West Palm Beach Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to West Palm Beach, Florida — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in West Palm Beach

• Norton Museum of Art. Florida's largest art museum — spanning over 8,200 works across European, American, Chinese, and contemporary collections — anchored by a luminous 2019 expansion designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Lord Norman Foster. Friday evenings the doors stay open until 10 p.m., making it the city's finest cultural…
• Clematis Street & the Waterfront District. The beating heart of downtown West Palm Beach, a walkable stretch of restaurants, bars, and open-air patios steps from the Intracoastal. Thursday nights bring free live music at Clematis by Night, while Saturday mornings the GreenMarket draws 125+ vendors of local produce, seafood, and baked goods — named the…
• Flagler Museum (Whitehall). A 75-room, 100,000-square-foot Gilded Age palace completed in 1902 for railroad magnate Henry Flagler, now a National Historic Landmark on Palm Beach Island. The collection includes Flagler's private railcar No. 91 and rotating exhibitions that illuminate the founding of modern Florida.
• Peanut Island Park. A man-made island in the Lake Worth Lagoon reachable only by ferry or water taxi from Currie Park or Riviera Beach Marina, offering some of the best shore snorkeling in Palm Beach — a shallow artificial reef system teems with tropical fish, stingrays, and winter manatees. The island also harbors a Cold War-era…
• Worth Avenue, Palm Beach. One of the world's most storied luxury shopping streets, recognized by USA Today as one of its ten most iconic streets, lined with flagships from Hermès and Louis Vuitton to independent galleries and antique dealers. The Mediterranean Revival architecture and hidden Vias (shaded pedestrian lanes off the main avenue)…
• Northwood Village Arts District. West Palm Beach's eclectic bohemian quarter just north of downtown, where every shop, gallery, and café is locally owned. Art Night Out on the last Friday of each month transforms the neighborhood into an outdoor arts market with live music, and the monthly wine stroll connects the independent boutiques along…
• CityPlace (now again CityPlace). A 72-acre open-air district in the heart of downtown with 600,000 square feet of retail, 20-plus restaurants, a 20-screen theater, and public art installations including The Wishing Tree — a 26-foot color-changing LED-lit banyan. A Crate & Barrel, Equinox, and a rotating roster of national and local brands make it…
• Antique Row Art & Design District. More than 40 antique dealers, art galleries, and specialty design studios line a walkable stretch of South Dixie Highway, praised by Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and Art & Antiques as one of the East Coast's premier antique districts. The bi-annual Evening on Antique Row pedestrian street festival draws…

Best time to visit West Palm Beach

Late March (peak tourism score per WeatherSpark); broadly November through April for winter season visitors. Late March combines the ideal convergence of comfortable temperatures (highs ~78-80°F), minimal precipitation, low humidity, and clear skies. The Palm Beach International Boat Show (late March) and approach to SunFest (early May) also make spring especially lively. November-April is the broad sweet spot avoiding summer heat/humidity and hurricane season

West Palm Beach weather by month

Getting to West Palm Beach

A rental car is the most practical option for exploring West Palm Beach beyond downtown, but the Brightline high-speed train connects the city's downtown station to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Orlando with departures roughly every hour — ideal if you are visiting from South Florida without a car. Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) works reliably across the metro area.

• PBI Palm Beach International Airport — 10 min drive
• FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport — 55 min drive
• MIA Miami International Airport — 75 min drive

Where to stay in West Palm Beach

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• Downtown West Palm Beach (Clematis Street / CityPlace). The most walkable and lively home base in the city, putting visitors within steps of Clematis Street dining and nightlife, CityPlace shopping, the Kravis Center, and the Intracoastal waterfront. A mix of boutique hotels — including The Ben, an Autograph… Good for: First-timers, couples, nightlife seekers, and those traveling by train.
• Grandview Heights Historic District. A quiet, leafy neighborhood of 1920s Craftsman bungalows and Mediterranean Revival cottages a short walk south of downtown. Home to two celebrated boutique B&Bs — Grandview Gardens and Casa Grandview — the area suits travelers who want a romantic,… Good for: Couples, romantic getaways, history buffs, and boutique-hotel loyalists.
• Northwood Village. The bohemian creative quarter just north of downtown, lined with independent galleries, eclectic cafés, and vintage shops. Accommodation options here tend toward vacation rentals and smaller guesthouses; the vibe is authentically local, with Art Night Out… Good for: Art lovers, budget-conscious travelers, and slow-travel explorers.
• Palm Beach Island. Directly across the Intracoastal from downtown West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Island is the address for world-class luxury — oceanfront resorts, the Flagler Museum, and Worth Avenue luxury shopping. Prices are significantly higher than the mainland, but staying… Good for: Luxury travelers, honeymooners, and those prioritizing beach proximity.
• Singer Island / Riviera Beach. A barrier-island community directly north of Palm Beach Island, offering a more relaxed, beach-town atmosphere with public shore access, the gateway to Peanut Island, and proximity to Rapids Water Park. A mix of oceanfront condo-hotels and independent motels… Good for: Beach-focused families, watersports enthusiasts, and value-seekers.

