Travel Guide & Things to do in Madeira Beach, Florida
Madeira Beach is a sweet beach town in Florida that is starting to gain more popularity. It’s the perfect mix between ultimate relaxation while also having plenty of things to do, making it an ideal destination for just about everyone.
We live nearby so we know all the ins and outs of Madeira Beach. This article has also been updated since the unfortunate back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
Here is a travel guide with the best things to do in Madeira Beach.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this Cook Island travel guide are affiliate links (including links to Amazon) providing us with a small commission if you make a qualifying purchase – at no extra cost to you. We greatly appreciate your support! As always, we share our honest opinion and everything is written by us.
Get Coffee From Corner Kitchen and Coffee House
Corner Kitchen and Coffee House is in the location of the old Sweet Brewnette, if you are familiar with that. They are a newer coffee and restaurant and they’re open for breakfast and lunch.
The location is perfect, right across the street from the beach and a great way to start the day. They also have a full breakfast menu.
Explore John’s Pass
John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is a one of the best things to do in Madeira Beach!
Basically, it’s a buzzing area with a boardwalk that runs along the water. There are tons of shops, restaurants, and locally owned businesses (as well as a few chains). This is also a popular place to rent a jetski or boat.
There are also plenty of tours that you can book such as a parasailing, a dolphin cruise, sunset cruise, or pirate-themed cruise (this tour goes out on a huge pirate boat and kids love it!)
Every January, you can enjoy the John’s Pass Seafood Festival if you are in Madeira Beach during that time.
Enjoy the Beach
Madeira Beach has over two miles of pristine beaches which makes it a perfect place for beach lovers. You’ll find around 2.5 miles of beach with turquoise water and the soft, white sands that you would expect from Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches.
Madeira Beach Parking: There are several places to park if you are driving to the beach. If you drive along Gulf Blvd, you’ll find several small parking lots with direct access or just a short walk to the beach.
The larger parking lots to enjoy Madeira Beach are located at Archibald Beach Park (15100 Gulf Blvd) and John’s Pass Park (across the street from John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk). Both of these areas have beach chair rentals, food/drink options, and restrooms.
The Archibald Beach Park location has public restrooms and outdoor shower areas.
Rent Jet Skis
Jet skiing is one of the most popular water activities in Madeira Beach. It’s easy to rent jet skis from John’s Pass. You can take your jet ski north from Madeira Beach to the Redington Beaches or you can take it south through the Treasure Island and St Pete Beach areas. Either way, you will get to view the coastline from a different perspective and you might even spot dolphins.
Tiki Boat Tour
These tiki boat tours hold up to 6 people. You’ll be on a floating tiki bar and you can make the trip your own; lay back and relax or you can choose to turn up the music and party. You can bring your own drinks on board to enjoy as well. The tiki boat will take you out to the sand bar to swim or float in the beautiful water.
Go to the Sandbar
One of the most popular things to do in Madeira Beach is to go out to the John’s Pass Sandbar. It’s located right off of John’s Pass and it can be seen from the boardwalk. It’s the place to be for both locals and visitors, especially on Sundays.
If you don’t have your own boat, you can book a boat to take you to the sand bar. We have also seen the local boat companies run a boat taxi-type of service taking people there and back some weekends as well.
Go Parasailing
Parasailing is a unique experience that I believe everyone should do at least once in their life. It’s perfect for most ages and is the perfect mix of thrilling and relaxing. The thrill comes as you’re lifted high into the air, but I’ve found that once you’re up there, it’s pretty relaxing as you take in the one of a kind views.
Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise
You have a pretty good chance of seeing dolphins in Madeira Beach, especially at John’s Pass where they like to chase all the boats going in and out. But if you want to get a little closer or you want a bit more of a guarantee, you can take a dolphin sightseeing cruise. This is also a great tour for kids because the boat is shaped like a big shark.
Go Fishing
This fishing experience is great for all experience levels. The captain will be knowledgeable on all the great places to catch fish. If you’re a beginner, they can offer some extra assistance as well. After your trip, you can take your catch to a local restaurant to prepare it for you if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Find Somewhere to Grab a Drink
If you want to unwind with a cold one while you are on vacation, there are plenty of places to do that. Madeira Beach has some unique spots to grab a drink.
The Longest Boardwalk at Crabby’s on the Pass
Crabby’s on the Pass is known as the world’s longest waterfront bar. This bar and restaurant is great for all ages, whether you want to grab a full meal or just a drink after a day on the water. It’s right across the pass from John’s Pass so you’ll have gorgeous views of John’s Pass. We also see dolphins almost every time we stop here. They also have happy hour from 3-7 every day and have live music most evenings.
