The 26-acre St. Pete Pier District opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes at 11 p.m. Parking, the free tram and Looper, restaurants, fishing and rules.

Last checked 2026-10-10. Facts come from the St. Pete Pier’s visitor page, its FAQ, events calendar and restaurant list.

The St. Pete Pier is a 26-acre Pier District on the downtown waterfront that opened on July 6, 2020, stretching 1,380 feet into Tampa Bay. The Pier says it holds seven restaurants, public art, a beach, a playground, a splash pad, a fishing deck, shops and an environmental discovery center, and almost all of it is free to walk.

Plan ahead

Hours

From the Pier’s FAQ; hours change seasonally.

Place Hours
Pier District 30 minutes before sunrise to 11 p.m.
Fishing Deck 30 minutes before sunrise to 11 p.m.
Glazer Family Playground 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Majeed Foundation Splash Pad 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends
St. Petersburg Museum of History 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Gator Jim’s Bait and Tackle; Pier Gear and Gifts 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
The Marketplace 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday
Tram 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Getting there and parking

  • On the Pier: two paid lots and metered street parking along Pier Drive. Pay at the lot pay stations, the meters or with the ParkMobile app. The New Year’s Eve organizer lists Pier parking at $2.50 an hour for up to six hours.
  • Off the Pier: metered street parking and downtown garages, including the Sundial garage.
  • Free trolley: the Downtown Looper runs seven days a week with stops at the Sundial garage and the Pier entrance every 15 minutes.
  • Tram: runs along the Pier 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with waits of up to 10 minutes.
  • By boat: a few short-term boat slips, first come, first served, no reservations.

What to do

  • Spa Beach Park and Spa Beach: downtown’s beach, by the Pier. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
  • Glazer Family Playground: a nautical-themed playground with slides, swings, climbing structures and kids’ obstacle courses.
  • Majeed Foundation Splash Pad at Pier Plaza: free water jets, shade trees and a covered pavilion.
  • Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, on the walkway to Pier Point: hands-on exhibits on the Tampa Bay estuary.
  • Fishing Deck, east of Pier Point: the only place on the Pier where fishing is allowed, with a fish-cleaning station and Gator Jim’s Tackle nearby.
  • Majeed Foundation Coastal Thicket: a lit, ADA-accessible boardwalk through native trees, palms and sea oats along the Pier’s north side, for walking or biking.
  • Public art: Xenobia Bailey’s “Morning Stars” mosaic, about 23 feet wide, and Benoist Centennial Plaza with the World’s First Airline Monument. Janet Echelman’s “Bending Arc” is temporarily closed, the Pier says.
  • St. Petersburg Museum of History: the Flight One Gallery with a working replica of the Benoist XIV airboat, Schrader’s Little Cooperstown and the Odditorium.

Restaurants

The Pier says it has seven restaurants. From its restaurant page and FAQ: Teak on the fourth floor of Pier Point (lunch, dinner and weekend brunch), Pier Teaki (open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday), Driftwood Cafe on level two of Pier Point, Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro near the entrance (lunch, dinner and weekend brunch) and Spa Beach Bistro at Spa Beach Park. See brunch in St. Petersburg for weekend hours.

Rules

  • Pets: welcome on a leash of 6 feet or less, with bag dispensers throughout; not on the splash pad or Spa Beach.
  • Alcohol: only in Pier-approved cups from the Pier’s restaurants and cafes; no outside alcohol.
  • Fishing: only from the Fishing Deck.
  • Music: amplified music at Pier events must end by 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday under city ordinance, according to Haunted Fest’s listing on the Pier calendar.

Regular free events

From the Pier’s events calendar:

  • Movement Mondays, 7 to 9 p.m. every Monday: free, sober, family-friendly music, flow arts and dance with local DJs.
  • Flicks and Food Trucks, the third Friday of each month: a free outdoor movie; bring chairs or blankets.
  • Sunset Yoga the first Wednesday of the month, Pilates on the Pier the second Wednesday and a free F45 bootcamp the first Friday, all in Family Park.

Seasonal Pier events, from the October pumpkin patch to New Year’s Eve, are on our Halloween, holiday lights and New Year’s Eve pages.

What this means for you

  • The Pier itself is free; parking is the main cost, so the free Looper from the Sundial garage saves money.
  • The district closes at 11 p.m., though Pier Teaki stays open later.
  • Go early for fishing; the deck opens 30 minutes before sunrise.

Related: free things to do, kids’ activities and date night in St. Petersburg.

Frequently asked questions

What are the St. Pete Pier’s hours?

The Pier District opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes at 11 p.m. Shops, restaurants and attractions keep their own hours; Pier Teaki stays open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Where do you park for the St. Pete Pier?

There are two paid lots and metered street parking along Pier Drive, payable at pay stations, meters or the ParkMobile app. The free Downtown Looper trolley also stops at the Sundial garage and the Pier entrance every 15 minutes.

Is the St. Pete Pier free?

Yes. Walking the Pier District is free; restaurants, shops, parking and some events charge.

Is there a tram on the St. Pete Pier?

Yes. A tram runs the length of the Pier from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with waits of up to 10 minutes, the Pier says.

Can you drink alcohol on the St. Pete Pier?

Only in a Pier-approved cup from the Pier’s own restaurants and cafes. Bringing your own alcohol onto the Pier is not allowed.