Where to eat in West Palm Beach

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• Okeechobee Steak House. Okeechobee Boulevard · Steakhouse / American — Florida's oldest steakhouse, founded in 1947 by the Lewis family and still family-run. Known for prime dry-aged steaks and an old-Florida supper-club…
• Grato. South Dixie Highway · Italian — James Beard Award-nominee Chef Clay Conley's lively Italian trattoria, celebrated for wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas and hand-rolled pastas like ricotta cavatelli…
• Buccan. Palm Beach Island (South County Road) · New American / Small Plates — Chef Clay Conley's flagship modern-American bistro, a Palm Beach institution since 2011 and a perennial on OpenTable's Top 100…
• Fern. Downtown West Palm Beach (Fern Street Arts District) · New American / Farm-to-Table — Elevated farm-to-table dining in a modern art-gallery setting, sourcing from the owners' own Okeechobee ranch. A…
• Proper Grit. Downtown West Palm Beach (The Ben hotel) · Southern / New Florida — Housed in the boutique Ben hotel on Clematis, this nouveau Florida chophouse reinterprets Southern staples — stone-ground grits,…
• Banko Cantina. Clematis Street, Downtown · Mexican / Tex-Mex — A three-story Mexican restaurant and rooftop bar that doubles as one of Clematis Street's liveliest nightlife spots. Solid street tacos, strong…
• Rocco's Tacos & Tequila Bar. 224 Clematis St · 4.6★ (6,783 reviews)
• Isla & Co. West Palm Beach. 1401 Clare Ave · 4.9★ (3,024 reviews)

Cafés, bakeries & casual

• Hullabaloo. Clematis Street, Downtown · Italian-inspired Gastropub — A beloved Clematis Street anchor in a candlelit NYC loft-style space with a vintage Airstream on the patio. Wood-fired pizzas, handmade…
• Subculture Coffee. Clematis Street, Downtown · Specialty Coffee / Cafe — West Palm Beach's beloved independent roaster, founded in 2014, roasting single-origin and espresso blends in-house daily. Beyond exceptional…
• West Palm Beach GreenMarket. Clematis Street Waterfront, Downtown · Market / Local Produce & Food — Named the number-one farmers market in the country by USA Today three consecutive years. Every Saturday October through May,…
• aioli. 7434 S Dixie Hwy · 4.8★ (1,363 reviews)
• Tropical Bakery & Restaurant. 4068-1 Forest Hill Blvd · 4.5★ (1,786 reviews)
• Enzo's Cafe And Bakery. 3792 10th Ave N · 4.8★ (1,030 reviews)
• Vincent's French Bakery. 516 Lucerne Ave · 4.7★ (1,038 reviews)
• Tulipan Bakery. 731 Northlake Blvd · 4.4★ (1,180 reviews)

