast. The museum focuses on the fancy lifestyle of guests at the old Tampa Bay Hotel.
SS American Victory Ship & Museum
The SS American Victory is a Victory ship from World War II. It is located in the Channel District. This ship was saved in 1998 to become a museum. It is now called the American Victory Ship & Museum. You can explore this historic ship.
Tampa Bay History Center
The Tampa Bay History Center is a museum about history. It is in the southern part of downtown. You can learn about Tampa Bay's first people. It also covers Spanish explorers and important historical figures. There is even a copy of a 1920s cigar store.
Tampa Museum of Art
The Tampa Museum of Art is in central downtown. It is next to the Glazer Children's Museum. It is also by Curtis Hixon Park and the Tampa Riverwalk. The museum opened a new building in 2010. It is part of Tampa's Waterfront Arts District.
Enjoying Live Shows at the Straz Center
The David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1987. It is a huge place for shows. It is the second largest performing arts center in the Southeastern United States. The Straz Center hosts Broadway shows, operas, and concerts. It is a great place to see live performances.
Watching Movies at the Tampa Theatre
The Tampa Theatre is a historic movie theater. It is a city landmark in downtown Tampa. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The theater shows many independent and foreign films. It is Tampa's only non-profit movie theater.
Exploring Downtown Tampa's Areas
Downtown Tampa is made up of different sections. Each section has its own special feel.
Uptown District: The River Arts Area
The Uptown District is also known as the River Arts District. This part of downtown has many places to eat and hang out. Important cultural spots are here. These include the Tampa Theatre and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. The Glazer Children's Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art are also here. They are all around Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. This park is like Tampa's main town square.
Channel District: Home to Big Venues
The Channel District is part of downtown. It has many big places to visit. The Tampa Convention Center is here. So is Amalie Arena, where sports events happen. You can also find the Tampa Bay History Center and the Florida Aquarium. The SS American Victory ship is in this district too. Many new homes have been built here. The Channelside Bay Plaza is a popular spot with views of the city.
University Area: A Place for Learning
The University Area is where The University of Tampa is located. This is a private university. It is just across the Hillsborough River from downtown. About 6,900 students go to school here.
Encore: A New City Area
The northern part of downtown is getting many new buildings. These include shops, homes, and a large grocery store. This new area is called "Encore." It will be like a "city within a city." It is being built where the old Central Avenue Business District used to be. This project will create many new jobs.
Tampa Riverwalk: A Path Along the Water
The Tampa Riverwalk is a 2.4-mile path. You can walk or bike along the edge of downtown. It follows the Hillsborough River and the Garrison Channel. The Riverwalk connects many parks and attractions. These include the Tampa Convention Center and the Straz Center.
The idea for the Riverwalk started in the 1970s. It was meant to make the downtown waterfront better. The project began in 1976. But it stopped for almost 30 years. Then, in 2003, Mayor Pam Iorio made it a top goal. Construction started in the mid-2000s. The Riverwalk was finished in 2016. It cost about $32 million to build.
Getting Around Downtown
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) runs Tampa's public transportation. HART has many bus lines that go through downtown. It also runs the TECO Line Streetcar. This streetcar line is 2.7 miles long. It goes from downtown through Channelside and into Ybor City. HART's main bus center is the Marion Transit Center. It is in the north end of downtown. Many bus routes start or end there.
