THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Sanibel Island
Things to Do in Sanibel Island
Check out must-see sights and activities:
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Bowman's Beach, Art Galleries, Beaches. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Bowman's Beach, Art Galleries, Beaches. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Sanibel Island.
Catamaran Cruisesfromper adultC$98
Nature and Wildlife Toursfromper adultC$204
Eco Toursfromper adultC$98
Fishing Chartersfromper group (up to 4)C$912
Fun & GamesfromC$38per adultC$30
Adventure Toursfromper adultC$154
On the Waterfromper adultC$98
Private Sightseeing Toursfromper group (up to 12)C$702
Rentalsfromper group (up to 6)C$349
Adventure Toursfromper adultC$1,088
Visitor center with exhibits on local ecosystems and a curated gift shop, complemented by a wildlife drive and trails through a mangrove ecosystem, includes birdwatching opportunities.
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Spacious beach with an array of small shells and clear waters, ideal for tranquil shelling and swimming. Enjoy the serene ambiance and a sunset that invites a gentle breeze.
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Serene beach with scenic walkways and a bounty of shells during low tide, ideal for dedicated collectors. Check the tide schedule for optimal shelling conditions.
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Seaside destination with scenic lighthouse and beach ideal for shell collecting and photography, amidst a recovering landscape and bustling crowds.
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Scenic coastal drive to islands known for natural reserves, wildlife spotting, swimming, fishing, and shell collecting, with picturesque sunsets.
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Public beach with clear waters and soft white sand, ideal for relaxation, wildlife sightings, and shelling during low tide in a picturesque setting.
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travellers are saying
- chattygirl7491Franklin Ohio11,348 contributionsYou can def see some wildlife but won't see much from the car. Bugs can be vicious even with bug repellent. The no see ems swarmed us. We bought bug suits with netting over the face. Winter more birds.
Come prepared with water. Hat. Sun screen. Binoculars. Research tides. The tidal info fo the ocean not the same as that for ding darling. Low tide, early and dusk best time.
Veteran get in free so bring your national park card.Written June 26, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Jacob BKansas City, MO19 contributionsThis beach is a little hidden on Sanibel Island, but it's where the locals all go. It's huge and there is plenty of parking. There is a bit of a walk to the beach. The shelling was a little limited in terms of larger shells, but one of our favorites.Written July 18, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Allana C7 contributionsLove this market so much! So many options. My favorite is Lisa V Holistic Skin. Her skincare works wonders and you can see it in real time with sampling. Completely cleared my acne.
Love the helichrysum serums and jasmine perfume! Phenomenal!Written July 12, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - George PRichmond Hill, Canada4 contributionsArrive early as that is the best time for shelling and the best chance to get a parking spot. We went early on Sunday morning, arriving before 9AM, stayed for a couple of hours. By the time we left, around 11AM, the beach was busier, and the parking lot was lined-up 5-6 car deep waiting to get a spot!Written April 9, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SandeeVillas, NJ519 contributionsFriendly and helpful staff ...make this your stop as you enter Sanibel as it's directly on the right after you cross causeway! Recommendations were perfect for a day of adventure on the island....thanks alot!Written January 18, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- HitheroadwithlilaLenexa, KS2,206 contributionsThis was a trip to prove two things. To find another lighthouse to mark off my list of so many I have yet to visit and to find out if the area was the seashell capital of the world. The best time to visit is early in the morning, before the traffic on the causeway and island drives you crazy. When you travel alone like I do, getting on the road at 6 am is easy to do. Although it was a hunt, I found the lighthouse, shot a few pictures with my 35 mm camera and made my way to the other side of the island for a class on shelling.
Unlike a child, I used a regular mop bucket for my shell collecting because I knew I would spend the day searching up and down the beach for all types of shells to take home. The informal class was fun and only increased my desire to learn more about seashells, the animals and ocean life.
Tip-There are so many shells on the beach and in the water that beach shoes will save your feet from many jabs, pokes and cuts!Written February 4, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Kzoo50Lansing, MI34 contributionsTravelled to Sanibel and Captiva Island in Feb 2024. The traffic is very heavy in the morning traveling to the island and in the afternoon leaving the island. Travel time at 8:30 am from Ft. Myers was over an hour.
Leaving Captiva Island at 3:00, drive time back to Ft. Myers was over an hour, with traffic stopped for several minutes at a time.
You can save up to 1/2 an hour by driving through a neighborhood just off Perwinkle Way.Written February 18, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - FritomannPortage Lakes, OH265 contributionsSince hurricane Ian in 2022 there isn't a lot to see on Sanibel Island except for Hurricane Restoration projects.
The causeway is open and still there are construction gangs tying up access to everything. This will go on for years; take my word for it.
I timed my visit in May, 2024 around the published schedule for the museum being open, and it was. The main reason for this visit was to get my US Lighthouse Society passport stamps for the Sanibel Island lighthouse and there is also a stamp for the Historic Village. Got 'em both.
Fritomann is a museum rat and lighthouse climber and these stamps were crucial. And there is another lighthouse stamp available at the Sanibel Captiva chamber of commerce and visitors center right at the causeway terminus.
The volunteers at the Historic Village were glad to see anyone who comes in and they were busier than I thought they would be, since the museum hadn't yet reopened back in October, last time I was on Sanibel. And most of the buildings and displays here are still closed.
But when I showed my USLHS passport to the receptionist, she knew exactly what I was therefore. We had a nice long conversation about collecting lighthouses. I am kind of surprised when someone takes an interest in this hobby of mine.Written June 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Happy Traveler Iowa5 contributionsVery informative. Talks are daily at 11am only(though we arrived 15 minutes late and were the only ones visiting, so they started it for us). Listened to an hour talk about what they do at the sanctuary. Hailey was excellent. If you are going to see animals this is not the experience you are looking for. Since the Hurricane, their ambassador animal have been taken off of display. The animals in rehab are not on display or open to the public viewing. Despite us not seeing animals, we thoroughly enjoyed the stop.Written April 26, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mona MElkhart, IL2 contributionsThe Shell Museum has the first floor open this month and it is really nice! Exhibits are interesting and well done. Employees are welcoming and knowledgeable.
There is still a lot of destruction from Hurricane Ian and traffic is crazy congested. (1.5 hours to travel back over the poor causeway).
I think when the next floor of the Shell Museum opens it will be very nice.
Support them!
P.s. loved the gift shop!Written March 28, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - jamgypsyWestern MD398 contributionsThis was my first trip back to Gulfside Beach Park since Hurricane Ian a year ago and I wasn't sure what to expect. To my pleasant surprise and thanks to the dedicated restoration efforts, it was in good shape. The bathroom and outdoor shower facilities are fully restored as are the nearby picnic tables. There is a short walk to the beach which includes a wheelchair-friendly path. Parking is now paid for on the phone (still $5/hour) with an alert feature (I got a notice 15 minutes before my time ran out) and an option to add more time from the beach, which is really nice. Although the condos and beachside homes were empty and undergoing re-construction, the beach itself was fine and debris-free. Only a few folks were there the morning I went and the shelling was pretty good. The biggest challenge now is either getting to the island (in the morning) or getting off the island (in the afternoon) due to the causeway reconstruction efforts.Written December 1, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Ed BengelaPerrysburg, OH113 contributionsBeach white sandy beach. Found many sand dollars and saw a few dolphins swim by while in the clear water. Found many shells as well. We drove from Cape Coral, about 45 minutes. Well worth the drive. A must stop if visiting the area. Still not fully recovered from hurricane, but many places were back open.Written July 17, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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