A 7-Day West Palm Beach Plan

1. Day 1 — Waterfront Welcome & Clematis. Start your visit with a stroll along the Intracoastal Waterway, then join one of the guided boat tours departing from the waterfront for sweeping views of Palm Beach and the inlet. The gentle pace lets you get your bearings before the city gets busy. Head to Clematis Street for…
2. Day 2 — Art, Culture & the Norton. Spend the morning at the Norton Museum of Art, one of the largest art museums in the Southeast. Allow at least two hours to move through its permanent collection of American, European, Chinese, and photography galleries without feeling rushed. After lunch near the museum, cross into…
3. Day 3 — Gilded Age Grandeur in Palm Beach. Cross the bridge into Palm Beach and arrive early at the Flagler Museum (Whitehall), the stunning Beaux-Arts mansion built by Henry Flagler in 1902. Take the full house tour and linger in the gilded ballroom and private railcar exhibit on the grounds. Walk south to Worth…
4. Day 4 — Island Adventure & Snorkeling. Take the free Palm Beach County ferry to Peanut Island Park, a man-made island in the Lake Worth Inlet that offers sandy beaches, picnic pavilions, and the fascinating JFK Cold War fallout shelter. Arrive early to claim a good spot. Bring or rent snorkel gear to explore the…
5. Day 5 — Gardens, Nature & Antique Finds. Spend the morning at Mounts Botanical Garden, a 14-acre urban oasis with themed gardens featuring tropical fruits, palms, bromeliads, and butterfly plants. The garden is free or low-cost and completely peaceful on weekday mornings. Drive south along South Dixie Highway to…
6. Day 6 — Coastal Wilderness & Beach State Park. Drive north to John D. MacArthur Beach State Park in North Palm Beach, arriving at opening time. Walk the boardwalk trail through mangroves and sea grape to the wide Atlantic beach — one of the most natural, undeveloped stretches of coast in Palm Beach County. Snorkel…
7. Day 7 — Final Feast, CityPlace & Farewell. Use your last morning to revisit any favorite neighborhood or fill in a highlight you missed. The Norton Museum of Art gift shop is worth a stop, or return to the Intracoastal waterfront for a final coffee and view before checkout. Spend the afternoon at CityPlace, the…

Events & festivals in West Palm Beach

• West Palm Beach Greek Food and Wine Festival (Mid-February (2026: February 13-15; 2025: February 14-16)). Annual festival hosted by St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church since 1975 (51st annual in 2026). Three days of Greek cuisine, music, dance, and cultural programming at 110 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach.
• Palm Beach International Boat Show (Late March (2026: March 25-29; 2027: March 17-21)). Founded 1982. One of the leading boat shows in the United States, held along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach. Draws 55,000-plus attendees, 600-plus exhibiting brands, and generates over $1 billion in…
• SunFest (First week of May (annually; founded 1982; 2025 edition dates unannounced as of publication)). Florida's largest waterfront music and art festival, held annually in downtown West Palm Beach. A 501(c)3 nonprofit drawing 85,000-plus visitors across three stages with pop, hip-hop, R&B, rock, country, and jazz acts.
• Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival (December (2026: December 10-13)). Founded 2007. Annual culinary and wine program held in partnership with Wine Spectator. Events at The Breakers, Four Seasons Resort, and other Palm Beaches venues.
• Clematis by Night (Every Thursday year-round, 6-9 p.m.). West Palm Beach's long-running free weekly concert series on the Great Lawn in downtown. Live music from local musicians, food vendors, and Clematis Street restaurant specials. Hosted by the City of West Palm Beach.

Top-rated tours & activities in West Palm Beach

• Downtown West Palm Beach Food Tour — 5.0★ (778 reviews)
• Guided Clear Kayak Eco-Tour of Jupiter — 4.9★ (606 reviews)
• Bulk Candy Store Tour — 4.8★ (190 reviews)
• Blue Heron Drift Fishing Family Friendly Charter — 4.6★ (220 reviews)
• Guided Snorkel Tour Phil Foster Park (HIGH TIDE ONLY-FREE VIDEOS) — 5.0★ (623 reviews)
• Paddle Boarding Eco Adventure Tour Jupiter Florida - Singer Island — 5.0★ (147 reviews)
• Narrated Historic Celebrity Jupiter Boat Tour - Small Group — 5.0★ (31 reviews)
• Phil Foster Park NIGHT TIME Guided Snorkel tour West Palm Beach — 5.0★ (29 reviews)

West Palm Beach travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit West Palm Beach?

Late March (peak tourism score per WeatherSpark); broadly November through April for winter season visitors.

What are the top things to do in West Palm Beach?

Top experiences include Norton Museum of Art, Clematis Street & the Waterfront District, Flagler Museum (Whitehall), Peanut Island Park, Worth Avenue, Palm Beach.

Which airport is closest to West Palm Beach?

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) is the nearest, about 10 minutes away.

Where should I stay in West Palm Beach?

Popular areas to base yourself include Downtown West Palm Beach (Clematis Street / CityPlace), Grandview Heights Historic District, Northwood Village, Palm Beach Island.

How do I get around West Palm Beach?

A rental car is the most practical option for exploring West Palm Beach beyond downtown, but the Brightline high-speed train connects the city's downtown station to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Orlando with departures roughly every hour — ideal if you are visiting from South Florida without a car.