Crabby’s on the Pass is currently closed due to back to back hurricanes Helene and Milton
Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company
Mad Beach Brewing Company is located within John’s Pass. Stop in for a craft beer or stay for a full meal, they have both. It’s also a family-friendly environment. You can even order “Walk the Plank” which is a flight of each of their 28 beers on tap. You do need at least 3 people to order this.
Florida Winery
While they do make their own wine, this is not a winery per se. It’s a unique gift shop that also has wine, including frozen wine slushies. The wine slushies are great on a really hot day (or anytime, really). The wine is pretty sweet because they are fruit based instead of grape based and you can try free samples before purchasing.
Saltwater Hippie
Saltwater Hippie is a dive bar in Madeira Beach also known for its live entertainment. It’s actually right across the street from the beach, making it an easy stop for a cold beer after a day in the sun. The vibe is laid back and relaxed, just as it should be in paradise.
Daquiri Shack
Daquiri Shack has a full menu but what they’re really known for is their wall of alcoholic daiquiris. They have every flavor you could possibly think of and you can always combine a couple of flavors, too.
Ember Rooftop Lounge at the Cambria Madeira Beach
The Ember Rooftop Lounge is a rooftop bar at the Cambira, a hotel in Madeira Beach. Enjoy a cocktail by the pool while enjoying views of Madeira Beach. They also serve food.
Caddy’s Madeira Beach
There are a few Caddy’s throughout Florida’s Gulf beaches. The Caddy’s in Madeira Beach has some phenomenal views with a bar upstairs and also downstairs. I recommend coming here for a drink while enjoying the views. They do have a full menu, but it’s not my favorite spot for food.
Farmer’s Market
Madeira Beach has a farmer’s market on Wednesdays from 10 am – 2 pm. It’s located in downtown Madeira Beach, where Saltwater Hippie (the bar) and a few shops are located. So you can support local businesses both at the market and in downtown Madeira Beach. The farmer’s market is seasonal and only open during the cooler months, approximately November through May.
Mini Golf
Smuggler’s Cove is an 18 hole mini golf course perfect for some family fun (or for anyone you’re traveling with, really!) There are waterfalls, caves, and a pirate ship. Like many mini golf courses in Florida, there are also live gators. They are also open on all holidays, so if you’re here on a big holiday, this can be a good activity for you.
R.O.C. Park
R.O.C. Park has a pier which is great for fishing, sports fields, a walking path, and a splash pad. They also have a lot of events, such as holiday gatherings, concerts, and fishing tournaments. The park was built in honor of children who lost their lives lost too soon.
Eat Dessert
There are several options for ice cream in Madeira Beach. House of Sweets, Sugar Daddies, Sip n Scoop, and Mr. P’s are all at John’s Pass and Haze Ice Cream is down the road.
Candy Kitchen will satisfy anyone and everyone’s sweet tooth. It’s a tiny shop packed full of every sweet you can imagine. They have fudge, ice cream, Italian ice, and nostalgic candies that are hard to find anywhere else. This cute little shop has been open since the 1950s. Stopping at Candy Kitchen has become the tradition of many families every time they vacation in Madeira Beach.
Order a Grouper Sandwich
Madeira Beach is a great spot to order a grouper sandwich since it’s the grouper capital of the world. Check out some of the best restaurants in Madeira Beach. Even if you don’t want grouper (I like mine blackened), these restaurants have great food options.
Dockside Daves I highly recommend getting the grouper sandwich prepared country fried here. Dockside Dave’s is currently rebuilding after the hurricanes. While they’re not open at the time of this writing, we’re all anxiously awaiting their reopening.
The Boardwalk Grill has grouper sandwiches and also really good lobster rolls. They are located in John’s Pass
Walt’z Fish Shak is also in John’s Pass located in a rustic building. The menu changes daily and always features fresh seafood.
Take a Day Trip to Another Florida Beach Town
You can easily take the trolley to another beach town. The trolley runs up and down Gulf Blvd from Clearwater Beach to St Pete Beach.
The trolley is very reasonable at $2.25. Children 5 and under are free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. There are also options to purchase multi-day unlimited rides. The trolleys will pick you up approximately every 20-30 minutes.
As an added bonus, you can even take the Sun Runner, a bus that goes back and forth between the beaches and downtown St Petersburg. You can catch the Sun Runner at 3 different beach locations:
- 4700 Gulf Blvd
- 5402 Gulf Blvd
- 5505 Gulf Blvd
The Sun Runner also arrives every 15 minutes (approximately). You can check the status of your bus easily with the Transit App.
I also wrote a post for great day trips from St Pete. They are all a short drive from Madeira Beach. All of the destinations would be great options for a day trip from Madeira Beach.
With so many things to do in Madeira Beach, it’s no wonder people love visiting. From the iconic John’s Pass Village to relaxing beach days, there’s a little something for the whole family to make it a great trip. Hopefully you’ll want to return year after year.
