Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city of 56,970 people in Sarasota County, Florida, founded in 1763.
Why visit Sarasota
Townapedia lists 96 museums and landmarks, 50 parks and trails, 108 places to eat, 31 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include CineBistro, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Ca’ d’Zan (Ringling House).
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 52°F.
Weather in Sarasota
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Sarasota
Sarasota () is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States. It is located in Southwest Florida on Sarasota Bay, a lagoon on the Gulf Coast. The population was 54,842 at the 2020 census. The two-county Sarasota metropolitan area has an estimated 935,000 residents, making it the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Florida and 61st-largest in the United States.
From the Wikipedia article Sarasota, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Burns Court Cinema
Cinema and theater · 0.4 mi
506 Burns Court, Sarasota
14:00-22:00
Museums and landmarks96
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Museum · 3.2 mi
Art museum in Sarasota, Florida
5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
Mo-Su 10:00-17:00
Bay Haven School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
School building in Sarasota, Florida, United States
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Botanical garden in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
High school in Sarasota, Florida
2155 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota
American National Bank Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Bank building in Sarasota, Florida
Appleby Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Commercial building in Sarasota, Florida
Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Railway station in Sarasota, the United States of America
Bacheller-Brewer Model Home Estate
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
Sarasota, Florida, NRHP-listed
Bacon and Tomlin Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Former building in Sarasota, Florida, USA
Bispham-Wilson Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
Bryson-Crane House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic house in Florida, United States
84 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds50
Mote Marine Laboratory
Park · 2.1 mi
Non-profit organization in the USA
38 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes108
IHOP
Restaurant · Breakfast, Pancake · 3.0 mi
4000 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Mo,Tu 06:00-22:00; We-Sa 00:00-24:00; Su 00:00-22:00
Ben & Jerry's
Ice cream · Ice Cream · 2.5 mi
372A Saint Armands Circle
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Blue Kouzina
Restaurant · Greek, Mediterranean · 2.5 mi
25 Boulevard of the Presidents
11:30-15:30,17:30-22:30
Café L 'Europe
Restaurant · European · 2.4 mi
431 Saint Armands Circle
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Cha Cha Coconuts
Restaurant · Bar And Grill, Caribbean · 2.4 mi
417 Saint Armands Circle
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Columbia
Restaurant · Spanish, Cuban · 2.4 mi
411 Saint Armands Circle
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Crab & Fin Restaurant
Restaurant · Seafood · 2.4 mi
420 Saint Armands Circle, Sarasota
Mo-Th,Su 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-21:30
Green Zebra Cafe
Restaurant · Coffee Shop, Breakfast, Juice, Smoothie · 2.4 mi
John Ringling Boulevard
Mo-Sa 07:00-21:00; Su 09:00-17:00
Kilwins
Ice cream · Chocolate, Ice Cream, Popcorn · 2.6 mi
312 John Ringling Boulevard
Mo-Th,Su 10:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 10:15-23:00
La Brisa Tacos y Mariscos
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
1156 N Washington Blvd, Sarasota
Tu - Th 10:00-21:00; Fr, Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 11:00-20:00
96 more on the map.
History
Around 1883 to 1885, The Florida Mortgage and Investment Company of Edinburgh bought 60,000 acres (240 km2) for development in what is now Sarasota. Many Scottish people began to arrive in Sarasota in December 1885. The municipal government of Sarasota was established when it was incorporated as a town on October 14, 1902. John Hamilton Gillespie was the first Mayor of the town government. When reincorporated with a city form of government on May 13, 1913, A. B. Edwards became the first mayor of the city government.
The city limits expanded significantly with the real estate rush of the early twentieth century, reaching almost 70 square miles (180 km2). The speculation boom began to crash in 1926 and the city limits began to contract, shrinking to less than a quarter of that area.
From the History section of Sarasota, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay31
Churches and places of worship26
Islamic Society of Sarasota and Bradenton
Place of worship · 3.4 mi
4350 North Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
Greater Hurst Chapel AME Church
Church · African Methodist Episcopal · 1.6 mi
2730 North Links Avenue, Sarasota
Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.8 mi
3099 North Osprey Avenue, Sarasota
Truevine Missionary Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.9 mi
1947 31st Street, Sarasota
Ecclessia Family Worship Center International
Church · 1.5 mi
1760 24th Street, Sarasota
Shopping33
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries46
Emma E. Booker Elementary School
School · 1.8 mi
2350 Dr Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota
Community Haven For Adults And Children With Disabilities
School · 5.4 mi
4405 Desoto Rd, Sarasota
Healthcare14
Passport Health Sarasota Travel Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
2189 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota
Map of Sarasota
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72°F | 52°F | 2.8 in |
| Feb | 75°F | 55°F | 1.9 in |
| Mar | 78°F | 58°F | 2.9 in |
| Apr | 82°F | 63°F | 2.5 in |
| May | 88°F | 68°F | 2.6 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 74°F | 7.0 in |
| Jul | 91°F | 75°F | 7.4 in |
| Aug | 92°F | 75°F | 9.1 in |
| Sep | 90°F | 74°F | 6.0 in |
| Oct | 86°F | 68°F | 2.8 in |
| Nov | 80°F | 60°F | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 75°F | 55°F | 2.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sarasota Bradenton Ap (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Sarasota County has had 34 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-28: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-24: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- North Sarasota 2 mi northeast, about 3 min by car
- Southgate 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- Kensington Park 3 mi northeast, about 5 min by car
- South Sarasota 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Ridge Wood Heights 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Siesta Key 4 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Desoto Lakes 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Sarasota Springs 5 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- The Meadows 5 mi east, about 7 min by car
- South Gate Ridge 5 mi southeast, about 8 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Sarasota Skyline, Cullen Morgan, CC BY 4.0
- Sarasota Opera House, Thumbwind Publications LLC, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Author Jason Vuic at Bookstore1 in downtown Sarasota, Florida Monday November 10, 2025 3, FloridaArmy, CC BY 4.0
- Author Jason Vuic at Bookstore1 in downtown Sarasota, Florida Monday November 10, 2025, FloridaArmy, CC BY 4.0
- Five Points Roundabout in Sarasota, Florida, Patrick Braga, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Author Jason Vuic at Bookstore1 in downtown Sarasota, Florida Monday November 10, 2025 2, FloridaArmy, CC BY 4.0
- American National Bank Building - Sarasota, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sarasota Woman's Club - Sarasota, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Frances-Carlton Apartments - Sarasota, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Methodist Church, Sarasota, Florida, Noé Alfaro, CC BY 2.0
- Sarasota Bay and waterfront, Sarasota, Florida (2003), Roger from Sarasota, Florida, U.S.A., CC BY-SA 2.0
- Fuente de las Tortugas-John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Taty2007, CC BY 3.0
- Sarasota FL old high school pano01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Bay Haven School01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Selby Gardens Payne Mansion02, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Binz House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD Roth Cigar Factory01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Stevens-Gilchrist House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD Kress Bldg03, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD Warren Bldg01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL 25 Washington01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL County crths06, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD DeCanizares House02, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Purdy House outside01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL 76 Washington01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota Opera House-March 2008, Viva-Verdi, Public domain
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD Reagin House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL 47 Washington01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Rigbys La Plaza HD 1 Alta Vista01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Kreissle Forge01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota Ringling estate, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Whitfield Estate03, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Thoms House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Earle House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Halton House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Bacheller-Brewer Estate01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Southwick-Harmon House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Maine Colony HD01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD DeMarcay Hotel02, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sarasota FL Downtown HD Worths Block01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
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