Are you looking for a place to have a memorable summer experience? Tampa is a terrific choice for any season. It is situated along the gulf coast of the sunshine state, Florida, where it’s summer all year round.
The coastal waters around Tampa are home to dolphins and whales. The city itself is also beautiful with wildlife parks and skyscrapers, not to mention the surrounding gulf coast views. What is the best way to take in all those views at once? By choosing one of the helicopter tours recommended below!
Do you live in Tampa? Don’t think you know everything there is to know about the city. Travelling local is important, and a new perspective will help you see that.
Best Tampa Helicopter Tour Prices 2024
Take off waterside from picturesque Albert Whitted airport in downtown St. Pete over the St. Pete Pier and soar to the northwest west towards Clearwater Beach and the famous Pier 60. But as you head northwest be sure to catch views of the...
The Best Helicopter Rides in Tampa
The Tampa Bay area is not just well-known for producing Super Bowl-winning teams. It is also great for sightseeing and whale and dolphin watching. The bay area consists of Tampa City, Clearwater and St. Petersburg.
Tampa is a vibrant city with a thriving business district, although it is far from all work and no play. The nightlife hotspot Ybor, an old city that was founded around the cigar rolling industry, and the many waterways and parks are what makes Tampa a fun city.
FlyVENTURE
This is the largest tour operator in Tampa. They are a crowdsourced company that allows you to choose between pre-designed packages or design your own unique tour. They are based out of the Peter-O-Knight Airport on Davis Islands, which is only 5 minutes from downtown Tampa.
FlyVenture has a number of options for helicopter tours of Tampa:
1. The Quickie Tour – $45 per passenger
This tour is perfect for newcomers to vertical flight. It is also the cheapest option for a helicopter tour of Tampa. The tour lasts for approximately 10 minutes and can be as long as 12 minutes, depending on the weather conditions.
The Quickie Tour is only available on Sundays between 10 am and 3 pm. Booking in advance is encouraged for this tour and those who do book in advance will receive a 10% discount.
2. The Downtown Tour – $159 per group (1-3 people)
This is a great option for those who wish to see the nuances of the city. The tour lasts for at least 12-15 minutes and features the best that Tampa city has to offer. This option is great for seeing the Tampa city skyline, the bay and (if you’re lucky) bottlenose dolphins.
Which city sites will you be able to see on this tour? Travel through downtown Tampa and see the St. Peter Times Forum, the Florida Aquarium, the University of Tampa, Ybor City, Busch Gardens and some exotic animals as you fly over the zoo.
3. The Sunset Tour – $229 per group (1-3 people)
Are you looking to propose, celebrate an anniversary or add the wow factor to your dates? Then the Sunset Tour is the perfect helicopter ride in Tampa. The sunset over the bay is by far the most romantic setting in the city.
The entire flight is at least 20 minutes long, but it will feel like forever in the moment. Soar through downtown Tampa and see the skyline from a birds-eye view. Then loop back and watch the sunset over downtown. Spend the final moments of twilight as you make your way to the Alafia River on the trip home.
4. The Romantic Tour – $249 per group (1-2 people)
This is the most romantic package available. This option is suited for proposals, anniversaries and honeymoons. The package includes free champagne, music and roses. The special thing about the Romantic Tour is that it guarantees you privacy – there is only 1 group allowed per tour.
The Romantic Tour takes you downtown and to Busch gardens as well as the surrounding islands (at an additional surcharge). The entire flight takes around 20 minutes. There is an option to add an extra 10 minutes to the tour to include the beaches and surrounding islands for an additional $69.
5. The Ultimate Beach Tour – $369 per group (1-3 people)
This is described as the most lively tour option. This helicopter tour takes 35-40 minutes to complete and includes all the sites that you would see during the Downtown Tour. What sets this option apart is the extra beach tour.
After flying downtown, you will head across the bay and fly over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The final destination is a cluster of islands called Fort De Soto. You are likely to see dolphins, manatees, schools of shark or tarpon in the waters.
6. The Ultimate Doors Off Experience – $399 per passenger
This tour is for those thrill-seekers who like to take the path less travelled. The tour is 30 minutes long and the flight plan is completely up to you. Choose which sights you would like to see and make sure that all your bucket list items are checked off.
You will need to arrive in the preflight area to meet your dedicated pilot. There you can discuss the flight plan and the pilot will guide you to create your perfect flight. You may even choose to do it at sunset!
7. The Deluxe Tour – $549 per group (1-3 people)
This is truly a special tour. It includes an hour-long flight and you can see all the sights that you would if you combined the Downtown and Ultimate Beach tours. Be prepared to experience practically the entire coastline and bay area.
What Is the Best Helicopter Ride in Tampa?
There are many other great sky tours in America too, like these helicopter tours over New York. Choose the tour option that is best suited for you in terms of price, length and what you would like to see.
The tour that offers the best value for money is the Downtown Tour. The price per person, if you have 3 people, is only $53 and you get to see everything that Tampa has to offer. It even appeals to the nature-lovers because you have a chance to see dolphins!
Tiffany_M –
Received a call one hour before our ride letting us know it was cancelled. It was the reason we came over for my husbands birthday weekend. Such a let down.
Tiffany_M –
Received a call one hour before our ride letting us know it was cancelled. It was the reason we came over for my husbands birthday weekend. Such a let down.
Tiffany_M –
Received a call one hour before our ride letting us know it was cancelled. It was the reason we came over for my husbands birthday weekend. Such a let down.